Coal, Frankenstein, And Merv
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: An explanation of the important gifts of the Magi.
Props: A piece of charcoal, a picture or figure of the Frankenstein monster, and a picture of Merv Griffin.(r) These pictures can be obtained on the Internet.
Lesson: Today we are remembering the Magi, or the Wise Men, who came to see Jesus. And I wanted to show you the things that they brought to the baby, because you may have never seen them before. Hold up the chunk of coal. The first thing that they gave to the baby Jesus was a lump of this. Do you know what it is? (response) Most likely the children will be confused. Just continue right along. It's a big piece of coal, and the first thing they did was give him coal.
Then the Magi gave him this. Hold up the picture or figure of the Frankenstein monster. Do you know who this is? (response) It's Frankenstein! If the children challenge you, continue as if there is no problem. The Magi brought to Jesus coal and Frankenstein. Hold them both up.
Then they brought one more thing. Hold up the picture of Merv Griffin(r). Does anyone know who this is? (response) No? He used to be on television a lot. Hold the picture up for the congregation. Do any of the parents know who this is? (response) This is Merv, Merv Griffin! Just like it says, the Magi brought Jesus gifts of hold all three up as you call them out coal, Frankenstein, and Merv! Isn't that special? (response) What's the matter? Why are you telling me no? (response) Oh! The Magi didn't bring coal to Jesus? What did they bring? (response) Gold? Well, I must say I'm glad to hear that because gold is much nicer than coal. And didn't they bring Frankenstein? (response) Oh! Frankincense! That is a very pretty and costly perfume. But didn't they bring a picture of Merv? (response) No? It was myrrh? Wow. That was a very expensive spice. They must have loved Jesus very much.
Application: It was wonderful for the Magi to travel so many miles just to give some wonderful, costly gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were some of the nicest gifts anyone could ever have. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were very poor, and those gifts would have helped them, especially since they were about to go to Egypt. Do you know the best gift that you can give Jesus today? (response) Yourself. To give Jesus your life and to live each day for God would be the best gift in the world. So let's be like the Magi, and let's give Jesus some very important gifts today. Ourselves!
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for the Magi who gave such nice things to Jesus and his family. Help us to give ourselves to him. Amen.
* * * *
Epiphany
Ephesians 3:1-12
Gaining Access
Exegetical Aim: Christ offers access to God.
Props: A combination lock and a box that can be secured with the lock.
Lesson: How many of you know what the word "access" means? (response) I'm going to show you what it means. Hold up the locked box. What do I have in my hand? (response) That's right. It's a locked box. In fact, it's locked with a combination lock. The only way to open the box is to know the numbers for the lock. Would you like to try to open it? Allow one of the children to try to open the lock. Okay. That didn't work. Why not? (response) Right. You didn't know the combination. Now who else wants to try with the combination? (response) Guide him/her through the process until it is opened. Great job! Now you have access to this box because you know the combination. Without the right numbers in the right order, you would not have had access to the inside of the box.
Application: I want you to say a Bible verse with me. Here it is: "Through Christ we have access to God." Say it with me. (Through Christ we have access to God.) Ask the children to repeat it. With combination locks you have to know the numbers to gain access; Jesus Christ is our combination or access to God. If we follow Jesus, we will be shown the way to God. That means that anytime you want to pray to God, you can do so and he will hear you. And if you ever just want to talk to God, you can do that and he will be there with you. And if you ever want to hear God, he is close by and will speak to your heart. Through Jesus Christ hold up the open combination lock we have access to God. Say it with me one more time: "Through Christ we have access to God."
Let's Pray: Father, we thank you that we have not been locked out of your presence. We have access to you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
?
Props: A piece of charcoal, a picture or figure of the Frankenstein monster, and a picture of Merv Griffin.(r) These pictures can be obtained on the Internet.
Lesson: Today we are remembering the Magi, or the Wise Men, who came to see Jesus. And I wanted to show you the things that they brought to the baby, because you may have never seen them before. Hold up the chunk of coal. The first thing that they gave to the baby Jesus was a lump of this. Do you know what it is? (response) Most likely the children will be confused. Just continue right along. It's a big piece of coal, and the first thing they did was give him coal.
Then the Magi gave him this. Hold up the picture or figure of the Frankenstein monster. Do you know who this is? (response) It's Frankenstein! If the children challenge you, continue as if there is no problem. The Magi brought to Jesus coal and Frankenstein. Hold them both up.
Then they brought one more thing. Hold up the picture of Merv Griffin(r). Does anyone know who this is? (response) No? He used to be on television a lot. Hold the picture up for the congregation. Do any of the parents know who this is? (response) This is Merv, Merv Griffin! Just like it says, the Magi brought Jesus gifts of hold all three up as you call them out coal, Frankenstein, and Merv! Isn't that special? (response) What's the matter? Why are you telling me no? (response) Oh! The Magi didn't bring coal to Jesus? What did they bring? (response) Gold? Well, I must say I'm glad to hear that because gold is much nicer than coal. And didn't they bring Frankenstein? (response) Oh! Frankincense! That is a very pretty and costly perfume. But didn't they bring a picture of Merv? (response) No? It was myrrh? Wow. That was a very expensive spice. They must have loved Jesus very much.
Application: It was wonderful for the Magi to travel so many miles just to give some wonderful, costly gifts to Jesus. Gold, frankincense, and myrrh were some of the nicest gifts anyone could ever have. Joseph, Mary, and Jesus were very poor, and those gifts would have helped them, especially since they were about to go to Egypt. Do you know the best gift that you can give Jesus today? (response) Yourself. To give Jesus your life and to live each day for God would be the best gift in the world. So let's be like the Magi, and let's give Jesus some very important gifts today. Ourselves!
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for the Magi who gave such nice things to Jesus and his family. Help us to give ourselves to him. Amen.
* * * *
Epiphany
Ephesians 3:1-12
Gaining Access
Exegetical Aim: Christ offers access to God.
Props: A combination lock and a box that can be secured with the lock.
Lesson: How many of you know what the word "access" means? (response) I'm going to show you what it means. Hold up the locked box. What do I have in my hand? (response) That's right. It's a locked box. In fact, it's locked with a combination lock. The only way to open the box is to know the numbers for the lock. Would you like to try to open it? Allow one of the children to try to open the lock. Okay. That didn't work. Why not? (response) Right. You didn't know the combination. Now who else wants to try with the combination? (response) Guide him/her through the process until it is opened. Great job! Now you have access to this box because you know the combination. Without the right numbers in the right order, you would not have had access to the inside of the box.
Application: I want you to say a Bible verse with me. Here it is: "Through Christ we have access to God." Say it with me. (Through Christ we have access to God.) Ask the children to repeat it. With combination locks you have to know the numbers to gain access; Jesus Christ is our combination or access to God. If we follow Jesus, we will be shown the way to God. That means that anytime you want to pray to God, you can do so and he will hear you. And if you ever just want to talk to God, you can do that and he will be there with you. And if you ever want to hear God, he is close by and will speak to your heart. Through Jesus Christ hold up the open combination lock we have access to God. Say it with me one more time: "Through Christ we have access to God."
Let's Pray: Father, we thank you that we have not been locked out of your presence. We have access to you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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