Calvary Children’s Ministry Blog

Theme: Choices, God’s love

Scripture: 1 John 4:10

Need: Two different object for the children to choose.

Sermon

Good morning, children. Today, we are going to talk about making choices. (Show the children the items. Asks several children which one they would choose.) That was an easy choice. Sometimes, as children, you don’t always get a choice. You have no choice about going to school, but you can make a choice about how hard you try in school. The choice you made this morning about which (name of object) you liked the best was not that important. It really didn’t make much difference. Other choices you make in life are more important. Choosing your friends and the way you treat other people are a couple of the important choices we make every day.

Probably the most important choice we will ever make is to choose to obey God. One of the reason we can choose to obey God is because God loved us enough to send Jesus to forgive us for disobeying Him. (Have an older student, or yourself, to read 1 John 4:10.)

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you that you love us. Help us to make good choices. Amen.

Theme: Love, Advent, Christmas, Jesus

Scripture: 1 John 4:10

Need: A Wrapped Gift

Sermon

Good morning, children. We have been celebrating Christmas for a few weeks now, and Christmas is getting closer. When we think about Christmas, what do we think about? (Hopefully, someone will say presents. If not, say, “I always think about presents.” Show the children the gift you brought.) The best gifts come from the people who love you. They know what you like, what your favorite color is, so they can pick gifts they know you will like.

But when we think about people who love us, there is no greater love than God’s love. (Have an older child read 1 John 4:10 or read it yourself.) God loved us so much he sent Jesus to take the punishment for the wrong things we do. The greatest gift we can give others is to share with them the love God has for them.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus. Help us to share your gift of love with others. Amen.

Notes

I would use the NLT for the verse because the language will be easier for the children to understand.

Theme: Peace, Advent, Christmas
Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7
Need: No props

Sermon

Today is the second Sunday of our four week celebration of Christmas. You will notice that two candles were lit on our Advent wreath. The first candle, as we learned last week, is the candle of hope. Not hope like a wish, but a hope that trust in the promises of God.

The second candle is the candle of peace. Today, I want to teach you the sign language for the world peace. (Demonstrate and walk the children through signing peace several times.)

Peace is a great gift we get from God. Philippians 4:6-7 tell us something about the gift of peace God gives us. (read the verses or have an older child read the verses.) We can use the sign language for peace to help us remember this verse. The first part of the sign is like some one is worried (demonstrate). But in the second part (reverse your hands and pull close like you are praying), we could be praying. In the third part (demonstrate), it is like we are brushing those worries away. So, when we are worried, we can pray to God, and he will take our worries away. (Have the children do each part with you.)

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for giving us peace when we are afraid. Help us to remember to pray whenever we are frightened. Amen.

Notes

Based on a children sermon by Karen Beyer: http://www.sermons4kids.com/language_of_peace.htm

Link to ASL visual browser