Do Not Be Afraid
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: Easter transformation: The disciples and the women went from the fear of an empty tomb to the joy of a risen Lord.
Props: (1) A carton of real eggs with one hollowed out. Use a straight pin and poke a small hole on both ends, then blow through one end forcing the contents out. (2) A child volunteer who has not been informed of the trick. You want to elicit an authentic reaction from the volunteer.
Lesson: Show the carton of eggs. What do I have? (eggs) Now, why would I have eggs? Am I going to make breakfast? (no) Why do I have eggs? (because it's Easter) That's right and I am going to need a volunteer. Who wants to be my volunteer? (response) Have the child sit in the middle of the children. Now! You are right when you say it's Easter. And I have some Easter questions, but I need to warn you. Place the egg on top of the volunteer's head and hold it there with a flat palm so that the egg can be seen between his head and your hand. If you can't give me the correct answer, (name of volunteer) gets it! I'll smash this egg on his head. You got it? (response)
Here are the questions. If you get a wrong answer, have someone else answer it to keep the question and answer session going. Who is Jesus? (response) What happened at the cross? (response) Why was he nailed to the cross? (response) As the questions get tougher, make teasing threats that you are going to crush the egg. How long was he dead? (response) Make them guess if they don't know and continue to make teasing threats. What day of the week was he raised from the dead? (response) What do you call his being raised from the dead? It starts with an "r." (response) There were two women who went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. What were their names? (response) I am guessing they will not know this. You have to guess, but if you're wrong, he gets it. Guess. (response) Crush the egg. (response) Leave your hand in place and allow some time for everybody to look for the dripping egg. Now, take the egg in hand and let the the volunteer examine it. If the volunteer jumps out of the way, then examine the egg where it lands.
Application: As you show them the empty egg shell: You were afraid (name of volunteer) was going to get it; you thought there was egg inside the shell, didn't you? (response) Jesus' disciples were also afraid because they thought Jesus was still in the tomb. They thought he was still dead. But then Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away, and do you know what they found inside? (response) Nothing. Just like our egg. The tomb was empty. What had happened? (response) That's right. Jesus was no longer dead. He was alive! There is now no reason for us to be afraid because we know he did not simply die. He was raised and that means you and me, your mom and dad, and your grandma and grandpa shall also live and never die. That's the meaning of Easter.
Let's Pray: God, the grave is empty. Your Son has been raised. And so shall we! Amen.
?
Easter
Colossians 3:1--4
Seeking Things Above
Exegetical Aim: Setting our minds on heavenly things.
Props: Cut out the following shapes from construction paper and write the corresponding word on the cutout: a cross (Jesus), star (Light), heart (Love), dove (Spirit), and crown (God). Each cutout should be at least the size of an 8.5" x 14" piece of paper. Before the service, tape the shapes in various places on the ceiling of the church and on the walls in high, inconspicuous places. The point is to keep the children from seeing the cutouts before the children's sermon. If they notice them beforehand, you will need to vary the lesson to make it appropriate.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) We are going to do two things. First everyone look down. Look straight down and keep your eyes focused downward. Now, what do you see? Tell me everything that you see. I'll start. I see my right shoe lace. What else? (response) What else do you see? (response) If the children are not being specific, give another example of something specific.
Now I want you to look up. Look above your heads and tell me what you see? (response) What else do you see? (response) When they spot the signs, ask them to describe the signs and what is written on them.
Application: What do you see when you look down? (response) And what do you see when you look up? (response) There are two different ways to live in this world. One way is look down (look down with me) always to have your eyes and your mind on your earthly things: your own feet, where you are, what you have, how mad you are about something, or how much someone hurt you. The other way to live in this world is look up (look up with me) to have our eyes and our minds on things above - on heavenly things: on light, love, kindness, gentleness, patience.
Let's Pray: This time as we pray I want you to keep your eyes open and your heads lifted up. Look around you. Keep your head up as you pray. Lord, set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. I pray that these children look up to you and your heavenly ways, in Jesus' name. Amen.
?
Props: (1) A carton of real eggs with one hollowed out. Use a straight pin and poke a small hole on both ends, then blow through one end forcing the contents out. (2) A child volunteer who has not been informed of the trick. You want to elicit an authentic reaction from the volunteer.
Lesson: Show the carton of eggs. What do I have? (eggs) Now, why would I have eggs? Am I going to make breakfast? (no) Why do I have eggs? (because it's Easter) That's right and I am going to need a volunteer. Who wants to be my volunteer? (response) Have the child sit in the middle of the children. Now! You are right when you say it's Easter. And I have some Easter questions, but I need to warn you. Place the egg on top of the volunteer's head and hold it there with a flat palm so that the egg can be seen between his head and your hand. If you can't give me the correct answer, (name of volunteer) gets it! I'll smash this egg on his head. You got it? (response)
Here are the questions. If you get a wrong answer, have someone else answer it to keep the question and answer session going. Who is Jesus? (response) What happened at the cross? (response) Why was he nailed to the cross? (response) As the questions get tougher, make teasing threats that you are going to crush the egg. How long was he dead? (response) Make them guess if they don't know and continue to make teasing threats. What day of the week was he raised from the dead? (response) What do you call his being raised from the dead? It starts with an "r." (response) There were two women who went to the tomb and found the stone rolled away. What were their names? (response) I am guessing they will not know this. You have to guess, but if you're wrong, he gets it. Guess. (response) Crush the egg. (response) Leave your hand in place and allow some time for everybody to look for the dripping egg. Now, take the egg in hand and let the the volunteer examine it. If the volunteer jumps out of the way, then examine the egg where it lands.
Application: As you show them the empty egg shell: You were afraid (name of volunteer) was going to get it; you thought there was egg inside the shell, didn't you? (response) Jesus' disciples were also afraid because they thought Jesus was still in the tomb. They thought he was still dead. But then Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away, and do you know what they found inside? (response) Nothing. Just like our egg. The tomb was empty. What had happened? (response) That's right. Jesus was no longer dead. He was alive! There is now no reason for us to be afraid because we know he did not simply die. He was raised and that means you and me, your mom and dad, and your grandma and grandpa shall also live and never die. That's the meaning of Easter.
Let's Pray: God, the grave is empty. Your Son has been raised. And so shall we! Amen.
?
Easter
Colossians 3:1--4
Seeking Things Above
Exegetical Aim: Setting our minds on heavenly things.
Props: Cut out the following shapes from construction paper and write the corresponding word on the cutout: a cross (Jesus), star (Light), heart (Love), dove (Spirit), and crown (God). Each cutout should be at least the size of an 8.5" x 14" piece of paper. Before the service, tape the shapes in various places on the ceiling of the church and on the walls in high, inconspicuous places. The point is to keep the children from seeing the cutouts before the children's sermon. If they notice them beforehand, you will need to vary the lesson to make it appropriate.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) We are going to do two things. First everyone look down. Look straight down and keep your eyes focused downward. Now, what do you see? Tell me everything that you see. I'll start. I see my right shoe lace. What else? (response) What else do you see? (response) If the children are not being specific, give another example of something specific.
Now I want you to look up. Look above your heads and tell me what you see? (response) What else do you see? (response) When they spot the signs, ask them to describe the signs and what is written on them.
Application: What do you see when you look down? (response) And what do you see when you look up? (response) There are two different ways to live in this world. One way is look down (look down with me) always to have your eyes and your mind on your earthly things: your own feet, where you are, what you have, how mad you are about something, or how much someone hurt you. The other way to live in this world is look up (look up with me) to have our eyes and our minds on things above - on heavenly things: on light, love, kindness, gentleness, patience.
Let's Pray: This time as we pray I want you to keep your eyes open and your heads lifted up. Look around you. Keep your head up as you pray. Lord, set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. I pray that these children look up to you and your heavenly ways, in Jesus' name. Amen.
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