This worship series is designed around a churchwide event such as a fall festival, which might include a “trunk or treat” event. During October, throughout this series, illustrations from these messages will build upon an outreach opportunity for your church. It is recommended that churches offer a trunk or treat opportunity for families in the church and community; link this series as a promotional tool. This is an excellent outreach method to connect your worship service with your neighborhood.

If you choose not to or are unable to offer a trunk or treat or fall festival, perhaps promote another community event in your neighborhood that is similar. The illustrations in this series build upon the traditional fall activity of “trick or treat.” However, some families may not want to connect the traditions of Halloween to the church. Therefore, offering an alternative such as trunk or treat offers traditions that are familiar to children, but also provide a new outreach opportunity to the community.

2 Timothy 1:5, NIRV

I remember your honest and true faith. It was alive first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice. And I am certain that it is now alive in you also.

Object/visual

Tattered, worn-looking mask or costume (be careful that it isn’t a scary costume); a glow stick or some small baton-shaped object to pass among the group of children.

Message

Have you heard of family traditions? Many families have traditions or things they do that they pass on to the younger people in the family. Some families pass down names. Are you named for someone in your family? (Allow children to respond.). Some families pass down family recipes or favorite traditions that they do every holiday. Some families pass on physical characteristics such as color of eyes or hair. If you have an older brother or sister, you might have clothes that were passed on to you when your brother or sister outgrew them.

Today’s Bible passage comes from Timothy. Timothy 1 and 2 are letters found in the New Testament of our Bible. Paul writes these short letters to his friend Timothy. In fact, 2 Timothy, is written by Paul while he is in prison in Rome. Timothy is a young pastor at the church in Ephesus. Paul was sending words of encouragement to Timothy. Paul also has important things to tell Timothy about how he should live his life by being faithful to God. Just like Timothy, you might be young, but you are very important to God.

Timothy’s family passed on something as well. His family passed on faith to the entire family. Timothy’s grandmother, Lois, had faith. She passed that faith on to his mother, Eunice. Timothy’s mother, Eunice then passed that faith on to him. Do you know who passed the faith to you? They may be here with you today! Passing on faith in God doesn’t have to come from your parents or grandparents. If could come from someone not even in your family.

This month, many people, including you, might participate in trick or treating, or perhaps your family will participate in a trunk or treat activity. Have you ever worn a trick or treating costume that was passed on to you from somebody else? If you have, you know that it may not have been as nice as a brand new one. It may have been worn out a little or something might be missing. Look at the costume that I have with me today. It is very worn, isn’t it? (Show children the mask or costume.)

The good news is that faith is not like that when it is passed on to another person. Faith keeps growing and getting stronger!

I wonder who you can pass your faith to. I have a glow stick with me. Sometimes you may need to carry a glow stick when you participate in trunk or treat activities. Let’s pretend this glow stick is “faith.” I will begin to pass the “faith” to someone else. Let’s take turns passing on “faith” to someone else. I wonder who you will choose to pass the “faith”? (A clever way to add to this illustration is to include people “outside” the children’s message participants. Perhaps pass the glow stick to an adult, worship leader, or even the pastor; allow them to participate alongside the children.).

Before we pray, I invite you to take your “pointer” (index) finger and place it on the side of your forehead. This suggests that you are thinking. While you do that, I want you to think of one person that you may pass your faith on to. It may be a younger brother or sister. It may be a neighbor. It could even be someone at your school. Think of that one person and keep your finger on your forehead while we pray.