"Kiddos, dinner time!" Dad’s voice echoed throughout the house.
Sam said, "I'm going to eat my dessert first!"
Samantha was surprised. "Sam, you can't do that! You have to earn dessert.”
“For dessert, I’m going to get a mile-high mountain of chocolate.”
“Well,” Samantha said. “You can’t.”
“Dinner is free?” Sam protested, “So why can’t I?”
“You can’t eat it until you earn it.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know. I just know you can’t.”
“Yes I can!”
“No, you can’t!”
“Yes, I can!”
Their argument escalated into a full-fledged debate, each child stubborn in their stance. Finally, Samantha suggested, "Let's ask Grandpa. He always knows whats what.”
"But Samantha," Sam chuckled, "Grandpa's not here!”
“Well, let’s go to him,” Samantha said. With that, they both hit a button on their shirts and disappeared.
They reappeared in a place they hadn’t expected.
“Where are we?” Sam asked.
“It doesn’t look like home.” Before Sam could respond, they heard a noise from above. Grandpa flew down with his space boot rockets and shot one fiery blast with his laser gun before he landed.
"Hey, kiddos!" Grandpa said.
“Grandpa, where are we?” Sam asked.
“We are on a small moon somewhere in the Andromeda galaxy,” Grandpa said. “I’m helping keep some space cockroaches away from my space friends’ food supply.”
“You’re probably too busy,” Samantha said.
“Nonsense,” Grandpa said. "How can I help you?"
Samantha explained, "Sam and I can't agree. He wants to eat dessert before dinner."
“I should get to,” Sam said.
“No, you can’t because you have to earn it.”
"But dinner is free.” Sam interrupted.
“Kids, kids, kids,” Grandpa said. “You know your parent’s dinner rule, right? Let’s say it together.”
“Clean your plate to get your dessert,” they all said in unison.
“That’s right,” Grandpa said. “So dinner is free. You get a free dinner by just being in the family. Right?”
“Yes, Grandpa,” They both said in unison.
“You know, it reminds me of Salvation,” Grandpa said.
“Salvation,” Sam asked.
“Yes,” Grandpa explained. “Salvation is like dinner. It’s given free to those who believe in Jesus. Remember Ephesians 2:8-9?"
Samantha nodded eagerly, "Yes, it's the one that says, 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.'"
"Spot on, Samantha!" Grandpa applauded. "Now, what about dessert?”
“We have to earn it by clearing our plate,” Sam said.
“That’s right. Dessert is a bit like discipleship. To earn it, you've got to put in some effort. Just like Luke 14:27 says, 'Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after Jesus cannot be Jesus…” Grandpa paused to let them answer.
“Disciple,” the kids said in unison.
"So dessert is like discipleship...you have to work for it," Sam said, his face lighting up with understanding.
"There you go, Sam!" Grandpa's voice was warm and proud.
“But if you want to eat your dessert first, you could always earn tonight’s dessert, hide it under your pillow for the night, and then eat it before dinner tomorrow.”
“Eww, yuck!” both kids said. “Just an idea. Now, I've got to go fight off these space cockroaches before they eat up all the desserts. What I wouldn’t give for a giant shoe! You two enjoy your free dinner and the dessert I hope you’ll earn!”
They both slapped their chest buttons and reappeared in their room, right from where they had left.
In the exciting adventure with Sam, Samantha, and space Grandpa, we learned about two big ideas: Salvation and Discipleship. Salvation is a beautiful gift from Jesus, given freely to those who believe in Him. It's like getting dinner without having to work for it! Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us all about this free gift.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
But then, there's dessert (kind of like Discipleship), which is something we have to work for, just like we have to clear our plates to earn dessert. Luke 14:27 explains how we must follow Jesus and carry our own cross to be His disciple. That won’t be easy sometimes.
And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:27)
This story helps us understand that while the love of Jesus is free, following Him takes effort and commitment, just like earning a tasty dessert!
We’re going to make a plate of dinner and a plate of dessert to help us remember our lesson today.
Materials: Paper plates, markers, colored paper, scissors, glue.
Create a Plate: Draw your dinner on one paper plate, and draw dessert on another paper plate. On the plate for dinner write “Salvation is free like dinner.” and under it write “Ephesians 2:8-9.” Then on your dessert place write “Discipleship is earned like dessert.” Under it write “Luke 14:27.” Then color and decorate your dinner and dessert drawings.
Discussion: Talk about how dinner is like Salvation, and dessert is like Discipleship. You can earn the dessert by doing good deeds!
Set Up: Lay out "planets" (cushions) in a line.
Objective: Kids hop from one planet to another to reach the "dessert" (a toy or sticker) at the end.
Rules: You must complete a challenge (like saying a kind word) at each planet to earn your way to the dessert.
Connection to Story: Just like in the story, you have to work (hop and complete challenges) to earn your dessert!
Discussion Questions:
If you could go to any place in the universe where would you go?
Why do you think Grandpa was fighting space cockroaches? (Answer: Open-ended, can relate to keeping bad things away, just like we must try to do good things.)
What does Salvation mean? (Answer: Salvation means being saved by Jesus. It's free, like dinner!)
How is dessert like Discipleship? (Answer: Dessert is something you have to work for, like following Jesus.)
Can you name something good you can do to "earn your dessert" or be a good follower of Jesus? (Answer: Open-ended, encourage kids to think of kind deeds or actions.)
It is amazing that you produced a kid's cartoon, teaching a lesson about salvation/discipleship using a sci-fi grandpa. Speaking for all grandpas out there, it's nice to be included.