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Children's Activity

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"The truth" -- John 8:31-36 -- Reformation Sunday - C
Teachers or Parents: Reformation Sunday is a good time to
Coats and canned goods -- Luke 3:7-18 -- Third Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers: In our lesson today John the Baptist tells the crowds who come to be baptized that they sh
Jesus' forty-day fast in the wilderness -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- First Sunday in Lent - A
Materials:Blank calendar pages (two per child) Markers Crayons
The problem with pride (Activity) -- Luke 14:1, 7-14 -- Proper 17 | Ordinary Time 22 - C
Teachers or Parents: Being humble does not come naturally.
What about you? -- Luke 9:18-24 -- Proper 7 | Ordinary Time 12 - C
Teachers or Parents: Christianity is a movement consisting of
Be open! -- Mark 7:24-37 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - B
Teachers: This week's lesson tells about Jesus healing a deaf
Salty disciples -- Matthew 5:13-20 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - A
Teachers or Parents: Make some popcorn -- and share it with
Christian tennis -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A
Teachers: Tennis is the game for Christians. It has "love" and
Saying or doing? -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A
Teachers or Parents: Today's theme is about hypocrisy --
Making melody -- Ephesians 5:15-20 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - B
Teachers or Parents: Music is a theme in this lesson. Help
Rewards -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A
Teachers or Parents: Children know what rewards are all
A sign -- John 2:13-22 -- Third Sunday in Lent - B
Teachers or Parents: The people wanted to know that Jesus
God looks for you -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
There are lots of stories in the Bible about being lost and found.
God's servants -- Mark 10:35-45 -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - B
Teachers or Parents: As Christians, we are called by God to be
Taking on the yoke -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A
Being tied to someone can be frustrating, particularly if the two people are trying to go in opposit
Do you know Jesus? -- Luke 12:49-56 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - C
This week's lesson is a tough one. It's got a lot of very heavy stuff in it. Jesus is frustrated.
The tears of Jesus -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B
Materials Clothespins Silk flowers
"The cost of discipleship" -- Luke 14:25-33 -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - C
Teachers or Parents: It is very easy for all of us to say
Blessed you are -- Luke 1:39-45 (46-55) -- Fourth Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers: Before class, ask if each child can bring a baby picture or another picture that can be us
The Spirit is like the wind -- John 3:1-17 -- Second Sunday in Lent - A
Materials:Construction paper or other heavy paper (the more colorful the better)
"Love your neighbor" -- Luke 10:25-37 -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - C
Teachers or Parents: Who is our neighbor? We need to teach
Priceless gift -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - C
Teachers or Parents: The emphasis is on giving as based in
Who is Jesus -- who am I? -- Mark 8:27-38 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - B
Teachers: Jesus asks his disciples the question: "Who do
Loving others more than money -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A
Teachers or Parents: Ask the class: "Do you have any ideas of
Forgiveness certificate -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A
Teachers: This lesson is about forgiveness. Jesus said to

Children's sermon

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Consider the lilies -- Colossians 3:1-4 -- Leah Thompson -- Easter Day - A -- 2011
Note: This piece was originally published April 24, 2011.
Being a Blabbermouth -- Mark 1:40-45 -- Anna Shirey -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This is one of those provocative stories in the gospel where Jesus seems to w
Speak -- 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in ever
Friends -- John 10:1-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of
Being Healed -- Mark 2:1-12 -- Anna Shirey -- Transfiguration Sunday - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: How does it feel to be truly seen?
Doin' time -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2011
Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. (v.
Precious in his sight -- 1 Peter 2:2-10 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight.
Prepare a place -- John 14:1-14 -- Leah Thompson -- Fifth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
In my Father's house there are many dwelling-places.
Batter up -- Romans 6:12-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (v.
Carrying God's Mark -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Anna Shirey -- Ash Wednesday - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: As we begin our journey into Lent, we are faced with some weighty spiritual q
Playing referee -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2011
If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you
Covered -- 1 Peter 3:13-22 -- Leah Thompson -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you -- not as a removal of dirt from the body, but
Welcome -- Matthew 10:40-42 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 8 | Ordinary Time 13 - A -- 2011
Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (v.
Being the Beloved -- Mark 1:9-15 -- Anna Shirey -- First Sunday in Lent - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This Sunday it would be easy to stick with the first part of the text, which
Money, money, money -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2011
They answered, "The emperor's." Then he said to them, "Give therefore to the emperor the things t
Father, Son, Spirit -- John 14:15-21 -- Leah Thompson -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2011
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. (v.
Forgiveness box -- Romans 7:15-25a -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.
Waiting for the Right Gift -- Luke 2:22-40 -- Anna Shirey -- First Sunday after Christmas Day - B -- 2011
First Thoughts: This first Sunday after Christmas we are introduced to two familiar character
Make new friends -- 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God
We are the body -- Ephesians 1:15-23 -- Leah Thompson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
Which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (v. 23)
Safe and warm -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2011
Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. (v.
The sowing and the reaping -- 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 -- Leah Thompson -- Thanksgiving Day - B -- 2011
The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows boun
Love -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2011
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (v. 40)
Extra-terrestrial -- Luke 24:44-53 -- Leah Thompson -- Ascension of the Lord - A -- 2011
You are witnesses of these things. (v. 48)
God's rules -- Romans 8:1-11 -- Leah Thompson -- Proper 10 | Ordinary Time 15 - A -- 2011
So that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the f

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John Jamison
Object: This is a role play activity.

Note: You will need to select six children to play roles in this activity. If you have a smaller group, you might ask some older youth or even adults to play the parts of the two attackers and the man being attacked. I will give suggestions for how they can play their roles, but feel free to help your children make the story as fun and memorable as you can. I have used boys and girls in the various roles, but you can change those however you want to change them.

* * *

The Immediate Word

Dean Feldmeyer
Katy Stenta
Thomas Willadsen
Christopher Keating
George Reed
Mary Austin
Nazish Naseem
For July 13, 2025:
  • Samaritans Among Us by Dean Feldmeyer based on Acts 2:1-21. Samaritans were despised and dismissed by the original audience who first heard Jesus tell this parable. Who are the Samaritans in our lives and how does this parable apply today?
  • Second Thoughts: The Helpers by Katy Stenta based on Amos 7:7-17.

StoryShare

Frank Ramirez
I say, “You are gods,
    children of the Most High, all of you;
nevertheless, you shall die like mortals
    and fall like any prince….”
(vv. 6-7)

There have been any number of brother-sister acts that achieved a measure of fame. Take the Carpenters, famed for their singing, musicianship, and songwriting skills. Also worthy of mention are John and Joan Cusack who have acted together in over sixteen films.

Emphasis Preaching Journal

Wayne Brouwer
An ancient legend tells of a remote mountain village where people used to send their senior citizens out into the woods to die. The villagers had an eye to the future; they felt that those beyond a certain age would only slow down progress or use up valuable resources to no economically profitable end. Those who reached a certain age weren’t “put out to pasture” or “put out of their misery”; they were simply put out of other people’s way.
Mark Ellingsen
Bill Thomas
Frank Ramirez
Amos 7:7-17 and Psalm 82
The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. It is more than 2,700 feet high—over half a mile tall. It has 160 floors and is twice as tall as the Empire State Building in New York City. It is home to the world’s fastest elevator which reaches speeds of forty miles an hour. The Burj Khalifa also hosts the world’s highest outdoor observation deck (on the 124th floor) and the world’s highest swimming pool (on the 76th floor).

The Village Shepherd

Janice B. Scott
Mabel hummed a familiar hymn tune as she made her way to church. She always enjoyed her Sunday morning walk. It was one of the few times she felt safe to walk alone through the inner city, for she knew nobody would be up at 7.45 in the morning. Today was a particularly beautiful morning, with blue sky, warm sunshine, and the song of a few intrepid blackbirds who still inhabited the city.

SermonStudio

James Evans
Often, a distinction is made between the pastoral or priestly work of the church and the prophetic work. Pastoral care has to do with the care of souls, the offering of comfort in times of loss. The priestly character of pastoral work seeks to mediate the presence of God to those who are hurting.

Schuyler Rhodes
Trusting is never easy. Even in the best of relationships, people step into trust slowly. There is wariness -- questioning -- worry. What happens if trust is betrayed? What if this doesn't work? Sometimes it's like a dance. We step in and out of trust, moving to the rhythms of fear. For many, the routine is achingly familiar. Indeed, it's not easy to trust.
John Jamison
It was back in the days when the railroad was the most common mode of transportation. There were automobiles, and some airplanes, but the steam locomotive was the way most folks traveled and the way that most of the goods were distributed around the country. After dinner, people sat in the drawing room and listened to the radio programs, fading in and out from some faraway location, over the magical broadcasting signal.
Robert Leslie Holmes
Not many tourists to Washington, D.C., look for the Federal Bureau of Standards offices. It's the Capitol and the White House, the Supreme Court Building or the Smithsonian most of us want to see when we go there. Yet, at the Bureau of Standards offices something very important is stored, something that impacts your life and mine every single day. Have you ever bought the materials for a new project? When you did, most likely you purchased so many inches or feet or yards. Or, you stopped to buy gasoline for your car and purchased it at a certain price per gallon.
David O. Bales
I have the two best jobs in the world. I teach social studies at Leon Griffith Junior High School (a fairly small junior high) and I am Sunday School Superintendent at Calvary Presbyterian Church (an enormous church school). Each job is my vocation. I tell people that at school they'll find my room where the halls cross. At church they can look but probably won't find me. I'll be in someone's classroom. At each job I practice what I most deeply believe: it's how you see the world that determines how you respond to it. I'll give you an example, actually, two examples.
Erskine White
O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)

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