God With Us
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: Jesus is God "with us."
Prop: An empty manger (optional). Place it in front of you.
Lesson: Are you excited? (response) Why are you so excited? (response) What happens on Christmas? (response) It is a very exciting time, isn't it? I have a question for you. Where is God? (response) Give them time to respond. Don't be afraid of some silence. One hopes the talk about Christmas will prime them enough to deal with these questions. Where is God? (their initial answer might be: heaven) What is heaven like? (response) Well, God is in heaven, but where else is God? (everywhere) That's also right. God is everywhere.
Here's another question: If God did come to earth, what do you think he would look like? (response) What else would he look like? (response) If they say "baby," then proceed to the question: "How can God be a baby?" I have some wonderful news for you. God did come to earth and I know exactly what he looked like. He wasn't an old man and he wasn't a big strong man. He didn't even have a king's crown and long robe. He was a baby boy. Do you know what his name was? (Jesus) Now, how can God be a baby? (response) God is supposed to be up in heaven. How can he be down here as a baby? (response) But he is God and he is supposed to be everywhere. How is he now a little baby? Babies can't go anywhere. (response) Give them time to develop their thoughts.
Application: Christmas is a wonderful time. It reminds us that God left heaven and became one of us. When God is up in heaven, it's hard to talk to him and see him, but when he becomes a boy, and he is our brother, then we can talk to him and see him and even hug him. Christmas is a wonderful time!
Let's Pray: Lord, your Christmas reminds us just how much you loved us. You came down from heaven to be with us. Amen.
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Advent 4
Romans 1:1--7
Set Apart
Exegetical Aim: Christians are set apart for the Gospel.
Props: One medium packing box, one very small box, packing tape, tissue paper for wrapping (or bubble wrap), some special item made of glass. Optional: Several small durable items for the children to wrap and pack.
Lesson: How many of you are sending Christmas presents to someone through the mail? (response) What are you sending? (response) This time of year there are many packages being sent to people for Christmas. If you are going to send a package, it is very important that you pack it properly. I want you to help me pack these presents. Have the children place the items in the box. The glass item should be packed last. Whoa! Wait a minute. Do you think that we should pack this glass item in the box with all of these unbreakable things? (response) What would happen to the glass if it were placed in the box? (response) Yes, it might break. I don't want that to happen because this item is very special. Explain why the glass item is special. What should we do in order to keep it from breaking? (response) We should wrap it and set it apart from the rest. Help the children to place the tissue or the bubble wrap around the item. Then bring out the smaller box and put it inside.
I set this apart because I do not want it to be broken. We have to wrap it separately. Do you think that it will be safer here in this box, set apart from the other items? (response) I think so, too.
Application: We set apart certain things because they are special. The Bible tells us that God has certain things that he has set apart for a special purpose. Do you want to guess what God thinks is so special that he has given it a special purpose in this world and set it apart? (response) The answer is ... you! Pick up the small box with the special item. Just as we put this item away from the others because it was important, God has chosen you and set you apart to be a Christian and to share Jesus with others. That is your purpose in this world.
Let's Pray: Dear God, thank you for setting us apart to be your children. Help these children, as they grow, to learn to share the Gospel of Christ and so fulfill their purpose in this world. In his name we pray. Amen.
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Prop: An empty manger (optional). Place it in front of you.
Lesson: Are you excited? (response) Why are you so excited? (response) What happens on Christmas? (response) It is a very exciting time, isn't it? I have a question for you. Where is God? (response) Give them time to respond. Don't be afraid of some silence. One hopes the talk about Christmas will prime them enough to deal with these questions. Where is God? (their initial answer might be: heaven) What is heaven like? (response) Well, God is in heaven, but where else is God? (everywhere) That's also right. God is everywhere.
Here's another question: If God did come to earth, what do you think he would look like? (response) What else would he look like? (response) If they say "baby," then proceed to the question: "How can God be a baby?" I have some wonderful news for you. God did come to earth and I know exactly what he looked like. He wasn't an old man and he wasn't a big strong man. He didn't even have a king's crown and long robe. He was a baby boy. Do you know what his name was? (Jesus) Now, how can God be a baby? (response) God is supposed to be up in heaven. How can he be down here as a baby? (response) But he is God and he is supposed to be everywhere. How is he now a little baby? Babies can't go anywhere. (response) Give them time to develop their thoughts.
Application: Christmas is a wonderful time. It reminds us that God left heaven and became one of us. When God is up in heaven, it's hard to talk to him and see him, but when he becomes a boy, and he is our brother, then we can talk to him and see him and even hug him. Christmas is a wonderful time!
Let's Pray: Lord, your Christmas reminds us just how much you loved us. You came down from heaven to be with us. Amen.
?
Advent 4
Romans 1:1--7
Set Apart
Exegetical Aim: Christians are set apart for the Gospel.
Props: One medium packing box, one very small box, packing tape, tissue paper for wrapping (or bubble wrap), some special item made of glass. Optional: Several small durable items for the children to wrap and pack.
Lesson: How many of you are sending Christmas presents to someone through the mail? (response) What are you sending? (response) This time of year there are many packages being sent to people for Christmas. If you are going to send a package, it is very important that you pack it properly. I want you to help me pack these presents. Have the children place the items in the box. The glass item should be packed last. Whoa! Wait a minute. Do you think that we should pack this glass item in the box with all of these unbreakable things? (response) What would happen to the glass if it were placed in the box? (response) Yes, it might break. I don't want that to happen because this item is very special. Explain why the glass item is special. What should we do in order to keep it from breaking? (response) We should wrap it and set it apart from the rest. Help the children to place the tissue or the bubble wrap around the item. Then bring out the smaller box and put it inside.
I set this apart because I do not want it to be broken. We have to wrap it separately. Do you think that it will be safer here in this box, set apart from the other items? (response) I think so, too.
Application: We set apart certain things because they are special. The Bible tells us that God has certain things that he has set apart for a special purpose. Do you want to guess what God thinks is so special that he has given it a special purpose in this world and set it apart? (response) The answer is ... you! Pick up the small box with the special item. Just as we put this item away from the others because it was important, God has chosen you and set you apart to be a Christian and to share Jesus with others. That is your purpose in this world.
Let's Pray: Dear God, thank you for setting us apart to be your children. Help these children, as they grow, to learn to share the Gospel of Christ and so fulfill their purpose in this world. In his name we pray. Amen.
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