Trinity
Children's sermon
Children's Sermons A To Z
Exegetical Aim: To teach the Trinitarian nature of God.
Props: A solid-colored glass with ice and a clear glass with water. You want to be able to display the water but hide the ice. Optional: Hot water in a thermos or a cup on a hot plate that is hot enough to produce steam and a mirror to collect the steam.
Lesson: Hide the glass with ice and the thermos. Good morning! (response) I have a few things here to show to you. Hold up the glass of water. Can anyone tell me what I have in this glass? (response) What all do we do with water? (response) What else do we do with water? (response) That's right. Water is used so many ways. We grow food with it; clean things with it; we swim in it; we drink it when we're thirsty and take baths in it. What would happen if I poured this water into my hand? (response) Would I be able to hold the water? (response) I wouldn't? (response) Why not? (because it is liquid or runs) Well, let's see. Pour just a little bit of water into your hands so that it runs to the floor through your fingers. You're right; it does run. It's a liquid and liquids run.
Standing up over the children with the glass of ice: Here I have another glass of water. Hold your hands over the children's heads, ready to pour the ice into your hand as you say I bet I can make this water stay in my hand. The children will hurriedly move out of the way. What? Why don't you believe me? (response) Watch, I will pour the whole glass of water into my hand and it won't run. Move both hands toward the children as you pour in order to excite them. Sitting back down, show them the ice in your hand. What is it? (ice) I tricked you, didn't I? (response) But not really. You see, this is water, but it's another form of water. It's frozen water.
So we have two forms of water: liquid and ice. Did you know that water comes in another form? (response) Can anyone tell me what the third form is? (response) If they don't guess it: This form doesn't run like liquid and it's not hard like ice. Sometimes you can't even see it. Does anyone know? (response) When water gets really hot what happens? (steam) Water can get so hot that it floats up into the air. You can't drink it or hold it. Most of the time you can't even see it. This kind of water is called a vapor. Optional: At this point demonstrate the thermos and mirror or allow them to hold their hands over the thermos to feel the steam. It's still water; it's just steamy water -- like when you take a shower and the mirror gets all steamy.
Application: So water exists in three forms. What's the first? (liquid) What's the second? (ice) And what's the third? (steam) Three kinds of water. Today is a special day in the church. It is Trinity Sunday. We are celebrating God as Trinity. Does anyone know what Trinity means? (response) It means God is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is like our water this morning which exists in three forms: liquid, ice, and steam. God exists in three forms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We can turn that around: Liquid, ice, and steam are all what? (water) Water! So, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all who? (God) God. That is what the word Trinity means. God is One God but he is three persons. It's that simple! So next time you sing "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" you are celebrating the Trinity.
Let's Pray: Lord, today is Trinity Sunday, and we remember that you have revealed yourself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Props: A solid-colored glass with ice and a clear glass with water. You want to be able to display the water but hide the ice. Optional: Hot water in a thermos or a cup on a hot plate that is hot enough to produce steam and a mirror to collect the steam.
Lesson: Hide the glass with ice and the thermos. Good morning! (response) I have a few things here to show to you. Hold up the glass of water. Can anyone tell me what I have in this glass? (response) What all do we do with water? (response) What else do we do with water? (response) That's right. Water is used so many ways. We grow food with it; clean things with it; we swim in it; we drink it when we're thirsty and take baths in it. What would happen if I poured this water into my hand? (response) Would I be able to hold the water? (response) I wouldn't? (response) Why not? (because it is liquid or runs) Well, let's see. Pour just a little bit of water into your hands so that it runs to the floor through your fingers. You're right; it does run. It's a liquid and liquids run.
Standing up over the children with the glass of ice: Here I have another glass of water. Hold your hands over the children's heads, ready to pour the ice into your hand as you say I bet I can make this water stay in my hand. The children will hurriedly move out of the way. What? Why don't you believe me? (response) Watch, I will pour the whole glass of water into my hand and it won't run. Move both hands toward the children as you pour in order to excite them. Sitting back down, show them the ice in your hand. What is it? (ice) I tricked you, didn't I? (response) But not really. You see, this is water, but it's another form of water. It's frozen water.
So we have two forms of water: liquid and ice. Did you know that water comes in another form? (response) Can anyone tell me what the third form is? (response) If they don't guess it: This form doesn't run like liquid and it's not hard like ice. Sometimes you can't even see it. Does anyone know? (response) When water gets really hot what happens? (steam) Water can get so hot that it floats up into the air. You can't drink it or hold it. Most of the time you can't even see it. This kind of water is called a vapor. Optional: At this point demonstrate the thermos and mirror or allow them to hold their hands over the thermos to feel the steam. It's still water; it's just steamy water -- like when you take a shower and the mirror gets all steamy.
Application: So water exists in three forms. What's the first? (liquid) What's the second? (ice) And what's the third? (steam) Three kinds of water. Today is a special day in the church. It is Trinity Sunday. We are celebrating God as Trinity. Does anyone know what Trinity means? (response) It means God is three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is like our water this morning which exists in three forms: liquid, ice, and steam. God exists in three forms: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We can turn that around: Liquid, ice, and steam are all what? (water) Water! So, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all who? (God) God. That is what the word Trinity means. God is One God but he is three persons. It's that simple! So next time you sing "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" you are celebrating the Trinity.
Let's Pray: Lord, today is Trinity Sunday, and we remember that you have revealed yourself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
