Newspaper Story

I first saw this newspaper folding trick on TV when I was a child.  I’ve been using it and the story that came with it ever since.  But now I add my own personal ending to make it fit in a children’s sermon.  View the video below in order to learn how to fold and tear the newspaper that's used in the story.
https://youtu.be/pDYJeLB4Et8

(Begin folding the fireman’s hat.)  Once upon a time there was a little boy who was walking along the beach with his father.  As they walked his father decided to ask his son about what he wanted to be when he grew up.  “So what do you want to be when you grow up son?” his father asked.  After much thought the little boy said, “I want to be a fireman and wear this kind of hat.”  (Show the hat.)  His father replied, “Oh man that sounds like a lot of fun riding on the firetrucks speeding on their way to a fire and using the water hoses to put out the fire…..But wait a minute.  That could be a lot of work keeping the firetrucks clean, walking up and down those ladders and not to mention the possibility of getting burned in the fire.”  (Begin folding sailor’s hat.)  After a few moments of silence the little boy said, “Well daddy I don’t think I want to be a fireman after all.”  They continued to walk along the beach.  

Then the little boy broke the silence when he said, “Daddy I know now what I want to be.  I want to be a sailor and I would wear this kind of hat.”  (Show sailor’s hat.)  “A sailor huh?” asked his father.  “Now that sounds like a lot of fun.  Riding on those big ships and seeing the world…now that’s what I call fun….But there is the possibility that you might get sea sick and as I recall, you can’t swim.  What would you do if the boat sank?” asked his father.  (Begin folding Robin Hood’s hat.)  After much thought the little boy said, “I don’t think I want to be a sailor either.”  They continued to walk along the beach.  

 

Then the little boy announced for the third time what he wanted to be.  He said to his father, “I know now what I want to be and this one is for real.  I want to be Robin Hook and wear this kind of hat. (Show Robin Hood’s hat.)   I’d steal from the rich and give to the poor.”  “Now you’re talking son, that would be awesome to live in the woods, ride horses and help the poor,” his father replied, “but I bet it can get cold and wet living in the woods.  And of course you’d be sleeping on the ground so you wouldn’t have you nice comfortable bed.  And of yeah, stealing is stealing no matter if you give it to the poor or not.  If you get caught you will get put in jail.”  For the third and final time the little boy said, “Well I don’t want to do that either.”  They continued to walk along the beach.  

A few minutes later they both looked out on the ocean where they saw a boat.  (Pull apart the two paper edges in order to reveal a boat.)  On board the boat were another father and son.  They were enjoying sailing when all of a sudden there was a huge wave that hit one end of the boat and tore it completely off.  (Tear off one end of the boat.)  As you can imagine the boat then began to sink.  Then out of nowhere there appeared a huge rock.  The boat hit it and it tore off the other end of the boat. (Tear off the other end of the boat.)   Now the boat was sinking twice as fast.  But that wasn’t all.  Then a bolt of lightning came from the sky, hit the top of the boat and tore it completely off. (Tear off the very top of the boat.)  Well all the people on shore saw what had happened so they got into their boats to see if they might help save the lives of the man and his son.  Little did they know that the boy could not swim.  So his father was holding him up out of the water so he wouldn’t drown.  Just as the rescue boats arrived they pulled the boy out of the water at the exact same time when his father went under the water.  He saved his son from drowning and then drowned himself.  They searched the water for a couple of hours but all they found was his shirt.  (Open the paper to reveal a Tshirt.) 

The father loved his son so much that he actually died while saving his life.  That has to be the ultimate love when someone gives his own life for someone else.  Well, boys and girls did you know that there is someone who died for you?  His name is Jesus Christ and no He didn’t drown in the ocean but he died on an old wooden cross instead.  (Open up the shirt to reveal a cross.)  He shed His blood for you and for me so that our sins might be forgiven and so that we might be able to spend eternity in heaven with Him and His Heavenly Father.  If you don’t know Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, why don’t you invite Him into your heart today, right here, right now?  You’ll be glad you did.  LET’S PRAY!!!