Lost And Found
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: To convey the joy that occurs when that which was lost is found.
Props: Your wristwatch that you will hide somewhere close.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) Well, we all made it to church this morning, didn't we? (response) What time did you have to get up in order to make it to church on time? (response) I wonder what time it is right now. Does anyone know how to tell time? (response) If there is a child who knows how or says he/she does, ask that child: So if I showed you my watch, you'd be able to tell me the time? Raising your hand to show the child your watch, you are surprised. What? Where is my watch? Oh, no! I've lost my watch. Where did it go? We've got to find my watch. Will you help me look for it? Get up and help me find it.
As you act like you are looking for it, repeat several times "I've lost my watch. It's lost! It's lost!" If no child can find the watch, guide them. I think I might have lost it somewhere over here. Will you help me look over here?
When it is found, go back to the usual meeting place: Thank you for helping me find my watch. I am really relieved. If the watch has a special sentimental value, explain why losing the watch would hurt. Have you ever lost anything? (response) What did you lose? (response) How did you feel when you finally found it? (response) Yes, you felt just as I did when my watch was found. You felt happy and joyful because what was lost is now found. You lost [name one of the children's lost items]. How did you feel when you found it? (response) That's right; you felt happy and joyful.
Application: It's easy to lose things like watches and toys. But sometimes even we can get lost. Briefly and with the basic elements, tell the story of the Prodigal Son (e.g. wonderful home, ran away, ran out of money, got hungry, came back home, begged to be let back in, and the Father hugged and kissed him, bringing him back into the family). He remembered that his Father loved him - that he had a home and food and warm clothes. Sometimes we run away from God and we need to find our way back home. So you see, it's not only watches show them your watch that can get lost; we can get lost. And God is joyful and happy when we pray to him and ask him to forgive us.
Let's Pray: Lord, when we come back home to you, we know that you will be waiting. Amen.
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Lent 4
2 Corinthians 5:16--21
Ambassadors For Christ
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that Christians are to be ambassadors for God's kingdom.
Props: One child who is a "plant." Before the children's sermon, you have spoken to this child and he/she is instructed on what to do at the appropriate time.
Lesson: Who would like to play a game? (response) What's your favorite game? (response) I would like to teach you a game today. The name of my game is the "Ambassador Game." Do you know what an ambassador is? An ambassador is someone who represents his country to another. And the only things that the ambassador can officially say about his country are the things that his country wants him to say. The "Ambassador Game" is like "Follow the Leader," but it has one difference. I'm going to tell you something to do, and you have to do it. But the only way that you will know what I want you to do is through another person. That person will be my ambassador. Are you ready to try? (response) Okay.
Pick out one person to be your ambassador and tell the rest of the children to do exactly what he tells them to do. Whisper to your ambassador: Stand up and bend over and touch your toes. (they touch their toes) Great job. I told [Child's name] to tell you to touch your toes, and that's exactly what happened. She is a good ambassador. Choose another ambassador. Whisper to your ambassador: Flap your arms like a bird. (they flap their arms) Great job. I told [Child's name] to tell you to flap your arms like a bird, and that's exactly what happened. He is a good ambassador.
Now I need another ambassador. This time, choose your "plant" to be your ambassador. Your plant has been previously told to tell the children to jump up and down. Whisper: Rub your heads. (response) Wait a minute. That's not what I told him to tell you. Ask the ambassador: What did I ask you to tell them to do? (response) He was not my ambassador, because he didn't do as I asked. Now I want you to know that [Child's name] was just helping me, and he didn't really mess up. Before we met today I asked him to help me. But you can see how important it is for an ambassador only to say the things that the country who sends him wants him to say.
Application: In the Bible, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are to be ambassadors for Christ. What do you suppose that means? (response) It is very important for us to do exactly as Christ wants us to do and say what Christ wants us to say. If we don't do what God wants us to do, then we are not being good ambassadors for Christ. But when we do as he says, to love God and love one another, then we are being good ambassadors for Jesus.
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for letting us be ambassadors for you. Help us always to do what you want, so that we will be the best ambassadors possible. Amen.
?
Props: Your wristwatch that you will hide somewhere close.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) Well, we all made it to church this morning, didn't we? (response) What time did you have to get up in order to make it to church on time? (response) I wonder what time it is right now. Does anyone know how to tell time? (response) If there is a child who knows how or says he/she does, ask that child: So if I showed you my watch, you'd be able to tell me the time? Raising your hand to show the child your watch, you are surprised. What? Where is my watch? Oh, no! I've lost my watch. Where did it go? We've got to find my watch. Will you help me look for it? Get up and help me find it.
As you act like you are looking for it, repeat several times "I've lost my watch. It's lost! It's lost!" If no child can find the watch, guide them. I think I might have lost it somewhere over here. Will you help me look over here?
When it is found, go back to the usual meeting place: Thank you for helping me find my watch. I am really relieved. If the watch has a special sentimental value, explain why losing the watch would hurt. Have you ever lost anything? (response) What did you lose? (response) How did you feel when you finally found it? (response) Yes, you felt just as I did when my watch was found. You felt happy and joyful because what was lost is now found. You lost [name one of the children's lost items]. How did you feel when you found it? (response) That's right; you felt happy and joyful.
Application: It's easy to lose things like watches and toys. But sometimes even we can get lost. Briefly and with the basic elements, tell the story of the Prodigal Son (e.g. wonderful home, ran away, ran out of money, got hungry, came back home, begged to be let back in, and the Father hugged and kissed him, bringing him back into the family). He remembered that his Father loved him - that he had a home and food and warm clothes. Sometimes we run away from God and we need to find our way back home. So you see, it's not only watches show them your watch that can get lost; we can get lost. And God is joyful and happy when we pray to him and ask him to forgive us.
Let's Pray: Lord, when we come back home to you, we know that you will be waiting. Amen.
?
Lent 4
2 Corinthians 5:16--21
Ambassadors For Christ
Exegetical Aim: To demonstrate that Christians are to be ambassadors for God's kingdom.
Props: One child who is a "plant." Before the children's sermon, you have spoken to this child and he/she is instructed on what to do at the appropriate time.
Lesson: Who would like to play a game? (response) What's your favorite game? (response) I would like to teach you a game today. The name of my game is the "Ambassador Game." Do you know what an ambassador is? An ambassador is someone who represents his country to another. And the only things that the ambassador can officially say about his country are the things that his country wants him to say. The "Ambassador Game" is like "Follow the Leader," but it has one difference. I'm going to tell you something to do, and you have to do it. But the only way that you will know what I want you to do is through another person. That person will be my ambassador. Are you ready to try? (response) Okay.
Pick out one person to be your ambassador and tell the rest of the children to do exactly what he tells them to do. Whisper to your ambassador: Stand up and bend over and touch your toes. (they touch their toes) Great job. I told [Child's name] to tell you to touch your toes, and that's exactly what happened. She is a good ambassador. Choose another ambassador. Whisper to your ambassador: Flap your arms like a bird. (they flap their arms) Great job. I told [Child's name] to tell you to flap your arms like a bird, and that's exactly what happened. He is a good ambassador.
Now I need another ambassador. This time, choose your "plant" to be your ambassador. Your plant has been previously told to tell the children to jump up and down. Whisper: Rub your heads. (response) Wait a minute. That's not what I told him to tell you. Ask the ambassador: What did I ask you to tell them to do? (response) He was not my ambassador, because he didn't do as I asked. Now I want you to know that [Child's name] was just helping me, and he didn't really mess up. Before we met today I asked him to help me. But you can see how important it is for an ambassador only to say the things that the country who sends him wants him to say.
Application: In the Bible, the Apostle Paul tells us that we are to be ambassadors for Christ. What do you suppose that means? (response) It is very important for us to do exactly as Christ wants us to do and say what Christ wants us to say. If we don't do what God wants us to do, then we are not being good ambassadors for Christ. But when we do as he says, to love God and love one another, then we are being good ambassadors for Jesus.
Let's Pray: Thank you, God, for letting us be ambassadors for you. Help us always to do what you want, so that we will be the best ambassadors possible. Amen.
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