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Children's Activity

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Written for you -- John 20:19-31 -- Second Sunday of Easter - A
The last verse of today's gospel reading says, "But these are written so that you may come to believ
He was transfigured -- Mark 9:2-9 -- Transfiguration Sunday - B
Teachers or Parents: Transfiguration Sunday is also
Abundant life -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: Teach the children the bedtime prayer used in the 1 Peter object lesson:
"He has risen!" -- Luke 24:1-12 -- Easter Day - C
Teachers or Parents: Amid all the secular symbols of Easter
John the Baptist -- Matthew 11:2-11 -- Third Sunday of Advent - A
Teachers or Parents: This week's Gospel tells us about John
Guided into truth -- John 16:12-15 -- Trinity Sunday | 1st Sunday after Pentecost - C
In this week's Gospel Lesson we read about Jesus and his desire to reveal himself fully to us.
Mark 10:17-31 -- Rich in so many ways -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - B
Materials Different size cardboard boxes Ribbon Tape Wrapping paper
Pleased as punch -- Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 -- The Baptism of our Lord | Epiphany 1 | Ordinary Time 1 - C
Teachers: Today's children's message is about a time when God was well pleased with Jesus.
"Preparing the way" -- Luke 3:1-6 -- Second Sunday of Advent - C
Teachers or Parents: Today's theme is preparation for
A guide to the truth -- John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15 -- Day of Pentecost - B
Teachers or Parents: Our Gospel reading focuses on the work
The greatest commandments -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Materials 12-inch red pipe cleaners, one for each child
Taking the hard way -- John 6:56-69 -- Proper 16 | Ordinary Time 21 - B
Materials A pattern Knitting needles Yarn Knitted sweater
Be True To Your Word -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A
Teachers: Focus your students' attention on making promises,
God's blueprints -- Matthew 26:14--27:66 -- Passion Sunday - A
SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOMEMaterials:
The lamb of God -- John 1:29-42 -- Epiphany 2 | Ordinary Time 2 - A
Teachers or Parents: The atonement of Christ -- the Agnus Dei
Swimming with your clothes on -- John 21:1-19 -- Third Sunday of Easter - C
Teachers or Parents: The theme of this week's Gospel as well
The Easter Drama -- John 20:1-18 -- Easter Day - B
Teachers: Create a short Easter drama with your students. You
A letter to God -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A
Teachers: Jesus tells a lawyer that the greatest commandment
Jesus was sad -- John 11:32-44 -- All Saints Day - B
Teachers or Parents: Jesus understands our emotions. Jesus
Jesus the fisherman -- Luke 5:1-11 -- Epiphany 5 | Ordinary Time 5 - C
Teachers: Jesus tells Peter to cast his nets again, even
Lost and Found -- Luke 15:1-10 -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - C
Parents or Teachers: Today's lesson is about the lost sheep and the lost
Mustard seed faith -- Luke 17:5-10 -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - C
Teachers or Parents: The question of faith is a difficult one
"Going fishing" and "A treasure hunt" -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A
Parents and Teachers: Here are two games geared to different age groups.
Growing weeds -- Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 -- Proper 11 | Ordinary Time 16 - A
Materials: Paper Markers, pens, pencils Scissors
Lip service is not enough -- John 14:15-21 -- Sixth Sunday of Easter - A
Teachers or Parents: Most of us understand the value of

Children's sermon

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Clean the Mess At the Source -- Matthew 5:21-37 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Epiphany 6 | Ordinary Time 6 - A -- 2020
As Jesus raises the bar on what is considered sinful the foundation of his message is to go to the s
Our Rising Faith -- Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 -- John Jamison -- Proper 12 | Ordinary Time 17 - A -- 2020
“He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman
Protects and beautifies -- John 17:1-11 -- Seventh Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Good morning! My father once had an old pickup truck that was a
Incredible Secrets -- Matthew 17:1-9 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Transfiguration Sunday - A -- 2020
The disciples see Jesus transfigured with Moses and Elijah, and then Jesus tells them to tell no one
Building Together! -- Matthew 18:15-20 -- John Jamison -- Proper 18 | Ordinary Time 23 - A -- 2020
For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. (v. 15)
Paired with Jesus -- Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 -- Proper 9 | Ordinary Time 14 - A -- 2020
Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone live on a farm or near a farm?
Obvious Secret -- Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Ash Wednesday - A -- 2020
Lent can be an odd time for church kids.
Forgive, Forgive, Forgive! -- Matthew 18:21-35 -- John Jamison -- Proper 19 | Ordinary Time 24 - A -- 2020
His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, ‘Be patient with me, and I will pay it back
Eating bugs -- Matthew 15:(10-20) 21-28 -- Proper 15 | Ordinary Time 20 - A -- 2020
Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you like to eat?
Temptation Challenge -- Matthew 4:1-11 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- First Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
Jesus sets the bar high by resisting temptation even from the imagination of the devil.
It’s Not Fair! -- Matthew 20:1-16 -- John Jamison -- Proper 20 | Ordinary Time 25 - A -- 2020
So the last will be first, and the first will be last. (v. 16)
Before and After -- John 3:1-17 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Second Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
In this exchange with Nicodemus, Jesus is trying to explain what it is to be born again.
Here in this place -- John 4:5-42 -- Leah Thompson -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
This children's sermon was originally published March 27, 2011.
Two Sons! -- Matthew 21:23-32 -- John Jamison -- Proper 21 | Ordinary Time 26 - A -- 2020
“Which of the two did what his father wanted?” (v. 31)
Listen Up! -- John 4:5-42 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Third Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
The woman from the well had some great news for people after meeting Jesus.
Renters! -- Matthew 21:33-46 -- John Jamison -- Proper 22 | Ordinary Time 27 - A -- 2020
Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.
Jesus Knows Our Worth -- John 9:1-41 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Fourth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
There are many wonderful moments in this scripture selection.
Wedding Gift! -- Matthew 22:1-14 -- John Jamison -- Proper 23 | Ordinary Time 28 - A -- 2020
The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. So g
Listen, think, and learn -- John 10:1-10 -- Fourth Sunday of Easter - A -- 2020
Good morning! Do you like stories? (get responses) Jesus told stories like this a lot.
Sad is Okay -- John 11:1-45 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Fifth Sunday in Lent - A -- 2020
The story of Lazarus was always my favorite.
Not alone -- Hebrews 10:16-25 -- Leah Thompson -- Good Friday - A -- 2020
Note: This piece was originally published April 22, 2011.
Trickery! -- Matthew 22:15-22 -- John Jamison -- Proper 24 | Ordinary Time 29 - A -- 2020
Hi everyone! Have you ever tried to play a trick on someone?
Unfollow -- Matthew 27:11-54 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Passion Sunday - A -- 2020
In this age of social media, the biggest thrill is getting a follower.
More Tricks! -- Matthew 22:34-46 -- John Jamison -- Proper 25 | Ordinary Time 30 - A -- 2020
Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an exper
The Connection -- John 13:1-17, 31b-35 -- Bethany Peerbolte -- Maundy Thursday - A -- 2020
There are many things in faith that only make sense if we understand the connection.

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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.

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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?

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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