Children All Are We
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: What it means to be born again.
Prop: A baby doll (life size) or if possible arrange to have an actual newborn to be used in this children's sermon.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have someone very special with me. It's a baby. Her name is _____________. Why are babies so special? (response) Those are all good reasons babies are so special. But you know something? They sure do require a lot of work. Can you tell me some things babies need? What about when they are hungry? What do they need? (response) Food, that's right. Let's see ... what do babies eat? You can make them a big hamburger or even a steak with onions and a baked potato ... and then they can sit up at the table with a knife and fork and eat their dinner. (response) What? That's not right? (response) Immediately interrupt them: Oh, they wouldn't need a knife and fork. You're right. They can eat that hamburger with their big teeth and just tear it apart. (response) Interrupt again: Then they would need a knife and fork to eat with? (response) They can't take care of themselves?
After they eat, what does Mom do to the baby? (burp the baby) That's right. After a big hamburger, we all could use a little burping. What about when she gets dirty. What do babies need? (bath) Do babies take showers and wash and dry their own hair? (response) No? Then, how do babies get clean? (response) Babies sure do need their mom and dad.
This paragraph is optional: Can you name some other things that parents have to do for their baby? (response) Give the children time to name a few things. What would happen to a baby if Mom and Dad didn't do all these things? (response) Yes, the baby would get very sick and might die. A baby relies on its parents. Newborn babies cannot take care of themselves; everything must be done for them. Parents must teach them how to walk, how to talk, and how to go to the bathroom. When they get a little older, parents have to teach how to read, how to bathe themselves, how to ride a bike. Everything!
Application: Jesus said something strange to a grownup man named Nicodemus. He said, "Nicodemus, you must be born again to see God's Kingdom." What do you think Jesus meant when he said to this grown man, "You must be born again"? (response) What he meant is this: You must start all over. You must become like a baby again, Nicodemus. You must start trusting in God to feed you and clothe you and shelter you. You've got to start all over. You must be born again. If you are using an actual baby, time it so that the parents take the baby back at the saying of these words: Nicodemus, only those who need God as much as a baby needs its parents will enter into God's Kingdom.
Let's Pray: Lord, don't let us fool ourselves. We need you as much as a baby needs its mother. You feed us, clothe us, and shelter us. Amen.
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Lent 2
Romans 4:1--5, 13--17
Can't Buy Me Love
Exegetical Aim: God's love is a gift, not something that is earned.
Props: A $1 bill, a $5 bill inside a box, and a few pieces of paper on the floor of the sanctuary.
Lesson: I've got a job for someone to do. Who will do it for me? Choose a volunteer. I need for you to pick up the paper that I found on the floor. Go ahead and do that, and I'll pay you. Allow the volunteer to pick up the paper. Here you go, let me pay you. Give the volunteer a dollar. Here's your dollar. You've earned it.
I have a box here with me. And I'd like to give it to you. Give it to a random child. Go ahead and open it up. Let the child open the box and reveal the $5 bill. It's a gift.
Now let me ask you a question. Who is going to appreciate me more? The one who received a dollar by earning it, or the one who received five dollars as a gift? (gift) The one who received the gift will appreciate me more because they did nothing to deserve it. It was free.
Application: In the Bible, Saint Paul tells us that God's love is the same way. It's a gift. It is freely given to us all. We didn't do anything at all to earn it like he earned his dollar. God didn't make us try to earn his love. God thinks that you and I are so special that he just decided to give us his love. It's like getting five dollars and doing no work. Remember that God has given you the gift of his love. We didn't earn it or have to work for it. He did this because he loves us.
Let's Pray: Dear God, thank you for the gift of your love in Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.
?
Prop: A baby doll (life size) or if possible arrange to have an actual newborn to be used in this children's sermon.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have someone very special with me. It's a baby. Her name is _____________. Why are babies so special? (response) Those are all good reasons babies are so special. But you know something? They sure do require a lot of work. Can you tell me some things babies need? What about when they are hungry? What do they need? (response) Food, that's right. Let's see ... what do babies eat? You can make them a big hamburger or even a steak with onions and a baked potato ... and then they can sit up at the table with a knife and fork and eat their dinner. (response) What? That's not right? (response) Immediately interrupt them: Oh, they wouldn't need a knife and fork. You're right. They can eat that hamburger with their big teeth and just tear it apart. (response) Interrupt again: Then they would need a knife and fork to eat with? (response) They can't take care of themselves?
After they eat, what does Mom do to the baby? (burp the baby) That's right. After a big hamburger, we all could use a little burping. What about when she gets dirty. What do babies need? (bath) Do babies take showers and wash and dry their own hair? (response) No? Then, how do babies get clean? (response) Babies sure do need their mom and dad.
This paragraph is optional: Can you name some other things that parents have to do for their baby? (response) Give the children time to name a few things. What would happen to a baby if Mom and Dad didn't do all these things? (response) Yes, the baby would get very sick and might die. A baby relies on its parents. Newborn babies cannot take care of themselves; everything must be done for them. Parents must teach them how to walk, how to talk, and how to go to the bathroom. When they get a little older, parents have to teach how to read, how to bathe themselves, how to ride a bike. Everything!
Application: Jesus said something strange to a grownup man named Nicodemus. He said, "Nicodemus, you must be born again to see God's Kingdom." What do you think Jesus meant when he said to this grown man, "You must be born again"? (response) What he meant is this: You must start all over. You must become like a baby again, Nicodemus. You must start trusting in God to feed you and clothe you and shelter you. You've got to start all over. You must be born again. If you are using an actual baby, time it so that the parents take the baby back at the saying of these words: Nicodemus, only those who need God as much as a baby needs its parents will enter into God's Kingdom.
Let's Pray: Lord, don't let us fool ourselves. We need you as much as a baby needs its mother. You feed us, clothe us, and shelter us. Amen.
?
Lent 2
Romans 4:1--5, 13--17
Can't Buy Me Love
Exegetical Aim: God's love is a gift, not something that is earned.
Props: A $1 bill, a $5 bill inside a box, and a few pieces of paper on the floor of the sanctuary.
Lesson: I've got a job for someone to do. Who will do it for me? Choose a volunteer. I need for you to pick up the paper that I found on the floor. Go ahead and do that, and I'll pay you. Allow the volunteer to pick up the paper. Here you go, let me pay you. Give the volunteer a dollar. Here's your dollar. You've earned it.
I have a box here with me. And I'd like to give it to you. Give it to a random child. Go ahead and open it up. Let the child open the box and reveal the $5 bill. It's a gift.
Now let me ask you a question. Who is going to appreciate me more? The one who received a dollar by earning it, or the one who received five dollars as a gift? (gift) The one who received the gift will appreciate me more because they did nothing to deserve it. It was free.
Application: In the Bible, Saint Paul tells us that God's love is the same way. It's a gift. It is freely given to us all. We didn't do anything at all to earn it like he earned his dollar. God didn't make us try to earn his love. God thinks that you and I are so special that he just decided to give us his love. It's like getting five dollars and doing no work. Remember that God has given you the gift of his love. We didn't earn it or have to work for it. He did this because he loves us.
Let's Pray: Dear God, thank you for the gift of your love in Christ. In his name we pray. Amen.
?
