How Should We Live?
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: To convey John the Baptist's understanding of compassion.
Props: Two heavy coats. One worn on top of the other.
Lesson: G--G--Good m--m--morning! It's freezing out here. Aren't you cold? (response) You're not? My fingers are frozen. Blow your breath into your hands to warm them. Call one of the children up to sit beside you. You will be getting him or her to participate. Josh, come up here and sit beside me and maybe we can stay warm together. When the child arrives, sit there a moment acting cold. In a loud whisper so others can hear: You're supposed to act cold, Okay? (okay) Normal voice: J--J--Josh, isn't it c--c--cold out here? (yes) In a loud whisper: No, you're supposed to say, "y--y--yes." Okay? (okay) J--J--Josh, isn't it c--c--cold out here? (y--y--yes) If the child is not hugging himself and shaking, place his arms in that position.
You look c--c--cold. I'm feeling pretty warm though in my nice TWO big coats. Don't you like my coats, Josh? (response) I can't imagine being out on a night like this without a coat, can you? (response) Address the rest of the children: Can you imagine someone being out in the cold without a coat? (response) What's wrong? (response) Who doesn't have a coat? (Josh) Yeah, you're right, he doesn't. He must be cold! Are you cold? (y--y--yes) Yep, you're right. He's c--c--cold. Rub your hands together and look around casually. Maybe it will get warmer tomorrow.
Application: Is there something wrong? (response) I should give him one of my coats? Why? (response) Oh, would you like one of my coats? (response) I really don't need two coats. Put the coat on him. Are you warm now? (response) I wasn't being very nice, was I? (response) This is how we are supposed to live as Christians. There's a fellow in the Bible by the name of John the Baptist, and someone asked him, "How should we live our lives?" John told him, "The man who has two coats should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should share with him who has none." Let's share the things that we have with one another.
Let's Pray: Lord, we want to share our coats, our food, and our toys with those who have none. Teach us to love one another. Amen.
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Advent 3
Philippians 4:4--7
At Hand
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate the nearness of God.
Props: None needed.
Lesson: Good morning. Today I want you to help me with a game. The game is called "Near and Far." Would you like me to show you how it works? (response) Okay. Here goes. I will call out the name of something that is in this church, and I want you to tell me if it is near or far. Call out three things in the sanctuary that are far away and three things that are near enough to be reached by your hand. Have the children call out "far" or "near" depending on each thing. How did you know what was near to me? (response) Did you notice that I can reach out and touch with my hand everything that was near? Demonstrate by quickly reaching out and touching the things that were called out as near. These things are near because they are close to my hand. We have a phrase that means "near." The phrase is, "At hand," because things that are near are at our hands.
Application: The Apostle Paul wanted us to remember that about Jesus Christ. He said that we should always be living for Christ because the Lord is at hand. So we don't have to worry when things look bad, because even when things go wrong, who is at hand? (Jesus) Yes. The Lord is at hand. So the next time you look at your hand, remember to say thank you to God for letting Jesus Christ be so near to us. Remember the Bible verse. Say it with me: The Lord is at hand.
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for Jesus Christ. Thank you that the Lord is at hand, that he is always near. Amen.
?
Props: Two heavy coats. One worn on top of the other.
Lesson: G--G--Good m--m--morning! It's freezing out here. Aren't you cold? (response) You're not? My fingers are frozen. Blow your breath into your hands to warm them. Call one of the children up to sit beside you. You will be getting him or her to participate. Josh, come up here and sit beside me and maybe we can stay warm together. When the child arrives, sit there a moment acting cold. In a loud whisper so others can hear: You're supposed to act cold, Okay? (okay) Normal voice: J--J--Josh, isn't it c--c--cold out here? (yes) In a loud whisper: No, you're supposed to say, "y--y--yes." Okay? (okay) J--J--Josh, isn't it c--c--cold out here? (y--y--yes) If the child is not hugging himself and shaking, place his arms in that position.
You look c--c--cold. I'm feeling pretty warm though in my nice TWO big coats. Don't you like my coats, Josh? (response) I can't imagine being out on a night like this without a coat, can you? (response) Address the rest of the children: Can you imagine someone being out in the cold without a coat? (response) What's wrong? (response) Who doesn't have a coat? (Josh) Yeah, you're right, he doesn't. He must be cold! Are you cold? (y--y--yes) Yep, you're right. He's c--c--cold. Rub your hands together and look around casually. Maybe it will get warmer tomorrow.
Application: Is there something wrong? (response) I should give him one of my coats? Why? (response) Oh, would you like one of my coats? (response) I really don't need two coats. Put the coat on him. Are you warm now? (response) I wasn't being very nice, was I? (response) This is how we are supposed to live as Christians. There's a fellow in the Bible by the name of John the Baptist, and someone asked him, "How should we live our lives?" John told him, "The man who has two coats should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should share with him who has none." Let's share the things that we have with one another.
Let's Pray: Lord, we want to share our coats, our food, and our toys with those who have none. Teach us to love one another. Amen.
?
Advent 3
Philippians 4:4--7
At Hand
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate the nearness of God.
Props: None needed.
Lesson: Good morning. Today I want you to help me with a game. The game is called "Near and Far." Would you like me to show you how it works? (response) Okay. Here goes. I will call out the name of something that is in this church, and I want you to tell me if it is near or far. Call out three things in the sanctuary that are far away and three things that are near enough to be reached by your hand. Have the children call out "far" or "near" depending on each thing. How did you know what was near to me? (response) Did you notice that I can reach out and touch with my hand everything that was near? Demonstrate by quickly reaching out and touching the things that were called out as near. These things are near because they are close to my hand. We have a phrase that means "near." The phrase is, "At hand," because things that are near are at our hands.
Application: The Apostle Paul wanted us to remember that about Jesus Christ. He said that we should always be living for Christ because the Lord is at hand. So we don't have to worry when things look bad, because even when things go wrong, who is at hand? (Jesus) Yes. The Lord is at hand. So the next time you look at your hand, remember to say thank you to God for letting Jesus Christ be so near to us. Remember the Bible verse. Say it with me: The Lord is at hand.
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for Jesus Christ. Thank you that the Lord is at hand, that he is always near. Amen.
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