Feasting on the Word Children's Sermons for Year C

Carol A Wehrheim

• Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press
• Year: 2015
• Print ISBN:
  9780664261092
• eBook ISBN:
  9781611646160
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Christian Ministry

Many pastors are confused about what to say during children's time in churches. Feasting on the Word Children's Sermons for Year C offers practical suggestions for preparing and delivering the children's sermon. After explaining the purpose of the children's sermon, noted Christian educator Carol Wehrheim provides a story for each Sunday of the church year based on the Revised Common Lectionary. In addition, a few stories are provided for special moments in the church's life, such as when a mission group is commissioned, church leaders ordained, a death occurs. This resource provides pastors and other church leaders with fresh, engaging stories that children will understand and enjoy.

LECTIONARY DATES

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Paul and the Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 3:9–13

When Paul entered a new city, he went first to the synagogue where the Jews gathered, and he told them about Jesus. If they weren’t interested, he spoke in the homes of Gentiles, the people who weren’t Jewish.

Not everyone wanted Paul to talk about Jesus. One time, when Paul was in Damascus, he learned that some Jewish leaders were plotting to kill him. His friends smuggled him out of town in a big basket that they lowered over the city wall after dark.

Paul and Silas, who often traveled with Paul, went to Thessalonica, where they taught about Jesus and started a church. The people there were good friends to Paul and Silas. Paul wanted to see them again, but he couldn’t, so he sent his young friend Timothy to see how they were doing.

Timothy returned with a good report, but he mentioned that the Thessalonians needed some hope, some encouragement. Since Paul could not go to Thessalonica, he wrote a letter to the people in the church there.

This is part of what he wrote to the Thessalonians: “You have brought us so much joy before God. Each day I pray that I will see you again and will help you to continue to grow in faith. I hope that God will send us back to you. Now I pray that God will make your numbers grow and that your love for one another will be as full as our love for you. May God make your hearts strong and you holy until Jesus returns. Amen.”

What do you think? Will these words give the Thessalonians hope in God?

Prayer: God, when we are upset, we can read Paul’s words to the Thessalonians and remember that you will make us strong. Amen.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Who Is John?

Luke 3:1–6

Zechariah was a priest at the temple in Jerusalem. One day the angel Gabriel came to him and said, “Your wife Elizabeth will have a baby boy. You will name him John.” Zechariah couldn’t believe this was true because he and Elizabeth were very old, much too old to have a baby. Because Zechariah doubted the angel’s message, he could not speak until after the baby was born.

When this surprising baby boy arrived, Elizabeth said, “We will name him John.” Everyone was shocked to hear that the baby was not going to be named after his father. That was what usually happened. Zechariah still could not speak, so he wrote on a clay tablet: “His name is John.”

This surprising baby boy grew up to be an even more surprising man. He lived in the desert wilderness until the word of God came to him. John had an important job to do. He was to get the people ready for the Messiah, the one God had promised to send.

John went to the Jordan River. He needed to be close to water because John’s job was to baptize people. In those days, baptisms were in a river, not a building.

As people walked along the river, John called out, “Come! Tell God you are sorry for the wrong things you have done. Be baptized! Show God you want to change your heart and life.”

When some people heard John, they remembered the words from the prophet Isaiah, spoken many years before:

“Someone is shouting in the desert:

‘Get the road ready for the Lord;

make a straight path for him to travel!

Every valley must be filled up,

every hill and mountain leveled off.

The winding roads must be made straight,

and the rough paths made smooth.

The whole human race will see God’s salvation!’”

(vv. 4–6 GNT)

All kinds of people came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. They came to show God that they wanted to change their hearts and lives. So many heard about John that he was called John the baptizer.

Prayer: God, we hear John’s message to live in your way. We want to do that too. Amen.

THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Tough Talk

Luke 3:7–18

People who were baptized by John told their friends, who told more people. Word spread about John the baptizer, that he could be found at the Jordan River. All kinds of people came to see him. Some came because they were sorry about how they lived, and some came because they were curious. Others came to be seen there so people would know how religious they were.

“John, baptize me,” people called.

John looked at the crowd. “You snakes!” he shouted. “Did you come to be baptized so people would think well of you? Do you think being baptized is a game? Change your lives and then come to me. Do something good with the talents God has given you! Just because you claim Abraham as an ancestor, don’t think you can come here. God expects good lives.”

“What should we do?” asked some people.

“If you have two coats, give one coat to someone who doesn’t have any coats. If you have plenty to eat, give food to someone who is hungry,” John told them.

Some tax collectors in the crowd asked, “What should we do, John?”

John looked them in the eye. “Collect only as much money in taxes as is fair. Don’t cheat people!”

Roman soldiers were standing on the edge of the crowd so trouble didn’t start. One soldier asked, “What about us, John? What should we do?”

“Don’t threaten or bully people. Be satisfied with the money you earn,” answered John.

A man who had followed the crowd to the river asked, “Who is this man? He looks like a prophet. He sounds like a man from God.”

A person near the man said, “Do you think he is God’s Messiah, the Promised One?”

Overhearing the last question, John said, “I baptize with water, but one is coming who will baptize with God’s Holy Spirit. He will make things right between God and you. He will get rid of sin forever.”

When the people heard this, they wondered when this Promised One from God would come.

Prayer: God, during Advent we wait for the One that John said was coming. We get ready for the Promised One from Go...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Lectionary Dates
• Stories for Special Sundays