Category Archives: Children’s Sermons

Children’s Sermon 21st Sunday After Pentecost (Lec 28), Luke 17:11-19 – October 13, 2013

October 3, 2013 gb Leave a comment

Prepare: Bring something with you that is “broken”, but that a child could obviously fix. Something really simple, like two pieces of wood that fit together.

As the children gather be trying to fix whatever it is you that brought, and then ask them for help. Once it is fixed be sure to NOT say thank you! Just grab it back, maybe be even a little rude.

Wait, was that what I was supposed to do? Shouldn’t I say something to (name of child who helped)? Yeah, what is it that I should say? Oh! “Thank You!”

We all know to do that, right? We all say “thank you” when someone helps us, right? Here’s a question for you, though – how often to you say thank you to God when you ask God for help? I don’t know about you, but I pray most often when I am scared or worried, or when I just want God to do something for me. I pray for God to give me good weather when I want to be outside, I pray for God to help people feel better, I pray for God to comfort people who are scared. You know what else I say when I pray? I say, “thank you.”

In today’s Gospel story there are ten people who are really sick, and the disease that they have is really easy to give to other people, so they are not allowed to live in town with all the other people. They ask Jesus to heal them so that they can go back home, and Jesus does it. What should they do next? They should say thank you, right? Well, only one of them comes back to Jesus and says thank you, just one! That’s not good! I said thank you for help with a simple toy, Jesus healed them! They should all say thank you, and so should we.

Let’s try it together. I’m going to start a prayer and then I’m going to stop talking so that we can all say thank you to God for something that we prayed for. (If you children’s sermon happens as part of the main worship at your church invite the whole congregation to do this!) Ok, think for a minute of something that you prayed about that you would like to say thanks to God for. . . ready?

Gracious God, we pray to you all the time for help and comfort, but sometimes we forget to say thank you. Please accept our thanks for these wonderful gifts you have given us ___________. Amen.

Make the sign of the cross and say, “God be in your head, God be in your heart, God be on your left, and God be on your right. Amen”

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon (Updated!) 20th Sunday After Pentecost (Lec 27), 2 Timothy 1:1-14 and/or Luke 17:5-10 – October 6, 2013

October 1, 2013 gb Leave a comment

Prepare: Find a broom that can be a used as a horse. Don’t dress it up! If you are planning on focusing on the Luke passage you should also bring some poppy seeds.

NOTE: You could modify this for a different imagination-based toy, but the important part is to make the clear distinction between imagination and faith.

Ride in on your broom “horse” and round-up the children as they gather together. Make this into something fun! Maybe a little “YeeHaw!” would be good. Try to get them into the game. Once you have them all rounded up and sitting down move on.

Wow! That was fun! Don’t you love playing imagination games? I just got to ride a horse in church! Do you like to use your imagination? That’s great! Imagination is fun. For example, I can imagine that this broom is a horse, like I just did, or it could be balance pole and I could be a tight-rope walker, or it could be a shovel as I dig for dinosaurs, or it could be almost anything! Now here is the tricky question, what is the difference between imagination and faith? (Give them a little time to think, maybe even take a few answers.) Maybe I could say it this way, I can imagine that this broom is a horse, but I don’t have faith that I could really ride it someplace far away.

When we imagine something we know that it isn’t real, that we are just pretending, no matter how real the fun is. When we have faith in something we know that it is real and true even if we can’t always explain why we know that. Like our faith in Jesus, we have faith that Jesus loves and came to save us, but sometimes it is really hard to explain why we know it is true, or why we believe it. (Here is where you can choose between 2 Timothy and Luke, or you can use both!) We heard part of a letter that is in the Bible today, it was written to a man named Timothy. In that letter we hear that the faith that we have is a gift from God. We have faith in God’s love and forgiveness. There is nothing that we can do to earn more love from God and nothing we can do to make God stop loving us. We know this is true, but we can’t always explain why we know.

Faith can be a powerful thing, too. We heard Jesus say today that if we had faith the size of a mustard seed we could tell trees to go jump in a lake and they would do it! Do any of you know how big a mustard seed is? Well, I brought some seeds, these are really poppy seeds, but they are about the same size. Here, take a look, I brought more than enough in this little jar for each of you to have one! (Had out some poppy seeds). See how small that is? Now, I think that Jesus picked something just silly and crazy when we talked about trees jumping into lakes to show just how powerful faith can be. We don’t really ever expect trees to jump into lakes, but sometimes those kinds of crazy things happen. And it’s not our actions or even our faith, it is God’s love and grace moving through us and through the world.

So, I can imagine that this is a powerful horse that I can ride across the mountains, but I know that it is just a broom. I have faith that God loves me and cares for me, and I know that it is true, even when I can’t explain why.

Gracious and Loving God, thank you for the amazing gift of imagination! What fun to be able to pretend to be people and things that we are not and to have things that we don’t. Thank you also for the gift of faith, to know that you are real and that you care for us, love us and forgive us everywhere and all the time. Amen.

Make the sign of the cross and say, “God be in your head, God be in your heart, God be on your left, and God be on your right. Amen”

You will need postcards or something similar and some poppy seeds. Invite people to tape a (or some) poppy seed to the card. Write “Our faith is a gift from God” on the card. Then write or draw 3 ways that they can live out their faith this week. These can be individual cards, or household cards, or cards with friends.

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Luke 16:19-31 Pentecost 19C September 29, 2013

September 27, 2013 lb 1 Comment

Gather the children up front with you and welcome them. Divide the children in half by something like boys and girls, or by hair color – something so that they are obviously ‘different’ groups. Talk about what is different. Then have a boy and girl or a couple boys and girls create a ‘bridge’ between the two groups. Have each child go under the bridge to show that they are all in one group now. (an alternative idea would be to show the children pictures of bridges that go across a chasm and describe how a bridge connects two sides)

Summarize the gospel or read from the Storybook Bible pg. 387.

Say, “Lazarus and the rich man were divided by this big space. What were the things that made them different?” (take answers, getting across the idea that they lived totally different lives, wealth and poverty and that the rich man did not even see Lazarus as a person deserving his help or attention) “Jesus is telling this story to show that it does not matter what kind of differences or chasm is between us and other people we are free to reach out and help anyone, no matter if they are a different person or different religion or different way of living. Also, Jesus is like this bridge. Because he came to show that God has love for all people, Jesus bridges all those things that divide us and connects us together. We are all one through Christ. So just like you came through that bridge from your two different groups, Jesus brings all people together no matter their differences.”

God, Thank you for sending Jesus to be like a bridge. Help us to see others who are different from us and be your love in the world. Amen

God in my head, God in my heart, God on my left, God on my right +

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Luke 16:1-13 Pentecost 18C September 22, 2013

September 21, 2013 lb 1 Comment

Preparation: a chalice filled with stickers or small candies or something that the kids can have.

Gather the children together and welcome them. Hold up the chalice and say: Anyone know what I have here? (take answers) Yes, this is called a chalice, it’s the cup that we can hold wine or grape juice in for communion.

So I was thinking about this cup and what we usually put in it. And our gospel story today tells about a master, a rich man with people working for him, who rewarded a manager who was not really honest with this money. **Use the Spark Storybook Bible to tell the story in a simple fashion. “Well, it’s an interesting story because it does not seem like the master should reward the manager; it seems like he should punish him instead. But he offers him what we would call grace instead. It certainly seems like a strange way to show grace–would you show grace if your brother or sister gave a way part of your allowance? No probably not, so that is where the chalice comes in.”

“See in this story it’s like God is saying grace is everywhere, really and truly everywhere even when it has no business being there. And this chalice is something that shows us grace every week by being here and being full”–now act like you are going to spill the wine and make show of it and let it start to spill out the stickers or small candies. “Uh-oh, if the wine spills it has no business being on the carpet, what will do, I will be in trouble with… (name janitor or pastor or whoever)”. Then let the other things spill and say, “What, these stickers/candies aren’t supposed to be in the chalice! Well, I guess I am glad that they were instead of wine! Grace shows up in all kinds of ways, even where we think that maybe it should not be and for that we can be grateful because God’s grace shows up for us.”

God, thank you for your grace that is surprising and present and for us in all ways. Amen

God in your head, God in your heart, God on your left, God on your right +

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Luke 15:1-10 Pentecost 17C September 15, 2013

September 13, 2013 lb Leave a comment

Preparation: create a memory game or use one that you have. Either put some simple pictures on index cards or get small boxes you can hid objects under. Have one object missing purposely without a match. You will want to only have 3-5 object sets for time constraints.

Gather children up front with you. Have the memory game ready and welcome them. Say, I have this game with me today–anyone every played ‘memory’ before? Let’s try it.

Have one child help you with the turning the cards or lifting the boxes. If you have a small number of kids they can take turns, a large number you will want them to just point while you or one child turns items over. Play until you have the matches all but one.

Hmm, where is the match for this one? Anyone able to find it? I wonder where it went? Should we look for it? Start looking in places close to you. You can make this as long or as short as you want. Find the match in your pocket or someplace near you. Oh, there it is! I wonder how it got there? I am so glad we found this match! We can finish the game! Phew, the game would have been ruined if we didn’t find the match! I do not like it when things are lost.. do you? Have you every been lost? (take answers briefly).

Jesus tells us a story today about a lost sheep and a lost coin. The people who lost them, looked everywhere until they were able to find them. And the ones that were lost, well they couldn’t do much of anything to be found just like our card (or whichever object you had lost) could make a noise or cry out or move to be found, could it? Well that is what this story is about–that God loves you SO MUCH that even if you are lost or even if you aren’t sure about God or have questions about your faith, God will find you. God promises you are always one of her children and that you are found because you belong to God. And I was pretty happy I found that piece, so I could finish the game. Well God is so happy to have you as a child that God throws a party and rejoices and does a happy dance and promises to never leave you.

Jesus, you are always looking for us and we thank you for your love that finds us. Amen

God rejoices over you!

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Luke 14: 25-33 Pentecost 16, Year C September 8th, 2013

September 5, 2013 bw 1 Comment

Gather the children in a circle. Ask them if they know the “Hokey Pokey” song. Maybe sing a couple of verses and have them do it with you. For the last verse sing the “put your whole self in put your whole self out.”

After you sing that have the kids sit down if you would like. Tell them that today’s Bible story from Luke is kind of a hard one. Jesus says some harsh words about how following Jesus and loving Jesus is not easy and that you may have to give up everything you have to follow Jesus. Say, “Just like the song the “Hokey Pokey” that we just sang, Jesus tells us that the only way to follow him is to put our whole selves in. What does it mean to follow Jesus? How do we act, what do we say, if we are following Jesus? (Accept all answers) So when we are at school do we follow Jesus? Yes. When we are at soccer, baseball, football practice or dance class do we follow Jesus? What if following Jesus, which means loving everyone, even those that other people ignore, means that we get made fun of for being nice to kids that other kids are not nice to? What if following Jesus means that you share the ball in soccer practice or don’t need to be the one who makes the goal? What if following Jesus means giving away part of your allowance to buy food for someone or clothes for someone? Those can all be tough things but Jesus wants our whole selves to follow him not just on Sundays or at church but Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and everywhere! Is that easy or hard? Well the good news is that Jesus promises to be with us on all of those days and at every time of our day! We will mess up and not get it right but we get to try again every single day and God says that is ok and God loves us! And that is “what’s it’s all about!”

God love is what you offer us every day and is what our lives are all about. Help us to put our whole selves into following and loving you. Amen.

Jesus is with you always. (Make the sign of the cross on one another’s forehead.)

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Luke 14: 1,7-14, Sept. 1, 2013 Pentecost 15 year C

August 27, 2013 bw Leave a comment

Preparation: Have some party items available: balloons (use with caution as they can be choking hazards), party hats, streamers, maybe even noise makers, etc.

Gather the children to where you have children’s time. As they come up have someone help you divide them into two groups. Doesn’t matter how-randomly is best! Invite one group of children to come and sit with you just off to the side and tell the other children to just to sit on the opposite side of the area.

Say to the group with you: “Yay! You are all invited to my party this morning! Here have a balloon, a hat, etc. We are going to have fun!” If a child from the other group tries to come over or even looks over tell them, “I am sorry this party is for this group only over here. Just go and sit back over there.” Don’t spend too long with this one group but then say, “You know, I kind of feel bad about that group over there. Should we invite them to come over here?” Hopefully, they will say yes!

Say to the group who was not at the party, “How did it feel to not be part of the fun? (Accept all answers) Say to the other group: How did it feel to be part of the group having fun? Did you think that it wasn’t fair to the other children? Why? Today, Jesus tells us that God invites everyone to God’s party and to be a part of God’s people. Even the people we may not like or even know, God loves and knows. God wants us to remember that God not only loves us and cares for us but cares for all people no matter who they are, what they look like, or how they act. That can be hard for us as we like to hang out with friends who are just like us. Have you ever gone to school on the first day and not known anyone in the classroom? Well, did someone talk to you? Accept all answers and if it’s no talk about how that felt and if they would remember that and talk to a new child at school or in the neighborhood. It can be hard but God tells us that even we might feel on the outside of friends or groups God is there and if we think we are the inside of friends or groups God is there. We can work to not have separate groups like we did here this morning but try to make just one big group which is more fun anyway!

Dear God, you love us all and want us all to be part of your party. Help us to remember that you are with us when we feel alone and when we don’t. Show us how to invite our friends to be a part of you. In Jesus name, amen.

God is with you always. (Make the sign of the cross on one another.)

Children's Sermons

Children’s sermon Luke 13: 10-17, Pentecost 14, August 25th, 2013

August 22, 2013 bw Leave a comment

Preparation: Have a “Hello my name is…” name tag for each child as well as some markers for them to write.

Gather the children and ask a couple of them if you can call them “hey you” or something silly like “male child” or “female child.” Hopefully you will get some giggles and some children insisting that you call them by their real names! You could also just decide to call all the children Joe or Fred…unless one of them has that name! Say: “Does your mom, dad, grandma or grandpa, etc. call you by a fun nickname? Why do they call you that? Is is because they know you really well and love you? Yes! More than likely your parents picked out your name because it means something special to them and because YOU are special to them. Our names and nicknames are ours and the people who know us and love us call us by them.”

Tell the children the story from Luke about the woman who was bent over for 18 years and how no one really saw her, talked to her or took notice of her at all. She was just an old woman in a crowd and no one even knew her name. But Jesus saw her. He called to her by saying “woman, come over to me.” Even Jesus just used a plain name for her. But then Jesus did something wonderful-but not what you think. Yes, Jesus healed her back and she could stand up and see all the people around her but Jesus did something even better than that! He gave her a name: “daughter of Abraham.” Now that name may not seem like much to you or me-but it would be like when your mom, dad, grandma, grandpa or someone you love calls you sweetie, or love, or a nick name that shows how much that person loves you. Jesus was calling her a name that meant that God loved this woman very much and knows who this woman is and will be with her always.
God loves each of us and calls us “children of God” that means that we belong to God first and foremost. In the water of baptism God says that our name that people on earth call us may be Ella, or Brigette or John but God calls us God’s child now and forever.

Have the blank “Hello my name is…” name tags for the children. Have markers for them to write their names on their name tags. Have the children put them on to remember that they are loved by their family, friends and God.

“Dear God, thank you for calling us yours. Let us see all the people in our lives as your children too. Thank you for being with us always. Amen”

Make the sign of the cross and say: “You are called a child of God.”

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 13th Sunday After Pentecost (Lec 20), Hebrews 11:29-12:2 – August 18, 2013

August 8, 2013 gb Leave a comment

Prepare: Bring a mixed up Rubik’s Cube, or other similar puzzle, and a Bible with a bookmark on the Hebrews passage.

Be working on the puzzle that you brought as the children gather and talk about how difficult it is (make a good show of this, even if you do know how to solve it!) Ask the children if they have ever had to do something that was hard or scary as you continue to work a little. After a few answers . . .

Well, I give up on this! Let’s look at the Bible story for today instead. I think that we should look at this story from the book of Hebrews. (Grab your Bible – you may want to be ready with slightly more gentle language for all the horrible things that happen to the people – and read or paraphrase the text through 11:38.) Wow! I thought I had trouble in my life! Can you imagine what these people went through? Not having enough food, people who wanted to hurt them because of what they believed, no place to sleep or keep safe and warm? There’s more, listen to this, (Read or paraphrase 12:1-2).

So all these people who had to endure horrible things are encouraging us so that we should be strong in our faith in God and work to do all those difficult and scary things that we need to do. Some of you are probably starting school soon, and that can be scary. A new teacher, or a new school, or maybe even school for the first time! Sometimes when we get ready for the first day of school we have to go to the Doctor for shots, that can be difficult and scary, too, no matter how nice the doctors, nurses and assistants are. This Bible story tells us that we should face these scary things with confidence because there is a whole bunch of people who are cheering us on and who are ready to celebrate with us in success or console us when we fail. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, and by the love of God in Christ Jesus. Well, with all that in mind, I think that I’ll give this puzzle another try, but let’s pray first!

Jesus, help us to face our fears with the faith that all the heroes in the Hebrew Bible did. Help us to celebrate your victory over death and to keep our trust in your guidance. Amen

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit you are loved by God. (have children repeat this)

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 12th Sunday After Pentecost (Lec. 19), Genesis 15:1-6 and Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, August 11, 2013

August 1, 2013 gb Leave a comment

Prepare: Bring a tent. It does not need to be set up, it can just be a tent in a bag.

Talk a little about your tent as the children gather, when you got it, why you got it, how often you use it (this is the important one). Ask them if they have tents at home.

Today we hear about Abraham and Sarah in two different readings. Abraham and Sarah lived in a tent! It wasn’t just a fun thing to do on the weekend, it was their house. Actually, they probably had several tents, because they had a big household. There were two of them, then they had many servants to help them, because Abraham and Sarah had a whole bunch of animals. It was kind of like a moving farm.

So, they had tents, they had servants, they even had animals, but do you know what they didn’t have? They didn’t have any children! This was a problem because Abraham had all these things, he was really kind of rich for when and where he lived, but there would be no one to take over his herds and tents when he died. What made Abraham even more upset was that God had promised that he would have a son to take over the herds, but now Abraham was old, much too old to have children, and so was his wife Sarah. So, he complained to God about it. Do any of you do that sometimes? I know that I do. I usually don’t get very far when I complain to God, but for Abraham God showed up and said, “Don’t you remember what I promised?” God promised Abraham again that he would have a son, and that his descendants would be as many as the stars in heaven!

Abraham and Sarah kept their faith in God’s promise and God gave them a son! Abraham had to wait a long time for God’s promise. We, too, should keep our faith in God, and hold on to God’s promise of love and grace and mercy for us in our lives.

Gracious God, we rejoice in your promise of love, mercy and grace. Help us to stay faithful to you like Abraham and Sarah did, and keep your faith in us like you kept your faith in Abraham. Amen.

In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit you are loved by God. (have children repeat this)

~GB

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply.

Let us walk with you on the journey of faith. Whether your feet are big or small, fresh or worn, running or crawling, God's love goes with you and you stand on holy ground.