What Do The Signs Say?
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: The relationship between world disasters and our faith. I will be relying on Jesus' interpretation in 21:11, 25--28.
Props: A bed pillow, picture of the moon, child's pajamas (or anything symbolic of the end of the day), and some photos - if you can get them - of a world disaster (Be discreet - no dead bodies of animals or people, just destroyed crops, buildings, etc.)
Lesson: We are going to play hide--and--seek this morning. Does everyone know how to play hide--and--seek? (yeah!) Now I have hidden three things around the front of the church. You have to find them. Here is your hint. The three things are signs that the end of the day is near. Do you understand that? You have to find the three things that tell us that the day is almost over. Send the children out, describing the general location of the items. If your sanctuary is small, you might hide the items in the whole sanctuary to get the children among the adults. When they have returned with the items: Our first sign is a __________. Hold up the picture of the moon. What is this? (the moon) The moon. How is the moon a sign that the end of the day is near? (response) Our second sign is a ____________. Hold up the pajamas. What are these? (pajamas) Pajamas. How are pajamas a sign that the end of the day is coming? (response) Our third sign is a ____________. Hold up the bed pillow. What is this? (pillow) A pillow. How is a pillow a sign that the day has ended? (response)
Application: These three things are signs that the day is coming to an end and it is time to go to bed. There are always signs around us telling what's about to happen. Jesus talked about signs. He said that there will be earthquakes, hunger, and terrible disasters. He said these would all be signs that God is coming to save us. (Luke 21:11, 25--28) How many of you have ever seen photographs of a tornado or hurricane? (response) Tell me what happens in a tornado or a hurricane. (response) A hurricane is like a really big tornado and it does a lot of damage and it hurts a lot of people. If you have photos, discuss them at this time. People can lose everything in these storms. They even lose pillows, pajamas, and their beds.
Jesus knew that there would be terrible events like this. And he wanted us to know that these are signs that he will be coming back. He said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because I am about to save you." (vs. 28, 34) When terrible things happen, God wants us to look up in joy, hope, and trust. Remember tonight when you see the signs hold up the pillow that the day has ended, remember also that there are signs all around us that Jesus will soon return and save us. God wants us to have hope!
Let's Pray: Dear Lord, when we go to sleep tonight on our pillows and in our pajamas we will remember that some people are going through hard times. We know you will come one day and save us from these disasters. Amen.
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Proper 28
2 Thessalonians 3:6--13
Do What Is Right
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that we should not be weary in doing what is right.
Props: Three stuffed animals that you will use as puppets (two alike and one a dog, e.g., two toy birds and a toy dog), a wallet, and a piece of candy.
Lesson: Introduce the two puppets as John and Joe. All through the story have them talk and walk as needed. I want to tell you a story about John and Joe. They were brothers who wanted to go for a walk. Their mother told them that if they were good, they could have a piece of candy when they returned home. So they went on their walk. After a short time, they came across a puppy dog. Have the toy dog lying on the floor or on a table where everyone can see it. The puppy dog was lost. John said, "I think we should help that puppy dog find its way home." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. Let's just go on." But John looked at its tag, and found that the address on the tag was just around the corner. So he took the dog home.
Then they went a little further. They found a wallet lying in the road. Just as the stuffed animal was laid out previously, have the wallet out in the open before you begin. John said, "We need to find out who owns the wallet and get it back to them." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. I'm getting tired. Let them find it themselves." But John picked up the wallet and found that it belonged to a man who lived just up the street. So he took the wallet to the man.
When they got home, their mother asked if they were good. What do you think? (response) Both boys said that they were good. So the mother asked what they did. John told the mother how they had found the dog and the wallet, and took them to their owners. Joe said, "I told him to come on, but he went ahead anyway." The mother said, "Why did you tell him to come on when he saw the dog and wanted to help it?" Joe said, "Because I just didn't feel like it." So the mother said, "Well then, only John gets a piece of candy, because only John was good." Have John pick up a piece of candy that is sitting out. Joe said, "But I didn't hurt anyone or anything. I wasn't bad!" The mother replied, "No, but when there is something you can do to help and you don't do it, then you have not been good and you should not be rewarded."
Application: Why didn't Joe get any candy? (response) That's right. Joe didn't have a good excuse for not helping the dog or for not helping with the wallet, did he? Neither do we have good excuses when we choose not to help someone who is in need. The Apostle Paul said that we should never ever get tired of doing good things. And he said that people shouldn't get rewarded if they don't want to help do good things. You see, Jesus gave everything because he loves us. Jesus was so good to us, and he never got tired of being good. We should always try to do the right thing and be like Jesus!
Let's Pray: Help us, dear Lord, never to get tired of doing good things. In Jesus' name. Amen.
?
Props: A bed pillow, picture of the moon, child's pajamas (or anything symbolic of the end of the day), and some photos - if you can get them - of a world disaster (Be discreet - no dead bodies of animals or people, just destroyed crops, buildings, etc.)
Lesson: We are going to play hide--and--seek this morning. Does everyone know how to play hide--and--seek? (yeah!) Now I have hidden three things around the front of the church. You have to find them. Here is your hint. The three things are signs that the end of the day is near. Do you understand that? You have to find the three things that tell us that the day is almost over. Send the children out, describing the general location of the items. If your sanctuary is small, you might hide the items in the whole sanctuary to get the children among the adults. When they have returned with the items: Our first sign is a __________. Hold up the picture of the moon. What is this? (the moon) The moon. How is the moon a sign that the end of the day is near? (response) Our second sign is a ____________. Hold up the pajamas. What are these? (pajamas) Pajamas. How are pajamas a sign that the end of the day is coming? (response) Our third sign is a ____________. Hold up the bed pillow. What is this? (pillow) A pillow. How is a pillow a sign that the day has ended? (response)
Application: These three things are signs that the day is coming to an end and it is time to go to bed. There are always signs around us telling what's about to happen. Jesus talked about signs. He said that there will be earthquakes, hunger, and terrible disasters. He said these would all be signs that God is coming to save us. (Luke 21:11, 25--28) How many of you have ever seen photographs of a tornado or hurricane? (response) Tell me what happens in a tornado or a hurricane. (response) A hurricane is like a really big tornado and it does a lot of damage and it hurts a lot of people. If you have photos, discuss them at this time. People can lose everything in these storms. They even lose pillows, pajamas, and their beds.
Jesus knew that there would be terrible events like this. And he wanted us to know that these are signs that he will be coming back. He said, "When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because I am about to save you." (vs. 28, 34) When terrible things happen, God wants us to look up in joy, hope, and trust. Remember tonight when you see the signs hold up the pillow that the day has ended, remember also that there are signs all around us that Jesus will soon return and save us. God wants us to have hope!
Let's Pray: Dear Lord, when we go to sleep tonight on our pillows and in our pajamas we will remember that some people are going through hard times. We know you will come one day and save us from these disasters. Amen.
?
Proper 28
2 Thessalonians 3:6--13
Do What Is Right
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that we should not be weary in doing what is right.
Props: Three stuffed animals that you will use as puppets (two alike and one a dog, e.g., two toy birds and a toy dog), a wallet, and a piece of candy.
Lesson: Introduce the two puppets as John and Joe. All through the story have them talk and walk as needed. I want to tell you a story about John and Joe. They were brothers who wanted to go for a walk. Their mother told them that if they were good, they could have a piece of candy when they returned home. So they went on their walk. After a short time, they came across a puppy dog. Have the toy dog lying on the floor or on a table where everyone can see it. The puppy dog was lost. John said, "I think we should help that puppy dog find its way home." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. Let's just go on." But John looked at its tag, and found that the address on the tag was just around the corner. So he took the dog home.
Then they went a little further. They found a wallet lying in the road. Just as the stuffed animal was laid out previously, have the wallet out in the open before you begin. John said, "We need to find out who owns the wallet and get it back to them." Joe said, "Nah, I don't feel like it. I'm getting tired. Let them find it themselves." But John picked up the wallet and found that it belonged to a man who lived just up the street. So he took the wallet to the man.
When they got home, their mother asked if they were good. What do you think? (response) Both boys said that they were good. So the mother asked what they did. John told the mother how they had found the dog and the wallet, and took them to their owners. Joe said, "I told him to come on, but he went ahead anyway." The mother said, "Why did you tell him to come on when he saw the dog and wanted to help it?" Joe said, "Because I just didn't feel like it." So the mother said, "Well then, only John gets a piece of candy, because only John was good." Have John pick up a piece of candy that is sitting out. Joe said, "But I didn't hurt anyone or anything. I wasn't bad!" The mother replied, "No, but when there is something you can do to help and you don't do it, then you have not been good and you should not be rewarded."
Application: Why didn't Joe get any candy? (response) That's right. Joe didn't have a good excuse for not helping the dog or for not helping with the wallet, did he? Neither do we have good excuses when we choose not to help someone who is in need. The Apostle Paul said that we should never ever get tired of doing good things. And he said that people shouldn't get rewarded if they don't want to help do good things. You see, Jesus gave everything because he loves us. Jesus was so good to us, and he never got tired of being good. We should always try to do the right thing and be like Jesus!
Let's Pray: Help us, dear Lord, never to get tired of doing good things. In Jesus' name. Amen.
?
