I Doubt It!
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: Thomas' transition from doubt to faith concerning the resurrection of Jesus.
Props: A talent that will come as a surprise to the children; e.g., being able to juggle. You must be able to perform the talent before the children. If you use the object it needs to be hidden until revealed. A unique object could be used rather than a talent.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) I have a talent that none of you know about. Do you want to know what my talent is? (response) I don't think you are going to believe me, but I can juggle. (response) As you say "juggle," show them the balls and drop them into the crowd of children. This will create doubt in the minds of the children. What? You don't think I can juggle? (response) I can see that some of you doubt I can do it. Well, I've brought these three tennis balls and I am going to prove to you that I can juggle, but I'm only going to show a few of you. I want you to turn around and cover your eyes. Turn around. Now, you can't turn around until I say so, and no peeking, so I want you to cover your eyes.
At this time perform the talent being watchful of peekers. Okay, everyone can turn around. You didn't think I could do it, did you? (response) But do you believe I can do it now? (response) Address the congregation: They didn't see me do it. Could you tell them I did it? (response) Now ask if they believe. Now do you believe I can do it? (response)
She doesn't believe that I can juggle; so, I want you to turn around and cover your eyes. I am going to do it one more time. Perform the talent a second time. Okay, you can turn around. Now do you believe I can juggle? (response) You hope the response will be, "No." Why not? (response) Usually the children will say, "We have to see it."
Perform the event or show the object. Now do you believe? (yes)
Application: This is exactly what happened after Easter. Jesus appeared to all the disciples except Thomas, and Thomas couldn't believe it. Everybody tried to tell Thomas that Jesus was alive, but he wouldn't believe. He said, "Unless I see it with my own two eyes and touch him with my own hands, I am not going to believe." And guess what? (response) Jesus appeared again to the disciples and this time Thomas was there. Thomas saw Jesus with his own two eyes and touched him with his own two hands and then Thomas believed. Then Jesus said something wonderful. He said, "Thomas, you have believed because you have seen; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet still believe in me." Do you know who Jesus was talking about? (response) He was talking about you and me. We did not see Jesus after the resurrection but we still believe.
Let's Pray: Lord, we did not see you when you were raised from the grave, so sometimes we have doubts. But, Lord, we believe you are alive! Amen.
* * * * *
Easter 2
Revelation 1:4-8
A To Z
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that Jesus is the Lord of all, the first and the last.
Props: Large cutouts of the letters A and Z and cutouts of the Greek letters Alpha and Omega.
Lesson: How many of you know the alphabet? (response) Okay, good. How many of you know what the five vowels are? (response) Good, you are smart! What about this question: What are the two middle letters of the alphabet? ('m' and 'n') Good. Let's try this one: What is the very first letter of the alphabet? (response) Exactly! It is A. Hold up the letter A. Okay, what is the very last letter of the alphabet? (response) Yes, it is Z. Hold up the letter Z. So, if I hold these two letters together, what am I representing by the A and the Z? (response) Right. The alphabet. Everything is in between the A and the Z. All of the vowels, consonants, the middle letters, everything. All of the words that we use, all of the words in the Bible, and everything that we are taught comes in between the letters A and Z. Hold up the Greek letters. Does anyone know what these are? These are Greek letters, the Alpha and the Omega. Say that with me, Alpha (alpha) and Omega (omega). For people in the time of Jesus, it was the same as our A and Z. Everything was in between the Alpha and the Omega.
Application: In the Bible, Jesus told John that he is the Alpha and the Omega. What do you think he was saying? (response, if any) Jesus was saying that he is the beginning of this world and the end of this world. He is the beginning of your life and the end of your life. He existed before the world and he will be alive after the world ends. He is greater than all of this world because he is the Son of God. If that's so, then Jesus can handle all of the good things and the bad things that happen to us. So I want you to remember always that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Say that with me one more time, the Alpha and the Omega (alpha and omega), the first and the last (the first and the last). The next time you see an A or Z, remember that Jesus surrounds you in his love and care, from the beginning until the end!
Let's Pray: Dear Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to surround us with his love. Thank you that we do not have to worry about our lives because Jesus Christ is surrounding us from the beginning to the end. Amen.
Props: A talent that will come as a surprise to the children; e.g., being able to juggle. You must be able to perform the talent before the children. If you use the object it needs to be hidden until revealed. A unique object could be used rather than a talent.
Lesson: Good morning. (response) I have a talent that none of you know about. Do you want to know what my talent is? (response) I don't think you are going to believe me, but I can juggle. (response) As you say "juggle," show them the balls and drop them into the crowd of children. This will create doubt in the minds of the children. What? You don't think I can juggle? (response) I can see that some of you doubt I can do it. Well, I've brought these three tennis balls and I am going to prove to you that I can juggle, but I'm only going to show a few of you. I want you to turn around and cover your eyes. Turn around. Now, you can't turn around until I say so, and no peeking, so I want you to cover your eyes.
At this time perform the talent being watchful of peekers. Okay, everyone can turn around. You didn't think I could do it, did you? (response) But do you believe I can do it now? (response) Address the congregation: They didn't see me do it. Could you tell them I did it? (response) Now ask if they believe. Now do you believe I can do it? (response)
She doesn't believe that I can juggle; so, I want you to turn around and cover your eyes. I am going to do it one more time. Perform the talent a second time. Okay, you can turn around. Now do you believe I can juggle? (response) You hope the response will be, "No." Why not? (response) Usually the children will say, "We have to see it."
Perform the event or show the object. Now do you believe? (yes)
Application: This is exactly what happened after Easter. Jesus appeared to all the disciples except Thomas, and Thomas couldn't believe it. Everybody tried to tell Thomas that Jesus was alive, but he wouldn't believe. He said, "Unless I see it with my own two eyes and touch him with my own hands, I am not going to believe." And guess what? (response) Jesus appeared again to the disciples and this time Thomas was there. Thomas saw Jesus with his own two eyes and touched him with his own two hands and then Thomas believed. Then Jesus said something wonderful. He said, "Thomas, you have believed because you have seen; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet still believe in me." Do you know who Jesus was talking about? (response) He was talking about you and me. We did not see Jesus after the resurrection but we still believe.
Let's Pray: Lord, we did not see you when you were raised from the grave, so sometimes we have doubts. But, Lord, we believe you are alive! Amen.
* * * * *
Easter 2
Revelation 1:4-8
A To Z
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that Jesus is the Lord of all, the first and the last.
Props: Large cutouts of the letters A and Z and cutouts of the Greek letters Alpha and Omega.
Lesson: How many of you know the alphabet? (response) Okay, good. How many of you know what the five vowels are? (response) Good, you are smart! What about this question: What are the two middle letters of the alphabet? ('m' and 'n') Good. Let's try this one: What is the very first letter of the alphabet? (response) Exactly! It is A. Hold up the letter A. Okay, what is the very last letter of the alphabet? (response) Yes, it is Z. Hold up the letter Z. So, if I hold these two letters together, what am I representing by the A and the Z? (response) Right. The alphabet. Everything is in between the A and the Z. All of the vowels, consonants, the middle letters, everything. All of the words that we use, all of the words in the Bible, and everything that we are taught comes in between the letters A and Z. Hold up the Greek letters. Does anyone know what these are? These are Greek letters, the Alpha and the Omega. Say that with me, Alpha (alpha) and Omega (omega). For people in the time of Jesus, it was the same as our A and Z. Everything was in between the Alpha and the Omega.
Application: In the Bible, Jesus told John that he is the Alpha and the Omega. What do you think he was saying? (response, if any) Jesus was saying that he is the beginning of this world and the end of this world. He is the beginning of your life and the end of your life. He existed before the world and he will be alive after the world ends. He is greater than all of this world because he is the Son of God. If that's so, then Jesus can handle all of the good things and the bad things that happen to us. So I want you to remember always that Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last. Say that with me one more time, the Alpha and the Omega (alpha and omega), the first and the last (the first and the last). The next time you see an A or Z, remember that Jesus surrounds you in his love and care, from the beginning until the end!
Let's Pray: Dear Father, thank you for sending your Son Jesus Christ to surround us with his love. Thank you that we do not have to worry about our lives because Jesus Christ is surrounding us from the beginning to the end. Amen.
