Calvary Children’s Ministry Blog

“Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything.“  —Colossians 1:18

The quick, short answer to the question “What is the church?” is the church is the body of Christ.  But what does that mean?  A child might imagine a church building with the head of Jesus instead of steeple.  Right away, the answer doesn’t pass my rule for understanding—a concrete application.  A good answer is one that a child will have a chance at understanding.  The Bible is full of symbolic imagery, making it a bit like poetry—sometimes hard to understand.

As we begin to answer the question, let’s separate the church from the building.  I believe we confuse our children when we refer to the building where we gather to worship as the church.  I much prefer to call it the church house or the church building.  I really like the term church house, because I can ask, “Who lives in a house?”  People.  A family.  The church is about the people.  A family of people.  A family adopted by the same kingly Father, God.  Romans 8:15 tells us “So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, ‘Abba, Father.’“  The church is people adopted by God into the family of God.

What about this business about the church being the body of Christ?  A question which prompts another question—what does the body do?  The body is all about movement and action.  It takes the thoughts of our minds and the character of our being and puts it into action.  If it weren’t for my fingers, I would have a hard time typing this article.  If it weren’t for your eyes, you would have a hard time reading it.  You think of eating, and you eat.  You think of going for a walk, and you get up and go for a walk.  If the church, a group of people adopted into God’s family, is the body of Christ, it makes sense that we would put the words and thoughts of Christ into action.  Jesus said to feed the hungry; we should feed the hungry.  Jesus said to love one another; we should love one another.  Jesus said to forgive; we should forgive.  Jesus said to make disciples; we should make disciples for Christ.  I think you get the idea.  The church should be the words and character of Jesus put into action.

So, the church is a group of believers (God’s adopted children), who take the words and character of Christ Jesus and put it into action.  What a great responsibility.  What a noble task.

Themes: People, talents, gifts

Scripture: Isaiah 48:17

Need: Different kinds of shoes, Bible, bag or basket to put the shoes in.

Sermon

Good morning, children. (for each of the different type shoes you have ask the following questions) What kind of shoe is this? How is it different from other shoes?

Even though these are all shoes, they are all different from each other. In the same way, we’re all people made by God, but we are all different from each other. Just like we wear different shoes for different activities, God made each of us different, with different things we are good at doing.

Shoes remind me of walking down a path. Listen to Isaiah 48:17 to find out who keeps us on the right path. (read or have an older child read Isaiah 48:17) God will help us and teach us the best way to live our lives.

Prayer

Lord, through this day, in work and play, please bless each thing we do. May we be honest, loving, kind, and obedient to you. Amen.

Themes: Love, Valentine’s Day

Scripture: Mark 12:30-31

Need: Bible, praying hands or other praying statuette, a pair of gloves, a note card, and a cup

Sermon

Good morning, children. Can anyone tell me what today is? (Valentine’s Day) Valentine’s Day is a special day when we can show or tell other people that we love them. Our verse today tells us about love. (read or have an older child read Mark 12:30-31) These verses tell us to love God and love others as much as we love ourselves.

Today, I brought some stuff to help us remember some ways that we can show love to God and other people. First, we are told to love God. (show praying object) This helps us remember a way to show God love is to talk to him. When we pray, we are talking to God. (show Bible) Another way we can show God we love him is by reading the Bible.

(show work gloves) One way to show love to others is by helping them. (show note card) We can show people love by writing the a note and telling them we are thinking about them. (show cup) We can give food and water to people who are hungry and thirsty.

These are just some of the ways we can show love to God and others.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for loving us. Help us to show you love and love for others. Amen.

Notes

This sermon does not have to be presented as written. Take the time to interact with the children. Consider this sermon just a reference or outline.

Themes: Loving God; David and Goliath; trusting God

Scripture: Matthew 22:37

Need: a rock

Sermon

Good morning, children. Today, I have with me a rock. (let the children pass the rock around and look at it) There’s nothing really special about a rock. It’s just a rock.

There is a story in the Bible about David and five smooth rocks. The king of Israel had went to war. There was a giant man in the Philistine army. Everyday, he came out and challenged someone from the king’s army to fight him. They were all afraid because he was so big. David came there bringing some food for his brothers who were a part of the army. When David saw the man, he offered to fight him, but everyone made fun of him and said he couldn’t do it. The king finally decided to let David try, but gave him his armor. David didn’t know how to use armor. As a shepherd, David was used to his sling and staff for fighting off wild animals who tried to get his sheep. Instead, David went down to the creek and got five smooth stones. With a stone and his sling, he defeated the giant man.

David had something the other soldiers didn’t. David loved and trusted God to help him. Our verse today says something about how we should love God. (read or have a child read Matthew 22:37) Our verse tells us to love God with our feelings, with the things we do, and the things we think. David loved God this way. He wasn’t afraid because he trusted God, and knew God would help him.

Prayer

Dear God, help us to love you with the way we feel, the things we do, and the things we think. Amen.