Big Changes
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: As we grow in life and as we grow with God, we will always have to deal with changes. Sometimes it means letting go of the old and accepting the new. Heaven will bring about the biggest of these changes.
Props: A diaper, wipes, a baby bottle (or a jar of baby food and a baby spoon), and a pacifier.
Lesson: I have something this morning I think you need. Hold up the diaper. Okay, who needs his diaper changed? (response) All right, don't be shy. Who needs his diaper changed? Anyone have wet britches? (response) I even brought the wipes. What? (response) What do you mean you don't wear diapers? (response) Ignore their statements about being grown--up. Well, then, here's something you need ... a bottle. Okay, who is hungry? Who needs his bottle? (response) What? (response) But you use a bottle all the time. (response) All right, no bottle. Here's something you can use. (response) You mean you don't even use pacifiers anymore? (response) Why not ... you used to use them all the time? (response) You're grown up? (response) How old are you now? (response) Tell me what growing up has to do with no longer wearing diapers and no longer eating baby food. How come you no longer need these things? (response) Keep the pacifier in your hands as you speak with the children.
Application: My, how you've grown! It's sad sometimes to let go of diapers, bottles, and pacifiers, but it means we are doing some new things. Tell me some things you can do now that you are big boys and big girls? (response) What else can you do now that you are big? (response) Let me ask you a question: Do you miss the diapers? (response) Why don't you miss them? (response) I understand. Pause. Are you sure none of you would like to wear the diaper? (no!) If there is a wise guy who takes you up on it, motion him to come over. He'll back down.
Jesus said as we get older, things happen to us: we grow up, and we change. We have to make decisions to let go of some things like diapers, bottles, and pacifiers. Hold up the pacifier. He even said when we go through the biggest change of all ... when we go to heaven ... some very big changes are going to occur. We will never have to brush our teeth again. And, we will never have to take a nap, and we will never have to eat all our broccoli again. Did Jesus say that? (no) You're right, he didn't say it exactly in those words, but he did say when we get to heaven some very big changes are going to take place. (Optional: He said we won't have to get married ... I know some of you are very happy about that ... and no one will ever die again.) You will no longer have just one or two brothers and sisters; you'll have millions of brothers and sisters. We will all be one big family. We will all have one Father and we shall all be God's children. That will be the biggest change of all!
Let's Pray: Father, we look forward to growing up and the changes to come, but more than all that we look forward to the biggest change to come: being in heaven with you. Amen.
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Proper 27
2 Thessalonians 2:1--5, 13--17
The First Fruit Is Always The Best
Exegetical Aim: To compare good fruit to the life we are given in Christ. Note: Some translations (the N.I.V. for example ) do not include the phrase "because God chose you as his first fruits" in verse 13 and have relegated it to a footnote.
Props: Some good fruit and some bad fruit, a box or basket, and a large tray. Put the fruit on the large tray.
Lesson: Who here likes to eat? Well, I've brought some good things to eat today. Not candy, or popcorn, or pizza, but really good food. Show the tray of fruit to the children and set it in front of them. What I'm going to do with the fruit is put it into a basket put the basket before you so that I can give it to someone for the holidays. Maybe this is something that you can do at home. You might know of someone who is sick, or older, or alone, who might be cheered up by a basket of fruit. Talk to your dad or mom and see if you can do this as a family. But today I need your help. I need you to help me pick out which fruit is going to go into the basket. How should I decide what fruit to put in the basket? (response) Should I pick some with spots on them, or some without spots? (response) Converse with children about the quality of the fruit so they can help you pick out the best.
Application: Now we have a nice basket and it's nice because you helped me pick out the very best fruit. Let me ask you, when you picked the fruit did you pick the good fruit first, or the bad fruit first? (response) That's right, we always pick the best fruit first. The Bible tells us something like this concerning God. The Bible says that when we believe the truth of Jesus Christ, God looks on us as if we were the first fruits. If God looks on us as the first fruits, then how does God see us? As good or bad fruit? (response) Yes, as good fruit. And why does God see us as good fruit? (response) God looks at us as if we are the best fruit because we have believed in his Son. He has picked us and included us in his basket. He has included us in his family.
Let's Pray: Thank you, Lord, for giving us the truth of Jesus Christ, and for letting us be the first fruits in your kingdom. Amen.
?
Props: A diaper, wipes, a baby bottle (or a jar of baby food and a baby spoon), and a pacifier.
Lesson: I have something this morning I think you need. Hold up the diaper. Okay, who needs his diaper changed? (response) All right, don't be shy. Who needs his diaper changed? Anyone have wet britches? (response) I even brought the wipes. What? (response) What do you mean you don't wear diapers? (response) Ignore their statements about being grown--up. Well, then, here's something you need ... a bottle. Okay, who is hungry? Who needs his bottle? (response) What? (response) But you use a bottle all the time. (response) All right, no bottle. Here's something you can use. (response) You mean you don't even use pacifiers anymore? (response) Why not ... you used to use them all the time? (response) You're grown up? (response) How old are you now? (response) Tell me what growing up has to do with no longer wearing diapers and no longer eating baby food. How come you no longer need these things? (response) Keep the pacifier in your hands as you speak with the children.
Application: My, how you've grown! It's sad sometimes to let go of diapers, bottles, and pacifiers, but it means we are doing some new things. Tell me some things you can do now that you are big boys and big girls? (response) What else can you do now that you are big? (response) Let me ask you a question: Do you miss the diapers? (response) Why don't you miss them? (response) I understand. Pause. Are you sure none of you would like to wear the diaper? (no!) If there is a wise guy who takes you up on it, motion him to come over. He'll back down.
Jesus said as we get older, things happen to us: we grow up, and we change. We have to make decisions to let go of some things like diapers, bottles, and pacifiers. Hold up the pacifier. He even said when we go through the biggest change of all ... when we go to heaven ... some very big changes are going to occur. We will never have to brush our teeth again. And, we will never have to take a nap, and we will never have to eat all our broccoli again. Did Jesus say that? (no) You're right, he didn't say it exactly in those words, but he did say when we get to heaven some very big changes are going to take place. (Optional: He said we won't have to get married ... I know some of you are very happy about that ... and no one will ever die again.) You will no longer have just one or two brothers and sisters; you'll have millions of brothers and sisters. We will all be one big family. We will all have one Father and we shall all be God's children. That will be the biggest change of all!
Let's Pray: Father, we look forward to growing up and the changes to come, but more than all that we look forward to the biggest change to come: being in heaven with you. Amen.
?
Proper 27
2 Thessalonians 2:1--5, 13--17
The First Fruit Is Always The Best
Exegetical Aim: To compare good fruit to the life we are given in Christ. Note: Some translations (the N.I.V. for example ) do not include the phrase "because God chose you as his first fruits" in verse 13 and have relegated it to a footnote.
Props: Some good fruit and some bad fruit, a box or basket, and a large tray. Put the fruit on the large tray.
Lesson: Who here likes to eat? Well, I've brought some good things to eat today. Not candy, or popcorn, or pizza, but really good food. Show the tray of fruit to the children and set it in front of them. What I'm going to do with the fruit is put it into a basket put the basket before you so that I can give it to someone for the holidays. Maybe this is something that you can do at home. You might know of someone who is sick, or older, or alone, who might be cheered up by a basket of fruit. Talk to your dad or mom and see if you can do this as a family. But today I need your help. I need you to help me pick out which fruit is going to go into the basket. How should I decide what fruit to put in the basket? (response) Should I pick some with spots on them, or some without spots? (response) Converse with children about the quality of the fruit so they can help you pick out the best.
Application: Now we have a nice basket and it's nice because you helped me pick out the very best fruit. Let me ask you, when you picked the fruit did you pick the good fruit first, or the bad fruit first? (response) That's right, we always pick the best fruit first. The Bible tells us something like this concerning God. The Bible says that when we believe the truth of Jesus Christ, God looks on us as if we were the first fruits. If God looks on us as the first fruits, then how does God see us? As good or bad fruit? (response) Yes, as good fruit. And why does God see us as good fruit? (response) God looks at us as if we are the best fruit because we have believed in his Son. He has picked us and included us in his basket. He has included us in his family.
Let's Pray: Thank you, Lord, for giving us the truth of Jesus Christ, and for letting us be the first fruits in your kingdom. Amen.
?
