Faith Formation Journeys

Walking Together in Grace

Category: Children’s Sermons

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

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

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

    20130715-114218.jpg  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 . . .

    FaithCross  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!

    FaithCross_PrayALT  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

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

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

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

    20130715-114218.jpg  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.

    FaithCross  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.

    FaithCross_PrayALT  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.

    FaithCross_BlessALT  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.