Children’s sermon on Galatians 3:23-29

“All those who have been baptized into Christ have clothed themselves with Christ.”

Idea for Children’s Sermon: Talk about (and act out) the importance of getting properly dressed in the morning. Explain how Paul encourages us to think as though we have clothed ourselves with Christ. (My first draft here is a bit choppy and needs proof reading. However, you’ll get the drift of things.)

Object lesson items: Various items of (important) clothing. Consider using a big warm winter coat. You could also use a football or hockey jersey that shows who we indentify with.

Full Kids sermon: Good morning children! What is the first thing you do when you get up in the morning? (interact). When I first get up I pull on my pants. Then I go to the cupboard and get some clean socks. I put those on. (Act out and consider asking the children to act this out with you.) Then I put on some shoes. Then I get a nice clean shirt. What do you think I put on if I’m going outside on a cold day? That’s right. I get a nice warm jacket and put that on too. On Saturdays, I put this team shirt on. It shows that I’m a member of my soccer club. It also shows others that this game is important to me.

Putting on clothes is very important. Clothes protect us from getting scratched up. Clothes also keep us nice and warm. They also help us to look nice. When I put on my soccer shirt it shows others what my favourite sport is. One of our bible readings this morning is from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. In the 3^rd chapter of his letter, Paul says that followers of Jesus (actually, the baptized) have clothed themselves with Jesus Christ. Paul liked to think of actually “wearing” Jesus Christ, somewhat like we wear a piece of clothing. (If you think it’s helpful you could also explain how Paul thought in terms of having Christ “in us” and walking “with us.”) Kids, perhaps this is one way that we can think about Jesus Christ as well. When I get up in the morning I put on my shirt like this. Perhaps we can imagine clothing ourselves with Christ. Let’s pretend that we are putting on Christ. (Pretend to put on a coat.) At the same time we could say a prayer asking God to help us live for Jesus and for others to know we are on his team!

Children’s Prayer for clothing ourselves with Christ: Dear God, help us clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ every day of our life. Fill us with your Holy Spirit and help others see that we really do belong to Jesus Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Faith

sermon for kids - A centurion's Faith - Just say the word (Luke 7:1-10)

Childrens sermon idea: This is short dramatic explanation of the faith of the centurion.

Using some of your kids visually demonstrate how Jesus often went from person to person performing healings. Have an individual positioned far away at end of the church isle. Demonstrate how Jesus could also heal at a distance by simply “saying the word.”

Props and preparation: It might be helpful to prep ahead of time the person you are going to use to heal at a distance.

Children's Sermon: Good morning children! This morning our bible reading from Luke chapter 7 is about a Roman Centurion soldier who had faith that Jesus could even heal someone from far away. Now, you need to help me with. I want some of you (point to a few) to pretend your are sick and need healing. (Help them lie down and pretend they need healing.) Now I’m going to have Brian pretend he also needs healing but I’m going to have him go and lie down way at the back of the church. (Take him there or have someone escort him.)

(Explain and demonstrate how Jesus healed) Jesus travelled around from town to town telling people about God’s love and God’s kingdom. He would often heal people. He might reach out and touch someone who couldn’t walk. (Touch one of the children lying down and help them to their feet.) He might say a prayer over someone who needed to received their sight. (Saying a short prayer as you put your hand over their eyes.)

But one day Jesus needed to heal someone who was far away. (Look down the isle in the direction of the person who needs healing. Start walking down the isle and then stop.) This time however, Jesus simply said the word (spoke) and them boy was healed. Perhaps he said something like this: “Young child – be healed.” (The individual stands up in joy and awe.)

Jesus was so amazing that he could even heal people when he was far away from them!

Children, that same Jesus is alive today. We don’t know how Jesus will work in a person’s life. He might bring healing, he might bring special friends and helpers, he might bring courage, or he might bring strength. We do know that wonderful things happen when we trust in Jesus as our friend and leader.

Children’s Prayer: Dear God. It’s so wonderful that Jesus had such wonderful power and wonderful love. Help us always to trust in Him! In Jesus’ name. Amen!

Copyright 2013 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus.com Feel free to use this on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundayschildrensfocus and consider linking to this site. Thanks - A.H.

Pentecost 2013 John14:8-17 I will send you the Helper - the Holy Spirit

Kids Sermon idea: When the children come up front ask one of the children to “be a helper” for some simple task. (Move a bench, rearrange some chairs, assist setting something up.) Discuss how having a helper is a great benefit. Explain how Jesus said he would send us a Helper (the Holy Spirit) to live inside us and to be with us forever.

Objects for the kids lesson: A table or chairs or anything at the front of the church that needs to be set up.

Children’s Church talk: Good morning children! How are you this morning? Do you know what special day it is this Sunday? Today is called the day of Pentecost. It’s the day we remember when the Holy Spirit came to fill believers up with the presence of God. In John 14:8-17 the bible says that Jesus promised that his true followers would receive a special helper. That special helper that Jesus gives is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like an invisible part of God that lives right inside us and helps us live the life that Jesus wants us to live. We can’t see the Holy Spirit helper, but Jesus promised that if we obeyed him he would give us that wonderful helper to live inside us. In the same way Betty was my helper this morning, the Holy Spirit will help each one of us do the things that Jesus wants us to do. (You could give some examples: The Holy Spirit helper will help us love others when it’s hard to do. The Holy Spirit Helper will give us power to forgive those who have hurt us. Etc.) I am so that Jesus didn’t leave us alone when he went to heaven. He sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper and to be with us forever!

Children’s Prayer: Dear God, thank you that Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit helper to live right inside us and to be with us forever. In Jesus´ name, Amen.

Copyright 2013 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus Feel free to use this on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and please consider linking to this web site.

Children's Thanksgiving Lesson - Shoe Box Sunday

Title: We have so much – let’s give thanks to God

Samaritans Purse Thanksgiving Shoe box

Themes: We are blessed, abundance, giving to the less fortunate, taking things for granted, thanksgiving

Summary: Ask kids to help you pack up a shoe box for someone in need (This teaches about Thanksgiving but also promos the shoe box compassion project) As you pack items in ask if any of the kids helping you have any of the items such as tooth brush, soap, hair brush, cleanex, pencils, etc. Be amazed that all the kids have all the items! Compared to most children in the world they have so much.

Time: 5 minutes – although this could be stretched out into a full length lesson.

Full Story: Good Morning children! Do you see this empty shoe box? We are packing these up with things to give children that don’t have as much as we have, and I want you kids to help me pack this up. Here is a bag full of things that these less fortunate kids might like. (Open up the empty shoe box and from another container pull out an item to put inside.) What’s this? A toothbrush! Should we put that inside the box? Yes? Ok. Do any of you have a toothbrush? (Probably all the kids will put up their hands – be surprised) What! That’s amazing. All of you have a toothbrush. Wow. You know, many children in the world have never had a toothbrush. Let’s put that inside. (You can let the children help place items in the box) What else do I have here? (Hold up a crayon or pencil) Should I put that in? OK. Have any of you ever had a crayon or a pencil? What! All of you have! Wow. You are so blessed. Many children in the world have never had those before. (Keep going with a few more articles that you know all the kids will have. (It’s ok for your amazement to sound repetitious)

Summarize: Most of us that live here in (your city or town) have so much compared to many children in the world. It’s good to remember how much we have and to give thanks to God. Since we have so much it’s also good for us to share with kids that don’t have the things that we have. (When the box is full close it up) There, I think we are done. Thank you for helping.

Pray: Lord. Thank you that most of us here this morning have so many good things. Help us to share and help out those other kids in the world that don’t have as much as we do. (In our church I had a stack of the prepared shoe boxes up front and I asked the kids to put their hands on the boxes as I prayed) “Lord God, may these boxes bring help and joy to other children that don’t have so much. Thank you that as we share with them we can make a difference in their lives. Amen!

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