Dirty-hearted People
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: Growth takes place only in fertile, receptive people.
Props: Seeds, a tray, a brick (or large rock), clay (or children's Play--doh), and some rich soil.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) Place the empty tray in front. Hold up the seeds. What do I have here? (response) We are going to plant these seeds. I brought this tray to plant our seeds in but I need something to put in the tray so we can plant them ... here we go. Put the brick in the tray. Now we pour a few seeds right there and we are ready to grow! Look at the tray and then look at the children. Is there any thing else we need? (dirt) Dirt? What's wrong with the brick? You can grow seeds in a brick. (response) What's wrong with a brick? (too hard) Knock on the brick a few times with your knuckles. It is a little hard. We need something soft? (response) I got it. Take the brick out of the tray and put in the clay. Let me smash this down a little bit and pour in the seeds, then I will mix it up a little your mixing should produce a misshapen lump of clay with seeds sticking out and now we are ready to grow these seeds. Boy, I don't know what I'd do without you all! Again, pause and look at the tray and then look at the children. Is there anything else we need? (response)
Dirt? There you go again with the dirt thing. What's wrong with the clay? (response) Okay, we will use the dirt. Take out the clay and pour in the dirt. There's the dirt and now I will pour in the seeds, mix it up a little bit, and now we are ready to grow! Look at the tray and then the children. I think you're right. I think the seeds will grow better here in the dirt.
Application: You know something ... I know some people who are like that brick. Their hearts are hard and nothing can grow in them. They never say, "I am sorry," or "Forgive me." They seldom try to do nice things for other people. I know some people who are also like the clay. Their hearts are soft and lumpy. They might try to be nice, but it doesn't last for very long and they don't really mean it. And some people have hearts that are like this dirt: soft, good--hearted people who are always trying to help others and want to do God's will.
Let's Pray: Father, help us to be soft, good--hearted people. We want the seeds of your kingdom to grow in us so that we can be your children. Amen.
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Proper 10
Romans 8:1--11
Two Roads Diverged
Exegetical Aim: No condemnation for those who walk in the Spirit.
Props: A street map and a yellow marker. Before the service, choose a destination on the map that involves a fork in the road for you to chart with the children.
Lesson: Have any of you ever gone on a trip? (response) When we go on a trip to somewhere, what do we use to help us get to where we are going? (use a map) I just happen to have a road map with me today, and I would like you to help me find the roads we need to use. Open the map on the floor. I'm going to take a trip to name of city. Here is where we live point out your current location and here is where I want to go point out the destination. All of these different lines are streets and highways that take me to my destination. As you look at the two places, which road should I take to get there? Allow the children to guide you as you use the colored marker to draw the path until you get to the fork in the road. Wait a minute, now the road becomes two roads. I can go one way or the other. Which one should I take? (the one that takes you to your city) Why can't I take this one? (it doesn't go the city) I see. It would only get me further away from where I need to be. Finish marking the map to your proper destination.
Application: Did you know that our lives are like this road map? There is a road that God wants us all to be on, and then there is a road that leads away from where God wants us to be. The good road is called the road of the Spirit. The other road is called the road of the world. The road of the world has a lot of bad things on it: fighting, name--calling, jealousy, stealing, lying, cheating. Those who walk on the road of the Spirit are always trying to make God happy. That road has love, hope, faith, goodness, mercy, and humility. Which of the roads do you think is the best road to be on? (road of the Spirit) That's right. The Bible tells us that if we stay on the road of the Spirit, we will be fine with God.
Let's Pray: Help us, O Lord, always to walk on the road of the Spirit, because that will take us to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
?
Props: Seeds, a tray, a brick (or large rock), clay (or children's Play--doh), and some rich soil.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) Place the empty tray in front. Hold up the seeds. What do I have here? (response) We are going to plant these seeds. I brought this tray to plant our seeds in but I need something to put in the tray so we can plant them ... here we go. Put the brick in the tray. Now we pour a few seeds right there and we are ready to grow! Look at the tray and then look at the children. Is there any thing else we need? (dirt) Dirt? What's wrong with the brick? You can grow seeds in a brick. (response) What's wrong with a brick? (too hard) Knock on the brick a few times with your knuckles. It is a little hard. We need something soft? (response) I got it. Take the brick out of the tray and put in the clay. Let me smash this down a little bit and pour in the seeds, then I will mix it up a little your mixing should produce a misshapen lump of clay with seeds sticking out and now we are ready to grow these seeds. Boy, I don't know what I'd do without you all! Again, pause and look at the tray and then look at the children. Is there anything else we need? (response)
Dirt? There you go again with the dirt thing. What's wrong with the clay? (response) Okay, we will use the dirt. Take out the clay and pour in the dirt. There's the dirt and now I will pour in the seeds, mix it up a little bit, and now we are ready to grow! Look at the tray and then the children. I think you're right. I think the seeds will grow better here in the dirt.
Application: You know something ... I know some people who are like that brick. Their hearts are hard and nothing can grow in them. They never say, "I am sorry," or "Forgive me." They seldom try to do nice things for other people. I know some people who are also like the clay. Their hearts are soft and lumpy. They might try to be nice, but it doesn't last for very long and they don't really mean it. And some people have hearts that are like this dirt: soft, good--hearted people who are always trying to help others and want to do God's will.
Let's Pray: Father, help us to be soft, good--hearted people. We want the seeds of your kingdom to grow in us so that we can be your children. Amen.
?
Proper 10
Romans 8:1--11
Two Roads Diverged
Exegetical Aim: No condemnation for those who walk in the Spirit.
Props: A street map and a yellow marker. Before the service, choose a destination on the map that involves a fork in the road for you to chart with the children.
Lesson: Have any of you ever gone on a trip? (response) When we go on a trip to somewhere, what do we use to help us get to where we are going? (use a map) I just happen to have a road map with me today, and I would like you to help me find the roads we need to use. Open the map on the floor. I'm going to take a trip to name of city. Here is where we live point out your current location and here is where I want to go point out the destination. All of these different lines are streets and highways that take me to my destination. As you look at the two places, which road should I take to get there? Allow the children to guide you as you use the colored marker to draw the path until you get to the fork in the road. Wait a minute, now the road becomes two roads. I can go one way or the other. Which one should I take? (the one that takes you to your city) Why can't I take this one? (it doesn't go the city) I see. It would only get me further away from where I need to be. Finish marking the map to your proper destination.
Application: Did you know that our lives are like this road map? There is a road that God wants us all to be on, and then there is a road that leads away from where God wants us to be. The good road is called the road of the Spirit. The other road is called the road of the world. The road of the world has a lot of bad things on it: fighting, name--calling, jealousy, stealing, lying, cheating. Those who walk on the road of the Spirit are always trying to make God happy. That road has love, hope, faith, goodness, mercy, and humility. Which of the roads do you think is the best road to be on? (road of the Spirit) That's right. The Bible tells us that if we stay on the road of the Spirit, we will be fine with God.
Let's Pray: Help us, O Lord, always to walk on the road of the Spirit, because that will take us to you. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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