A Home To Call Your Own
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: The comfort in knowing that Christ is building a room for us in his Father's house.
Props: A hammer and long nails to hold two 2--by--4's together. Your 2--by--4's should form the shape of the cross once they are put together. But you will not be verbally drawing attention to this. Allow the shape of the cross at the end of the sermon to have only a subtle visual effect.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have a few things with me. What is this? (hammer) What do you do with a hammer? (response) How many of you have used a hammer? (response) What were you building? (response) What are these? (nails) What are you supposed to do with these? (response) How do you use the hammer and the nails together? (response)
I have a couple of other things to show you. Pick up the 2--by--4's: I have these. What are these? (response) Yes, they are wood, but what kind of wood? (response) They call these 2--by--4's. Does anybody know why they call them 2--by--4's? (response) It's because they are four inches wide and about two inches thick. Point out the lengths with your fingers: How do we use all these things together - the hammer, the nails, and the pieces of wood? (response) Let's do that. Let's nail these two pieces of wood together. The object here is to make noise, so don't hold back on the hammering. You will want to drive two nails, one on either side of the matching pieces of 2--by--4 to increase the stability of your work.
Everyone needs to stay back a little so you don't get hurt. As you finish the first nail, start your transition into the point of the lesson. Can anyone tell me what is built with hammers, nails, and wood? (homes, houses, buildings) That's right. Examine your work, but keep from standing it up like a cross. It surely is good to have a home to live in! It reminds me of something Jesus said, start picking out your next nail and measuring it. "Don't let your heart be afraid," he said, "trust me ... I am going to heaven and when I get there I am going to build a room for you in my Father's house." Drive the nail about halfway in. Then he said, "And one day I am going to come back and I am going to take you home so that we can be together." Drive the nail all the way in. Pick up the wood and examine its strength. Try to pull the wood apart. Give the wood to the children. Tell me if that's strong enough. (response)
Application: I want you to know something. Our homes are built like that. They are nailed together just like take the wood at this point this piece of wood and they are strong, but there is a home that is stronger. Jesus is building a home in the heavens that is not put together with nails or wood and hammers. The house he is putting together is being built with ... At this point turn the cross right side up and lean on it in a casual way. Do not draw attention to it. Well, to tell you the truth I'm not sure what material he is using, but I know it's not wood. It's something much stronger and can never be destroyed.
Let's Pray: Father, we can't wait to see your home. And to think that Jesus is building a room for us there! Amen.
?
Easter 5
1 Peter 2:2--10
Got Milk?
Exegetical Aim: The necessity of the scriptures for our lives.
Props: A Bible, a baby doll, a baby bottle, and foods inappropriate for babies: an apple, slice of pizza, and can of cola.
Lesson: Hold the baby doll out for everyone to see. Today, I brought a baby. How many of you have held a real baby? (response) How are you supposed to hold a baby? (response) Very carefully, that's right. What do you do when a baby cries? (response) We do a lot of things to help the baby stop crying, and one of those is to feed the baby. Look at the doll: I think this baby here is crying, so let's feed her. Pick up the can of cola. Babies just love cola, don't they? (response) Hold the can to the baby as if you are feeding her. Ignore any protests from the children. She's still crying. Maybe she needs an apple! (response) What about a slice of pizza? (response) Why won't she stop crying? (response) Why are you telling me no? (response) A baby doesn't drink cola or eat apples or pizza? (response) Then what does a baby need to eat or drink? (response)
Application: Hold up the baby bottle. You are smart children! Babies can't do without their milk, can they? (response) In order to grow, babies must have their milk for their muscles and bones to grow. The Bible says that in a way we are all like babies. Do you know how? (response) The Bible tells us that, just like babies, we need to desire the "milk" of God's word. Hold up the Bible. In here is a special kind of food. This food is not for our muscles and bones; it is for our ... Does anyone know? (response) It is for our heart and mind and spirit to grow. Desire this raise the Bible and you will grow inside!
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for the milk of your word that makes us grow. Amen.
?
Props: A hammer and long nails to hold two 2--by--4's together. Your 2--by--4's should form the shape of the cross once they are put together. But you will not be verbally drawing attention to this. Allow the shape of the cross at the end of the sermon to have only a subtle visual effect.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have a few things with me. What is this? (hammer) What do you do with a hammer? (response) How many of you have used a hammer? (response) What were you building? (response) What are these? (nails) What are you supposed to do with these? (response) How do you use the hammer and the nails together? (response)
I have a couple of other things to show you. Pick up the 2--by--4's: I have these. What are these? (response) Yes, they are wood, but what kind of wood? (response) They call these 2--by--4's. Does anybody know why they call them 2--by--4's? (response) It's because they are four inches wide and about two inches thick. Point out the lengths with your fingers: How do we use all these things together - the hammer, the nails, and the pieces of wood? (response) Let's do that. Let's nail these two pieces of wood together. The object here is to make noise, so don't hold back on the hammering. You will want to drive two nails, one on either side of the matching pieces of 2--by--4 to increase the stability of your work.
Everyone needs to stay back a little so you don't get hurt. As you finish the first nail, start your transition into the point of the lesson. Can anyone tell me what is built with hammers, nails, and wood? (homes, houses, buildings) That's right. Examine your work, but keep from standing it up like a cross. It surely is good to have a home to live in! It reminds me of something Jesus said, start picking out your next nail and measuring it. "Don't let your heart be afraid," he said, "trust me ... I am going to heaven and when I get there I am going to build a room for you in my Father's house." Drive the nail about halfway in. Then he said, "And one day I am going to come back and I am going to take you home so that we can be together." Drive the nail all the way in. Pick up the wood and examine its strength. Try to pull the wood apart. Give the wood to the children. Tell me if that's strong enough. (response)
Application: I want you to know something. Our homes are built like that. They are nailed together just like take the wood at this point this piece of wood and they are strong, but there is a home that is stronger. Jesus is building a home in the heavens that is not put together with nails or wood and hammers. The house he is putting together is being built with ... At this point turn the cross right side up and lean on it in a casual way. Do not draw attention to it. Well, to tell you the truth I'm not sure what material he is using, but I know it's not wood. It's something much stronger and can never be destroyed.
Let's Pray: Father, we can't wait to see your home. And to think that Jesus is building a room for us there! Amen.
?
Easter 5
1 Peter 2:2--10
Got Milk?
Exegetical Aim: The necessity of the scriptures for our lives.
Props: A Bible, a baby doll, a baby bottle, and foods inappropriate for babies: an apple, slice of pizza, and can of cola.
Lesson: Hold the baby doll out for everyone to see. Today, I brought a baby. How many of you have held a real baby? (response) How are you supposed to hold a baby? (response) Very carefully, that's right. What do you do when a baby cries? (response) We do a lot of things to help the baby stop crying, and one of those is to feed the baby. Look at the doll: I think this baby here is crying, so let's feed her. Pick up the can of cola. Babies just love cola, don't they? (response) Hold the can to the baby as if you are feeding her. Ignore any protests from the children. She's still crying. Maybe she needs an apple! (response) What about a slice of pizza? (response) Why won't she stop crying? (response) Why are you telling me no? (response) A baby doesn't drink cola or eat apples or pizza? (response) Then what does a baby need to eat or drink? (response)
Application: Hold up the baby bottle. You are smart children! Babies can't do without their milk, can they? (response) In order to grow, babies must have their milk for their muscles and bones to grow. The Bible says that in a way we are all like babies. Do you know how? (response) The Bible tells us that, just like babies, we need to desire the "milk" of God's word. Hold up the Bible. In here is a special kind of food. This food is not for our muscles and bones; it is for our ... Does anyone know? (response) It is for our heart and mind and spirit to grow. Desire this raise the Bible and you will grow inside!
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for the milk of your word that makes us grow. Amen.
?
