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 Hidden from the wise and learned and revealed to children:  Matthew 11: 25-30

Interactive object lesson for Sunday School, Children’s Church or Jr. Youth Group  

Children’s sermon /object lesson idea:

The basic idea is to have something that young children can see easily see but is difficult for older (wiser) adults to see. Find a very small table. Using duct tape or a hook with string and hang a fun object (perhaps faith related) under the table. The children can easily see it. Have a tall adult come forward. As they look down from on high they won’t be able to see the object. Explain that some things (like God’s amazing love) seem to be easily understood by young children. To understand and see older and wiser people need to humble themselves and get down on their knees (Making themselves like small children).
 

Object lesson items needed:

-A small children’s table (preferably with legs shorter than a card table)
- A Christian symbol, toy, or picture on a string that you can hang down underneath the table
 
(I would recommend prepping your (older, wise) adult so they work with you well.)

Complete Children's sermon on Humility

Good morning children! 
In our gospel reading this morning from Matthew chapter 11 Jesus says that some things (like the amazing love of Jesus) are “Hidden from the wise and learned but revealed to children.” I thought I would bring someone forward this morning who I think is very wise and learned. Mr. Johnson, would you come forward this morning? Now Mr. Johnson, I think you are pretty smart. You are a scientist who works at the university. How many years did you go to school / university? Wow! That is a long time. Well, this morning I’m going to show you something and I want to know what you see. Ask the children not to say anything and bring out the table with the object hidden underneath. Now Mr. Johnson, I’d like you to look down at this and tell me what you see. (He will just see a blank table top. Encourage him to use all his highly scientific brainpower!) (Now ask the children, who can see under the table, if they see anything that tall and wise Mr. Johnson can’t see.) That’s right! There is a wonderful picture of Jesus with his arms outstretched in love. You could see it because you are not too tall. Mr. Johnson, you still can’t see what they see. Children, what would he need to do if he wanted to see what you see? (They will suggest that he bends down.) That’s right. If he wants to see he is going to have to get down on his knees and make himself small. Encourage Mr. Johnson to do this. (He can moan and groan a bit for effect.)
 
Jesus said that his teaching was sometimes hidden from the wise and learned but revealed to little children. Going to school and learning is important. However, you could go to school for 20 years and be the smartest person in the world and still not understand Jesus and God’s wonderful love. God will show his love to anybody who simply opens up his or her heart and turns to him. Young children sometimes understand God’s great love more than adults do!
 

Children’s Prayer: Dear God, thank you that we don’t have to be really old or really smart to understand Jesus and his wonderful love. In Jesus’ name – Amen! 

Copyright 2014 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus.com  Feel free to use this kids talk but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus and consider linking your church to this sight.  Thank you! A.H.




kids sermon idea - Matthew10:24-39  "Even the hairs of your head are numbered " 

 
Kids talk idea: God knows everything about us. Get a few volunteers to come forward (Choose people with various amounts of hair.) Ask the children to guess how many hairs each person has. Have some fun with this. Discuss how difficult this is to know. Discuss the bible verse and tell them how God knows everything about us. He knows how many hairs are on head and he cares about everything in our life.

Props needed: Just a few willing people from the congregation
 
Complete Children’s message:
Good morning children! This morning I’m going to ask some people to come forward to help me with my message. Mr. Jones, Mr. Smith and Mr. Graham, would you please come forward and sit in these chairs. Thank you. Please sit down right here. Now children, which one of these men has the most hair? Yes, I would agree! Here is a harder question. How many hairs are on Mr. Jones’ head? You don’t know? Should we count them? Yes, it would take a very long time. How about Mr. Graham? How many hairs does he have on his head? You are right. Even though he doesn’t have much hair here it would still take a long time to count them all.
 
We don’t even know how many hairs are on our own head! But, believe it or not, there is someone who knows exactly how many hairs are on our head. Do you know who that is? Right! God knows everything about us and he even knows how many hairs are on our head. In the bible (Matthew 10:20) Jesus said that “even the hairs of our head are numbered.” That’s petty amazing. God knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows everything about us. The good news is that he loves us too. There may times when we feel alone. There may be times when we feel like nobody knows what we are feeling. However, God is knows everything we are going through and his love is always reaching out to us.
 
Children’s Prayer: Dear God, thank you that you love us and know everything about us. Help us to remember that we are never really alone and that you understand us when we are happy and when we are sad. Thank you that your great love will always give us strength and hope. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

Copyright 2014 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus.com  Feel free to use this idea at your Sunday Service but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus can consider linking to this site. Thanks A.H.

 

 I am the Gate and I am the Good Shepherd   

 
Kids sermon idea:  John 10:1 - 10
Involve the children in acting out aspects of John 10:1- 10. Use the children to hold hands and make a sheep pen and have them experience going in and out through the gate to find pasture and to find security at night. Explain how Jesus is the gate into the Kingdom of God. You could explain how Jesus said he was like the gate and that he was also like the shepherd. (The text from John 10 includes both these ideas)
 
Object lesson props:  None / However, a makeshift shepherds crook might help identity the shepherd.
 
Children’s Sermon:  God morning children! In our bible reading this morning we read how Jesus said he was a like a Gate to a sheep pen. I want you to help me act this out so we can understand what Jesus was talking about. Now, I need some of you to make a sheep pen. (Get the children to join hands and form a square or circle.) Now, I also need to make a Gate that can open and close so that the sheep can go in and out. Thank you. Let’s open and close the gate to see how it works. (Get 2 of the children to swing their arms open and closed.) Now, we need a few of you to be sheep. I’ll pretend I am a shepherd and I will lead you in and out of the sheep pen by going through the gate. Since you are sheep, I think you should make some sheep sounds! (bah bah etc.) Let’s open the gate and go inside the sheep pen. Now I’ll close the gate so it’s safe and no wolves can come in and hurt you. Of course, in the morning you need to follow the shepherd out through the gate in order to find pasture and good grass to eat. (Open the gate and lead them out.) Then when night comes they go back in through the gate to safety.
 
Note: My understanding is that sometimes the shepherd would lie down across the sheep pen entrance make himself be a literal Gate. You could act this out too.
 
Thank the children and have them sit down. Explain how Jesus said he was the Gate to the sheep pen.
We have to go through Him. To be a part of God’s family and Kingdom we have to go through Jesus. (We believe in Him, and trust Him to be our saviour and friend.) We can’t be a part of God’s family and God’s Kingdom any other way. We have to come through Jesus the gate. (You could also explain how Jesus said he was also like the shepherd who would protect the sheep and lead them out into good pasture.)
 
Children’s prayer: Thank you God that through Jesus the Gate we can enter your wonderful Kingdom and family. Thank you that Jesus is also a good shepherd who will watch over us and lead us into good pasture. In Jesus’ name – Amen!
 
Copyright 2014 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus.com   Feel free to use this on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus and consider linking to this site. Thanks – A.H.

 Idea for the Children’s Sermon: My Father's House 

John 14: 1-14 In my father’s house are many rooms   (mansions KJV)
Let not your hearts be troubled.

Kids story idea: Make a very small fort out of a card table and blanket (or other small space). Get into the fort and explain that you want them all to come inside to be with you. There won’t be enough room and some will be left outside. Use this as a lead in to explain how Jesus said that in his father’s house (heaven) there was lots of room. They didn’t need to worry. No follower of Jesus would be left out.
 
Object lesson props:  A card table and a blanket to make a small fort.
 
Full Children’s Sermon: Good morning Children! I put this blanket over this card table to make a little fort. It looks like a fun place doesn’t it? Would you like to come inside? (Go inside and then invite them all in. Wait to see if they protest that there is not enough room for everyone.) Is everybody inside? Uh oh! I guess there is not enough room. I wanted everybody to come inside but I guess this place is a little too small. Let’s all go back outside. (Ask the kids to sit down.) Who wasn’t able to make it inside? That’s too bad. I guess I need a bigger fort. In today’s bible reading from John 14:1-14 Jesus told his disciples that he was going away to be with his heavenly father. He also said that one day they would come and be with him. However, it seems that some of his followers (the disciples) were afraid that there might not be enough room in heaven (his father’s house). I think they felt there might not be enough room for everybody. But Jesus told them not to worry. He said that in his father’s house there was plenty of room (or rooms). If they were follows of Jesus they wouldn’t get left out. He also said that he was going to prepare that place for us. Isn’t that wonderful! Jesus is actually preparing a  wonderful place in heaven for us. I don’t know exactly what that will be like but because Jesus will be there it will be an amazing place!
 
Children’s Prayer: Dear God. Thank you that in your house of heaven there is plenty of room for all who follow of Jesus. Thank you that we don’t have to worry but can look forward to that wonderful place that Jesus is preparing for us. In Jesus’ name – Amen!
 
Copyright 2014  Feel free to use this on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and consider linking to this site. Thanks – A.H.

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