Calvary Children’s Ministry Blog

Topics: Sin, salvation

Scripture: 1 John 1:9

Need: Bible, 1 cup of water, 1/2 cup bleach, tall clear glass, food coloring

Sermon

Good morning, children. This morning we are going to do a little experiment. (take out the glass and have one of the children pour the cup of water into it. Have another child put in a few drops of food coloring.) How can we take the color of the water? Can we pour it out? (Pour in the 1/2 cup of bleach.) This bleach might do the trick.

You know, when we disobey God, it is called sin. The wrong things we do break our relationship with God. We may think there is no way to get rid of it. But God’s love is greater than our sin. (read or have an older child read 1 John 1:9) When we ask for forgiveness, God takes our sin away. (show the glass of water, it should be clear now) Just like the bleach takes the color out of the water, God’s forgiveness takes our sin away. God’s love for us never ends, and he wants to forgive us. All we have to do is ask.

Prayer

Dear, God, thank you for loving us and forgiving us. Amen.

Notes

It is best for the teacher to pour in the bleach to avoid any splashing of the bleach onto clothes, carpet, etc.

Making the decision to leave your child at a child care center is not always easy for parents, but more often in todays world, with single parents or both parents needing to work to make ends meet, the need for quality child care is clear. Parents want to know their child is well cared for. Early childhood education has many benefits for the child. They are placed in an environment designed for them to grow and develop. Though the early childhood education does not replace the loving care of mom and dad, it does work with the parents in the development of their child.

The most important piece in the early childhood education environment is not the tools, rooms, curriculum, or location (though all of these are important), but the teachers. Teachers make a difference in the new child becoming comfortable in their new surroundings. They guide the children in the things they learn through exploration and discovery. Even with the best supplies, facility, and curriculum money can buy, they are worthless without the skillful touch of a caring teacher.

We are fortunate in our Child Enrichment Center to have such teachers, who are dedicated to the physical, emotional, spiritual, and cognitive development of the children entrusted to them. They work daily with the approximately 70 children who come to our center. Weekly, I have a worship service with the preschool children and Bible stories with the two year olds, but the teachers are the ones who carry this over into their daily activities with the children, allowing the children to explore and discover further the stories they have heard from God’s word.

This week is Teacher Appreciation Week at our Child Enrichment Center. I want to personally thank everyone who works in our center. They do a great job with the children, making a difference in the lives of the “smallest of these”. Take some time this week to stop by and show them how much you appreciate what they do. Even if it is just to say “Thank you”, it will let them know that we value the hard work they do every day.

The Child Enrichment Center staff:  Sarah Ware, Amie Chambers, Kate Cox, Rita Roberts, Julia Ponder, Brandy Vick, Traci Cannon, Kathleen Miller, Caroline Rice,  Lavada Snelson, Shaila Overman, Sunny Smith, Courtney Mathus, Damito Huffman, Alana Partin,  Pam Miller, Sandy DeBruhl, Kim Overman, Liz Stafford, Suzanne Merickel,Charlene Shelton

Topics: God made each of us special

Reference: 1 John 3:1

Needed: Bible, sea shells (rocks, leaves or other nature item may be substituted), basket or pail

Sermon

Good morning, children. Today, I have something for each one of you. (give each child one of the nature items you chose) I want you to look closely at your ________. Notice the pattern on it it. Does it have any (holes or chips or tears). Each one is different from the other. (Collect all the items in the basket or pail.) Do you think you can find yours among the others? (Let the children pick out their item.) You were able to find your ________ because you looked at it, and you knew it.

God made each one of us special, just like the _______. No two of us are exactly the same. Because God made each of us, He knows us and loves us. No matter how many people there are in the world, God knows and loves each person. We are so special to him, that he wants us to love him and be a part of his family. (Read or have an older child read 1 John 3:1.) God loves us so much that he allows those who love, trust, and follow him to be called his children. God made the world and us to show his love.

Prayer

Dear God, thank you for loving us. Thank you for allowing us the chance to be called your children. Amen.

Topics: Salvation, Forgiveness

Scripture: Romans 6:23

Needed: Bible, calculator, big check (see image at bottom)

Sermon

Good morning, children. I want to talk to you today about wrong things we do. If we were to owe money for the wrong things we do, we would probably owe a lot of money. So, let’s name some things we do wrong, and give them a money amount. (give one child a calculator to add up the amounts. As the children name things people do wrong, lying, cheating, stealing, etc, have them put a value on it. have the child with the calculator add up the amounts as you go. Have child with calculator announce the total when you are finished — hopefully, it is a large number.) That is a lot of money. (show the children the check) If someone loved you enough, they could pay what you owe for the wrong things you do.

(While saying the next part, fill out the check, to God, the amount calculated by child, memo for our sins, and signed Jesus.)

The good news we read in the Bible is that the amount or punishment owed for our sins has been completely paid by Jesus, God’s Son. (read or have a child read Romans 6:23) When Jesus died on the cross, he made it possible for our sin — the wrong things we do — to be paid in full so that we can be a part of God’s family. Isn’t that a great gift? Let’s talk to God and thank him for Jesus.

Prayer

Dear God, Thank you for sending Jesus to die for our sins. Amen.