Follow Me
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: What it means to follow Christ.
Props: None.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) How is everyone? (response) Good! We are going to play follow the leader. I need everyone to stand up. I am going to be the leader. Everybody get in line behind me. Stay in line and as we go, each of you has to say and do everything I do, all right? (response) As you go down one aisle and then up another speak to people and shake hands. Each child should follow your lead. Address people by name when you can, shake hands with some, and hug someone.
Possible greetings: Hello! (response) Good morning, I'm glad you're here. (response) God bless you! (response) You look wonderful. Is that a new dress? (response) God loves you and he loves me! (response)
Application: After you have circled the sanctuary, sit down. The children should follow your lead. When Jesus first met his disciples he looked at them and said, "Follow me." The disciples put down their fishing gear and they followed him. They never stopped following him, either. He was their leader. That is what I am going to ask you to do for the rest of your life. I want you to play follow the leader. Everything Jesus does and everything Jesus says, I want you to do and say. If you will do this, then you will learn how to be merciful and speak the truth.
Let's Pray: Father help us to follow your Son. Make us merciful, just like him. Make us forgiving, just like him. Make us your child, just like him. Amen.
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Proper 5
Romans 4:13--25
Getting Stronger Every Day
Exegetical Aim: We grow strong in our faith as we give glory to God.
Props: A feather, a rock, a dictionary, a chair, and a heavy table. Have all the objects except for the chair placed on the table.
Lesson: Which one of you is the strongest? (response) Let's see who is the strongest. I've got some things for us to lift. Who thinks they can lift this feather? (response) Choose the smallest child. So you think you can lift this feather? Let's see you do it. Be careful! Don't hurt yourself. As the child picks up the feather: That's great! Okay, you can lift a feather! But I don't believe any of you can lift this rock. (response) Repeat the challenge with the appropriately--sized children for the rock, the dictionary, and the chair. After the chair, proceed to the table. We do have some strong people here. You even lifted the chair. Not everyone can do that. But there's one more thing. Who thinks that they can lift this table? (response) Choose the strongest child and instruct him or her to lift one leg of the table off the ground. Wow! That's a heavy table. To lift that table leg takes a lot of strength. How did you get to be so strong? (response) Eating right, exercising, working hard, and playing are all ways to make our muscles really strong.
Application: We now know that you have strong bodies. Let me ask: Are you strong in faith? (response) The Bible says that there was a man named Abraham who always believed God no matter what happened. That means he had a lot of faith. And do you know how he became strong in faith? (response) In the book of Romans it says that Abraham became strong in faith, as he believed God. In other words, the more he trusted what God told him the stronger he became in faith. Eat right and exercise so your bodies will be strong, but remember to trust in God so that your faith might grow strong.
Let's Pray: Dear Father, we praise you today and ask you to make our faith stronger. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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Props: None.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) How is everyone? (response) Good! We are going to play follow the leader. I need everyone to stand up. I am going to be the leader. Everybody get in line behind me. Stay in line and as we go, each of you has to say and do everything I do, all right? (response) As you go down one aisle and then up another speak to people and shake hands. Each child should follow your lead. Address people by name when you can, shake hands with some, and hug someone.
Possible greetings: Hello! (response) Good morning, I'm glad you're here. (response) God bless you! (response) You look wonderful. Is that a new dress? (response) God loves you and he loves me! (response)
Application: After you have circled the sanctuary, sit down. The children should follow your lead. When Jesus first met his disciples he looked at them and said, "Follow me." The disciples put down their fishing gear and they followed him. They never stopped following him, either. He was their leader. That is what I am going to ask you to do for the rest of your life. I want you to play follow the leader. Everything Jesus does and everything Jesus says, I want you to do and say. If you will do this, then you will learn how to be merciful and speak the truth.
Let's Pray: Father help us to follow your Son. Make us merciful, just like him. Make us forgiving, just like him. Make us your child, just like him. Amen.
?
Proper 5
Romans 4:13--25
Getting Stronger Every Day
Exegetical Aim: We grow strong in our faith as we give glory to God.
Props: A feather, a rock, a dictionary, a chair, and a heavy table. Have all the objects except for the chair placed on the table.
Lesson: Which one of you is the strongest? (response) Let's see who is the strongest. I've got some things for us to lift. Who thinks they can lift this feather? (response) Choose the smallest child. So you think you can lift this feather? Let's see you do it. Be careful! Don't hurt yourself. As the child picks up the feather: That's great! Okay, you can lift a feather! But I don't believe any of you can lift this rock. (response) Repeat the challenge with the appropriately--sized children for the rock, the dictionary, and the chair. After the chair, proceed to the table. We do have some strong people here. You even lifted the chair. Not everyone can do that. But there's one more thing. Who thinks that they can lift this table? (response) Choose the strongest child and instruct him or her to lift one leg of the table off the ground. Wow! That's a heavy table. To lift that table leg takes a lot of strength. How did you get to be so strong? (response) Eating right, exercising, working hard, and playing are all ways to make our muscles really strong.
Application: We now know that you have strong bodies. Let me ask: Are you strong in faith? (response) The Bible says that there was a man named Abraham who always believed God no matter what happened. That means he had a lot of faith. And do you know how he became strong in faith? (response) In the book of Romans it says that Abraham became strong in faith, as he believed God. In other words, the more he trusted what God told him the stronger he became in faith. Eat right and exercise so your bodies will be strong, but remember to trust in God so that your faith might grow strong.
Let's Pray: Dear Father, we praise you today and ask you to make our faith stronger. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
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