Curated children’s ministry resources and sermons (object lessons) for Sunday Readings from SermonWriter, Ministry-to-Children, Religion Teacher and other sources.
YOUNG CATHOLICS – The first reading tells of how Moses encountered God in the burning bush. The psalm sings of God’s kindness and mercy. In the second reading Paul tells us to learn from the past. And in the gospel Jesus warns people to change their ways. He also tells the parable of the fig tree. God gives us many opportunities to grow, but we must not resist his efforts to help us mature in faith.
THEMES:
Lent provides us with an opportunity to change our hearts. Encourage family members to spend quiet time listening to God this week. Reflect on the question: Are we living as God intended, or do we need to change some things in our life? Take time later in the week to discuss the changes family members need to make in their lives.Jesus used an image from gardening to make his point. When the owner wanted to cut a fruitless tree down, the gardener interceded. With a little more care, the gardener seemed to say, and the tree will become fruitful. Just give it time and care.
March and April are times of new growth (depending upon the climate). Trees get new leaves. Flowers spout. Use the image of new life to focus on personal growth. How have your family members grown, like a flower? What is new in life, like spouts on a tree? Cut flowers and tree leaves out of construction paper. On them write down new growth of family members. Glue the flowers and leaves on a poster that has a tree drawn on it. Create a garden scene with the flowers and tree leave. Title the poster “God’s Garden.” Use the project to discuss growth of the spirit during Lent.
Scripture Reference: Exodus 2:11-4:17
Suggested Emphasis: We should obey God without complaining.
Memory Verse: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” Philippians 2:14, NI
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Download Free Worksheets and Resources
Moses and the Burning Bush Craft
Download 16 Page Actvity Packet (PDF)
Free Sunday School Curriculum – New Testament Lessons | Old Testament Lessons
Main Objective: It’s difficult for children to grasp the concept of who God is, especially since we cannot physically see or touch Him. This lesson is meant to communicate the importance of God as a loving and know-able entity, as well as the blessing that He has given us His name.
Law/Gospel Theme: Throughout history, God protected His people and revealed Himself in various ways. The most essential way that He did so, and the way in which He bridged the gap between humanity and Heavenly, was through Jesus.
Optional Materials: Lighter, picture of old man; cotton batting or pillow; lion/animal toy; cross Bible Passage: Exodus 3:1-15
Text: Luke 13:1-9
Dollar Store Item: Something that you did’nt give up on. (For me, it was a Christmas Cactus). A semicolon ;
Take Away: God doesn’t give up on us.
SOURCE: SUNDAY CONNECTION (LOYOLA PRESS) – All Rights Reserved
SOURCE: SUNDAY CONNECTION (LOYOLA PRESS) – All Rights Reserved
SOURCE: SUNDAY CONNECTION (LOYOLA PRESS) – All Rights Reserved
Catechist Background and Preparation
Primary Session
Intermediate Session
Junior High School
“The Lord is kind and merciful.” – God’s nature revealed.
SOURCE: LECTIONARY RESOURCES (RCL Benzinger) – All Rights Reserved
Objects suggested: Fishing gear, an apple, or seeds.
EXCERPT: Today let’s talk about the definition of a word. The word is opportunity. Do you know what that word means?
Let’s imagine your friend calls and asks if you would like go fishing. He says he heard the fish are biting, the sun is shining, and he has the bait. Your friend is giving you an opportunity to get together and go fishing.
Suppose you tell him, “No, I’m watching TV and I’d rather do that than go fishing.” You are making a choice. If you change your mind later, you may have missed an opportunity. Perhaps your friend decided to go fishing with someone else, or it may be too late in the day, or it may be raining, or your mother made other plans for you.
Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.
Objects suggested: A bowl full of different kinds of fruit.
EXCERPT: Look what I have…apples, oranges, peaches, and bananas. Yum! Yum! I think I’ll have a delicious snack right now. How about you? Would you like to join me? Do you know what I think would be great? I think it would be great to have a lot a fruit trees in your yard so that any time you wanted a snack, you could just go out and pick a piece of fruit off of the tree. But what if you had an fruit tree in your yard that never had any fruit on it? It wouldn’t be good for anything except shade, would it?
In our Bible lesson today, Jesus told a story about a man who planted a fig tree in his garden. After some time had passed, he went to look for some fruit on the tree, but there was none. Year after year he watched the tree, but the tree never produced any fruit. Finally, the man went to the gardener who took care of the tree and said to him, “For three years I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! It is just taking up space in the garden.”
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Objects Pictures of a fig tree and figs or Fig trees
EXCERPT: Many of us who live in northern parts of the world have never seen a fig growing on a fig tree. The closest we get to figs is when we buy a package of Fig Newtons, those unique fig-filled cookies.
Figs are a fruit that contain vitamins and minerals that are good for you. In other words, they are a healthy food. They are also very tasty and sweet. In earlier times Olympic athletes ate figs as a way to get into good physical shape for the races and games that would follow. In many countries figs are considered to be sacred and the Bible refers to figs more than any other fruit.
Objects suggested: No supplies needed.
Lesson is divided into FOUR PARTS: Ask, Tell, Share the Good News, and Closing Prayer
FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (16:41)
Objects: None
EXCERPT: Some people want to be leaders and others are happy to work as part of a group. Perhaps you have experienced this at your school. You may know kids who like to lead and organize projects. Other kids like to take those suggestions and work with others to complete the project.
Our lesson today is about a man whom God chose to lead his people (the Israelites) out of Egypt. These people had not been treated well by the king. They had worked hard and suffered for a long time. Now God wanted someone to take charge and lead them out of Egypt where they would find a better place to live.
Sermon Writer: Children’s Sermons – All Rights Reserved | © 1997-2020 Richard Niell Donovan; Click on title to read entire sermon.
FIRST READING
SECOND READING
GOSPEL
SOURCE: Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University; “Build. Plant. Grow.” = a free faith formation resource which aligns with the Liturgical Year of the Roman Catholic Church. The accompanying video is NOT associated with Markkula Center.
SOURCE: Worshiping with Children: A blog by Carolyn C. Brown, a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA).
One sunny Sunday, a caterpillar was hatched from a tiny egg. He was so very hungry, so on Monday, he ate his way through a whole apple. On Tuesday he ate through three plums, and he was still hungry! This colorful book tells the story of a caterpillar’s journey to become a beautiful butterfly. Each and every stage that the caterpillar went through was a transformation that brought him closer to what he is intended to be. The story is an excellent way to show children how we go through changes and how life is a journey that requires many changes in order for us to reach our transformation.
Opening Question: Imagine you could give someone you know a name (like Swift Soccer Forward or Math Brain) that told people who they were. What is that name?
In the story for the first reading, Paul and Theo started a club with a secret code word, names they called each other that represented qualities of their personalities. When God revealed his name to Moses, he revealed a quality of his being. He was the God who acted with power.
Bridging Question: How hard is it to be patient, especially with people who make you mad? Isn’t easier to get back at them?
In the story for the gospel, Kathy called Tammy a name and hurt her feelings. Instead of getting back in Kathy’s face, Tammy decided to cool off and think of the right way to resolve the dispute. Like Tammy, Jesus told a parable about God’s patience with us. He wants to resolve our convicts and forgive us.
Closing Question: How can we be patient with others, the way God is patient with us?
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