Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — Preaching on Other Topics

April 26, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

preaching on other topics

Dear ______: Yes, you are right, of course. I too have heard some really good children’s sermons that are on topics other than the biblical text behind the grown-ups sermon. I’ve even preached some. Good Practice, Not Unbendable Law When I said that the biblical text of the morning should be the topic of your […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Ministry, Worship Tagged With: Children's Sermons, Choosing your topic, Letters to a Young Pastor

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — Picking Your Topic

April 19, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

Picking Your Topic

Dear ______: Okay, I promised some input on the actual contents of your children’s sermons. I hope you don’t mind the extended rant about problems to avoid, but your actions are as much a witness to Christ (or, God forbid, a witness against him) as your words. That counts when preaching to grown-ups as well […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Worship Tagged With: Children's Sermons, Picking Your Topic

Monday Meditation — RCL Year B, 4th Sunday of Easter, John 10:11-18

April 16, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

John 10:11-18

“I am the good shepherd,” says Jesus. Among the “I Am” sayings in John, I particularly love “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11-18). There is tenderness and love in it that appeals to both children and adults. (John 10:11-18 is the lectionary Gospel for the 4th Sunday of Easter in Year B. I’ve also […]

Filed Under: Bible, Ministry, Monday Meditation Tagged With: 4th Sunday of Easter, John 10:11-18, RCL Year B, The Good Shepherd

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — Let the Children Come to Me

April 5, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

Let the children come to me

Dear ______: You make a good observation: my letters to you on the topic of children’s sermons have not said much about what to actually say to the kids. True enough. I’ve talked about taking Mr. Rogers as your role model, about not getting the grown-ups to laugh, and about not asking the kids a […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Worship Tagged With: Children's Sermon, Let the children come to me, Suffer little children to come unto me

Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — This Is Not A Test

March 29, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 9 Comments

this is not a test

Dear ____: Yes, you are right: it is hard not to aim for a laugh during the children’s sermon — or to enjoy it big time when it happens. As you note, it may be the inevitable result of asking children questions up front. You don’t know what they’ll say. Though it is rarely publicly […]

Filed Under: Ministry, Worship Tagged With: Children's Sermons

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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