Category Archives: Children’s Sermons

Children’s Sermon March 17, 2013 John 12:1-8 Lent 5C

March 10, 2013 lb Leave a comment

Preparation: paper bags with different things that smell strong enough that kids can guess what they are in them–one bag per smell. For example: cinnamon sticks, garlic, hot chocolate, flower, other spices or herbs. One bag that has perfume or smelly lotion that you can also use.

Scripture: John 12:1-8

Gather the children with you. “Do you have a favorite smell? Take answers. I brought some things for you to try to guess what they are by the smell.” Open the bags and one by one (so only do 2-3 bags) pass them around and have kids close eyes and smell.

“Our sense of smell is very powerful, did you know that? Sometimes we can remember whole events or people just by what we smell. (share an important smell for you). In todays’s story from John we are told about how Mary poured nard or a perfume on Jesus and that the smell filled the house. She did this because it was a way that people prepared for a body for being buried and she was saying that she understood that Jesus was going to go to Jerusalem and one day die to show her and the whole world how much God loves. So this smell filled the house and was likely a smell that after Jesus did leave and die and rise again reminded Mary and the people who there not only about Jesus but about God’s love and forgiveness. Just like when I smell _____ I remember and think of _________. (fill in your own smell story or say cookie and grandma if you can’t think of anything!). I am going to give you each a little spray/squirt of perfume/lotion and I want you to smell it while you pray and then throughout the day when you smell this on your skin you can remember that you are loved by Jesus.” Spray the perfume or give a little lotion to each kid.

Let’s pray, Jesus, we have many ways we can remember you. Help us to know that you are with us in all of our days and that even our sense of smell can show us how to be a part of your kingdom and love. Amen

Go with this blessing: May you know the sweet smell of love today!

Children's Sermons, Communications

Children’s Sermon March 10, 2013 Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Lent 4C

March 8, 2013 lb Leave a comment

Note: The Jesus Storybook Bible is an excellent resource for this story. The author does a beautiful job of emphasizing how God’s love never fails. Consider reading this version as the Gospel that everyone hears (audible gasp! I know, but could be awesome!!)

Scripture: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Gather the children and welcome them. Start by asking how many of them have a brother or a sister. If you have kids that do not ask if they have a good friend. Do you ever feel like they get something that you don’t? Or have you ever said, “that is not fair!”? Hear there comments–but be prepared they may have more stories on this topic than normal!

“There is a story that Jesus told about a family.” Read the story of the prodigal son from a children’s bible or paraphrase the story in your own words. Highlight that Father loved both the children no matter what and that forgiveness happened before the younger son could even say he was sorry. Then ask, “Are you surprised by how the father greeted the son who returned? Have you ever forgiven someone or been forgiven? How does that feel?… In Lent we often talk about focusing on the cross. One thing the cross reminds us of is that Jesus died on the cross because we are loved and forgiven no matter what–even if we are mean to someone, even if we are jealous, even when it does not seem fair.”

“Now take your hands and whisper something into them that you would like to tell God–either an I’m sorry for something or thanking God for something.” Show them by cupping your hands and whispering. Say, “Hold this in your hand while we pray and then we will release them up to God on the Amen.”

Jesus, we are sorry for the things we have done that have hurt other people. We thank you for your love and forgiveness. Help us to remember your love is for us and for others. We release our prayers to you (open hands and lift them up to the sky). Amen

Go with this blessing: You are loved and forgiven always.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon March 3rd, 2013 Luke 13:1-9 Third Sunday in Lent Year C

February 27, 2013 bw Leave a comment

Have a plant or a little tree for this children’s sermon. You may also want a picture of a fig tree to show the children. Gather the children (and the young at heart!) to a spot where all can see the plant.

Show the children the plant and say, “I have this plant here that I have had for some time. When I first got it, it was small. So I watered it and gave it some plant food. What do you think happened when I watered it and fed it? (Accept all answers) Yes, it got bigger! This plant maybe wont grow to be too big but have you ever seen a big tree like an apple tree or a orange tree? They started out small as well and then with love and care grew to be quite large. And those kinds of trees when they reach a certain age, if they have been cared for, will grow fruit to be shared with people and animals.

In part of our Bible story today Jesus talks about a fig tree (show the picture if you have it) that is cared for by a gardener. It doesn’t give fruit yet and the gardener tells the owner of the tree to be patient and give it more time. The gardener wants to give the tree a little more love and care and time. God is like that gardener for us. God gives us people like our moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas and all kinds of loving adults to take care of us. We grow in that love and care don’t we? Now we don’t grow apples or oranges like trees to share with people but we do have love to share with friends and our family. Do we have to wait to be a certain size or age to share God’s love? NO! We can do that no matter how old we are! What are some ways that we can share love with others? (Accept all answers) We can pray with people, open up our church to those who need a place to sleep, give people food to eat, blankets to be warm (list off ministries that your congregation participates in).

Dear God, thank you for loving us and caring for us. No matter how big we are or how old we are we will share your love with the world. In Jesus name, amen.

Make the sign of the cross on one another and say, May you grow in God’s love and care.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 2nd Sunday of Lent Feb. 24th Luke 13: 31-35

February 19, 2013 bw 1 Comment

This story is a difficult one and is not in most children’s Bibles. I would recommend paraphrasing and making the point of that the Pharisees warn Jesus to leave as Herod wants to hurt him but Jesus refuses to leave. Jesus wants to stay and be with the people and protect them. Jesus stays with us always and through Jesus we are all connected to one another. This is the main point of our children’s time for this text.

Have a large ball of string or yarn handy. Ask: Have you ever been somewhere like on vacation or visiting grandma or grandpa and you didn’t want to leave? You wanted to stay with the friends or family that you were visiting? Or have you gone to a really good friend’s house and didn’t want to go because you like being with that person so much? Well in our story today Jesus is told that he should leave town because the king Herod wants to hurt him. But Jesus says no to them. He says that he will stay right there in Jerusalem. Why do you think that Jesus would stay in a place where he might get hurt? (Accept all answers) Jesus stays in Jerusalem because in that city are people that God loves very much and Jesus would rather be with those people and be hurt than not be hurt and be away from them. Jesus wants to be with us-all of us-and will stay with us NO MATTER WHAT!

Jesus is always with you! Now Jesus tells the people at the end of our Bible story today “You will not see me again until you say ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of The Lord.” What do you think that might mean? (Accept all answers) Those are all good ideas! Could it mean that we are sent by God to show God’s love to all of the people in our day? I think it might! Because of Jesus love for us we are to show that love to other people. And that love connects us all to God and to one another. It’s a connection that we can’t really see but it may be something like this. Unroll the ball of yarn and give an end to a child and then have each child hold on to a piece of the yarn. Let the yarn weave in and out of the group. They do not have to be in a circle. Depending on the size of your congregation and how much yarn you have, pass the ball of yarn around your worship space to connect the adults and children together as well!

Look at all of the people in this room that you are connected to! People of all ages, from lots of different places and with lots of different ideas. How wonderful is that! God connects you to a group of people who love and care for one another! What are some ways that we can show friends at school or in our neighborhood that we are all connected by God’s love? Can we share what we have? Can we talk to a new person at school or sit with someone who is lonely at lunch? Can we shovel the sidewalk for a neighbor or read a book to a younger brother or sister? Yes those are all great ways to show God’s love!

While we are all connected with this yarn let’s pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for being with us all the time. Thank you for loving us all and send us to show love to all of our family members, friends, and eve those we don’t know. Hold us in your loving arms, amen.

Make the sign of the cross on each child and say “You are a blessing to God’s world.”

Children's Sermons

First Sunday in Lent, February 17th, 2013 Luke 4: 1-13

February 13, 2013 bw Leave a comment

Preparation: Have enough really fun candy for each child.

Invite the children to come together in your usual space. Tell them the story of Luke 4-The Temptation of Jesus either in your own words or from a children’s Bible. Be sure to emphasize that Jesus repeatedly focuses on God as the center of his life.

Show the kids the pictures of the fun items or the real things. Say to them, “I have some really fun things here this morning. Do you see anything that you like? Well, I will give you this (ipod, xbox, candy etc.) if you promise to do something for me every time I see you from now on. If I need my driveway shoveled, you have to do it because I gave you this toy. If the church needs cleaned you will have to do it because you agreed to take this toy from me. Is that ok? Do you still want ….?(Accept all answers. This might get tricky as someone will most definitely decide that it is a good trade! Just go with both sides.)

Well, some of you think it’s a good trade and some of you don’t. Hmmmm…..well when Jesus was offered to be an earthly king (which is a pretty good deal) and some great tasting food by the devil, he knew that is was not a good trade. You know why? Then the devil would be able to have Jesus do whatever the devil wanted! Jesus knew that he would owe the devil something forever if he took those things from him. And here is what Jesus also knew: God gives us all kinds of good things not to get us to do stuff for God but just because God loves us all very much. Now God may not give us all the toys we want or all the candy we want but God does give us all of the love that we need-our friends, our moms and dads and families-but most of all Jesus. God sent Jesus to make sure that we know God’s love all of the time.

So to remind each of you of that love I will give you each a piece of candy and you won’t have to do anything for it.

Let’s pray: Dear loving God, you are with us always and give your love freely to us. Thank you for loving us no matter what. Help us to share that love with our friends and family. Amen

Make the sign of the cross on each other’s foreheads or hands and say: God’s love is free.

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Transfiguration of Our Lord, Luke 9:28-36

February 1, 2013 gb 1 Comment

Prepare: Bring some kind of party decoration, preferably something that marks a change in your life, like a graduation, marriage, retirement, etc. Note that you will need to modify parts of this children’s sermon to fit your party and your experience.

Faith+Open: Have your party item out and easy to see as you gather the children together. Ask the children if they have ever been to a party, be ready to hear a few stories and move on.

Faith+Share: Wow, those sound like some great parties! I wanted to tell you a little about a party that I was at once. (Here is where you will need to think about your own situation. I will write what I would say.) This says ”Congrats Grad!” What do you think it’s from? Right, a graduation! I was thinking about my college graduation and all the fun I had celebrating that day. That party was celebrating more than a single event, the graduation itself, but also all that had come before and all that lay ahead. See, you can only get to a college graduation by staying in school and working really hard, so it’s fun to celebrate all that work that was put in. Even more, though, a college graduation celebrates all the possibilities that are to come! Graduating from college was great fun, too. We had parties, and I got to spend time with my family and some good friends, I even got some gifts, and everybody likes gifts! I didn’t want all that fun to end.

In our Gospel story today Jesus takes Peter, John and James to an amazing event. We call the Transfiguration. Peter, John and James see Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. They see their friend and teaching in a dazzling new way, and they don’t want to leave that place or that moment. They want to stay right there, they even offer to build houses to live so they never have to leave. They even hear the voice of God claim Jesus as God’s Son! But they can’t stay there. Just like I had to move on from the fun of graduation, they have to go back to their lives, back to the ministry that they are part of with Jesus.

So, kind of like a graduation, Jesus transfiguration marks a moment of change. Jesus is claimed by God and is ready to start the next part of his life. Peter, John and James see Jesus in a new way, and as much as they want to stay in that moment they have to move on, but they move on with a new way of understanding Jesus, and a new excitement about the things to come. This Sunday, for us, marks the beginning of the journey toward Easter, and we, too, should move forward with excitement!

Faith+Prayer: Ever changing and amazing God, we thank you for the transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain, and for the turning points in our own lives. Help us to celebrate these turning points and to move forward with our lives with excitement and joy. Amen.

Faith+Blessing: Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

~GB

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

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 4th Sunday after Epiphany, John 4:21-30 –or- 1 Corinthians 13:1-13

January 24, 2013 gb Leave a comment

NOTE: This children’s sermon could be adapted for many different Sundays and readings.

Faith+Open: Find a way to enter into the worship space that gives you a little time to walk before you invite the children to join you. Sing “Zippity Do Dah” as you walk in. Here’s a link to a youtube video – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcxYwwIL5zQ

Faith+Share: Have you ever heard that song before? Uncle Remis, the character that sang that song, was singing it as a prayer of thanks for a beautiful day. Well, I have a prayer that I call the “Zippity Do Dah Prayer” that I think might go well with the readings that we have today. The Zippity Do Dah Prayers is a prayer of thanks for the good things that are happening, like love and hope and joy. It is also a great prayer to help us look at the good things that are happening and help us to let go of some of the bad things.

I thought of it when I read the story about Jesus that we hear today. Jesus is in his hometown and he says things that are true, but that make the people who live there really upset. I mean really upset, they decided that they should throw him off a cliff because they were so mad. Then something amazing happens, Jesus just walks through the angry crowd of people and walks away. He leaves the anger behind him and continues his ministry somewhere else.

Now, the Zippity Do Dah prayer has some important parts. First is the position – prayers often have a special position like folded hands, or kneeling. For this one, you lie down on your back, cross your ankles and put your hands behind your head, like this.

The second thing is that this is a prayer of thanks! No “Lord help me,” just thanks. Thank God for different things, something like, “Good morning, God, I hope you are having a good day. I sure am thankful for . . . “ and fill in what you are thankful for. Then at the end say, “I’ll talk to you again soon, Amen!”

Let’s try it! We’ll all lie down in the prayer position and I’ll start, then we can all say 1 or 2 things that we are thankful for. It’s ok if we all talk at the same time.

Faith+Prayer: (use the prayer, then invite the children to sing “Zippity Do Dah” as they go back to their seats.

Faith+Blessing: Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

Special thanks to my friend Randy Williams for this prayer and the idea to use it as a children’s sermon.

~GB

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

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Luke 4:14-21

January 17, 2013 gb Leave a comment

Prepare: Bring a copy of your church’s mission statement, and/or the mission statement of the broader church organization your congregation is part of. Bring a Bible and mark Isaiah 61:1.

Faith+Open: As the children gather ask them if they know what a mission statement is. Take a few answers. Some of them might get close, but offer a clear definition in any case, something like, “A sentence or short paragraph that says the goals and values of a company, organization or person.”

Faith+Share: Did you know that our church has a mission statement? Here, listen to this (Read the statement. Read the statement of your wider church organization, too if there is one.) What do you think about that? Why do you think that we have a mission statement like that? (So people know what we believe, what things we think are important, what kinds of things we want to do as a community, things like that.)

Well, I think that today we get to hear Jesus’ mission statement in the Gospel reading. Jesus went back to his home town and went to his home church and got up to read from the scriptures. Now here’s the tricky part, was Jesus reading from the Gospel? No, of course not! Those were written after Jesus did all this amazing stuff. Jesus was reading from what we call the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible. He was reading from a book called Isaiah, and we still read stories from Isaiah today. This is what he read – (Read Isaiah 61:1-2).

That’s a pretty good description of what Jesus did, isn’t it? Are there parts of this scripture that we can do, too? (Wait for a few answers.) Yeah, those are all great ideas, let’s pray.

Faith+Prayer: Jesus, what an amazing mission statement! Help us to live within your mission and to show people your compassion and love in all that we do. Amen

Faith+Blessing: Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

~GB

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

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon 2nd Sunday after Epiphany, John 2:1-11

January 9, 2013 gb 3 Comments

Prepare: Bring your purse or wallet with some ideas about what you have in there that tells about who you are.

Faith+Open: As the children gather, ask them to look around at your worship space and look for things that tell them they are in a worship space (crosses, candles, baptism font, etc.) Take a few comments about what they see.

Faith+Share: Good job! Other buildings have things that tell about them, too. Schools have classrooms and desks; libraries have books. Did you know that people often carry things that tell about them, too?

Let me show you, here is my wallet (or purse). I keep some important things in here, some of them tell a whole bunch about me. (Here are some examples from my wallet for you, please feel free to come up with your own!) My driver’s license has my picture, my address, this little heart in the corner means that I’m an organ donor, this “m” means that I ride a motorcycle. That a pretty important thing that I carry, isn’t it! What else is in here? Oh, look at this! It’s my Starbucks Coffee Gold Card! This means that I drink way too much coffee. I have credit cards, too, and business cards. All of these things can tell you a little bit about who I am and what I think is important.

In our Gospel story today, we hear about something that Jesus did that started to make people wonder who he was. Does anyone know what he did? Let me give you a hint, he was at a big party and they ran out of wine to drink. (Give a minute for answers. You can give a few more hints if you have time, or just continue if they don’t get it) He turned a bunch of water into wine! This was the first time that Jesus did something that we call a miracle that we know about. That is a sign that tells us Jesus is special. This wasn’t a magic trick, it was a miracle! Do you know the difference? A magic trick can be explained. If this was a trick he would have hidden the water somewhere and replaced is with wine, but Jesus didn’t do that. Jesus changed the water into wine, and not just any wine, it was the best wine! And no one can explain how he did it.

Jesus performs many miracles in the Bible. He heals people, he feeds people, he even brings some one back from the dead! Listen for the miracles of Jesus as we read through the Bible in church this year.

Faith+Prayer: God of Wonders and Miracles, WOW! We love you for the amazing stories about miracles and for all the gifts that you have given us. We love you for our family and friends, for beautiful planet that we live on and the endless universe that we live in. Thank you for all you love and care for us. Amen.

Faith+Blessing: Shine with God’s light so that all may see God’s Glory.

Adapted from SPARK Sunday School curriculum.

~GB

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

Children's Sermons

Children’s Sermon Baptism of Jesus Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

January 3, 2013 lb Leave a comment

Preparation: Baptismal font down front or where you can gather children.

Faith+Gather: Gather the children around the baptismal font. Ask them if they know what this is? What happens here?

Faith+Connect: Yes, baptisms happen here. In our gospel today we hear that Jesus was baptized and we know that he said to go and baptize others. So baptism is what we call a sacrament. Does anyone know what it means? Take some answers. Explain that baptism is about God’s gift of love and grace being give to us totally free. Ask what water does, what is for? Take answers. Yes, water can also be for cleaning and washing so we use water to help show us that God washes all the sin away and promises to love us no matter what we do in our lives. It’s a way that we remember that we belong to God. When we baptize someone we say ‘You are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever’ and we mark the sign of the cross on their forehead either with water or with oil. And this is one way we can remember our baptisms too–anytime and anywhere! Let’s do that now. Put your finger in the font and make the sign of the cross on your forehead while I say the words “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever” Now we are going to pray but then we are going to dip our fingers one more time and you can go back to your pew family and make the sign of the cross on them!

Faith+Prayer: Thank you Jesus for your love with us every day. Thank you for water and words that help us remember we belong to you. Amen.

Faith+Blessing: Today you are taking the blessing back to the people around you. Dip your finger in the water and head on back and say to them, “Jesus loves you always”

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