The First Lesson
Children's sermon
Let Them Answer
(Ask the children to come forward after the prayer of the day. Have on hand a copy of the Hebrew Bible, the LBW and a book of American history.)
Before we listen to the reading of the first lesson, does anyone know where the first lesson is from most Sundays? (LTA) Let's look in the front of the LBW to see. Beginning on page 13 we have a list of the lessons for each Sunday. (Show them.) You can see the Psalm listed, and under that is the first lesson. Let's look at the first lesson for several Sundays and see if we can tell where it is from. (Point to several.) Yes, most Sundays we read it from the Old Testament. Has anyone read the whole Old Testament? (LTA) It's large and has 39 books. Let's take a look at the book the reader will read from today. (Take them to the lectern and show them the lectern Bible. Open it to the lesson for the day.) This Old Testament is written in English. Does anyone know what languages the earliest books were written in? (LTA) Some of the earliest were written in an ancient language called Aramaic. That language isn't used much anymore. In Jesus' day the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. I have a copy of a Hebrew Old Testament to show you. Can anyone read any of it? (LTA) It's very difficult. The letters all look different, don't they? Would you like me to read some for you? (LTA - Choose a passage you can read easily.) When we read in English, where do we start reading? Would someone open the book for me? (Let someone do it.) Thank you. We would read from the left to the right. But in the Hebrew Bible we have to read from the right to the left. So it seems backwards to us, but we have to open the book the other way to get to the first verse.
Why do you think we read the Old Testament at worship? (LTA) It tells us about God. It is the story of God's love for his people before the time of Jesus. Does anyone study history in school? (LTA) This is a history book from the school. Do you think we should read it as our first lesson? (LTA) Yes, the Bible tells us about God's part in our history. The school book just tells the facts. Also, God's message to his people in the Old Testament is good for us even today.
We know what it means to be old. What is a Testament? (LTA) Have you ever heard of a "last will and testament?" (LTA) Well, the Old Testament is the Old Covenant or the Old Agreement which God made with people before the time of Jesus. Why do you suppose we read that instead of just sticking to the New Testament and what Jesus said and did? (LTA) Do your parents ever say "When I was a kid, we had to do such and such? (LTA - walk several miles to school, eat lard on our bread, and so forth) We may get tired of hearing them tell the stories, but can we learn from history? (LTA) Yes, we can. We all try not to make the same mistakes over. The Old Testament reminds us of the mistakes of the past and the way God helped his people. Let's listen carefully as this lesson is read.
Before we listen to the reading of the first lesson, does anyone know where the first lesson is from most Sundays? (LTA) Let's look in the front of the LBW to see. Beginning on page 13 we have a list of the lessons for each Sunday. (Show them.) You can see the Psalm listed, and under that is the first lesson. Let's look at the first lesson for several Sundays and see if we can tell where it is from. (Point to several.) Yes, most Sundays we read it from the Old Testament. Has anyone read the whole Old Testament? (LTA) It's large and has 39 books. Let's take a look at the book the reader will read from today. (Take them to the lectern and show them the lectern Bible. Open it to the lesson for the day.) This Old Testament is written in English. Does anyone know what languages the earliest books were written in? (LTA) Some of the earliest were written in an ancient language called Aramaic. That language isn't used much anymore. In Jesus' day the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. I have a copy of a Hebrew Old Testament to show you. Can anyone read any of it? (LTA) It's very difficult. The letters all look different, don't they? Would you like me to read some for you? (LTA - Choose a passage you can read easily.) When we read in English, where do we start reading? Would someone open the book for me? (Let someone do it.) Thank you. We would read from the left to the right. But in the Hebrew Bible we have to read from the right to the left. So it seems backwards to us, but we have to open the book the other way to get to the first verse.
Why do you think we read the Old Testament at worship? (LTA) It tells us about God. It is the story of God's love for his people before the time of Jesus. Does anyone study history in school? (LTA) This is a history book from the school. Do you think we should read it as our first lesson? (LTA) Yes, the Bible tells us about God's part in our history. The school book just tells the facts. Also, God's message to his people in the Old Testament is good for us even today.
We know what it means to be old. What is a Testament? (LTA) Have you ever heard of a "last will and testament?" (LTA) Well, the Old Testament is the Old Covenant or the Old Agreement which God made with people before the time of Jesus. Why do you suppose we read that instead of just sticking to the New Testament and what Jesus said and did? (LTA) Do your parents ever say "When I was a kid, we had to do such and such? (LTA - walk several miles to school, eat lard on our bread, and so forth) We may get tired of hearing them tell the stories, but can we learn from history? (LTA) Yes, we can. We all try not to make the same mistakes over. The Old Testament reminds us of the mistakes of the past and the way God helped his people. Let's listen carefully as this lesson is read.
