The Children’s Sermon
My companion and I created a resource for those that create the children’s sermon (children’s moment) during worship each week that is based on the Revised Common Lectionary. We call it Sacred Steps: Children’s Sermon Journal. Visit the site. Here are the suggestions for this week’s texts.
Psalm 98
If you have never had the children join in a chorus of praise to God, this might be the Sunday to do it. All creation praises the LORD in some way, so how would the children say they praise God at church, at home, or at school?
Do you have an organ, piano, or band that helps your congregation praise the Lord with music when you worship? Consider taking the children on a quick tour of the sounds the instruments make. Afterwards, add the voices of the children to the instruments and create a quick chorus of praise.
Much of our worship is spent remembering God, remembering Jesus, remembering the sick and the poor, as if to reanimate compassion and grace within us. If you have an older group, you could consider talking with the children about how they remember God, as well as how they think God remembers them. Can they recall the rainbow from the Noah story?
Acts 10:44-48
Have you ever talked with the children about the spirit of God being present in worship? How do you know? What does your congregation do to remind one another of God’s presence in worship each week? Most light candles on the communion table, and maybe some of the children on the sacred steps have served as acolytes to do this. What other symbols remind us of God’s presence with us?
Rather than focus on the four verses of the text for today, consider sharing all of Peter’s story from chapter 10 with the children. What is his story about, and what is a significant “learning” that can help the children as they develop in faith? How will you craft a children’s sermon around that learning?
John 15:9-17
There is an old hymn, “What a Friend We Have In Jesus,” that speaks of a kind of friendship based on what Jesus does. Consider reviewing that hymn to see if there are ways to highlight what “friendship” means for the children. Is “friendship” a one way street or a one-sided relationship?
Consider asking the children if Jesus is their friend. Can they help you understand what that means? This will give you a chance to listen to the children and then respond, from the John gospel, about how the gospel writer understands what it means to be called Jesus’ friend. The popularity of Facebook has changed the definition of “friend”, but it also highlights the intimate details that persons share with their friends.
If you have an older group on the sacred steps, consider translating the word “commandment” for the children. They probably hear that word often and will most likely relate it to the Ten Commandments. Helping them to think of “commandment” as a compass for living, or good rule to practice, might provide another way for them to understand what it means to be a follower of Jesus. What commandments did Jesus follow?