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| Help yourself to these great children's sermons! We've written special sermons for the upcoming months, but you'll find many ideas that will work well on any given Sunday. Enjoy! |
Hosanna!
Matthew 21:1-11
(Obtain a palm branch. Plan to have a pianist play the children’s song, “Clap Your Hands”.)
There was excitement in the air in Jerusalem. It was time to celebrate the special feast called Unleavened Bread. It was time to celebrate the Passover. To top it all off, Jesus was coming to town-- and what an entrance He made! First, He sent two of His followers into town to find a white donkey. Then Jesus got on the donkey and rode into the city.
People filled the streets. Some ran in front of Jesus; others followed along behind. Many threw their cloaks on the ground; others waved palm branches like this one. Everywhere you could hear the sounds of people shouting, “Hosanna! Hosanna!”-- a Hebrew word of praise which means, “Save.”
Today is Palm Sunday-- a special day for remembering how Jesus entered Jerusalem. This morning we worship God with songs of praise. We wave palm branches. We give thanks that Jesus came to save us from our sins.
Sing with me:
Clap your hands, all you people
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!
Clap your hands, all you people,
Shout unto God with a voice of praise!
Hosanna! Hosanna!
Shout unto God with a voice of triumph!
Praise Him! Praise Him!
Shout unto God with a voice of praise!
Surprise!
Mark 16:1-7
(Have a helium-filled balloon, preferably purple in color, in a bag. Tie the balloon to a 6-8 foot piece of string or ribbon, and have the string attached to the bag in some way.)
I’ve got a surprise for you this morning. Do you like surprises? What do you think the surprise might be? What do you think I’ve got in this bag? (Allow for guesses. Then open the bag, release the balloon and say, “Surprise!”)
This surprise reminds me of a story in the Bible-- a story that tells about a very special surprise. (Tell the story of the resurrection from Mark 16, emphasizing how surprised Jesus’ friends were to find the tomb empty.)
Surprises like this balloon make us happy, but the best reason we have to be happy this morning is that Jesus is alive and loves us very much! I hope you’ll remember that as we celebrate Easter today.
| APRIL 18 Thunder over Louisville! |
Thunder Over Israel
1 Samuel 12
(Get a picture of the Thunder Over Louisville fireworks show from the paper.)
Last night was a special night for our city: Thunder Over Louisville! (Show the picture.) Did you see it? Did you hear it? Thunder Over Louisville is the largest fireworks show in North America. It marks the official beginning of the Kentucky Derby Festival.
Did you know that there is a story about thunder in the Bible? It is found in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. Samuel was a prophet-- one of God’s special messengers. He had served God and the people of Israel faithfully. Now Samuel was old and gray. It was time for him to retire.
Samuel called all of the people together. He was upset with them because they had asked God to give them a king. Samuel told them that God was their king, but they had insisted, and so Samuel had appointed Saul as King of Israel. As the people gathered around, Samuel spoke to them one last time.
“Stand here and watch closely. I am going to show you something that will remind you of all the great things God has done for you. I am going to ask God to send thunder and rain. When He does, you will realize that He is your true king.”
Samuel spoke, and God sent thunder and rain.
The people stood there in awe and amazement. They were afraid, but Samuel said to them, “Don’t be afraid. God still loves you. Just remember to respect God and serve Him faithfully. And never forget all the great things He has done for you.”
As you think about the wonderful fireworks and thunder from last night, let them remind you of this story about thunder from the Bible. Let them remind you of the greatness of God, and of His great love for you.
| APRIL 25 MiniMarathon Weekend |
Sundays Are Special
Exodus 20:8-11
(Get pictures of the Derby Festival MiniMarathon and Marathon road race from the Sunday paper. Find out who won and what the times were. You will also need a picture of Olympic runner, Eric Liddel. The movie Chariots of Fire tells Liddel’s story.)
Yesterday was an exciting day for Louisville runners. It was the Kentucky Derby Festival MiniMarathon and Marathon road race. (Comment on the race. Show your pictures, tell how many runners there were, who won, etc.)
This is Eric Liddell. Liddel was a Scottish runner. He was so fast that he was chosen to run in the 1924 Olympics. He trained and trained and trained. At last he was ready. But when he got to the Olympics, Liddel found out that one of the races was on Sunday. Eric Liddel was also a Christian. He loved God. He knew the Bible said Sundays were special days for rest and worship God. Liddel refused to run on Sunday, even though it cost him a chance to win a medal in the Olympics. The movie Chariots of Fire tells his story.
For many people, Sunday is a day like any other-- a day to sleep, a day to play, a day to get extra work done . . . But the Bible tells us something different. Listen to this verse from Exodus 20: “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” The word “sabbath” means “rest.” This command is part of the Ten Commandments, and God gave us this command to remind us to take time each week to rest and worship.
I hope you will remember the story of Eric Liddel. I hope that when you are older you will see Chariots of Fire. Most of all, I hope Sundays will always be special days for you-- just like they were for Eric Liddel. I hope you will choose to take time to rest and worship-- to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
C’mon, Seabiscuit!
Acts 10:34-35; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
(Get pictures of the Kentucky Derby from the Sunday paper. Find out who won. You a picture of Seabiscuit. The movie website may still be up.)
Yesterday was the Kentucky Derby-- probably the most famous horse race of all. (Comment on the race and show your pictures. Then show the picture of Seabiscuit.)
Do you know who this is? This is Seabiscuit. He did not run in yesterday’s race, but he is one of the most famous racehorses of all time. Some of you may have seen the movie Seabiscuit that came out last year. What a great story! What a great horse!
Seabiscuit was what we call an Aunderdog.” He was not the biggest or strongest horse; he didn’t come from a family of famous horses. But he was fast, and he won a lot of races. Seabiscuit became a favorite of the American people during a period of our history when times were hard and there wasn’t much to get excited about
Seabiscuit reminds me of Jesus’ first followers. They, too, were underdogs. They were not very smart; they didn’t have much money; nobody knew who they were. But Jesus chose them to be His special helpers and working with Him, they changed the world.
Boys and girls, God does not play favorites. He doesn’t care what we look like. He doesn’t care how strong or smart we are. He doesn’t care how much money we have, who we know or who knows us. God loves everyone the same. That means God loves YOU! It also means that God can use you to do His work if you will love Him and follow Him with all your heart . . . just like the first followers of Jesus.
A Brave Mother
Exodus 2:1-10
Today is Mother’s Day-- a special day to be thankful for our moms. I hope you have already told your mother how much you love her
This morning, I want to tell you a story about a mother. The story comes from the Bible book of Exodus. The mother’s name is Jochabed. You have probably never heard her name, but I bet you know her son. His name was Moses . . . and I bet you know his story!
A wicked king had decided to kill all the baby boys in the land, so when Moses was born, his mother, Jochabed decided to hide him. She made a little basket out of reeds, coated it with tar, put Moses inside and hid him at the edge of the water. His sister, Miriam kept close watch. A princess found the baby and felt sorry for him. Miriam stepped from her hiding place and offered to find someone to take care of the baby. Who do you think she went and got? That’s right! Jochabed . . . Moses’ own mother!
This morning I am thankful for mothers like Jochabed-- women with great wisdom and courage. I am thankful for the way she loved Moses and took care of him. Most of all, I am thankful that God loves us and cares for us the same way.
Alligators & Marshmallows
1 Corinthians 10:13
(Give each child a miniature marshmallow.)
Alligators are everywhere in Florida. Most of the time, if you leave them alone, they will leave you alone. Still, you have to be very careful.
Todd Harwick is a licensed alligator trapper. He owns Pesky Critters, a company that has permission to trap and kill “nuisance alligators.” “Nuisance alligators” are alligators that have lost their fear of humans and will approach a human in much the same way that a stray dog will beg for food.
Here’s how Harwick knows if an alligator is a nuisance alligator. He throws a handful of marshmallows into the water. If the gator eats the marshmallows, it’s a sign that he has been fed by campers or fishermen and is not afraid of people. Mr. Harwick captures him and kills him. However, If the gator ignores the marshmallows and swims away, he lives.
Mr. Harwick tempts the alligator with the marshmallows. If the gator gives in and eats them, he dies, but if he swims away, he lives.
God wants us to be happy, but God knows that things that can hurt us and make us unhappy can sometimes look pretty good--like those marshmallows look good to the alligator. That’s why God promises to help us stay away from things that are bad and dangerous and wrong and not pleasing to Him. Listen to this verse from the Bible: (read 1 Corinthians 10:13).
You can go ahead and eat your marshmallow, but I want you to let it remind you of how important it is to turn away from temptation. When you are tempted to do, say or think something wrong, ask God to help you find something else to do, say or think about . . . and if you go to Florida, watch out for the alligators!
What Would Jesus Do?
John 13:15
(Show something that has WWJD on it.)
WWJD . . . You have probably seen these letters before-- on a bracelet or a t-shirt or maybe a bookmark. What do they stand for? (What Would Jesus Do?)
The idea of WWJD is to get us to think about what Jesus would do if He were in the same situations we find ourselves in . “What Would Jesus Do?” is a question that can help us be better followers of Jesus by helping us become more like Jesus in our actions.
I’m glad you came to worship this morning. I hope you learn something that will help you be a better follower of Jesus, and I hope the next time you have to make an important decision, the question “what would Jesus do?” will help you decide what you are going to do.
Remember Me
Luke 22:14-20
(You will need a small American flag.)
Tomorrow is Memorial Day-- a special day for remembering the many men and women who gave their lives for our country-- people who died so we can be free. There will be special services. People will visit cemeteries and put flowers on graves. You will see flags everywhere. You may even find a small flag like this in your yard when you wake up tomorrow morning. Memorial Day is an important holiday. It is very important that we never forget the sacrifice so many made.
Jesus wanted us to remember Him, and so He gave us something to help. We call it Communion, or the Lord’s Supper. The Bible tells us that just before Jesus died, He shared a special meal with His followers. The meal was called Passover, and it was supposed to help the Jewish people remember how God had saved them from the Egyptians. On this special night, Jesus gave the meal new meaning.
As they ate and drank together, Jesus said, “From now on whenever you eat this special meal together, I want you to remember me, and how I have come to give my life to save you from your sins.” And so it has been through the years. Even today, when our church serves and celebrates the Lord’s Supper, our pastor will say, “Do this and remember Jesus.”
Some day, you will be old enough to participate in the Lord’s Supper. What a great day that will be! In the meantime, I hope you have a happy and safe Memorial Day. I hope you will remember the men and women who gave their lives for our country. Most of all, I hope you will remember Jesus, and how He gave His life for you.
Be Strong in the Lord
Joshua 1:9
(Get a picture of the D-Day landing from a book, newspaper or magazine.)
Today is a special day in the history of our country. Today is D-Day. Sixty years ago today, allied forces invaded Europe in one of the biggest and most important battles of World War II. As the soldiers jumped off their boats and struggled to make their way to the beach, bullets were flying everywhere. (Show the picture.) Many didn’t make it, but enough did to push the enemy back and win the day. The D-Day landing helped America and her friends win World War II.
The commanders gave their soldiers important instructions as they prepared for D-Day. “Keep moving; don’t stop; don’t look around; don’t give up! Keep going until you reach the beach!” I am sure the soldiers were afraid, but they remembered what their commanding officers had told them and pushed on.
In the book of Joshua, we find these words: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” God spoke these words to Joshua just as he and the people of Israel were getting ready to cross the Jordan River and enter the land of Canaan. Spies had reported that there were giants in the land. Some of Joshua’s friends were afraid. Joshua used these words from God to encourage his people and get them moving. Today, these same words remind us that God is with us wherever we go-- giving us courage, helping us not be afraid.
As you grow older, I hope you will want to learn more about D-Day. It is an incredible story of courage. I hope, too, that you will remember these special words of encouragement from the book of Joshua, and that you will always be strong in the Lord.
A Good Dad
Luke 15:11-24; Romans 4:11
Today is Father’s Day-- a special day to be thankful for our dads. I hope you have already told your dad how much you love him. This morning, I want to tell you about a good dad-- a dad who was loving, giving and forgiving. We read about this dad in the Bible book of Luke.
The good dad had two sons and he loved them both very much. He provided for them in every way. They had a place to live; they had clothes to wear; they had plenty to eat. One day, the youngest son decided to leave home. He went far away and wasted everything his dad had given him. But the good dad never stopped loving his son, and one day the son came home!
The good dad was so happy he almost didn’t know what to do! He gave his son new clothes to replace the worn out ones he was wearing. He put a new ring on his finger. He threw a big welcome home party for his son, complete with a special meal! Most importantly, the good dad forgave his son for leaving home and running away from him.
Isn’t that a great story? Jesus told that story to help us understand that God is like the good dad. God is loving, giving and forgiving, and here’s the best part: The Bible tells us we are all God’s children and God is our Father. Listen to this verse from the book of Romans: AHe is the father of all who believe.” (Romans 4:11)
I am thankful today for good dads, but most of all, I am thankful for a good God-- one who is loving, giving and forgiving.
Can You Hear Me Now?
Matthew 6:9-13
(Arrange for someone to call you on your cell phone just as the Children’s Sermon begins.)
Oops! That’s my cell phone! I must have forgotten to turn it off. Let me see who it is. (Take the call. Explain where you are and what you are doing. Promise to call back when church is over. Then look around and apologize.)
I am so sorry. That was pretty embarrassing! I remember when hardly anyone had a cell phone. Now they are everywhere. No matter where you go you see people talking on the phone-- at the grocery store, at the ball game . . . even driving in a car!
I have to admit, my phone comes in handy. It helps me stay in touch with friends, family and others that I love. No matter where I go, no matter where I am, I can pick up my phone and talk to them.
Do you need a phone to talk to God? No, of course not! We can talk to God anytime, anywhere about anything. All we have to do is pray!
Jesus said that we should always pray, and He taught His followers how to pray. Listen to what He said: (read Matthew 6:9-13).
Sometimes my cell phone doesn’t work. Sometimes the batteries give out; sometimes the signal is weak; sometimes the lines are all busy and I’m not able to make my call. But God is never too busy. He’s always there, ready to hear our prayers and to talk with us. I’m going to remember that . . . and I’m also going to remember to turn my phone off before I come to worship!
| JUNE 27 God’s Rules for Living |
Roller Coaster Rules
John 10:10
It happened last summer at Holiday World amusement park in Santa Claus, Indiana, and it made national news. The Raven roller coaster left the station with a full load, but when it returned, the back seat was empty. The lady riding in the back seat had been thrown from the coaster, and had fallen to her death.
The ride was immediately shut down and the investigation began. After several days, it was decided that there was nothing wrong with the ride and that the fault lay with the lady. Interviews and investigation revealed that at some point during the ride, she had unbuckled her seat belt and stood up. The case was closed and the ride was reopened.
Boys and girls, the people who build and operate roller coasters want you to have fun. They build the rides with your fun in mind. However, they also want you to be safe, and so they have a few simple rules for riding: Don’t stand up; don’t unbuckle your seat belt; keep your hands and arms inside the car at all times. Follow these simple rules and ride designers can guarantee you a good time. Ignore them and they will almost also guarantee you will get hurt, or even killed.
God made us, and He has given us rules for living--rules designed to help us live happy, meaningful lives. When we follow God’s rules, all goes well and life is safe and Afun” in the best sense of the word. When we ignore the rules, we usually end up getting hurt in some way.
John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came to help us know how to be happy, not to make our lives miserable. Jesus said, “Do it God’s way. I’ll show you how.” And He did just that.
I hope you will choose to follow Jesus and obey God’s rules for living . . . and if you ride a roller coaster this summer, I hope you’ll remember to obey the roller coaster rules, too.
Prepared by David Garrard, Children's Minister at St. Matthews Baptist Church, Louisville |
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