We Divide; He Multiplies
Children's sermon
THE BIG INFLUENCE OF SMALL THINGS
Exegetical Aim: To convey the compassion and power of Christ.
Props: Two slices of bread and a plate.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have brought bread to feed us. But first I need to know how many of us there are. Could you help me count? (response) Everyone stand up and turn around. I want you to count everybody in the church. You might wish to send them out into the congregation to do the counting. If some complain that there are too many people, urge them to try. Interrupt them before they are done with the following: Are you done? (response) Now, are you done? (response) Ask several children to give you their accounting. How many people are there? (response)
That many? Do you think we are going to have enough food for everyone? (no) Are you sure? (yes) Why? (response) We only have two slices of bread and 200 people (if one of the children gives a ridiculously high number use it here) in the church. What are we going to do? (response) What if we divided the bread? Maybe then we would have enough bread. Divide the bread so that there are four pieces. Is there enough now? (no) Maybe if we divide it again. Divide the bread again so that there are eight pieces. How many pieces are there now? (eight) Is this enough? (response) Let's try one more time. Now how many pieces are there? (sixteen) Is there enough now? (response) Repeat the process until bread is nothing but crumbs.
Application: We really don't have enough bread. Now there's not enough for anyone. Pick up one of the small pieces. This is not a very big meal, is it? (response) Does anyone remember what Jesus did with five loaves of bread and two fish? (response) He fed 5,000 people. How do you think he did that? (response) He is God. That's right. He performed a miracle. What I did with the bread was simply divide the bread and it got smaller and smaller but when Jesus started tearing the bread it got bigger and bigger. We divide but God multiplies. Five slices of bread became ten slices of bread and the ten slices became twenty slices until all 5,000 people were fed. It was a miracle! And do you want to know why he did this miracle? (response) He did it simply because the people were hungry. He heard that they were tired and hungry, so he took a little bit of bread and he fed all the people.
Let's Pray: Lord Jesus, we thank you that you love us and provide food for us to eat. Keep us all in your care. Amen.
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Proper 13
Romans 9:1--5
Jesus Was Jewish
Exegetical Aim: Jesus came from Jewish heritage.
Props: An American flag, red--white--blue streamers, a picture or statuette of the Statue of Liberty. (If you are not in the United States, use symbols appropriate to your country.) Also, a Star of David, a palm branch, and a menorah.
Lesson: Who can tell me what country we live in? (response) That's right, the United States of America. Who knows when our country was founded? (response) Good. 1776. And on what day do we celebrate our country's birthday? (response) Correct, we celebrate it on July 4. I have some things to show you today. Let's see if you can tell me what they mean. Show the flag. What is this? (response) Yes, it is our flag. Can you tell me what the flag means? (response) It is a symbol of our country. The red reminds us of the blood that was shed for our country. The white reminds us of the peace we desire. And the blue field with stars reminds us of the honor of freedom. There are thirteen stripes to remind us of the first thirteen states. What do the fifty stars stand for? (response) The fifty states. When we see the flag, it reminds us of our nation and our liberty.
Show the Statue of Liberty. What is this? (response) Right, it is the Statue of Liberty. This was a gift to the United States from France in 1876. It sits in New York Harbor, and reminds people that this is a free country where you can work hard and earn a good life. These symbols are important to us Americans.
Application: Hold up the Star of David. What is this? (response) Is this an American symbol? (response) No. This is a Jewish symbol. This is called the Star of David (officially the Magen David - pronounced Mah'--gen Dah'--widh). For more than 2,000 years this star has been a symbol for Judaism. Hold up the palm branch. What's this? (response) Yes, it is a palm branch. The palm branch symbolizes freedom to many Jewish people, just like our flag does for us.
Let me ask you. Hold up the flag and the star respective to the question: Was Jesus an American or a Jew? (response) He was a Jew and he lived a long time ago. The United States didn't even exist when he lived. Jesus was Jewish and it's very important that we remember that. But he made very clear to everyone that God loves Jews, Romans, Africans, Mexicans, Americans ... Is there anyone God doesn't love? (response)
Let's Pray: Father, your son Jesus was born Jew. He taught us all that God's love is bigger than any one nation and that red, yellow, black, or white, we are all precious in his sight. Amen.
?
Props: Two slices of bread and a plate.
Lesson: Good morning! (response) I have brought bread to feed us. But first I need to know how many of us there are. Could you help me count? (response) Everyone stand up and turn around. I want you to count everybody in the church. You might wish to send them out into the congregation to do the counting. If some complain that there are too many people, urge them to try. Interrupt them before they are done with the following: Are you done? (response) Now, are you done? (response) Ask several children to give you their accounting. How many people are there? (response)
That many? Do you think we are going to have enough food for everyone? (no) Are you sure? (yes) Why? (response) We only have two slices of bread and 200 people (if one of the children gives a ridiculously high number use it here) in the church. What are we going to do? (response) What if we divided the bread? Maybe then we would have enough bread. Divide the bread so that there are four pieces. Is there enough now? (no) Maybe if we divide it again. Divide the bread again so that there are eight pieces. How many pieces are there now? (eight) Is this enough? (response) Let's try one more time. Now how many pieces are there? (sixteen) Is there enough now? (response) Repeat the process until bread is nothing but crumbs.
Application: We really don't have enough bread. Now there's not enough for anyone. Pick up one of the small pieces. This is not a very big meal, is it? (response) Does anyone remember what Jesus did with five loaves of bread and two fish? (response) He fed 5,000 people. How do you think he did that? (response) He is God. That's right. He performed a miracle. What I did with the bread was simply divide the bread and it got smaller and smaller but when Jesus started tearing the bread it got bigger and bigger. We divide but God multiplies. Five slices of bread became ten slices of bread and the ten slices became twenty slices until all 5,000 people were fed. It was a miracle! And do you want to know why he did this miracle? (response) He did it simply because the people were hungry. He heard that they were tired and hungry, so he took a little bit of bread and he fed all the people.
Let's Pray: Lord Jesus, we thank you that you love us and provide food for us to eat. Keep us all in your care. Amen.
?
Proper 13
Romans 9:1--5
Jesus Was Jewish
Exegetical Aim: Jesus came from Jewish heritage.
Props: An American flag, red--white--blue streamers, a picture or statuette of the Statue of Liberty. (If you are not in the United States, use symbols appropriate to your country.) Also, a Star of David, a palm branch, and a menorah.
Lesson: Who can tell me what country we live in? (response) That's right, the United States of America. Who knows when our country was founded? (response) Good. 1776. And on what day do we celebrate our country's birthday? (response) Correct, we celebrate it on July 4. I have some things to show you today. Let's see if you can tell me what they mean. Show the flag. What is this? (response) Yes, it is our flag. Can you tell me what the flag means? (response) It is a symbol of our country. The red reminds us of the blood that was shed for our country. The white reminds us of the peace we desire. And the blue field with stars reminds us of the honor of freedom. There are thirteen stripes to remind us of the first thirteen states. What do the fifty stars stand for? (response) The fifty states. When we see the flag, it reminds us of our nation and our liberty.
Show the Statue of Liberty. What is this? (response) Right, it is the Statue of Liberty. This was a gift to the United States from France in 1876. It sits in New York Harbor, and reminds people that this is a free country where you can work hard and earn a good life. These symbols are important to us Americans.
Application: Hold up the Star of David. What is this? (response) Is this an American symbol? (response) No. This is a Jewish symbol. This is called the Star of David (officially the Magen David - pronounced Mah'--gen Dah'--widh). For more than 2,000 years this star has been a symbol for Judaism. Hold up the palm branch. What's this? (response) Yes, it is a palm branch. The palm branch symbolizes freedom to many Jewish people, just like our flag does for us.
Let me ask you. Hold up the flag and the star respective to the question: Was Jesus an American or a Jew? (response) He was a Jew and he lived a long time ago. The United States didn't even exist when he lived. Jesus was Jewish and it's very important that we remember that. But he made very clear to everyone that God loves Jews, Romans, Africans, Mexicans, Americans ... Is there anyone God doesn't love? (response)
Let's Pray: Father, your son Jesus was born Jew. He taught us all that God's love is bigger than any one nation and that red, yellow, black, or white, we are all precious in his sight. Amen.
?
