Childrens Sermon Service

Let anyone with ears listen!  (v. 9)

Good morning boys and girls,

I'm looking for ears this morning. (looks around) (counts sets of ears) Oh, we have lots of ears for listening this morning. May I use your ears? (children answer)

We're going to play a little game. It's called “listen and identify.”

Here's how it works. Everyone close your eyes. I will make a sound from my sound pouch and let's be real quiet and see if we can guess what it is that makes the sound.

(Presenter pulls out an audial aid from sack and makes a sound.) What sound is that?

(Children make guesses -- and repeat as time and attention allows)

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit that dwells in you. (Romans 8:11)

Good morning, boys and girls. Today I brought a bowl full of corks with me. How many of you have ever played with or used a cork? (let them answer) Corks are interesting. We use corks to keep things like water in a bottle. Corks are somewhat soft and you can push them and they will squeeze themselves down to the size you need to close the bottle off so nothing will leak.

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. (Matthew 13:20-21)

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

Materials:
Altoids (or other mints) tins
Sandpaper
Alcohol swabs (or cotton balls and alcohol)
Paint
Paintbrushes

Directions:
1. Give each of the children a tin.

2. Have the children gently sand their tins.

3. Help the children wipe their tins with alcohol to remove any residue.

4. Allow the children to paint their tins as they desire.

5. Let the tins dry and return to them later.

6. Have the children write, "Growing with Jesus" on their tins with a thin brush.

7. Again, allow time for the tins to dry.

So that the just requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (v. 4)

Good morning, boys and girls! How are you today? (allow answers) Today we are going to talk about following the rules. How many of you like to follow the rules? (allow answers) What happens when you follow the rules? (allow answers) What happens when you don't follow the rules? (allow answers) When we follow the rules, usually people like and respect us. They know what they can expect us to do. When we don't follow the rules, sometimes we get in trouble. Other people may not like it when we are unpredictable. They might think that we are inconsiderate.

But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty. (v. 23)

Good morning, boys and girls! How are you this morning? (allow answers) Today we are going to talk about seeds. How many of you have planted seeds before? (allow answers) Tell me about what you had to do to plant seeds. (allow answers) When we plant seeds, we need a lot of equipment. We need soil. We might need a shovel. We need the seeds that we are going to plant, of course! (show different seed packets) We might need a pot to plant in. We will need water and sunlight. It takes a lot of effort to plant seeds!

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


Materials:
Seeds, different flower types
Small flowerpots
Soil
Water
Aprons/smocks/protective wear


Directions:
1. Give each child a pot and have each child choose flower seeds to plant.

2. Talk about good planting practices and bad planting practices. Talk about what it takes to grow a good plant.

3. Help the children plant their seeds in the pot. Make sure they sprinkle water over the seeds when they finish.

Hi everyone! (Let them respond) I want to tell you a story that Jesus told people one day. He was walking with a bunch of people who had just met him and they wanted to know more about him. They asked him how they could be more like him and have more faith in God. Jesus told them this story:

Object: A packet of seeds, a rock, a boot, a weed, a vegetable from the garden. For extra effect, have a small basket of those vegetables to show what can come from one seed. I used tomato seeds and had a basket of tomatoes to show.

* * *

Hello, everyone! (Let them respond.) Are you ready for our story today? (Let them respond.) One day, some people were with Jesus, and they asked him what they needed to do if they wanted to follow him. Jesus knew they all knew how to grow a garden, so he told them that it was just like planting seeds in their gardens at home. They looked at him and said, “Huh?”. They didn’t understand how following God was like growing a garden. So, Jesus explained it like this.

(Hand out the ears of corn to each child as he or she arrives.) Jesus said, "Let anyone with ears listen!" You each have an ear of corn, so I want you to listen ... Wait a minute. Do you think that is what Jesus had in mind? (Let them answer.) I don't think so! What do you suppose Jesus did have in mind? (Let them answer.) I think you are right. I think that Jesus meant that anyone with the kinds of ears that we hear with should listen to what he says.

Listening is hard work and many people do not listen well. Many of us hear sounds, but we don't really listen to what others are saying. I guess people who lived when Jesus walked the earth also had a problem with listening.

The Point: Jesus wants to tell others about his love that saves.

Today we hear the parable of the sower. The imagery in the lesson is both rich and subtle. Jesus lays the parable before the crowd and then interprets it for the disciples. Unlike some other parables, Jesus tells exactly what the parable means. The birds, the rocky soil, the thorns and the good soil are all clearly explained so that listeners can take the lesson of the parable to heart.

The subtle part comes next. Now that we know what the parable means, what do we do with it? How do we make sure that we incorporate the teaching into our lives and be the people that Jesus is looking for? Some of these ideas are a bit complicated for children, but the imagery of the parable itself is not.

Good morning! I want to show you this document today. This
is what you get from a policeman if you break the law by driving
too fast. We call this a speeding ticket. (Show the ticket.) Now,
this isn't a real one, but if I drove too fast and a policeman
stopped me, this is what he would give me.

If you get one of these, you have to go to court, and if the
judge finds you guilty, you have to pay a fine. When you break
the law, you have to pay a penalty. We could say that you are
condemned to suffer whatever punishment the judge gives you.

Let's pretend that you are all old enough to drive, and one
day you drive too fast. A policeman stops you and gives you a

Good morning! Here is a package of seeds. (Show the seeds.)
What would we have to do with these seeds in order for them to
grow? (Let them answer.) Yes, of course, we have to plant them in
the ground. Seeds aren't going to grow if we leave them in the
package. They have to be planted in the ground.

Now here are two containers of soil. (Show the containers.)
Which of these two containers would you want to plant the seeds
in? (Let them answer.) Yes, I would certainly plant them in this
one that has good, moist soil. The other one is rocky and dry and
the seeds would have a hard time growing there.

Jesus tells us that the Word of God is like a seed. God

Teachers or Parents: The Parable of the Sower shows us that
God's word should take root in us and grow so that our faith will
be strong and we will continue to be His people in this world and
for all eternity. Our children need to realize that being "good
soil" means taking every opportunity to hear God's word in
church, in Sunday school, and at home.

*Prepare four pots of soil in accordance with the parable:
one with hard soil, one with rocky soil, one with weeds, and one
with good, rich potting soil. Give each child a seed and let each
plant them in one of the pots. Then discuss which seeds are most
likely to grow and be healthy. Now explain that God's word is

Our God is so great and wonderful. Do you ever wonder why we don't hear more about God? Why is it people don't talk about God more? Why is it we don't hear more about how great God is from watching television or reading books and magazines? Have you ever wondered that? (Let them answer.) I have.

Teachers or Parents: Listening is a skill that has needed human development from the beginning of time. Jesus wanted his followers' attention. He wanted them to listen.

*Pair off and have one child read a verse or short story, or tell a short story. Have the listener parrot the story to the teller's satisfaction.

*Pair off and have one child blindfolded while the other gives oral directions. Speaking and listening.

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you are hungry this morning? (Let them answer.) That's nice to know, because so am I. How many of you like to eat things that taste good and that are good for you? (Let them answer.) Can you name some of those things? (Let them answer.) I can think of one thing. It is an apple. I brought some apples this morning and I want to share them with you soon.

Some people like apples with peeling on and some with peeling off. I decided to take the peelings off. The great thing about apples is that they are sweet tasting. They make you feel good and help your bodies grow because they have nutritional value. Apples give us life.

(Editor's note: Have some fun with this lesson. As you tell this story walk around the front of the sanctuary. Drop seeds in spots where the children will easily realize that seeds won't grow.)

Good morning, boys and girls. How many of you have ever planted something in a garden? (Let them answer.) It's fun to plant things and watch them grow. If you plant corn seeds like I have here (show your seeds) you will have roasting ears later in the summer. If you plant flower seeds or bulbs you will have fragrant flowers to smell. One thing that is needed to get seeds to grow is to know where to plant them.

Parents and Teachers: This morning's lesson is the Parable Of The Sower. Tell the students the story about the person who planted seeds. Some of the seeds fell on the road, some on the rocks, some in the thorns, and some in the good ground. Different results happened to the seeds in each of these locations. The seeds are like people. Those who hear God's word and understand it are like the seeds planted in good soil. The seed sprouts and bears fruit.

Offer an experiment using grass seed. Have the students help you create four cups full of material. These should be filled with: 1) road material (litter, asphalt chunks) 2) rocks 3) a pot with plants already growing 4) a pot with good soil.

Good morning, boys and girls. This morning, I brought with me some of the medicine I take. The reason people take medicine is to make them better or to keep them from getting sick. For instance, this pill is for high blood pressure. I take it every day and it keeps my blood pressure at just the right number. If I didn't take it, I could get very ill.

I also take a one-a-day vitamin and it is supposed to keep all of the chemicals in my body charged up so they can protect me from becoming ill. I take other pills, also, like vitamin C and calcium to make strong bones and protect me from colds.

Good morning, boys and girls. When Jesus wanted people to understand what he was talking about, he would tell them a good story. Today, he tells us a story about a farmer. See if you can understand what Jesus is saying.

One day a farmer took his very best seed and started walking toward his field. As he walked some of the seed fell along the side of the road on gravel. Birds quickly swooped down and ate the seed.

As he continued walking, more seed fell upon a rock. Have you ever seen something try to grow on a rock? It grows very quickly at first, but then dies shortly after because it has no roots.

Materials:
Seeds -- can be a variety but should be fast growing, like grass or radishes
Paper cups
Potting soil
A large rock with crevices in it
Some hard, dry dirt, not tilled

Directions:
1.
Read the story of the seeds and different types of soil in Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 to the children. As you read the story allow the children to spread the seeds on the types of soil or rock.
2.
As you get to the last type of soil, the good soil, give each child a seed, a cup and some potting soil. (You may want to put the soil in the cups before you read the story to the children.) Make sure that you have a window or windows to put the cups in after they are planted in the soil.
3.

Hello again! Do you remember the reading for today? Let's see. There once was a man who sowed seed. (sprinkle imaginary seed in front of you) What happened to the first bunch of seed he planted? (see if they remember and then hold up the bird) The birds came and ate it up. (show the rocks) Then the sower sowed his seed in rocky ground, but the seed was burned by the sun. It had no soil to cover it. Then the sower sowed in a thorny place (hold up the sticks), but the thorns choked out the tiny plants as they grew. Finally, the sower planted his seed in good soil. (pick up some of the soil in your hand) The seeds became plants that produced a good harvest.

Welcome back! I'm glad to see you again. (hold up the balloon) I'm going to use this balloon to help us understand the New Testament reading for today. It's a complicated reading, and I think this balloon can help. (try to bounce the balloon) When it's like this, the balloon doesn't bounce. I can't throw it or play with it because it has no air. It's still a perfectly good balloon, but it isn't really alive. Without air, it cannot do all the things it was created to do.