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“I’m unprepared and I need to teach a Sunday School class tomorrow!” -

Here are some quick ideas that you could use: (Or you can always just check out the stories on this website!)

Sunday School Panic

1. Take the kids on an outdoor thanksgiving walk. Do a walking trip and ask the children to notice things they are thankful for. As they mention things, ask them why they are thankful for those items: You are thankful for trees. Why? What good things come from trees? (Wood to build houses; Shade on a hot day; privacy etc. After discussing each item, you (or the children) could lead in a prayer of thanksgiving to God.

2. Read out a parable or other bible story and have the children act out the story as you read out a paraphrased version. (Parables such as the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan can work well for spontaneous dramas.) Extra: Record your drama on your cell phone and show it to them.

3. Tell you story of coming to faith in Jesus and have the children tell their story. (Be sensitive to the fact that children may not all have a polished, rehearsed testimony. When you are finished, lead in prayer, giving thanks for the many ways that people come to follow Jesus.

4. Have one of the young people share a problem or trial and facilitate a group discussion on how to help that person. What help does Jesus provide? What help can class members provide? This exercise can help develop your group’s compassion quotient.

5. Facilitate a discussion on the practical needs of your church and community. Is there a project you could all be involved in? How can you help people in need? Bake cookies and ask church members to donate to your good cause.

6. Prepare a song (an action song) or a skit that you could present to the congregation the following Sunday. (Or to an elderly shut in person)

7. Put together a quick bible trivia game and ask the kids to fill in the blanks or give the answers.

8. Play a Bible Pictionary Game. Make up a list of cards with bible names, events, or people. Divide into two groups and have a person in the group pick a card and draw a picture in front of their group without using words. If the team guesses what the picture is about, the team gets a point.

9. Use building blocks to build the Temple, Jerusalem or other bible scene.

10. Have the children work together to do a puzzle. Use this as an opportunity to speak about working together as a team.

11. Ask a member of the congregation to come and speak to the kids. If you have a young person who is a role model, all the better. Or interview them: How did you come to believe in Jesus? Do you find it hard being a Christian at school? How to you keep strong as a Christian? What are some of your favorite bible verses? Hearing a word from an older young person can be powerful.

 

Children's sermon for after Christmas - object lesson - The Gift that lasts forever -

Broken gifts

This is an idea for a Children’s sermon soon after Christmas. Most kids will have received presents at Christmas and will soon find out that they break down, wear out and ultimately don’t bring lasting satisfaction. Perhaps it’s a good time to remind them of the greatest gift that lasts forever – Jesus.

(This is based on a kid’s story posted on this site about “Treasures in Heaven”)

Basic childrens sermon idea: Ask the children what gifts they received at Christmas. Ask them if any of these gifts have been broken. Show some items that you received that have been broken, worn out or didn’t really meet your expectations. Explain that material “things” bring happiness for a while, but they don’t bring lasting meaning or joy. Only the gift of Jesus will last forever. He will never leave us or forsake us.

Object lesson items needed:  Old broken or worn-out gifts that you may have around the house. (You could have some fun with this)

Full kids Bible talk: Good morning Children! How was your Christmas? Did you receive any gifts? What sort of things did you get? (Spend some time interacting) Did these items bring you a lot of joy?

I want to show you some things I have in this box. (Pull various items out one by one) Look at this toy. I received this many years ago but it’s broken now. Look at this gift item I received. It looks nice but it doesn’t work. Look at this item…(You get the idea. You could also include items that still work but you are no longer interested in them. They don’t mean that much to you anymore. The happiness and excitement of getting the gifts doesn’t last long.)

At Christmas you probably received lots of good things that made you happy. But don’t be surprised if one day soon you find out that they don’t bring lasting happiness. When I was young I would say to myself, “If I get that gift then I will be happy forever!” But before too long I discovered that those gifts didn’t bring happiness that lasts. Have you ever had that experience?

Christmas is a great time of year. One nice thing about Christmas is that we get gifts. It’s always wonderful to receive new gifts and toys. However, one day we will discover that those toys don’t bring lasting happiness. There is one gift that will never break down and disappoint us. It’s the greatest gift of all – the gift of Jesus. Although we can’t see him with our eyes, he promises to be with us forever. He will always love us and will never leave us.

Children’s Prayer: Dear God, we are thankful for all the gifts we received at Christmas. They are wonderful but we know that they won’t bring us lasting peace and joy. Thankyou for sending Jesus; the greatest gift of all. Thank you that he loves us, he guides us, he lives forever, and he will never forsake us. In Jesus’ name – Amen!  

Copyright 2023 SundayChildrensFocus and Andrew Hewlett  - Feel free to use or share this but please give credit to this site. Please "like" this, share this or do whatever you can to promote this site! Thank you! A.H.

Father’s Day ideas - Church and Children's Ministry

- Make sure all children are honored and included. Consider highlighting “Fathers” or those in a “Father-like” role to the children. Remember, this can be a difficult day for those who don’t have a dad around.

- Help the children make up a song that you can sing to all the dads in the congregation. Keep it simple and fun. You could also make actions to go along with the song.

- As a group write a poem or put together a skit highlighting and honoring dads.

- Give out special dad gifts: Cans of WD40, Coffee gift cards, root beer, golf balls…

- Interview some Dads.

- Interview kids about what their dad means to them.

- Have a Dad photo shoot. Dress them up as “Superdad” and take their picture with the children. Take some fun "Dad selfies". 

- Produce special craft gift items: Paint and decorate “my dad rocks” paperweights; produce a cut out tie with words that honor the dads; make thank you cards; make decorate father’s day mugs with dishwasher safe paints. This takes more work but my favorite dad mug actually has father / child pictures printed on the mugs. Produce “super dad” t-shirts.

- Discuss with the church pastor how you might set up a mentor program for kids that don’t have a dad around.

- Discuss with the church pastor about setting up special prayer support ministry for those who find this a painful day.

- Have fathers or father figures in the church pray a blessing over the children.

Good gifts from God – The Holy Spirit Luke 11:1-13 Ask, Seek, Knock

“How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”

Children’s message / object lesson idea:  Show the children some possible gift items (toys, books, flowers) and include some bad gifts items (dead spider, rotten apple, broken item). Ask the kids to help you decide what gifts are the best gifts to give you children or friends. Drive home the point that you love your children and want to give them good gifts. As well, God our heavenly Father loves us and wants to give good gifts to us. Explain that one of the best gifts God gives to us is the Holy Spirit.

Object lesson items needed: Some good gifts and some bad gifts (Have some fun with this!)

Full Children’s message: Good morning children! This morning I want you to help me choose some gifts to give my children (or friends). (Hold up the gift items one by one or display them on a table in front of the kids.) How about this new adventure book, do you think that would make a good gift? (Let them respond) How about this apple? You can see that it is a bit rotten. Do you think they would like this as a gift? How about this item? (You get the idea. When you have chosen the best gifts that you might give you children explain how you were having some fun and would never give a bad gift to the children you love.) Thank you for helping me but I was just having some fun. I love my children and want to give good gifts to them. If they asked me for a new toy, I wouldn’t give them a dead spider or a rotten apple! In the same way, God our heavenly father wants to give us good gifts. When we pray, we should ask good for the things we need knowing that he will give us good gifts and not bad gifts. One of the best gifts of all that he wants to give us is the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is like a part or “person” of God that can live right inside us. When we ask him to fill us with the Holy Spirit, we can know that he will give us this wonderfully good gift.

You could share a section of Luke 11 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for[f] a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

(Note: Be prepared to answer some difficult questions here. I believe all good gifts are from God. However, we don’t always get exactly what we want. He may give us something far better that we ask for. God knows what is best for us and we can trust him. Even bad things, that are not from God, will be ultimately used for his good purposes. That being said, don’t be surprised if they come up with some good questions!)

Pray for the children: “Dear God, our heavenly Father, thank you that you love us so much and you give good gifts to us, your children. Please fill us up each day with the Holy Spirit so we can know your life living inside us. In Jesus’ name – Amen!

Copyright SundayChildrensFocus.com 2022 Feel free to use this but please give credit to this sight. Consider "Liking” and / or Linking to this sight. Thank you! A.H.

 

Short Children's Sermon - Rejoice that your names are written in heaven    


Lectionary: Luke 10:1-20 

Name written in heaven

 

Children's sermon idea: Show the children various places where your name is written (On the church bulletin, on your drivers licence, in the front of your bible, etc.) Tell the children how Jesus told his disciples to rejoice that their names were written in heaven (Luke 10:20) It's good to have our names written in various places but if we are followers of Jesus we can truly rejoice that God has our names written in heaven.

 

Objects lesson items: Various items with our personal name.

 
Children's sermon: Good morning children! When I was young my mother used to write my name on just about everything I owned. She would put my name on my shoes, on my towel, on my toys. Is your name written on things that you own? I'm a bit older now but I still have my name written in various places. Look at my drivers licence here. There is my name right below my picture. Look at the church bulletin here. As the pastor my name is written right there below our church name. Here is my favourite bible. My name is written here inside the front page. I'm glad that its there because it lets others know it belongs to me. (Add your own examples.)
I'm glad that I have my name written in these places. But I'm really happy that my name is written in a place that I can't even see. The bible says that if we are followers of Jesus our names our written in heaven! In the bible (Luke 10:1-20) some followers of Jesus were rejoicing that they were able to do wonderful miracles. But Jesus said that what was even more wonderful was that their names were written in heaven. They could truly rejoice because they belonged to God. I don't know how our names are written in heaven but if we are followers of Jesus our names are right there in heaven with God. That's something to be excited about! He knows our name, he loves us, and he watches over us every day of our lives.
 
Children's Prayer: Dear God, we have many things to be thankful for but we are especially thankful that our names are written in heaven with you. Thank you that you know us, love us, and care for us. In Jesus' name – Amen!
 
Copyright – Sundaychildrensfocus.com Andrew Hewlett Feel free to use this talk on Sunday morning but please give credit to Sundaychildrensfocus.com and consider linking to this site. A.H.

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