Romans 12:21, NIRV

²¹Don’t let evil overcome you. Overcome evil by doing good.

Children’s Message

Supplies:

Cereal in the shape of letters (i.e., Alpha-Bits)
Bible

Have you ever had Alpha-Bits cereal? It is cereal in the shape of letters. Have you ever thought about how words would taste if you could eat them? Some words would be tasty, but others would be hard to swallow. Even the words “broccoli” and “asparagus” don’t sound like they would taste good, do they?

Have you ever heard the phrase “eat your words?” Sometimes when we say something mean or nasty, and the other person proves us wrong, we might say, “You will eat your words” or “Take back what you said.”

What if we really could eat our words? It would make us think about what we say a little better, wouldn’t it? We wouldn’t want to eat those angry words that would taste bad. But encouraging words would taste delicious. What kind of words do you think would taste good?

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he is making a list of love and tells the reader to hate the evil and love the good. He gives many examples. If we were to eat the words that he wants us to use, they would be delicious.

Think about the words you use today. How do you think they might taste? When you say something that might taste bad, or as Paul would say “evil,” maybe you could say something different that may taste better.

I have some Alpha-Bits Cereal for each of you. We really could eat our words. These sweet-tasting letters remind us to use lovely, sweet words.

Prayer: God of love and grace, thank you for your sweet words of love and encouragement. Put good words in our mouths today, tomorrow, and always. Amen.