Feasting on the Word Children's Sermons for Year B

Carol A Wehrheim

• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780664261085
• eBook ISBN: 9781611648188
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Rituals & Practice

Many pastors are confused about what to say during children's time in churches. Feasting on the Word Children's Sermons for Year B offers practical suggestions for preparing and delivering the children's sermon. After explaining the importance and purpose of the children's sermon, noted Christian educator Carol Wehrheim provides a retelling of each Sunday's Bible storyâ€" based on the Revised Common Lectionaryâ€"for the entire church year. In addition, she provides a few stories for special Sundays, including the Jewish Celebration of Purim, the Jewish Celebration of Passover, and Thanksgiving Day. This resource provides pastors and other church leaders with fresh, engaging stories that children will understand and enjoy.

Also available: Feasting on the Word Children's Sermons for Year A and Feasting on the Word Children's Sermons for Year C.

LECTIONARY DATES

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Lament and Joy

Isaiah 64:1–9

Long, long ago the people of Israel wondered whether God had forgotten them. They had been captured by the Babylonian army and taken back to Babylon to live. They didn’t want to be there. They wanted to go back to their own land, in Jerusalem. But they had no choice. Now they had lived in Babylon for a long time. The prophet Isaiah knew what the people were thinking and feeling. He spoke to God for them:

“God, if you would only come down from the heavens,

the mountains would shake.

“God, if you would speak to your enemies,

they would tremble before you.

“But we have not heard from you;

you have not acted to help us.”

Not only did the people think God had forgotten them; they were afraid that God was angry with them. Isaiah spoke for them again:

“Have you forgotten us because we have done wrong?

“No one calls on your name. We have forgotten you.”

But Isaiah also remembered how God kept the promise with God’s people. Isaiah remembered their close connection to God. He reminded the people, saying:

“God, we are clay,

and you mold us like a potter.

“Each one of us is the work of your hands.

Look at us now!”

Isaiah had many more words for the people, but none were more important than reminding them that they belonged to God no matter what and that God was their God, no matter what. As we begin the season of Advent, we want to remember these words and that we belong to God and that God is our God, no matter what.

Prayer: God, our God, open our eyes and our ears to recognize your presence in our lives and in the world. Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

A New Prophet in Town

Mark 1:1–8

From the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament on the first Sunday of Advent, we go to the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament. Mark uses the words of Isaiah and other prophets to announce a new prophet for God, many, many years after Isaiah. This prophet also told about the one sent from God.

“Watch around you, for I, God, am sending my messenger to you.

“This messenger will get you ready.

“He will shout in the desert:

‘Get the road ready for God;

make the path straight.’”

Then Mark told about this messenger of God, a man called John the baptizer. This John was quite different from everyone else around him. He wore clothes made from camel’s hair, with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild honey. He spent his days along the Jordan River.

John preached to the people that God wanted them to change their way of living. If they did this, God would forgive them all the things they did wrong. Then John baptized them.

People came from Jerusalem and all over Judea to hear John preach and to be baptized by him. It was quite amazing.

Some people wondered if John were the one God promised to send to them. “Not me,” said John, “that one will be stronger than I am. I’m not good enough to untie the sandals of the one God promised to send.”

John pointed to the river. “I baptize with water,” he said, “but the one God promised to send will baptize with the Holy Spirit.”

So the people waited some more for the one God promised to send, just as we wait during Advent.

Prayer: God of John and Isaiah, be with us as we wait for the one you promised to send. As we wait, help us prepare the way. Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Turned Upside-down

Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11

The book of Isaiah in the Old Testament is the longest book of the prophets. The messages from God came over many years. You heard some of those messages on the first Sunday of Advent. Now, on the third Sunday of Advent, we return to Isaiah. The messages in these chapters are also about the loneliness of God’s people and their fear that God has forgotten them.

Isaiah has words of comfort and hope for the people. He tells them that all their troubles will be turned upside down. God’s way of love and fairness will come to them. Then Isaiah tells the people:

“God’s spirit is with me.

“God has sent me

to tell good news to poor people,

to care for people who are so sad,

to tell people who feel like they are trapped that they are free,

to tell people in prison that they will get out.”

These words gave many people hope, but the prophet wasn’t finished.

“I proclaim all this for God:

to comfort people when someone has died,

to say words of praise instead of discouragement.”

These words were certainly good news to Israelites long ago. They wanted things to turn upside down soon, but they had to wait for God’s time.

That time came when Jesus began his ministry. He announced what he would do by reading these words from Isaiah in the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth. It was many, many years later, but God was still with the people.

Prayer: God of promises and good news, when we are sad or unhappy or feel like we are no good, let us remember these words. Then we will give you thanks for keeping promises. Amen.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

A Special Task for a Simple Woman

Luke 1:26–38

Long, long after Isaiah gave good news and hope to the Israelites, but before John the baptizer called people to get ready for the one God would send, God sent Gabriel, a messenger of God, an angel, to get the mother of Jesus ready.

Mary was a poor young woman who lived in the village Nazareth. She was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter. She probably expected to live in Nazareth all her life and to raise her children there, close to her family and Joseph’s family. Her life wasn’t as quiet as she thought it was going to be.

Before she and Joseph were married, Mary was tending to her daily chores. Maybe she was grinding...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Series Page
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Lectionary Dates
• Stories for Special Sundays
• Index
• Excerpt from Feasting on the Word Children’s Sermons for Year C, by Carol A. Wehrheim