Dear ______: I hear your objection to preaching a children’s sermon that is rooted in the main text you are preaching to the grown-ups. But I don’t think it is really a problem. Yes, some parts of Scripture are kind of “R-rated” or at least “PG-13.” But how often (really, let’s be honest here) do […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — 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 […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — 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 […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — 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 […]
Yes, Children, There Is a Santa Claus. Really.
When I was a pastor, one Sunday in Advent I called the kids forward for the children’s sermon. I told my three-to-seven-year-old congregation Today I’m going to tell you the truth about Santa Claus. Usually the kids were pretty wriggly. This time the parents were squirming. Here is what I told them. Long, long ago, […]