Lent

  • Let the children come unto me

     

    “Let the children come unto me” A skit for the Children’s

    Sermon or Sunday school class   

    Jesus with children    
    Children’s Sunday school lesson on Humility:This children sermon is a bit more complicated than usual – but I do think it is effective. I did this lesson right in the church sanctuary as an interactive children’s sermon. It takes some set up so it would also lend itself well for a group Sunday school lesson (As a alternate simply use the "Kingdom fort" as an object lesson and demonstrate how we have to humble ourselves to enter.)
     
    Basic idea: Make a “Kingdom fort” out a card table and blanket. Arrange to have a big, rich “important” person ask to enter the fort. Explain that they have to humble themselves and get down on their knees to get inside. When they explain that this is beneath their dignity invite the children to easily come through the small entrance. Discuss Mark 10:15 “anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
     
    Props: Card table, blanket, (option: use a big piece of cardboard to make a small entrance)
                Dark sunglasses, cigar and hat for the “proud” person. (They will need a quick private briefing before the story starts.
     
    Full Story: Good Morning children. I’d like you to come over here this morning. This morning I have a special fort here. I call it the “Kingdom Fort.” Who wants to come inside? (Have your big important person come up from the congregation and interrupt you.) ”Excuse me; my name is Blade Steele – the millionaire movies star. I think it is only appropriate that I go first before these children./Hmm. Nice to meet you. However, not just anyone can come into this Kingdom fort, you see…/ But you don’t understand who I am, I’m Blade Steele the rich…/ But Mr. Steele the only way you can get inside is if you get down on your knees and crawl…/ Well, I could never do such a thing, however perhaps this money might make things easier (flash some bills)…/No, I’m sorry Mr. Steele… but you can certainly try.
    (Pull back the blanket revealing a very small entrance. Mr. Steele tries unsuccessfully to get in.)
    Hmmm. That’s too bad it doesn’t look like you can get in without kneeling down. Please stand back Mr. Steele. I think some of these children would like to come in. (Show the entrance to the young children. They easily enter the Kingdom fort.) Hey! All the children made it. Let’s give them a cheer. I’m glad you like the fort. You were all small enough to enter. I’d like you to come back out here for a moment because I have something important to say to you. Listen to this passage in the Bible. (Read Mark 10:13-16) The disciples didn’t think Jesus wanted to be with the young children but Jesus said they were wrong. He reached out and held the children and said that unless we were like a little child we could not enter the Kingdom of God. That is what our little play was about. Mr. Steele thought that he could get into the Kingdom fort because he was so important and had so much money. But he was so full of selfish pride that he wasn’t willing to get on his knees and make himself small. Jesus said we could only enter his Kingdom if we were willing to humble ourselves like little children.
     
    Children’s Prayer: Thank you God that you love us so much. Thank you that even though we might be very young and small you still welcome us into your family. May we always be willing to humble ourselves and make ourselves small to enter your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name – Amen!
  • Palm Sunday Kidzone - Story Time with Lucy

    Palm Sunday Kidzone - Story Time with Lucy - Open Gate Church March 2020 All the people welcome Jesus coming into Jerusalem March 2020.   

  • Short, Interactive, Sermons for kids

    Children's Sermons - Free (Christian (Gospel) object Lessons for kids - Children's Church / Sunday School (or Homeschool) /Bible lessons etc. Season of Lent  (Planning to include asap short kids videos on YouTube) 

     

     

     

    - Object lesson for Easter DayorTry this Resurrection Easter skit -

     Text for this week Matthew 21:1-11    Palm Sunday - (Stay tuned: Planning to make short videos that I can send out to our children during this time of Covid-19) or Check out this for Palm Sunday and Holy Week - (Walking with Jesus - Palms, Bread and Wine, and the Cross.) --> -- (You'll notice I've made it more interactive so parents can be involved in the discussion. 

    : Lazarus - come out -wake up! - To Jesus bringing the dead back to life is just like waking someone up! Here is what I put together --

    John 9:1-41  I was blind but now I see - the man born blind. Spiritual blindness - and seeing Jesus (Lent 4) 

    John 4:5-42 The woman at the Well (Jesus gives the water of life!) 

     ( Good News!  - We will be restructuring this web site to get it more organized and user friendly for hand held devices - stay tuned!  God willing there will be new material posted up as well - Turning over a new leaf in 2020!)

     

     

     

    bethlehem

     

     

     

      tree 

     

     

     

    ==> Unrelated interlude - I believe my daughter has real gift for capturing the beauty of creation. Can't help boasting a bit. Check out Judith's instagram page!   (If you look closely I'm in there with Judith on my shoulders - few years ago)                                                     

    Creative Sunday school ideas 4 kids: FREE: Children's sermons / skits (note: Many of these sermons for kids could be adapted into great sermon illustrations for youth group / adults) Short children's sermons    

    (Please Note: Consider visiting the resources on the right side of the page. That's how I am able to provide this material free to you) and please "Like" a page if you find something helpful)- 

     

    Easter Devotions / Kids talk for Youth Group, Sunday school, or Children's Church  -                                                                                                    balloons

    Sunday School Teachers: Great ideas and illustrations for anyone involved in ministry to children.---

    --Christ Centered / Evangelical - focusing on the Gospel as "Good News." -

    Designed primarily for the short "Children's Focus" during Sunday Morning worship, these Children's sermons can be used in a variety of ways: An introduction to a Sunday School lesson, for Children's Church/Chapel, Youth Groupor Kids club, etc. I trust these Christian sermons for Children will be a great resource for Pastors and Sunday School teachers.  Blessings,  Pastor Andrew  -- Any feed back would be much appreciated!    pastorandrew(at) opengatechurch (dot) ca  

    Note: Stay tuned as I post stories on YouTube -Valuable to God- Gods Love - Secure in God's love- Repentance

    These Sermon's for Children are:

    • Biblical - Present good theology even if it's in a simplified form.
    • Fun  - Avoid the "O brother, here comes the boring message" reaction.
    • Interactive - That's how kids learn. It's best when they use all the senses. I try to involve the congregation too.
      Christ centered- Most of these stories are focused on Jesus and the love of God.
    • Short - Most children have a short attention span.  (Sunday school teachers know this well)

    Free Childrens Sermons 
    - In the near future I will be including ideas on:
    -- Sunday School Crafts
    -- Sunday School Gamesor Youth Group Games
    -- Other Sunday school ideas     ...stay tuned!
    -- Printable Bible quizzes for kids

  • Sunday School drama on the Rich Young Ruler

    Childrens Sermon on the Rich Young Ruler / Fool

        

     


       Mark 10:17-31  

     
    Childrens message idea:  Make a small “doorway to heaven” by putting a blanket over a card table or chair. Tell the children we are pretending this is the entrance to heaven or the wonderful life of Jesus. As you ask the children line up quickly to enter, have an individual race to the front of the line and try to enter carrying huge bags of money. Because the rich person won’t let go they can’t fit through. Let the children who are “last” enter in. Tell the children about the rich young man in Mark 10 and the truth that “many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
    (Instead of speaking of heaven you could also talk about entering the “Kingdom of God” or the “wonderful life of Jesus Christ”.)
     
    Object lesson items:  1. a pretend entrance to heaven / eternal life (Chair with blanket over it or opening cut out of a big piece of cardboard. I’m probably going to label the entrance “The wonderful life of Jesus Christ.” 2. Several large garbage “money bags” filled with paper. Note: An individual “rich man” will need to be prepped.
     
    Children’s Sermon: (Have the kids wait a bit until you call them forward.) Good morning children! In our bible reading this morning Jesus said that it’s very hard for rich people to be true followers of Jesus and to experience his wonderful everlasting life. I’m going to try to explain to you what I think Jesus meant.
    Do you see this small opening here? Let’s pretend this is a doorway to the wonderful life that Jesus has for his true followers. I would like you to now come forward and line up to enter in. (Have your “rich man” with his money bags immediately burst to the front past the children.) Wow! Sir, that was very fast. You made it right to the front of the line. (They could make some comments, “Well yes, I have all this money so it is only right that I should enter in first ahead of these young kids.”) Well, go ahead if you think you think all that money will help you enter in to the kingdom. (They can’t do it with all the bulky bags of money.) Hmm, I guess you will have to give away some of that money in order to fit through. Ans: “No I can’t possibly give any of my money away; it’s the most important thing in my life.” I’m sorry it looks like you just can’t fit through. I think you’d better step aside and see if any of these children can enter through this opening.
    (Let the children come through one by one as the rich man sadly looks on. Plead with him and offer him one more chance. He refuses to let go of his money.)
     
    Kids. If we are going to follow Jesus and know his wonderful eternal life, we have to make sure He is the most important thing in our life. Money is important but it won’t get us into heaven.
     

    Children’s Prayer: Dear God, thank you for Jesus and his wonderful life. Help us to truly build our lives on Him and not something else.

    Copyright 2012 Sundaychildrensfocus.com  Andrew Hewlett  Feel free to use this on Sunday but please give credit to SundaychildrensFocus. Please consider linking to this site.   Thanks!  A.H.

  • Sunday School object ideas for Maundy Thursday

    Sunday School object lesson ideas for Maundy Thursday

    Here are some Sunday School object lesson ideas for Maundy Thursday. (Maundy comes from the Latin word “Mandatum” which mean Commandment.) It’s the occasion that Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another..” This is simple list of ideas that you might use. My sense is that this day in Holy Week is not normally taught given that it falls mid week.

     Sunday School maundy thursday

    Maundy Thursday, also known as Holy Thursday, is the day before Good Friday that commemorates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples. Here are some Sunday School object lesson ideas for Maundy Thursday:

    The Bread: You might try bringing in a loaf of bread or some crackers to represent the bread that Jesus broke at the Last Supper. Discuss how Jesus said that the bread was His body, which would be broken for us. You can also have the children take turns breaking the bread and passing it around, just as Jesus did with His disciples.

    The Cup: Use a cup or a chalice to represent the cup of wine that Jesus shared with His disciples at the Last Supper. Discuss how Jesus said that the wine was His blood, which would be shed for us. Depending on your denominational sensitivities, you can also have the children take turns pouring a small amount of grape juice into the cup and passing it around, just as Jesus did with His disciples.

    The Footwashing: Use a basin of water and a towel to reenact the footwashing that Jesus did with His disciples at the Last Supper. Have the children / youth take turns washing each other's feet, and discuss how this was a symbol of humility and service. Explain how Jesus taught His disciples to serve one another in love, just as He had served them.

    The Commandment: You could try using a large piece of paper or a whiteboard to write out the wonderful commandment thatt Jesus gave His disciples at the Last Supper: "Love one another as I have loved you." Discuss how this commandment is at the heart of the Christian faith, and how we are called to love others in the same way that Jesus loved us.

    The Betrayal - coins: Use a small bag of coins to represent the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus. Discuss how Judas' betrayal led to Jesus' arrest and crucifixion, and how this event reminds us of the importance of honesty, loyalty, and trust. It also reminds us of various way that we are tempted to betray Jesus.

    These are just a few Sunday School object lesson ideas for Maundy Thursday. Even if you don’t use them during Holy Week you could use them at some other time in the year. Remember to keep the lessons age-appropriate and interactive to engage the children's attention and help them better understand the significance of this important day in the Christian faith. Blessings - A.H.

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