Let's Pretend
Pastoral Resources
Gospel-Telling
The Art and Theology of Children's Sermons
These sermons require the listeners to use their imaginations in a vivid way.
Death Comes To The Henry Family
Season: Any
Summary: Through death, we enter God's eternal Kingdom. (Children have the capacity to understand this basic Christian message.)
Props: Flannel--graph and figures: Mother and Father (I prefer Mother and Father grouped as one, representing the parental figure; this also makes the role easier to play and more adaptable for single--parent families); Judy (in junior high), Michael (six years old), and Sharon (four years old). Figures can be cut from a magazine and backed with felt or masking tape.
Preparation: Begin by introducing each person and giving his or her age.
Scene I
(Mother, Father, and Judy)
Mother: We sure will miss Grandma around here.
Father: Yes, we will. We knew she was sick and might die soon, but just the same, I wish she could have lived a few more years. What's bothering me is what we should tell Michael and Sharon.
Mother: I think we should wait to tell them. You know how the children loved their grandmother.
Judy: I think we should tell them now - they have a right to know.
Mother: You're right, of course, but I don't know if they'll understand what has happened.
Father: Does it really matter if they understand everything? They'll understand enough in their own way.
Scene II
(Add Michael and Sharon)
Michael and Sharon: We heard. We heard you and Mommy talking. Did Grandma really die?
Father: Yes, she did. She died last night.
Michael: Does that mean we'll never see her again? Has she gone away to see God?
Sharon: I want to see Grandma. I want to see her now.
Mother: We can't see her, Sharon. It's going to be hard but we'll have to learn to live our lives without Grandma from now on.
Sharon: I don't care. I want to be with her.
Father: I know it isn't easy for you to understand, but Grandma has gone to a different world - a world you've never seen before, but a world where you can be very, very close to God.
Judy: I never thought of it like that before, but death is like a bridge.* The only way we can cross over to God's world is by passing over the bridge of death.
Michael: I wish I could see what God's Kingdom is like.
Mother: Someday I know you will, but for the moment you'll have to enjoy God's Kingdom as it is here on earth.
Judy: Does God have two Kingdoms?
Mother: No, Judy. I didn't mean to confuse everyone. When Jesus came to earth he started a Kingdom based upon love - one that includes our world and Grandma's world. You might even say that we are trying to help God complete that Kingdom every time we love instead of hate.
Judy: But Grandma doesn't have to wait any longer, does she? She's already there.
Father: I guess you could put it that way. Grandma is now able to love God with all her heart and mind and spirit.
Michael: I know Grandma won't be able to take us on any more trips, but I'm glad she crossed over that bridge to be closer to God.
Father: The Bible doesn't answer all of our questions about death, but it does promise the most important thing. Death is the end of one journey, but it is also the beginning of a new one. God showed us that when Jesus was raised from the dead. We'll be sad that Grandma is gone, but thankful that God will give Grandma a new life in a world where love is everywhere.
Reflection Note: The power of this type of sermon comes from the situation itself: the children are allowed to listen in as another family talks about a very sensitive subject (see Part I, "The Story Form As Proclamation").
____________
*Throughout the conversation I have avoided using language that implies that death is like sleep or that God's eternal Kingdom is a place with a specific location. Both analogies are unbiblical and teach children concepts which they must relearn later. Listen to other people's discussions of death, and you will discover
Death Comes To The Henry Family
Season: Any
Summary: Through death, we enter God's eternal Kingdom. (Children have the capacity to understand this basic Christian message.)
Props: Flannel--graph and figures: Mother and Father (I prefer Mother and Father grouped as one, representing the parental figure; this also makes the role easier to play and more adaptable for single--parent families); Judy (in junior high), Michael (six years old), and Sharon (four years old). Figures can be cut from a magazine and backed with felt or masking tape.
Preparation: Begin by introducing each person and giving his or her age.
Scene I
(Mother, Father, and Judy)
Mother: We sure will miss Grandma around here.
Father: Yes, we will. We knew she was sick and might die soon, but just the same, I wish she could have lived a few more years. What's bothering me is what we should tell Michael and Sharon.
Mother: I think we should wait to tell them. You know how the children loved their grandmother.
Judy: I think we should tell them now - they have a right to know.
Mother: You're right, of course, but I don't know if they'll understand what has happened.
Father: Does it really matter if they understand everything? They'll understand enough in their own way.
Scene II
(Add Michael and Sharon)
Michael and Sharon: We heard. We heard you and Mommy talking. Did Grandma really die?
Father: Yes, she did. She died last night.
Michael: Does that mean we'll never see her again? Has she gone away to see God?
Sharon: I want to see Grandma. I want to see her now.
Mother: We can't see her, Sharon. It's going to be hard but we'll have to learn to live our lives without Grandma from now on.
Sharon: I don't care. I want to be with her.
Father: I know it isn't easy for you to understand, but Grandma has gone to a different world - a world you've never seen before, but a world where you can be very, very close to God.
Judy: I never thought of it like that before, but death is like a bridge.* The only way we can cross over to God's world is by passing over the bridge of death.
Michael: I wish I could see what God's Kingdom is like.
Mother: Someday I know you will, but for the moment you'll have to enjoy God's Kingdom as it is here on earth.
Judy: Does God have two Kingdoms?
Mother: No, Judy. I didn't mean to confuse everyone. When Jesus came to earth he started a Kingdom based upon love - one that includes our world and Grandma's world. You might even say that we are trying to help God complete that Kingdom every time we love instead of hate.
Judy: But Grandma doesn't have to wait any longer, does she? She's already there.
Father: I guess you could put it that way. Grandma is now able to love God with all her heart and mind and spirit.
Michael: I know Grandma won't be able to take us on any more trips, but I'm glad she crossed over that bridge to be closer to God.
Father: The Bible doesn't answer all of our questions about death, but it does promise the most important thing. Death is the end of one journey, but it is also the beginning of a new one. God showed us that when Jesus was raised from the dead. We'll be sad that Grandma is gone, but thankful that God will give Grandma a new life in a world where love is everywhere.
Reflection Note: The power of this type of sermon comes from the situation itself: the children are allowed to listen in as another family talks about a very sensitive subject (see Part I, "The Story Form As Proclamation").
____________
*Throughout the conversation I have avoided using language that implies that death is like sleep or that God's eternal Kingdom is a place with a specific location. Both analogies are unbiblical and teach children concepts which they must relearn later. Listen to other people's discussions of death, and you will discover
