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Choose from the following Children's Sermons:

• Sleeping Through the Storm, Mark 4:35-41, by Rev. Frank Schaefer
   

• God Is Always with Us, Mark 4:35-41, by an anonymous DPSer
   

• Greatness Starts with Obedience
  a children's sermon based on 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
  by jrbnrnc

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Sleeping Through the Storm
a spontaneous reader's theater based on Mark 4:35-41
by Rev. Frank Schaefer
Props: plastic cups, the children, the adult worshipers.

Setting the stage: explain that you want to dramatize the lesson and that you need the help of the children and the congregation. The congregation plays the part of the wind and the unruly waters of the lake. Have the children act out the part of the disciples, pick one to be Jesus, have them sit on the floor pretending they're in a boat, trying to get the water out with the plastic cups while Jesus is sleeping.

Start reading the story. At the part where it says a storm arose and waves were beating against the boat have the congregation wave their hands and make howling noises (tell them it's ok to do it--it will not turn them into Pentecostals).

Have the kids use their cups frantically, then ask: " has anybody seen Jesus? Where is Jesus when you need him?" Then say: "o, my goodness, he is asleep in the boat." Continue to read the story and have the kid that plays Jesus stretch out his hands toward the congregation as you read: "Peace! Be still!" The congregation will know to calm down.

Teaching part: Ask the children, if they have ever been in a real storm. Ask them if they believe God is still with us when there is a storm (most likely the answer will be yes; if the answer is no, you can explain that it certainly seems God is not in the storm--just like in the gospel story, but God really is).

Tell them that there are storms of life, when things seem to go wrong. Explain that in those situations, too, it seems sometimes as if God isn't there for us, but that God really is always with us, and God has the power to calm down any kind of storm--real storms as well as the storms of our lives.

Prayer: "Dear Lord Jesus, we thank you for being there at all times, even if we cannot see you or feel your presence.  You were with the disciples too in the midst of the storm, and you have promised to be with us always and everywhere, even if we traveled to the end of the earth.  Thank you for being with us especially when things aren't going well for us.  Help us to trust you in those situations and to have faith in you that you will protect us and help us and make everything better.   Amen.

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God Is Always with Us
a children's sermon based on
by an anonymous DPSer

Do you like storms? Ask why or why not? If they are afraid of a storm, ask what they do when it storms? Most likely, they will say they go to their Mom and Dad. They feel safe there. But sometimes scary things happen and Mom and Dad aren't there?

Would you like to be on a boat in a storm? And they asked Jesus to help. There are lots of times in the Bible that people are afraid or sick and they ask Jesus to help and he always does. We read the Bible and think that Jesus only helped the people in the Bible, but that is not true!

If you read in a book about doing something, that is supposed to teach YOU how to do it. You have read in the Bible about how God and Jesus help people. Jesus does not just help people in the Bible, he helps you today when you are afraid or sick. The Bible gives us directions on how to live our lives!

May I pray with you? "Jesus, let these precious children of yours know how much you love them and you will always take care of them during a storm. They do not need to be afraid because you are always with them. And Jesus, let them know that you have put special people in their lives to help them too, their parents, brothers and sisters, teachers, preachers, friends and their church family. Amen"

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Greatness Starts with Obedience
a children's sermon based on 1 Samuel 17:(1a, 4-11, 19-23), 32-49
by jrbnrnc

Object (Optional): A sack of groceries.

A story about a boy who was asked by his father to carry a sack of groceries to his brothers who were soldiers in the army. He could have said, "its too far. The bag is too heavy. I have other things that I have to do. They don’t ever do anything for me." "Why don’t you ask my other brother, he never does anything around here?" Or he could have just rudely said, "No Way, I’m not about to. There is a war going on where they are and I am not about to risk my neck for those guys. If they want food, let them come get it for themselves."

But he didn’t say any of these things. He just picked up the grocery bag (pick up the bag you brought--if any-- for effect) and started off. And you know the story of what happened when he got to where his brothers were. Their army Israel was being threatened by a giant Philistine warrior named Goliath. No one from Israel would fight him. But the little boy with the groceries said, With God’s help, I will. And he took his sling shot and five smooth stones and he killed that giant, saved his country, and eventually became the greatest King that Israel ever had. Do you remember what his name was? (David)

But I want you to remember that all of this glory and success of David, began with something very simple. He obeyed his father. It was because he chose to do the simplest chore willingly and without griping that David was given the opportunity to become a great person. You may never be asked to fight a giant, but you certainly will be asked to do things by your parents. I hope that you will remember the example of David and do the simple tasks your parents ask you to do. These are just as much of God's plan for your life as an opportunity to fight a giant or be a king. Who knows what great things you and God may do with your life.