The Big Influence Of Small Things
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: To teach that even though the Kingdom seems inconsequential it has ultimate influence.
Props: Glass of water colored by dark food coloring. Another glass the same size with a small amount of liquid bleach. You may want to do this over a tray to avoid damaging the carpet. Please practice this before performing it. You want to use as little bleach as possible to achieve the desired results.
Lesson: Good morning. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Imagine that. A little seed smaller than a BB grows up to be a ten-foot high tree. How does that happen? (response) Can you name something else that's small but has a lot of power? (response)
I have here in my hand a glass with some kind of drink. What kind of drink is it? (response) And in this hand I have a glass with what? (nothing) They should not be able to see the small amount of liquid bleach. Well, look again. Bring the glass down so they can see the contents. What is that? (response) Not very much in there, is there? (response) I wonder what would happen if we poured this small amount of liquid into our grape drink? What do you think would happen? (response) Pour the bleach into the glass and stir if needed.
Sometimes small things may look small, but they are really big. Like love. You can't see how great it is, but it can spread and have a huge influence. Love is able to move mountains. And truth. It may not seem important to tell the truth, but honesty is far more important than gold. Can you name something that seems unimportant but it's really very important? (response)
Application: Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a small seed that grows into a tree. God's Kingdom may seem small and unimportant, but it is more powerful than all the armies and guns in the world. It's greater than all the gold and silver in the earth. And, no one can buy it with money. It can't be bought.
Do you know where the kingdom is? (response) It's in your heart and it's in my heart and it's in your mom's and your dad's heart. The Kingdom of God is so small it can be hidden in your heart, but what God does in your heart is big; it's really big. What God does in your heart can change the world! And that's big!
Let's Pray: Lord, little things can have a big impact. Help us not to over look them. Amen.
Additional Children's Sermon
Starter for Matthew 13:44-52
Props: A rock, an old collectible, such as a comic book or a baseball card, a college ring made of gold, a diamond ring, and a Bible.
Use this series of items that range from lesser value to greater value and discuss each item with the children. Ask them: What is this? What do you think this is worth? Why is it worth so much money? Ask these same questions with regard to the last item -- the Bible. The Bible is like the hidden treasure and pearl of great price.
After you go through the items discuss that the teachings of the Bible are of greater value than all the money in the world because it tells us how to live our lives. Discuss with them that issues of honesty and kindness are more important than toys, games, and money.
* * * * * *
Romans 8:26-39
Cookie Cutter Christian
Exegetical Aim: Being conformed to the image of Christ.
Props: Sugar cookie dough spread out on a tray and kept cool until just before use. It could be brought in from a refrigerator at the time of the children's sermon or kept in a cooler near by. You will also need two or three different cookie cutters and another tray on which to put the cut cookies.
Lesson: Do you know what time it is? It's cookie time! Does anyone know how to make cookies? (response) You take water, butter, sugar, and flour and mix them together until you get some cookie dough like this. Hold up the cookie dough. Then you mix the dough with any flavoring you want. In my house it's always chocolate chips, but right now we are going to make sugar cookies.
With sugar cookies you then have to decide what shape you want your cookies in. If you want a star cookie, you have to use what? (response) Here are some different shapes. Hand out the cutters. Find a place on the sheet and cut your cookie and then lay your cookie on this other sheet. Work with the children to accomplish this task.
Application: Show the cookies. What shape is this cookie? (response) Where's the cutter that cut this cookie? Let's see if it conforms to the image of this cookie. Place the cutter on the cookie and leave it there. What shape is this cookie? (response) Continue with this process until all cutters have been placed on their respective cookies.
What happened to these cookies should be the same thing that happens to us. You and I are Christians and that means we are to look like someone. Who do you think we are supposed to look like? (response) We are to look like our Lord Jesus. If we look like Jesus, what kind of things will we do? (response) If we look like Jesus, what kind of things will we say to each other? (response) The cookies look like their cutters. Christians should look like their cutter. And our cutter is Christ!
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for sending us Jesus. Help us to be conformed in his image, so that we may live our lives like Jesus lived his life. Amen.
Note: Tell the children that you will leave some cookies in a designated area, and that each one may take a cookie after worship has ended. Or, you could arrange to have the cookies cooked to be ready for pick up at the end of service. You might include a cookie cross or some other item to go with the cookies.
Props: Glass of water colored by dark food coloring. Another glass the same size with a small amount of liquid bleach. You may want to do this over a tray to avoid damaging the carpet. Please practice this before performing it. You want to use as little bleach as possible to achieve the desired results.
Lesson: Good morning. Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that birds of the air come and perch in its branches." Imagine that. A little seed smaller than a BB grows up to be a ten-foot high tree. How does that happen? (response) Can you name something else that's small but has a lot of power? (response)
I have here in my hand a glass with some kind of drink. What kind of drink is it? (response) And in this hand I have a glass with what? (nothing) They should not be able to see the small amount of liquid bleach. Well, look again. Bring the glass down so they can see the contents. What is that? (response) Not very much in there, is there? (response) I wonder what would happen if we poured this small amount of liquid into our grape drink? What do you think would happen? (response) Pour the bleach into the glass and stir if needed.
Sometimes small things may look small, but they are really big. Like love. You can't see how great it is, but it can spread and have a huge influence. Love is able to move mountains. And truth. It may not seem important to tell the truth, but honesty is far more important than gold. Can you name something that seems unimportant but it's really very important? (response)
Application: Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a small seed that grows into a tree. God's Kingdom may seem small and unimportant, but it is more powerful than all the armies and guns in the world. It's greater than all the gold and silver in the earth. And, no one can buy it with money. It can't be bought.
Do you know where the kingdom is? (response) It's in your heart and it's in my heart and it's in your mom's and your dad's heart. The Kingdom of God is so small it can be hidden in your heart, but what God does in your heart is big; it's really big. What God does in your heart can change the world! And that's big!
Let's Pray: Lord, little things can have a big impact. Help us not to over look them. Amen.
Additional Children's Sermon
Starter for Matthew 13:44-52
Props: A rock, an old collectible, such as a comic book or a baseball card, a college ring made of gold, a diamond ring, and a Bible.
Use this series of items that range from lesser value to greater value and discuss each item with the children. Ask them: What is this? What do you think this is worth? Why is it worth so much money? Ask these same questions with regard to the last item -- the Bible. The Bible is like the hidden treasure and pearl of great price.
After you go through the items discuss that the teachings of the Bible are of greater value than all the money in the world because it tells us how to live our lives. Discuss with them that issues of honesty and kindness are more important than toys, games, and money.
* * * * * *
Romans 8:26-39
Cookie Cutter Christian
Exegetical Aim: Being conformed to the image of Christ.
Props: Sugar cookie dough spread out on a tray and kept cool until just before use. It could be brought in from a refrigerator at the time of the children's sermon or kept in a cooler near by. You will also need two or three different cookie cutters and another tray on which to put the cut cookies.
Lesson: Do you know what time it is? It's cookie time! Does anyone know how to make cookies? (response) You take water, butter, sugar, and flour and mix them together until you get some cookie dough like this. Hold up the cookie dough. Then you mix the dough with any flavoring you want. In my house it's always chocolate chips, but right now we are going to make sugar cookies.
With sugar cookies you then have to decide what shape you want your cookies in. If you want a star cookie, you have to use what? (response) Here are some different shapes. Hand out the cutters. Find a place on the sheet and cut your cookie and then lay your cookie on this other sheet. Work with the children to accomplish this task.
Application: Show the cookies. What shape is this cookie? (response) Where's the cutter that cut this cookie? Let's see if it conforms to the image of this cookie. Place the cutter on the cookie and leave it there. What shape is this cookie? (response) Continue with this process until all cutters have been placed on their respective cookies.
What happened to these cookies should be the same thing that happens to us. You and I are Christians and that means we are to look like someone. Who do you think we are supposed to look like? (response) We are to look like our Lord Jesus. If we look like Jesus, what kind of things will we do? (response) If we look like Jesus, what kind of things will we say to each other? (response) The cookies look like their cutters. Christians should look like their cutter. And our cutter is Christ!
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for sending us Jesus. Help us to be conformed in his image, so that we may live our lives like Jesus lived his life. Amen.
Note: Tell the children that you will leave some cookies in a designated area, and that each one may take a cookie after worship has ended. Or, you could arrange to have the cookies cooked to be ready for pick up at the end of service. You might include a cookie cross or some other item to go with the cookies.
