The Sermon for Children
An article of suggestions for making the children's message, or children's sermon, thoughtful, engaging, and integrated into the rest of the liturgy.
Interestingly, when Isaiah and Zechariah describe heaven, both note the presence of children: Isaiah sees children playing near the holes of cobras in a perfect land of peace (11:8), and Zechariah notes that children are playing in the streets of the new city (8:5), which is really described more as a park than a city. Worship in heaven will include the inquisitiveness, freshness, and vitality of youth.
It makes sense, then, to involve children meaningfully in the heart of our earthly worship. Far too often, children are talked down to in worship, used as a cute prop, or worse, totally ignored.
I am blessed that in my current church our weekly liturgy calls all the children forward just before the sermon. I, as the pastor, have a few moments with the children and try to use this time as “an educative” moment.
After I speak with them briefly, I offer a spoken prayer of blessing for them and their worship. After that, the children are given an opportunity to bless us. We say “The Lord be with you,” and the children assembled respond “And also with you.” The congregation concludes: “Go in peace.” It is a small thing, but it always a highlight of my week seeing all the beautiful models of Christ standing with us, blessing us, and we, in turn, blessing them.
That is just one way, I feel, to meaningfully involve (not use) children. Of course, other ways to involve children in worship are limitless.
Perhaps the most used form is that of a “Children’s Sermon.” Unfortunately, they’re often poorly done—and we all have our own horror stories of poor children’s sermons! The presenter finds an object (any object, it seems), makes a veiled and obscure metaphoric moralism from it that leaves most scratching their heads. When all is said and done, most remember the object but not the lesson. Ironically, the children leave more convinced than ever that they cannot understand worship or what adults are trying to tell them in worship.
That’s not to say that an object cannot be used meaningfully, however. And this is what is crucial: that if an object is used, use it as an illustration rather than a metaphor.
Use Illustration, Not Metaphor
Let’s consider the difference between using a metaphorical versus an illustrative approach. This first example of a children’s sermon, by the way, is one of my favorite. I tell the children that I’ve been thinking a lot about heaven and about going there, and how wonderful it will be. In fact, it’s so wonderful that I just have to get there. So I’ve packed a bag that I’m planning to take along; just in case Jesus asks me at the gate “Why should I let you in?”
I’ll be ready! I show them what I’ve packed in my “heaven bag.” We look at each item in my Heaven Bag in turn: Church Tithing Envelopes (I gave money to the church, Jesus has got to like that!), my organ shoes (I played the organ in church to God’s glory. Good job, Randy!). And if all else fails, I’ll show Jesus my diploma from a theological seminary! (I’m really impressed now, Engle!)
The kids, of course, catch on to the irony and the sermon ends by them telling me why the Heaven Bag won’t work. “So how will I get into heaven then?” They’ll give some beautiful, right-on-the-money answers: because you are Jesus’ child, because God already filled your bag, because we don’t need “things” to get into heaven.
The Heaven Bag was an illustration.
A metaphorical approach would have been to say: “Here’s a bag. Life is like a bag. It’s dark inside, and everyone sees our outside. We’re carried around by God” (scratching your head already?). You get the idea. The concept of translating how life “is like something” is difficult, if not forced and inappropriate, and maybe even silly.
Here’s another idea that uses illustration rather than metaphor, ideal for Pentecost Sunday.
Bring a bouquet of flowers, or simply walk the children to an arrangement already in the sanctuary, and tell them that you have a problem. The problem is that you were looking at this beautiful bouquet and trying to decide which flower in it you like the best. Point out different, unique characteristics of each flower that make them special: the carnation is inexpensive and available everywhere; but the lily is the only flower that can tolerate mushy, wet soil; ah, but the rose over here is the most beautiful and most written-about flower; but then there’s the daffodil over here, the first flower to bloom after a long winter.
As you talk through the flowers, slowly conclude in front of the children that perhaps you don’t have to have a favorite. You like them all equally for different reasons. Each one is created by God; each is unique and beautiful. And if the bouquet were only one flower, it wouldn’t be nearly as lovely or interesting.
Then the transition: So on this, Pentecost Sunday, God looks at his church and says, “I love all the people I created.” People from around the world, and even people in this church, are all different, and everyone is special with their own gifts and talents. God looks at the whole group and sees a beautiful arrangement we call “church.”
Here’s another illustration from a flower arrangement. A metaphor would have gone down the path of “The church is like a bouquet; some people are like carnations; some people are like daffodils . . .” and immediately the simplicity of the lesson is lost.
Keep Simple
Note that both ideas above have some common, essential elements that make for a successful children’s sermon. The language was simple. The idea was kept to one thought or concept. Both can be completed in three to four minutes. Both used common objects in a teachable way.
Keep the subject of the children’s sermon simple, and stick to one point. Many over-think the children’s sermon, try to do too much with an illustration or idea, or become too wordy with too many subjects. One idea taught well will be more beneficial than many ideas thrown into the three minutes.
Subject Ideas
For subject ideas, ask the Pastor for “a one sentence sermon summary” of the morning sermon, and glean ideas from him or her (Bonus: your pastor will benefit, also, from having to summarize their sermon in one sentence!). Or select a complimentary Bible story to the sermon and retell it in age-appropriate language.
Perhaps you could even think about a series for Children’s Sermons: twelve weeks for the twelve statements of the Apostles’ Creed (and there’s a start: why do you think there are twelve statements in the Apostles’ Creed?). Teach each petition of the Lord’s Prayer in turn.
Beyond those important, foundational concepts, for variety sometimes I take the children “on a walk.” One summer the children’s sermon involved a walk together with the children somewhere in the sanctuary to discuss what we saw there. Our first trip was to the communion table. We looked inside the cup (many wondered if there was always wine in there—or only on communion Sundays?). We tipped the cup over to show there was no wine on non-communion Sundays. I let them touch everything on the table and look under it. We wondered together why there would be a table in the front of a church! One child gave the most insightful, theologically-rich answer I’ll never forget: “Because we are like a family gathered around a kitchen table having a discussion with God.”
The next week we walked to the baptismal font. We looked inside. No water today, for there was not a baptism. “So why does the font stay here if we’re not using it today?” A beautiful discussion of symbol followed, and we talked about how important it is to remember each time we come to church that we are God’s child—the baptismal font reminds us of that, even if there are no baptisms that day.
My favorite was the trip to the pulpit. Each child got a turn quickly standing in the pulpit to see the preacher’s view. We looked behind it, on top of it, and in it. We discussed the word of God, the Bible, which laid open on it. I couldn’t help but notice how proud parents looked, also, to see their child standing in the pulpit!
You get the idea. I suppose it was, in fact, an object lesson of sorts—of the kind I just warned against using!—but the difference is that these objects are symbols. Symbols the children see each week. A review of the liturgical furniture’s significance enhanced their understanding of worship, while giving adults a needed refresher course also.
There are other ways to educate children about worship while meaningfully involving them also. I know of one colleague who told hymn stories to the children; every hymn does have a great story. Following the introduction of the author, the reason the hymn was written, and other fun details about its composition, the children and the congregation stood to sing it. Imagine the heightened sense of appreciation for that hymn, not only on that day, but each time it is sung in the future.
Beyond the “Children's Moment”
Beyond the “children’s sermon slot” there are a host of ways to involve children that are only limited to the creativity and boldness of worship planners. Children could usher, greet, read, create bulletin art, light candles, help with sanctuary cleanup after the service or help prepare the sanctuary before a service, play musical instruments, or pass the offering plates. Children may even come forward for communion, if your church follows that practice of coming forward, if not to commune, at least to be blessed by the pastor with the words “Jesus loves you, too” or “Jesus died for you, also.”
In one church I know of, the church does print the usual children’s bulletin that corresponds with the worship theme of the day. However, parents are asked not to distribute the children’s bulletin until the sermon. The same time the adults are pondering the text with the aid of the preacher, the children also are doing so through the children’s bulletin. Before the sermon, parents are encouraged to follow the order of worship with their children. Have the children look up the hymn numbers and follow the music with their finger while singing. Choir directors, grandparents, Sunday School teachers are also clued in to this, and they reinforce and support this pattern.
And none of these ideas even mentions the role of children’s choirs! The ideas are endless, if we have a view to children’s inclusion.
“All God’s children have a place in the choir,” sings the spiritual. We were all made to sing and worship to our heart’s content. Children are certainly part of the family of faith that gathers each week in your house of worship.
Little wonder Jesus asks them, and asks us, to “let them come” and be with him.