Sermon Ideas for Children

Looking for fresh ideas for children's worship times? Use these simple lessons to engage the children in your congregation in learning about Christ.

Prepare: Secure a small cross.

Teach:

Show the cross. Explain that Jesus died on the cross, but after He died, they took His body down and placed it in a tomb.
Briefly tell the story of the first Easter morning.
Ask the children to say with you, "He has risen, just as He said."

Prayer suggestion: Thank God that Jesus has risen, just as he said.

Jesus Sent Out Helpers

Prepare: Bring your car keys and your Bible.

Teach:

When Jesus gives us something to do, He also helps us and gives us the power to do it in His name.
Tell the children you need someone to help you do something. Pick a helper. Show the child your car keys. Ask what he/she would think if you told him/her to go to your car, drive to your house, feed the dog, do the laundry, start cooking lunch and have it ready by the end of the worship service.
Tell him/her you know that would be silly and you won't ask him/her to do those things. Instead, ask him/her to hold your Bible while you tell the story. Ask the children to listen to what Jesus asked His helpers to do.
Tell the Bible story from Luke 10.

Prayer suggestion: Thank God that Jesus helps us to do the things He asks us to do.

Prepare: Ask three adults to help you on Sunday. One should be a neighbor.

Teach:

Jesus loves all people and wants us to love everyone.
Have the three adults sit where the children can see them.
Tell the children that one of them is your neighbor.
Ask the children to guess which one is your neighbor.
Ask the "real neighbor" to "please stand up." The teacher of the law wanted to know who was his neighbor.
Tell the Bible story from Luke 10.

Prayer suggestion: Ask God to help us follow Jesus' example and love all people.

Prepare: Secure a cell phone. Arrange for someone to call you as you begin the children's sermon.

Teach:

Jesus taught His followers to pray with boldness and persistence.
Greet the children. Answer the phone. Ad-lib a brief conversation. Say that this isn't a good time for you to talk and hang up.
Ask the children if they have seen a phone like the one you are holding.
Ask whom they would call if they could call anyone in the whole world.
Ask if anyone would like to call God and talk to Him.
Remind the children that we can talk to God.
Tell the Bible story from Luke 11.

Prayer suggestion: Thank God that we can talk to Him anytime and anywhere.

Prepare: Secure a dollar coin or other interesting coin.

Teach:

God rejoices when we turn from our wrong ways and seek a right relationship with Him.
Show the coin. Ask the children what they would do if they had a coin and lost it.
Ask what they would do if a pet ran away.
Ask how they would feel.
Ask how they would feel if someone in their family were lost or went away.
Briefly tell the three parables.

Prayer suggestion: Thank God that He loves us even when we do wrong or make mistakes.

Prepare: Borrow a picture of Zacchaeus from a children's Sunday School department.

Teach:

Jesus brings positive changes into the lives of those who follow Him.
Ask the children who the tallest child is in the group.
Ask the child to stand.
Ask a shorter child to stand.
Point out that neither child is finished growing yet. Both will get taller.
Show the picture you brought.
Tell the Bible story. Zacchaeus was finished growing physically, but he could still change in other, more important ways.

Prayer suggestion: Thank God that He can change our lives when we follow Him.

Prepare: Ask a child to be ready to sit in your lap when you call his or her name during the children's sermon.

Teach:

Jesus blessed the children to show they are important to Him.
Tell the children that you usually bring something special to help them remember the children's story and that today, you have something really special.
Name the child you have enlisted. After the child is in your lap, tell the Bible story.
Tell the children that Jesus is never too busy for them. Jesus loves every one of them. Tell them that you do too.

Prayer suggestion: Thank God that children are special and important to Him.