frontpagewwords

God

  • Children's Sermon - God and Money

     

    Put God First!           You can’t serve God and money.    Bible talk  Luke 16:1-13

     
    Children’s Sermon / Lesson idea: Show some familiar items (eg: socks and shoes / putting on toothpaste then brushing, batteries and a flashlight) to the children and ask them “what comes first?” Stress the importance of putting things in the right order. Discuss God and Money and explain how Jesus said it was important to put God first in life.
     
    Object lessonitems: Shoes and socks, toothbrush and toothpaste, flashlight and some batteries, etc. (Use your imagination) Finally bring in some money and something to represent God (Perhaps a cross, a bible, etc.) 
     
    Short Children’s Sermon:
    Good morning children! I brought some things in this morning that you may have seen before. Look at this. I’ve got a sock and a shoe. What would you say if I put the shoe on first and then tried to put the sock on after? That’s right. That’s a silly thing to do. It doesn’t work. You have to get the order right. You need to know what comes first. Here is something else I brought with me this morning. I’ve got a toothbrush and some toothpaste. Do you brush your teeth in the morning? Good. That’s important to do. What if you brushed your teeth and then put on the tooth paste? Would that be a good idea? Of course not. It’s important to put the toothpaste on before you brush you teeth. You have to know what comes first. I have two other things with me this morning. I’ve got a flashlight and some batteries. If it was dark and I was in a hurry to get some light would it work to take the flashlight and leave the batteries behind? No, of course not. You have to put the batteries in the flashlight or else it won’t shine the light. The batteries have to go inside first. You have to get things in the right order and know what comes first. Now, I brought in two other things this morning. I’ve have a Cross that reminds us of God / Jesus and I’ve got this pot of money (Give it a jingle so they hear the money). Jesus said that it was very important to get these in the right order if life is going to work right. If we put money first in life we end up in all kinds of trouble. Jesus said that it was important to put God first and not worry too much about money. He wanted us to make sure we put things in the right order!
     
    Children’s Prayer: Dear God, help us to always put you ahead of money or anything else in life. Thank you that life will work when we put you first. In Jesus’ name – Amen!
     

    Copyright Sundaychildrensfocus.com Andrew Hewlett 2010. Feel free to use this talk on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and consider linking to this site. Thanks. A.H

  • children's sermon on Thanksgiving

     

    Children's sermon on Giving Thanks (Saying Thank you to God)

     

    Basic idea:   Thanksgiving flowers

    When the children are gathered up front say a brief word about the importance of saying thank you. Ask if there are any members of the congregation that know how to say “Thank you” in their native tongue. Ask them to say it out loud. (You could ask the children to try repeating the phrase) You could include ‘thank you” in sign language. After hearing from 4 or 5 individuals explain how God knows all languages and how we can say thank you to in any language in prayer.

    Objects needed – None

    Individual from different ethnic backgrounds could be approached ahead of time but you can also just do this spontaneously.

    Full Thanksgiving message for the kids:

    Good morning children. Do you know what is special about this Sunday? That’s right it is Thanksgiving Sunday. We want to give thanks to God every day, but on this Sunday we want to take time to remember all that things that we are thankful for in Life. What are some of the things that you are thankful for? (Spend a brief moment interacting with the children) Now, when I want to say “thank you” I just use my normal English language and say “Thank you God!”  But, in other countries they say “thank you” in different languages. Let see if there are any people in our congregation that can say “thank you” on a different language. (Ask individuals to stand up and say thank you in their native tongue. It might be fun to see if the children can repeat the phrases in the foreign language. Consider having someone share using sign language. Thank the various individuals who helped out.)

     Now, children as you can see there are many ways to say thank you. The good news is that God is very smart (in fact he knows everything!) and he can understand every language in the world. It doesn’t matter what language we use. The important thing is that we do say thank you to God for the many ways we have been blessed.  Join me now in saying thank you to God.

    Children’s Prayer: Dear God, there are so many things we are thankful for (perhaps mention some of the items the children mentioned) but above all we are thankful for your great love that you have for each one of us. Thank you also for sending Jesus to be our Saviour and our friend – In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!

    (You could also close by having the group give a loud “Thank you God!”)

    Note: American Sign Language for Thank You – Place your open hand and fingers up against your closed mouth. Bring your hand out and down toward the individual with your palm facing up.

    Copyright 2015 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus  - Feel free to use this message but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and consider linking your web site to this page. Thank you!    - Also...please "Like" this on facebook!

     

     

  • John 3;16 For God so loved the world

    Kids Sermon: For God so Loved the World   John 3:16    valentine heart

    John 3:16  (2nd Sunday in Lent – for those who follow the revised common lectionary)
    John 3 16 Gods love
     
     
    Children’s gospel message idea:
    Bring in a large cardboard sign with JOHN 3:16 in big letters. Get a helper to hold it up and wave it around like the common sight in a football stadium. Discuss the verse and why Christians hope that they can be seen on TV.
     
    Object lesson items.  Large cardboard sign with the words “JOHN 3:16.” You could also where a toque, scarf, noisemaker and football jersey if you want to really look like a fan in the bleachers.
     
    Children’s Sermon:
    Good morning children! Tell me if this reminds you of anything you have ever seen. (Hold up and wave around the John 3:16 sign.) That’s right. If you have ever been to a football game or seen one on TV you have probably seen someone in the crowd waving this sign. Do you know what it means? John 3:16 is a bible verse. It says (show them in the bible), “for God so love the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It is a wonderful bible verse because it tells us of God’s wonderful love for the world and that Jesus has opened the way for us to have eternal life! By trusting in Jesus we can have a wonderful life now and that goes on for ever and ever! That is a wonderful message that needs to get out to the whole world. Some Christians came up with the idea that by holding up the sign at football games where there are many people. They are hoping that people at the game might become curious and look up John 3:16 in the bible. They are also hoping that it might get on the TV camera and go out to the whole world!
     
    I think it is a wonderful way of helping others discover the wonderful message of God’s in Jesus Christ. However, that may not be our way of telling others about Jesus. Each of us can tell others about Jesus and his love. If we are Christ followers, each of us is a “sign” to the rest of the world of the life and love of Jesus Christ.
     
    Children’s prayer: Dear God, thank you for your amazing love that we read about in John 3:16. Help us to get that message out to the rest of the world. That way they can believe in Jesus and discover his wonderful life that goes on for ever and ever. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

    Copyright 2014 Andrew Hewlett and Sundaychildrensfocus.com   Feel free to use this kids talk on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and consider linking you web site to this site.  Thank you - A.H.


     

  • kids sermon ideas - John 14 I go to prepare a place for you

    Children's sermon ideas: “In my father’s house are many rooms (or KJV Mansions) if it were not so I would have told you…”-

     my fathers house

    Check out these children's Sunday school object lesson ideas for John 14:1-14, which talks about the many rooms in our Father's house: Stress that we don’t need to worry that it is short of space. Highlight that Jesus said he was going there ahead of us to prepare this wonderful place.

     

    Involve the kids in Building a house: Bring in some toy building blocks and ask the children to help you build a house. Talk about how just as we need many rooms in a house for different people to live in, there are many rooms in our Father's house for all of us. Stress the idea there is lots of room.

     

    Finding Our Way to our true home with God our father: Give each child a small compass and ask them to follow the direction of "home." (You may need to give a bit of an explanation about what a compass in and how it works) Talk about how just as a compass helps us find our way, Jesus is the way to our true home in heaven.

     

    "The Key to Heaven": Bring in a large key (have a wood working friend make one) and talk about how it represents the key to heaven. Ask the children what they think it takes to get the key and discuss how by believing in Jesus, we are given the key to eternal life. Discuss what might be the characteristics of “our our heaven father’s house”.

     

    Work with the children to produce a “Map to Heaven": Bring in (or make) a large map and talk about how it represents the journey to our Father's house. Discuss how by following Jesus, we can find our way to our ultimate destination and home.

  • Kingdom Priorities


    -Seek first the Kingdom of God -       Matt. 6: 25-34 also Worry, Ministry, self seeking, seek ye first the Kingdom of God   -

    (For use as a Children's Sermonor as an introduction to a creative Sunday School lesson)

     
    Props: None (Spontaneous drama this morning)
    Time:5 Minutes
    Basic Children's sermon Idea: Set up a “static” dramatic contrast to show the kids what it means to “seek first the kingdom” and not to worry too much about food and clothing etc.
     
    Full Children's Story  Good morning children. This morning in our Bible reading Jesus says that we shouldn’t spend too much time worrying about food and clothing. We should focus most of our attention on doing the work of Kingdom of God. This morning I’ll show you the difference. Now, I need some people over on this side of the children. Betty, John and Karen. Would you come forward here and show us some of the kingdom ministry that God wants us to do. John, you sit in this chair with your hands over your face as if you are very sad and discouraged. Betty, would you knell down beside him with your hand on his shoulder like you are trying comfort him. Karen, why don’t you stand here ….(-do some ministry task: bandage a wound, read the bible, share some food, etc.) Now I want you to just stay there holding that position. Now, I need some more volunteers to help me over on this side. (Ask a few members of the congregation to come forward to the other side of the children.) Bill, Frank, George and Tom, please come forward and stand right here. Now I want you to be very worried about your clothes this morning. Bill, look at Frank’s nice sweater. I want you to be look very worried that his sweater is nicer than yours. George, I want you to look very worried about the color of your hair. Hold your hands like this pretending to look into a mirror. Don’t forget to look very worried! (Keep assigning tasks.) Keep looking at each other up and down and worry about your clothing. (I had to keep reminding the congregation that this was serious and not to laugh too much. However, a little snickering simply adds to the obvious ridiculousness of the picture.)
    (Speak to the children) Now kids, I want you to look at these two pictures. I want you to point to the group that is doing God’s Kingdom work. That’s right! This is the work of the Kingdom of God. Jesus, who is our King, would certainly want us to be spending our time doing this sort of thing. But look at this group over here. Look at how worried they are. They are spending all their time worried about what they are wearing and what other people are thinking about them. Of course we want to look nice, and have nice clothes. That’s fine. But some people spend so much time worrying about clothes and the latest fashions (point actors on the left) that they never get around to doing God’s Kingdom work! (Point to your other group). Listen to what Jesus said…(read Matt 6:25-34) He said for us to seek first the Kingdom of God. Let’s take Jesus seriously and always live our lives putting the Kingdom first and worries about what style of clothes we wear second.

    Pray:     (before praying you could get the “worriers” to come over and join the group doing the work of the Kingdom of God.) “Lord. Thank you that you have provided for our needs. Most of us here have a place to live, nice clothes and good food. Help us not to worry too much about these things, but rather to seek first your kingdom. In Jesus name, Amen”
     

    (Option: Get the kids to do the acting)

    Copyright Andrew Hewlett  2009 sundaychildrensfocus.com       Feel free to use this story at your Sunday morning service but please give credit to sundaychildrensfocus.com  and consider linking to this site. Thank you! Blessings, A.H.    PS - Please click the facebook "like" button. 

  • Object lesson ideas for teaching the Trinity

    Object lesson ideas for the Trinity -

    (Please note: You might want to check with you pastor before presenting these to the congregation. The Trinity (or Tri – Unity of God) is a mystery. All these illustrations fall short on some aspect of our understanding of God. That being said, these ideas can still be helpful for helping kids understand complex issues.

    Trinity Ideas

    The Egg: (This has been often used by churches) Use a hard-boiled egg to represent the Trinity. Explain that the egg has three parts: the shell, the white, and the yolk, but it is still one egg. Similarly, the Trinity is one God in three persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

    Water: Fill three clear glasses with water. Add red food coloring to one glass, blue to another, and yellow to the third. Explain that although the glasses have different colors, they are all still water, just as the Trinity is one God in three distinct persons. (This illustration emphasizes that like God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit have the same “essence” or “stuff” of God.

    Puzzle Pieces: Bring a jigsaw puzzle, preferably a large children’s puzzle, with three pieces that fit together to form a whole picture. Discuss how each piece is different but necessary to complete the puzzle. Relate this to the Trinity, where each person is distinct but essential to the fullness of God.

    Light and Colors: Use a prism to demonstrate how white light is made up of different colors. Explain that although the colors are distinct, they are all part of the same light, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct but part of the same God.

    Use an Apple: Cut an apple in half horizontally to reveal the star shape in the core. Explain that the star shape represents the Trinity. The core symbolizes God, and the three visible parts represent the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

    Water: Discuss how water can exist in three forms: solid (ice), liquid (water), and gas (vapor). Relate this to the Trinity, where God exists as three distinct persons. (Please note – in some traditions this may be considered “modalism” – Again – check with your pastor!

    Three-Leaf Clover: Use a three-leaf clover to explain the Trinity. Discuss how each leaf is separate but part of the same clover, just as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are separate but part of the same God.

    Please do stress that these object lessons are limited. Our real God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) is a living and loving relationship. And the good news is that we are invited into that relationship.

    Feel free to share this page and / or link to this web site. Thank you – A. H.

  • Spending time with Jesus - The most important thing!

    The most important thing. The priority of spending time with Jesus – Luke 10 Jesus at the home of Mary and Martha

    Kids sermon idea: Highlight the fact that Jesus cares about us. He wants to spend time with us. Have a volunteer child stand in front of the children. Then ask them to hold some “important” items. (Some toys, some car keys, food, a cell phone etc.) Ask the children to look at the person, and all the items, and ask them what they think is the most important thing. Have some fun. They will probably each suggest what they think is important. Then point out the person holding the items is really what it most important! Use this as a lead in to explain the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Mary chose what was most important – spending time of Jesus!

    Jesus Mary Martha

    Object lesson props: Various random objects that a child can easily hold.

    (Note: Be careful not to teach this in such a way that the ministry of serving is downplayed. You will also want to discuss in practical terms what it means to spend time with Jesus

    Children’s focus full story:  Good morning, Children! For my message this morning I need a volunteer. Thank you, Carol. Please stand-up front here so we can all see you. Now, I have a bag of some important items that I am going to get her to hold. Let’s see what I have. Here is a toy. That’s important. Would you please hold this item? Here is another item. It is a cell phone. That’s important. Please hold this item too. (Keep loading them up with various items.) Now, here is what I want you to think about. What is the most important thing here? I think these things are all important, but I want you to tell me what do you think is most important? (Listen to the children explain what item they think is most important.) Those are all good suggestions. However, what I think is most important is not these things; the most important thing is not a thing! It is a person, Carol! I know this was a bit of a trick question. But the point I want to make is that Carol is more important than all these things.

    This reminds me of a story in the 10th chapter of the gospel of Luke where Jesus is visiting Mary and Martha. Mary spent time being with Jesus. But her sister Martha was very upset that she had to all kinds of work to do. When she complained to Jesus, he said that Mary was doing what was most important of all – spending time with Jesus.

    Children, we want to do all sorts of things for Jesus (Give some example) However we don’t want to forget that Jesus wants to spend time with us. He loves us and doesn’t want us to be so busy we forget to enjoy his love.  (This is a challenging concept so you may need to give examples of what it means to be like Mary, sitting at Jesus’ feet) I want to encourage you children to spend time with Jesus in prayer, in reading what he says in the Bible, in just being quiet, sensing his love. (You might explain that although Jesus promises to be with us always, we get so distracted and can forget that his loving presence is with us. Emphasize both sides of the equation. Jesus loves us and wants to spend time with us. Also, we desperately need to spend time with him.)

    Children’s Prayer: (Before starting your prayer consider taking a few seconds for the children to be silent and think of Jesus and the amazing love he has them.) “Dear God, thank you that you love us so much that you (and your son Jesus) want to spend time with us. In the busyness of the day, help us to find time to slow down and remember that you are with us and that you love us with an everlasting love. In Jesus’ name – Amen!”

    Copyright 2022 Sundaychildrensfocus.com Feel free to use this but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and consider “Liking” or linking to this page. Thank you! A.H.

  • The hairs of your head are numbered

    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.

     

  • Youth Message - For God so loved the World

    John 3:16 For God so loved the world - Gods amazing love for us and the whole world!

    Gods love for the world

    Youth group object lesson idea: Aim: to Emphasize that God does not just “Like” or “Follow” a few people as with Social media. God knows, follows and loves everybody in the whole world. (If you don’t want to focus attention on social media, or if the children are very young, you could substitute a cell phone for an address book as the main highlighted visual.)

    Props needed: A cell phone or an address book with the name of your friends.

    Youth sermon: Good morning children! Do you know what this is? Yes, it’s a cell phone. What are some of the things you can do with a cell phone? (let’s them respond) That’s right. You can make phone calls, take pictures, send messages on facebook or Instagram, Etc. Let’s see how many people are in my phone address book…Wow! I have the names of 75 people in my phone contact list. I don’t post on Instagram very often, but I still have 42 “followers!” And let’s look here on facebook. I have 35 “friends!”

    I wonder who has the most followers in the world? Or, I wonder who has the most “friends” in the world? (Interact with the youth).

    Do you want to know something amazing? There is someone who knows, loves and follows everyone in the whole world. It’s God. The bible says in John 3:16 that God so loved the whole world that he gave his only son…Isn’t that amazing! God actually knows and loves every single person in the world. That would be impossible for us to do. But with God everyone in the world. This would be impossible for us, but not for God. I believe God is thinking about us and following everything we do. And he can do that for every person in the world. Isn’t God amazing! God not only loves you and me, he loves everyone in the world.

    Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the “friends” we have and for all the people that “follow” us and are interested in our lives. But we thank you most of all for being interested in our lives and the lives of every single person the in world. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

    Copyright 2023 SundayChildrensFocus and Andrew Hewlett - Feel free to use this but please give credit to this web site and consider linking to the web site. Thank you - A.H.