rTempted means to think about doing something that might not be right or good. If a class is having a spelling test, let’s say, and one of the children did not study the words and isn’t sure how to spell them, what might that child be tempted to do? [Accept all answers]. Have you ever been tempted? Sure, everyone has been tempted. I have been, many times. Let’s see how many in the congregation have been tempted
Food keeps our bodies healthy, but we also need to have a healthy spirit. What does this mean to you? This question may be different for every person, but this is what it means to me. Start by feeding your spirit with God's love. That makes your spirit healthy, able to give love and receive love from others.
Jesus said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God'" (4:4). Jesus is teaching us that we must have more than food to live in this world. We also need to be filled with the Spirit of God. God's Spirit sustains us and helps us grow. We need to store God's love in our hearts like a cactus stores water. His love will help us through dry, difficult times. Be filled with God's Spirit of Love.
Jesus never said why he came to be baptized. But something very important and very amazing happened when Jesus was baptized. Listen to this! God—did you hear that?—God came to Jesus—like a dove, a beautiful white bird—and God’s voice said to Jesus, “You are my Son, the beloved; my favor rests on you.” Wow and wow! Jesus was extra special to God, extra specially loved, and God said so! And, when God called Jesus God’s “Son”, it meant that Jesus was like God. Now that is a special baptism!
Good morning, boys and girls. Thanks for being attentive and listening quietly so you can hear today's lesson. You are such courteous children. Who can tell us what a compliment is? Yes, a compliment is when you say something nice about someone. I just gave you a compliment by mentioning how polite and well-mannered you are.
Looking into the night sky can make you feel very small. Have you felt like that? All of the vast beauty we see in twinkling stars, soft clouds, and silver moonlight was created by God who is greater than all of that. When John the Baptist came to tell the people about Jesus he said, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I…" (3:16). We may sometimes feel small, but God's love and power is great. His love will point us in the right direction and help us make the best choices.
Everyone got very excited about John; maybe John was the special person that God was sending. John told them “No.” John said that the one who was coming—Jesus—was much greater. John baptized people––he poured water over them as a sign that they were doing what John had told them to do. But when Jesus came, the people would feel God’s love pouring over them. Can you imagine God surrounding you and giving you a big hug and telling you not to be afraid because God is with you? Well, that is sort of what Jesus was going to do! This story just gets better and better!
A totem pole tells a story without a book. The figures carved on the totem poem may tell a story of family or about a special event that happened. Figures on a totem pole may resemble a fish, a whale, a bird, a bear, a wolf, a beaver, a frog, or a person. These are symbols that tell a story. There is another way to tell a story without a book. The Bible teaches us that Jesus "…will baptize you in the Holy Spirit…" (3:16). This means that God's Spirit lives in you; is a part of who you are.
The Bible tells us that a man named John prepared the people for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. John traveled here and there preaching "good news to the people" (3:18). He planted the seeds of God's love. He spread the good news far and wide. During this special season as we decorate our homes and churches, let the evergreen cones remind us to prepare our hearts for the good news of Christmas. Plant the seeds of God's love in your heart and spread those seeds of love far and wide.
Children's Sermon Luke 3:1-6 Something New is Coming! Check out these helpful resources Biblical Commentary Sermons Children's Sermons Hymn Lists Luke 3:1-6 Something New is Coming! By Dr. Carol J Miller Today’s Gospel reading has a lot of really big words in it; especially strange and hard-to-say names! Listen to these names, (what were [...]