Childrens Sermon Service

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

Good morning, boys and girls. Has anyone ever paid you for doing some work? Did they promise that you would be paid if you helped them clean up the yard, or help carry some boxes or bags into the house? (let them answer)

When you get a little older and you get a job you will be paid for your work. Usually you will receive an envelope with a check inside it and it is enough to buy groceries and gas for the car and other things we need to live.

Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (Matthew 10:40)

Good morning, boys and girls. Does anyone have a welcome mat at his or her house? (show them the welcome mat) It may not look exactly like this, but it is usually on the steps or the front porch of a house at the front door. Do you have that kind of mat at your house? (let them answer) What do you think a mat like this is for? (let them answer)

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

Materials:
Small carpet squares (many carpet stores will donate old carpet samples)
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Sponges or stamps

Directions:
1. Give each of the children a carpet square.

2. Have the children paint "Welcome" on their mats in large letters.

3. Allow the children to decorate their mats as they see fit.

What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! (v. 15)

Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) How many of you have ever played baseball or T-ball? (allow answers) When you are playing T-ball, there are rules that you have to follow. What are some of those rules? (allow answers) Those are all good answers! T-ball has a lot of rules -- rules for playing the game and rules for how players should treat each other during a game. During a game, are you allowed to hit other players? (allow answers) No! Of course not! Are you allowed to shout mean things or bad words at the other team? (allow answers) No, not that, either.

Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. (v. 40)

Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) How many of you have seen a mat like this before? (allow answers) Can anyone tell me what this mat says? (allow answers) This mat says, "Welcome!" What does it mean to be "welcome"? (allow answers)

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


Materials:
Colored poster board
Paper, construction paper
Markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
Yarn
Hole punch


Directions:
Have children create welcome signs on appropriately sized pieces of poster board. Punch holes in the top of the sign and tie string in the holes so that the posters can be hung.

The Point: To care for others is to care for Jesus

The Lesson: Good morning, girls and boys! Thank you for sharing this time with me. This morning I have brought a quilt. Every Wednesday morning the women of our church gather to make quilts. They start with old shirts, pants, and blankets that are cut up into squares. They sew them into the front of the quilts. Can you see them in this quilt? (let children answer) They certainly make a beautiful quilt, don't they? (let children answer) However, look closely and you'll see that one square is not as pretty as all the rest. But with all the different squares, you have a pattern that is truly beautiful.

Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me... (v. 40a)

Good Morning boys and girls,

I am so happy to see you today. (Presenter cites an example or two why he/she is happy.)

How are you? (children respond) Isn't it a great feeling to be loved and welcomed?

When Jesus was sending his disciples out to their mission, he told them,“Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.” Jesus knew that sometimes the disciples would not be welcomed. So they needed a welcoming word of encouragement.

Good morning, boys and girls. Do you know what this is? (Show the box and let them answer.) It is a lost and found box. Some of you have seen these boxes at school. My box has some (name some of the objects and hold them for all to see). I always feel sorry for a glove that never finds its mate. Have any of you ever lost anything that later was found in the lost and found box? (Let them answer.) It's a good feeling to find something that was lost, isn't it?

Object: Three plastic or paper cups like those you get when you buy a soda. You want an extra-large, “super” cup, a large cup, and a very small cup. The greater the difference in size between the largest and smallest cup the more striking the visual message will be.

* * *

Parents and Teachers: This morning's lesson is about rewards. Focus your attention on how young children can feel that they make a contribution to their church. In this way, they may feel that their contribution is rewarding to all members.

For youngsters who like to draw, suggest that they construct a "Reward Poster." At the top write the word "Reward!" Below that banner write "Wanted: Followers Of Christ." Suggest they draw a picture of how they would help someone. Offer some ideas to them. These ideas could include: visiting the sick, sharing toys with needy children, or sending cards of cheer to homebound persons. Inform them that when they help someone they help Jesus.

Parents and Teachers: At times it is difficult to lead a Christ-like life. It may be difficult, especially when so many secular choices confront us. Focus on the phrase, "Those who lose their life for my sake will find it." Talk to your students about missionaries in your denomination. Perhaps there are missionaries that your congregation sponsors. There may be a book that lists your denomination's missionaries and tells where they are stationed. If so, share this information with your students. Explain that these missionaries are making a choice. They've chosen to give up certain things in order to follow where Christ is leading them. If you can, choose a missionary that interests your students. On a world map, show the students where the missionary is serving.

Good morning, boys and girls. I brought a cup of cold water with me this morning. This cup will help me tell you about this morning's lesson. First, I want to tell you the story of a little girl, about your age. She attended Sunday school and church, just like you do. During church often she would hear things that she didn't understand. She heard big words and beautiful music about how to be a follower of Jesus. She liked going to church and Sunday school. But, sometimes she didn't know how she could do things that Jesus asked. These were things like helping people who were in need, telling people about God, and visiting the sick. Have you ever felt like that girl? Do you sometimes wonder if you can ever serve Jesus? (Let them answer.) I thought so.

Good morning! Today we have a special visitor to help us with our lesson. See what he brought? A guitar! I love guitars. They make really beautiful music. Will you play something for us? (have your volunteer begin to play the badly tuned instrument) Oh my! That doesn't sound very good, does it? What's wrong with it? I don't think it's in tune. (to your volunteer) Maybe you can tune it and get it ready while I give our lesson. Thank you!

Good morning! Have any of you ever disobeyed your parents?
(Let them answer.) Yes, none of us is perfect, and I'm sure there
have been times when we didn't do exactly what our parents wanted
us to do. When this happens, however, it is a sin. Actually, when
we disobey our parents, we are breaking the Fourth Commandment
that tells us that we must honor our father and mother.

Now let's suppose there was a candy dish at your house with
some candy in it like this. (Show the candy.) And your mother or
father told you not to eat any of the candy because it was there
for a special purpose. Maybe it was there because you were going
to have company and they wanted the candy for them. If you went

Hello! It's good to see you again. (show them the Silly Putty) Do you know what this is? Silly Putty! It's great stuff. Who has played with Silly Putty before? (show of hands) What are some things that you can do with it? (listen) You can bounce it, stretch it and make it into funny shapes. One of my favorite things to do is use it to make pictures. (show them the comics) See this newspaper? Watch what I can do. (press the putty into a flat disc and press it firmly onto an image on the paper; check to see that the image transfers and then hold it up for them to see) Neat, huh?

Materials:
Welcome sign example
Colored paper
Cardboard
Glue
Scissors
Markers
Pens
Glitter or other decorating material
String
Hole punch

Directions:
1.
Have a piece of cardboard cut into a rectangle for each child. It should be about 12"-16" long. You will want to have an example of a welcome sign that you have created for them to see.
2.

Good morning, boys and girls. When you entered church today was there anyone at the door to meet you? (let them answer) We call these people greeters and they are supposed to make you and your parents feel ____________. (let them answer) That's right, welcome. It gives you a good feeling when you go somewhere and there is someone there to greet you. Many of our stores now have greeters and they are there to welcome you and answer questions about the store. That's a nice feeling because I never know where to look for the things that I want to buy.

Good morning, boys and girls. Today we are going to talk about a special gift that God gave to all of us. It is called our body. Does everyone have a body? (let them answer) That means we all have something in common.

What do you like most about your body? (let them answer) Some of you say your face, others their hands, some like their muscles, and others like their fingers. I like many parts of my body, but if I had to choose just one body part, it would be my eyes.

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you or how many of you have brothers or sisters who have played on a sports team? (Ask for a show of hands.) Here is a photograph of one of my favorite teams. (Show the photo and name the team.) When you are on a team there are many other players. Each player has a different part to play. Each has a different skill. Without all the players we wouldn't have a team. Our church is like a team. We are in God's loving family in our church. Many members make up our church. Each of us has something different to contribute. Without each member we wouldn't have a church.

"Whoever welcomes you welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me" (v. 40). We are the hands and feet of Christ in the world. When we do the work of Jesus Christ, people will see Christ in us. They will see God in what we do. It's important for children to know that they have a powerful place in God's world: They are his representatives to those around them.

Good morning, boys and girls. One thing about summer I love is that so many flowers are blooming. Do you like flowers? (Let them answer.) I brought one with me this morning. I'm going to pass it around so that each of you can smell its fragrance. This flower makes me think of this morning's lesson. Remember that just before Easter Jesus died and was buried. On Easter morning he defeated death by rising from the dead. That means that death no longer has power over Jesus. The lesson says that persons who follow Jesus will be like Jesus. They will walk in a newness of life.

Teachers or Parents: The ministry of welcome is often overlooked or assumed. We just assume that everyone is welcome when the reality is that our assumption may not be entirely true. Every congregation tends to welcome different kinds of people. People of another economic strata or another race or religious background may not be welcome at your parish.

*Make welcome mats out of place mats and use them the next time you have a church social function.

*Make a giant paper welcome mat out of print sheets or butcher paper or use sheets of paper with each child doing a letter on the mat. Glue or tape together.

Have you ever seen one of these? (Let them answer.) Where have you seen one of these? (Let them answer.) Usually we see these in front of homes or businesses. They are used for two purposes. Can you tell me what their purpose is? (Let them answer.) They are for people to wipe their feet so that they do not get the house or business dirty, and they are a sign for people to know that they are welcome.

What does "welcome" mean? (Let them answer.) I guess it means that we are friendly people and we invite YOU in to our house or business.

I get paid like most people. To get paid, I have things I must do. My work is to ... (here you can describe what you do for pay.) For my work, I receive pay. The paycheck helps me provide a home for my family and food for the table. The pay helps me give money to God through my offering. My paycheck is important to me. Without it, I could not get by as well as I do now. I would have to depend on others to provide for my needs if I didn't have a paycheck. I have to work for my pay just like everyone else. But I am thankful for this paycheck. The money I get for my work is my "wage."

Teachers or Parents: Children know what rewards are all
about. They expect to receive something when they do well, and
they should. They should also know that God will have rewards in
Heaven for the good things we do here in this life. We must be
careful, however, that they don't begin to see Heaven itself as a
reward for the good things we do. Heaven is a gift, not a reward!
But it certainly is good to let them know that their good deeds
will not go unnoticed by God.

*Play a game of Bible Trivia and have a reward of some kind
for the winner. Talk about the importance of knowing the Bible
well and the rewards that we will receive through Bible study.

Good morning! I was looking at the want ads in the paper and
found this ad which is offering a reward for the return of their
___________. What is a reward? (Let them answer.) Yes, a reward
is something that you get for doing something for another person.
In this case, if you find their ____________ and return it to
them, you will get the reward.

There are a lot of lost things in the world, but there are
also a lot of lost people. I don't mean lost in the sense that
they can't find their way home. I mean they are lost from God.
They don't know about Jesus and all that he has done for them.
They are lost, and if they stay lost they will be lost forever