Post for You!

Bible Text:

Proverbs 4:23.

Materials You Need:

A cardboard or hardboard heart similar to the picture.
Cut a slot cut in the middle and mount it on a stand.
Two sets of different colour cards that fit the slot in the heart.

Preparation:

Prepare a set of pink coloured cards with the words, "Hate", "Jealousy", "Rage", "Anger" and other bad things written on them respectively. Smear a bit of dirt on the face of the cards.
Prepare a second set on green cards with the words, "Love", "Caring", "Kindness", "Sharing", "Gentleness" and other good values written on them respectively.

Age Group:

Grades 1 - 7 (7 to 14 years).

Theme:

We need to guard what we put in our hearts.

Topic:

Thoughts, words, deeds

Guarding Your Heart:

Don't you love to receive post and tear it open to see who it's from? The best thing is when it's from your best friend or favourite aunt or uncle. The post could contain all sorts of wonderful things!

But, if you had an enemy, he might send you terrible things. You would then have to set a guard on your post box to stop him delivering such post! But, do we have an enemy? (Let the children respond). Yes, we do and his name is Satan.

In fact, King Solomon has a serious warning for us. In Proverbs 4:23, he said:

"Guard your heart!"

What's in Your Heart?

What did he mean by that? I don't think you would like to fill your bed with snakes and scorpions and all sorts of creepy crawlies, would you? (Let the children respond). Well it's the same with our stomachs. Can you imagine filling it with worms and dirt? (Let the children respond).

And so what will you fill your heart with? (Let the children give you some ideas). Yes, you can fill your hearts with good things or you can fill it with bad things.

Posting Bad Things:

I'm going to post a few things in this Heart Post Box. I think I'll post "Anger", "Swearing", "Stealing", "Lying", .... (Post the dirty pink cards one by one as you name them into the slot of the post box). Do you think that will make you good? (Let the children respond).

No! God wants us to fill our hearts with good things. So let's ask Jesus to forgive us for all the bad things we have done and to get rid of them out of our hearts!

Posting Good Things:

Now let's post some good things. What about, we are "Saved", we have "Joy", we "Trust" Jesus, we are "Kind", and "Love" others, .... (Post the green cards one by one as you name them into the slot of the post box). Do you think these will please Jesus? (Let the children respond) Of course they will!

Jesus wants to fill our hearts with good things. Remember in Luke 6:45, He said:

"The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,
But the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart."

Guard Your Heart!

So, what are you posting in your heart today? We need to guard what we put in our hearts as Satan is pleased to try and fill it with as many bad things as he can. So guard it well!

God bless.