Childrens Sermon Service

Hello! Did you hear the lesson today? What an amazing adventure! Jesus helped Peter walk on water! I can float and swim, but I can't walk on water. The disciples were in a boat and saw Jesus walking toward them on the water. Some thought he was a ghost, but Peter said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." Jesus called him and Peter got out of the boat and began walking. Everything was fine until Peter got frightened by the strong wind. He got scared and immediately began to sink into the water.

Good morning, boys and girls. All of you know the story about Cinderella and the glass slipper. In the story there was only one person who could fit in the glass slipper. The slipper was very beautiful. What if I told you that everyone here has beautiful shoes and beautiful feet, just like Cinderella? (Let them answer.) This morning I brought a pair of shoes (show the shoes) that may not look like glass slippers, but are very important shoes. These are very beautiful shoes, even though they don't look beautiful.

Teachers or Parents: Today's children's sermon contrasts that which makes us feel better with that which is essential. Salvation is not a feel-good palliative; it is the central core of the Christian faith. The Gospel clearly shows Jesus as not just someone who might make one feel better, but as the essential Savior. His saving Peter from drowning is an illustration of his saving believers from death.

Good morning. How many of you have eaten something that made your tummy ache? (Let them answer.) I have done that. If the food I ate was a certain kind of food, the acid in the food is what made my stomach ache. One of the best things to do to feel better is to take what is called an antacid. Many times an antacid tablet makes one's tummy feel better. Have you ever eaten anything that tasted terrible? (Let them answer. If you feel like taking the risk, you can expand on this question by asking just what they ate.) When I eat something that leaves a bad taste in my mouth, I drink water. Often the water helps remove the bad taste.

Teachers or Parents: There are many in this modern age who
want to eliminate the miracles reported in the Scriptures. They
want to explain them all away as some form of mass hysteria or
false reporting, but when this is done we destroy the Word of
God. If miracles don't happen, then Jesus was not raised from the
dead, and if Jesus was not raised from the dead, our faith is
meaningless. We need to instill in our children an appreciation
of the power of God to perform miracles.

*Ask the children to name as many miracles as they can that
are reported in the Bible and list them on a board or easel.
Discuss the various miracles with them to be sure they see

Good morning! I'd like to do a little experiment this
morning. Here is a glass of water and two objects, a rock and a
toothpick. Now, if I put this rock in the water, what will it do?
Will it float? (Let them answer.) That's right. It will sink.
(Put the rock in the water and let it sink.) What about the
toothpick? What will it do if I put it in the water? (Let them
answer.) Yes, it will float. (Put the toothpick in the water.)

Some things sink and some things float. We can look at
something and know from its weight, size, and so forth whether or
not it will float or sink. What if I put a rock in the water and
it didn't sink? What would we call that? (Let them answer.) We

Good morning! I thought we would play a little game this
morning. Do you see this coin? (Show the coin.) We're going to
play a game where we guess who has the coin. Here's how we will
do it. Everybody gets into a circle facing in and I will walk
around behind you and put the coin in somebody's hand. Then I
will ask each of you to tell me if you have the coin. When I ask
you this, you can tell the truth or you can lie about it. We know
lying is wrong, but this is just a game, so it's okay. (Get the
children into a circle facing in with their hands behind them and
place the coin in one child's hand.)

Okay, now I will ask each of you if you have the coin.

The drama of today's lesson is perfect for children to explore. The story is pretty cut and dried. The narrative invites imagination; we don't need anyone to interpret the verses and then tell us what really happened. More than likely, your children will have a pretty good image of what's going on in this passage. Don't forget, though, that imagining something isn't the same as understanding and wrestling with it. There are lots of ideas just waiting to be examined and discussed:


o How did the disciples feel when they saw Jesus walking toward them on the water? Why?

o Why didn't they believe it was really Jesus?

o Was Peter offering Jesus a dare? Did he want Jesus to prove something?

Good morning, children! Have you ever made a chain of dominoes? You know, when you stand a bunch of dominoes in a line and then knock them over? (demonstrate with a few) I think that's cool. Each one causes the next one to fall. All you need to do is start the chain by knocking the first one over. If you don't push the first one down, the last one won't fall either. In today's reading we learn that spreading the message of God's love is like that. Let's demonstrate this. (hold up your paper) I have an important message written on this paper. I'll pass it to one of you. You read it and then pass it to the next person. We'll keep passing it and passing it until it gets to the last person. Got it? Okay, let's do it.

Parents and Teachers: The disciples thought they saw a ghost! This is the story about Jesus walking on the water to the disciples' boat.

Good morning, boys and girls. Have you ever told anyone about Jesus and how much he loves you? (let them answer) Have you told anyone at your school? (let them answer) Have you ever invited a friend to Sunday school or church? (let them answer) That's wonderful. In the Bible you would be called a messenger of God.

The Bible tells us something about God's messengers. It says that messengers of God have beautiful feet. Do you have beautiful feet? (let them answer) Would one of the messengers of God show me their beautiful feet? (see if one of the children volunteer, and if they do, help them remove their shoes and socks) Wow! You do have beautiful feet. Sharing God's message of love has given you beautiful feet.

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever been afraid? (let them answer) Tell me about a time recently when you were afraid. (let them answer)

Fear is not a bad thing. Sometimes it keeps us from getting into trouble. For instance, I am afraid of fire and when I am around a fire I am very careful. All of us have fears.

How do you handle your fear? (let them answer) When I am afraid, I take a very deep breath. (take a deep breath) Let me hear you take a deep breath. (let them take several deep breaths) We feel a lot better after we have breathed deeply.

Materials:
Markers, crayons
Glitter, stickers
Poster board
Chairs or carpet squares for children to sit on

Directions:
Finish up the activity for Proper 13
1.
The children will collect the canned and dry goods and put them in one area so that they can see what their efforts have produced.
2.
After the children have collected all of the goods to be delivered, they should collectively create a "thank-you" poster for the congregation. This poster can be decorated with markers, crayons, glitter, or any other decorating supplies.


Activities for Proper 14
1.

Good morning! Today I want to talk about beauty. I have with me a beauty kit that people use to make themselves more attractive. Many people put this on themselves. Have you seen people put on lipstick before? (Let them answer.) What part of the body gets the beauty treatment? (Let them answer.) The face gets most of the attention. When we look at people, we usually look at their faces. Our faces are important.

Today's reading says that there is another part of the body that is beautiful. Who can tell me what part the apostle Paul said is "beautiful"? (Let them answer.) Paul says, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

“...and he cried out, “Lord save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and saved him.” (30b, 31a)

Good morning boys and girls,

How are you today? Thinking about school yet? For some of you it will soon be time for going back to classes, seeing your friends and having new experiences, won't it?

I am happy to see you here at worship this morning.

I want you to look at your hands. With your hands you can do so many things. Your hands can pray. (Fold hands in prayer) You hands can make a fist. (Make a fist) Your hands can be open to receive gifts. With your hands you can touch, caress, and even hug.

Object: This message includes a role-play instead of an object. The idea is to have everyone pretend they are riding in a small boat that is caught in a storm. It works well if everyone sits together on the floor and is encouraged to rock back and forth as you tell that part of the story. The more fun you have with the role-play the more memorable it will be.

NOTE: As an option, you could have one child play the role of Jesus and have them appear and get in the boat when you come to that part of the story.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) I have a really great story for you today. Are you ready to hear it? (Let them respond.) Excellent!

Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what a hard-boiled egg is? (Let them answer.) I brought two eggs with me this morning. One is hard-boiled. When I crack its shell I can eat it. The other is not hard-boiled. It's like Humpty-Dumpty. When I crack it, it will break. Sometimes your parents may give you a hard-boiled egg for lunch. When they do, you trust them that it is really hard-boiled. Your parents wouldn't give you an egg like Humpty-Dumpty, would they?

The Point: Jesus is God's Son.

SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME
AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME


Materials:
Tray with a random selection of items (at least 12-20 items)
Sheet
Paper
Pencils


Directions:
1. Cover the tray with the sheet. Give each child paper and a pencil.

2. Uncover the tray and allow them to look at it for thirty seconds.

3. Cover the tray. Have them write down as many things as they can remember that were on the tray.

4. When everyone is finished, uncover the tray again. See who can correctly remember the most items.

5. Discuss how first impressions -- what we see at first glance -- change when we spend more time with someone or something.

SHARING THIS WEEK'S GOSPEL THEME AT SUNDAY SCHOOL AND AT HOME

Materials:
Small foil loaf pans
Non-hardening modeling clay
Flexible vinyl report cover or other thin, flexible plastic
Permanent markers
Scissors
Bamboo skewers
Glue or tape

Directions:
1. Give each of the children a foil pan and help them form a boat shape by gently pinching one short end of the loaf pans to shape the boat's bow. Restraighten the sides of the pans, if necessary.

2. Give each of the children a one-and-one-quarter-inch wide ball of modeling clay.

3. Tell the children to stick the clay balls onto the center of the boat's floor, making sure they stick them securely into place.

He [Jesus] said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:29)

And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" (Romans 10:15)