Sermon and Worship Resources

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Psalm 23:1-6

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A checkered dish towel or small tablecloth and a heart cut out of wood. Lesson: Love; communion; reconciliation. After greeting the children, I ask, "What does it mean to have an enemy?" "It means there's someone who doesn't like you," Carla answers. "That's right ... and it could also mean someone you don't like," I respond. "We've been going through Psalm 23 for several weeks, and t...

2. A Basket Of Angels

Matthew 28:2-3

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A big basket filled with artificial grass and all the angels I could find among my Christmas decorations. Lesson: God's constant presence; Easter; resurrection. It is Easter. I have brought a basket filled with angels as an aid to our discussion of the events at Christ's tomb on Easter morning. The largest angel is almost a foot tall, made of paper. The others are smaller, one of blown g...

3. A Tale Of Two Trees

1 Corinthians 13:13

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A small cedar tree and some red dogwood leaves. Lesson: Jealousy; friendship; love; trust; faith; hope; renewal; self-esteem. As the children gather, I bring over a flowerpot in which I have placed a small cedar tree that "volunteered" in my yard during the summer. I also have red dogwood leaves, hidden in a plastic bag. After greeting the assembled youngsters, I ask if anyone went outsi...

4. Alone

Matthew 28:19-20

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A dictionary. Lesson: Jesus' constant presence; faith; discipleship. "I've brought a big book with me today. Does anyone know what it is?" Eager hands shoot up as the older children recognize the volume. I nod to one of them. "It's a dictionary!" he announces. "Yes, it's a dictionary," I respond. "What does one find in a dictionary?" "Words!" many of the children reply in concert. "Y...

5. Amazing Grace

1 Peter 3:15

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Theme: Grace. Visual Aid: A blank piece of paper and a box of crayons. As the children note the blank sheet of white paper I have placed on the floor in front of them I ask, "Does anyone here like to draw?" Grins break out on their faces, heads nod affirmatively, and some hands go up. "I see some of you raising your hands. What about the rest of you? If you like to draw, raise your hand." Immedi...

6. Anger

John 2:12-25

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A small cardboard box partially filled with foreign coins. Lesson: Righteous anger; fairness. After the children gather, I shake the small cardboard box I have brought. The distinctive noise that results cannot be mistaken. "What do you suppose I have in this box?" I ask the children. "Money!" they answer with an air of excited anticipation. "Yes, the box contains money," I agree. Then I...

7. Attitudes

Ecclesiastes 3:1-22

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A brown paper sack in which I have placed several different styles of calendars, an egg timer, a mechanical timer, and an alarm clock. Lesson: Attitudes; time; control; New Year's Day. Text: "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Whether by serendipity or grace (if, in fact, there is a difference), light snow during the night has conveniently set t...

8. Breakthrough!

1 John 4:7-21

Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

CRACK! Suddenly the universe went into slow motion. She was intently aware, in a way she had never before experienced. She was falling, slowly, falling. Hey! She was falling! Yet she seemed to be floating, drifting down gently toward the ground. Was she dreaming? No, she was falling. And, much to her surprise, she wasn't afraid. She had come to the woods to find some space away from the city, to...

9. Cat fishing?

Luke 5:1-11

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A pole about four feet long with a nylon rope attached to one end. The other end of the rope has a cat toy tied to it. Lesson: Trust; problem solving. "Would one of you hold this for me?" I extend a long plastic pole with a nylon line tied to one end. Something that looks rather like a rabbit's foot is tied to the end of the line. "What do you think this is?" I ask the fascinated childre...

10. Cats, And Mice, And Mercy

Matthew 5:7

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A stuffed toy cat and a catnip mouse. Lesson: Mercy; grace. Before I have even said, "Good morning," to the gathered children, one of the younger ones (who is anything but shy) asks, "Know what?" Wondering where it will lead, I answer, leaning on my faith that God is in charge of this process, and this time IS for the children. "What?" I respond. "I'm MAD at my grandmother," the little ...

11. Children Of God

1 John 3:1

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: The children themselves. Lesson: Love; children; parents; God. "I asked all of you to come up here for the children's sermon -- so I guess all of you are children, right?" The youngsters readily agree. "Am I a child?" I continue. "No!" comes the immediate response. "Well, then, perhaps I don't belong up here. Maybe I'd better leave ..." As I begin to get up, I get a thoughtful expression...

12. Christmas Presence

John 1:1

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A Christmas tree pin; any present of special significance to the speaker. Lesson: Memories; God's presence; love; Christmas. It is the first Sunday following Christmas. I begin by asking the children if they enjoyed this special holiday. Faces immediately light up with recent memories of this day which is approached with such eager anticipation by most children each December. "Did any o...

13. Costumed Christians

Colossians 3:14

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: None. The children's excitement about Halloween piques their interest. Lesson: Discipleship; love; tolerance; Halloween. "This is October, right?" The assembled children nod affirmatively. "And October has 31 days?" A few knowing grins break out as young minds realize where I must be headed. Receiving a positive response, I then ask, "Does October thirty-first have any special significan...

14. Count On It!

Hebrews 11:1

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: Several "fronds" from a walnut tree. Lesson: Faith, trust, change. Holding up the walnut leaves I've brought, I ask the assembled children, "Does anyone know what kind of tree these are from?" "Eucalyptus," Jerry suggests with a broad grin. He's one of the older children. I recognize his desire to emphasize that fact with his use of a strange, big word. "Now that's a clever guess," I r...

15. Cows In Church

Luke 2:7

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A wooden manger with hay in it. Lesson: Advent; love; laughter. "We have some competition for our space on the chancel steps this morning. What is that thing?" "A manger," one of the older boys announces eagerly. "A manger?" I question. "I wonder if there is anything in it. Would one of you up there on the top step stand up and see?" One of the older children complies. "There's hay in...

16. Crumbs

Matthew 15:21-28

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A saltine cracker in a plastic bag. Lesson: Helping others; sharing. This is a difficult text even for adults. In order to help the children make some sense out of it, I have brought a saltine cracker in a baggie. I begin by asking the kids, "Do you know what a crumb is?" No one is sure enough to describe a crumb to me, so I take the baggie with the cracker out of my pocket, hold it up a...

17. Cutting Teeth

Ephesians 4:1-16

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A beaver puppet. Lesson: Community; working together; discipleship. "Good morning, everyone. I've brought a guest this morning to help us with our discussion." As I speak, I hold up the puppet beaver so all the children can see. "His name is 'Buckley,' and he's obviously some sort of animal. Does anyone know what kind of animal he is?" "He's a beaver!" Tommy volunteers. "Yes," I agree, "...

18. Differences

John 7:24

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: Lilacs in three colors (or any other flower which comes in more than one color). Lesson: Differences; tolerance. "I've brought some flowers today. Does anyone know what kind they are?" Right away several of the children tell me they are lilacs. "Are they all lilacs?" I question. The children assure me they are, even though they are of three different colors. "When I was small," I contin...

19. Don't Lose Your Marbles!

2 Timothy 1:7

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A muslin bag filled with marbles, part of which are corralled together in a net bag. Lesson: Self-control; freedom of choice; peer pressure. As the children group themselves on the chancel steps, I hold up a muslin bag and shake it. The contents give off a telltale clicking sound. "Do you know what I have in this bag?" I ask. "MARBLES!" the children reply with evident glee. "That's right...

20. Don't Run Away!

Jonah 1:1-17

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: I did not use one. However, most children's Bibles contain a picture of Johah and the great fish. Lesson: Avoidance; discipleship; God's will; problem solving. Text: "Now the word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, 'Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the pre...

21. Earthen Vessels

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: Several small clay jars. Lesson: Love; self-esteem. "I've brought two small things this morning to pass around so you can look at them. What are they?" "Vases!" some children answer. "Little jars," others suggest. "Well, what do you think they are made of?" "Glass?" comes the first tentative response. "That's a good guess. They are very much like glass vases and jars. But they are ma...

22. Forgiveness

Matthew 6:12

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: Several large rubber bands. Lesson: Forgiveness. As I greet the children this morning, I pull several rubber bands out of my pocket. The children's eyes light up with interest as they consider the possibilities of what I might be going to do with something so potentially fun. "I see some of you have noticed the rubber bands I've brought with me. I need someone to take hold of one of the...

23. Freedom

Acts 22:27-28

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: Red, white, and blue clothing. Other options include a flag, a bunch of red, white, and blue flowers, a piece of patriotic bunting, etc. Lesson: Freedom; responsibility; citizenship; Fourth of July. "Does anyone know today's date?" I ask the children who have just gathered on the chancel steps. "July third," several answer. As part of my preparation to talk with the children this mornin...

24. Getting Ready

Luke 3:4-5

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: A broom. Lesson: Advent; waiting; preparation; making room for Jesus. Having invited the children to come to the front of the sanctuary, I turn to the steps leading into the chancel area and begin to sweep, using the broom I have brought for this purpose. As the children arrive, I move to one side so they can take their places on the steps. "What was I doing as you walked up here?" I beg...

25. Gifts of Love

John 3:16

Children's Sermon

B. Kathleen Fannin

Object: An apple. Lesson: Love; giving; school. "What happened in some of your lives this week that hasn't happened all summer?" "We went to school!" the older children respond. "Ah, yes, school has begun. Well, I have something in my pocket that could have something to do with school. Whatever it is, it's making quite a lump, isn't it?" The children nod affirmatively, some serious, some grinn...

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