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The Fox and the Hen

2nd Sunday in Lent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â Luke 13:31-35

Preparation: Bring pictures of a fox and/or a hen and baby chicks to illustrate talk.

In today’s Gospel lesson from Luke, we are told that some leaders of the Jewish people (called Pharisees) came to Jesus after he had finished preaching to a crowd of people. They told him, “You’d better get out of here if you want to live, because Herod Antipas wants to kill you.” Herod was the ruler of

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Saved by Believing

1st Sunday in Lent From “Scolding the Snakes” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference:Â Rom. 10:9-13Â

At most beaches and pools there is a person who sits in a tall chair and watches swimmers in the water. If someone in the water calls for help, this person jumps in the water and saves the person in danger. Can you tell me what this person is called? (Children may answer.) He or she is the lifeguard. The lifeguard’s job is to make sure swimmers are

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A Love Story

4th Sunday after the Epiphany Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â 1 Cor. 13:1-13

Preparation (Optional): Bring a stuffed dog and cat or a picture to illustrate the story.Â

Would you like to hear a love story? Don’t worry; there’s no kissing in this one. This is a story about an old dog and a little kitten. (If you brought the stuffed animals, use them to help you tell the story.)

Once upon a time, there was an old dog who really knew

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The Body of Christ

3rd Sunday after the Epiphany Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference:Â 1 Cor. 12:12-27Â

What do you think is the most important part of your body? (Let children share ideas; challenge their choices.) If you had strong muscles but no nerves to send signals to your brain, would you be able to do anything with those muscles? No! If you had good eyes and could see the tiniest thing from far away, but your eyelids wouldn’t stay open, would

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Color Split

Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday From “Barefoot in the Snow” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference:Â Rom. 10:12-13 & Eph. 4:4-6Â

Preparation: Bring enough treats to hand out to all the children.

It’s nice to see you this morning. I notice that you are all dressed differently with clothing of different colors, styles, and sizes. I like to see the different colors people wear.

This morning, we’re going to try something. We’re going to pay close attention to the differences in the clothes you’re

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Burning the Chaff

First Sunday after the Epiphany Adapted from “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â Luke 3:15-17Â

Preparation: Bring a pan with clean popsicle sticks in the bottom covered by a fine layer of flour or other fine meal that can be blown away. You may print the following statements on the popsicle sticks: “Listen to God” and “Obey God.”Â

Today is the first Sunday after the special day we call Epiphany. The season of Christmas has come to an end. On Epiphany we remember how

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Follow the Star

Sunday of the Epiphany Adapted from “Barefoot in the Snow” Scripture Reference:Â Matt. 2:1-2; 9-12Â

How many of you have seen a searchlight shining in the night sky? (Let children respond.) Those lights are meant to lead people to a certain spot in the city. If a store is having a grand opening or if there is a big sale on cars at a dealership, a searchlight might be set up in the parking lot. The bright light can be seen all over town.

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Young Teacher

First Sunday after Christmas Day From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â Luke 2:41-52

Do any of you have a favorite teacher, a teacher at school or Sunday school whom you really like a lot? (If they wish, children can name some of their teachers.) Teachers are wonderful, aren’t they? They make learning fun and exciting. They make us happy to go to school. (You may tell about one of your favorite teachers and what made that teacher special.)Â

Jesus was a teacher. People often

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Light in the Dark

Christmas Eve From “Scolding the Snakes” Artwork by Elsa Ingulsrud Scripture Reference:Â Isa. 9:2-7 and Luke 2:6-14

Preparation: Bring a strong flashlight and, if possible, arrange ahead of time to have an adult volunteer darken the church at one point during the sermon. (Agree on a signal to cue the volunteer.)

We have come to the end of Advent. The time of waiting is over. We stand at the beginning of Christmas. Tonight is a wonderful night: it is Christmas Eve. As the sun comes

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Scolding the Snakes

Third Sunday of Advent From “Scolding the Snakes” Scripture Reference:Â Luke 3:7-18

Photo by Kamalnv/Creative Commons via Wikimedia

Preparation: If possible, bring a rubber snake or a picture of a snake to illustrate the sermon.Â

Can you count the lighted candles on the Advent wreath? (That’s right: three. This is the third week of Advent.) You remember that we said Advent is a time of getting ready. Who remembers what we are getting ready for? (Let children answer.) We want to be

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