Children’s Sermon for November 18, 2012, Pentecost 25, year B, Hebrews 10:11-25

Scripture Focus: Hebrews 10:11-25

Prepare:  Bring whatever you use to write down (or capture) important information, like your calendar, phone, tablet, etc.

Faith+Open:  As the children come forward, ask them if they have ever had to remember something really important.  Give the example of needing to know your address or phone number if there is an emergency.

Faith+Share:  Sometimes it really helps if you can write something down.  Some people write things that are really important on a calendar, or in a notebook (now give your example – I often tell people that they need to see me put it in my phone or it won’t happen.)

Today we hear a reading form a letter called Hebrews.  In the middle of that reading God says, “I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.”  Wow, it would be pretty hard to forget something if it was in your heart AND written on your mind, don’t you think?  That’s a whole lot better than making a note in my (your device here!).

But, when I read this, I thought, oh no!  I know that I don’t always do all things that I should do and that sometimes I do things that I should not do!  God’s going to write things in my mind that I know I don’t always do!  Then I kept reading, listen to this, then God said, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.”  We are forgiven!

That doesn't mean we should just sit and enjoy being forgiven, though.  The end of the reading tells us that we should go out and encourage one another to love and do good deeds.  In other words, you are free from things that you did wrong, so stop worrying about what you did and go out to share God’s love and forgiveness with everyone you meet.

So, let’s do that!  On your way back to your seat, find someone and tell them that God loves them and forgives them.  You can even make the sign of the cross on their forehead when you do it.  Let’s start with all of you!  After I bless you head back and bless someone else.

Faith+Blessing: Bless each child  with the sign of the cross, saying, “God loves you and forgives your sins.”  You can have people help you if you have a large crowd of children.

~GB

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Children's Sermon Pentecost 20 Hebrews 4:12-16 and Mark 10:17-31 October 14, 2012

Children's Sermon by guest writer Molly Sullivan who serves Lord of the Hills Lutheran Church in Centennial, CO. Thank you Molly! 

(if you would like to submit a children's sermon please email pastorleta@gmail.com)

Scripture: Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31

Preparation: Gather a “lovie.” Your favorite toy/stuffed animal/blanket from when you were a kid. You could also use one from your child, or a picture of yours, or just jog your memory and have a good description of yours ready.

Faith + Gather: Ask all God’s children to come have conversation with you. Invite them to sit around you. While they are coming up ask the children if they get allowance? Ask them what chores or duties they perform to receive this allowance? And then ask what they like to do with the money they receive from their allowance. (Allow several children to answer making sure to repeat their answers so the congregation can hear.)

Faith + Share: Our second reading this morning comes from the book in the Bible called Hebrews. This passage has lots of big words but basically tells us that God knows life is hard and he understands just how tough things can be sometimes. It says that God has been where we are in the form of Jesus.

Jesus knows how hard it sometimes is to follow Him. But do any of you know just how hard the Bible says it is? Our gospel text from the book of Mark explains it in an interesting way. Tell me what your “lovie” is. This is usually a stuffed animal, blanket or toy that is your favorite. (Bring yours, or a picture of yours, and show it to them as a prop). We love these things very much, don’t we? For grownups our favorite “lovie” sometime becomes money or “stuff.” People in American culture seem to think that the more stuff we have…the better. I want you to imagine giving away your “lovie,” your favorite blanket, your favorite stuffed animal, or toy. Would that be hard? Imagine someone who has lots of “lovies.” Fancy cars, lots of TV’s in their house, awesome clothes, cool toys, and the latest gadgets, anything you could ever want. Now imagine them giving that all away. That is super hard even to imagine right? The gospel story says entering God’s kingdom is just that hard. He likens it to a rich man giving up everything that is precious to him. Actually it says it is easier for a camel to fit through the hole in a needle. Funny to think about that huh? But you know what? That’s not the end of the story.

After Jesus says how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God the disciples say “Well I don’t think I can do that!” “How do we know who will be with God in eternity?” And guess what Jesus’ response is? If you do these things…meaning the really hard stuff, AND ASK ME TO HELP YOU…Then I will help you. And if you believe in me, that I am God’s Son, you will be blessed. Jesus doesn’t say it will be easy, but He says that by doing them “in His name” God will be with you.

Faith + Prayer: God in Heaven, Thank you for our favorite things. Help us to make your son Jesus one of our favorite things too. Please walk with us this week. We pray in Jesus name (and all God’s children said)…AMEN!

Faith + Blessing: Have the kids repeat: Gracious God (pause) Help us to see you in our lives this week. 

Permission to use for nonprofit. When printing give credit to Faith Formation Journeys. Intellectual property rights apply

Guest Writer: Molly Sullivan, Lord the Hills ELCA Centennial, CO 

Weekly Devotion - September 16, 2012 - 16th Sunday After Pentecost - Lec 24B

Here is the Weekly devotion for the 16th Sunday after Pentecost, Lec 24B - September 16, 2012

Did you miss a week?  Go to the Weekly Devotion page to download past weeks!