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Choose from the following children's sermons:

• God's Hot Rod
  a children's sermon based on 2 Kings 2:1-12
  by Rev. Frank Schaefer  (see below)
     
• Our God is an Awesome God, Ex 24:12-18 and Mat 17:1-9
  by Rev. Frank Schaefer  (please scroll down)
    
• The Alleluia Box
  a children's sermon on the meaning of Lent/Transfiguration/ Easter
  by an anonymous DPSer  (please scroll down)

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God's Hot Rod
a children's sermon based on 2 Kings 2:1-12
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

Props:  a couple of matchbox sports cars (and/or a Barbie sports car)

Welcome, my little friends, today I brought some really cool toy cars.  Do any of you collect cars like that?  What do you call this type of car?  Sports cars?   Hot rods?  Race cars?

The thing about these cars is that they are the fastest cars around.  Some of them reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour ( 300 km).  Of course, you couldn't drive that fast on any of our roads--unless maybe if you live in Germany and you can drive on the Autobahn.

In our bible lesson this morning we read about the ancient hot rod.  Back then, the fastest vehicle they had was a so called chariot.  It was a small card that was pulled by several horses.  Those chariots were the sports car of their days.

The story is about a prophet by the name of Elijah.  This man was a faithful believer in God and because of his faithfulness God rewarded him with a special ride in an especially hot "hot rod."

You see, God didn't just give him a regular chariot, it was a fiery chariot. Instead of horses it had something like rockets attached to it.  Isn't it amazing to read about something like that in the bible that was written thousands of years ago?

The point of the bible story is that Elijah, because he was such a faithful believer, got this special ride in this rocket-propelled vehicle straight into heaven.  He didn't have to die like most other people--he left this earth with a big exciting ride.

This story teaches us two things:  1) that God has awesome power and 2) God gives rewards to those who are faithful to him.

Doesn't that want to make you be faithful to God and live a good life.  Who knows how God is going to reward us.  Whatever it will be, one thing is for sure: it will be awesome.  Let us pray:

"Dear God, we thank you for the story of Elijah that teaches us that you are a mighty powerful God who gives incredible rewards to those who love you.  Help us, Lord, to always give our best for you--to be faithful just as Elijah was.   Amen."

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Our God is an Awesome God
a children's sermon based on Ex 24:12-18 and Mat 17:1-9
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

Props: none needed; perhaps you can teach them the song: "Awesome God."

Have you ever heard the song: Our God is an awesome God? 

I don't think any human person has ever seen God. In fact, the bible says that no person can see God while living.  God is so holy and so awesome and so powerful that a human person could not stand to see God.  The prophet Elijah once said to God: I want to see you with my eyes; and God said to him: you can turn around and I will pass by you with your back toward me.  Just don't turn around, because you would not be able to stand the sight of my holiness.

So, God surrounded himself with smoke on the mountain top so that Moses could come near him.  And on the mountain top, God revealed to  Moses his holy laws--God gave Moses the ten commandments.

In our bible lesson today, a group of people on a mountain top--Peter, John, James...and Jesus.  And suddenly, God's voice appeared.  I think they were a little startled.  And it says that a "bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, "This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!""

Just for a moment, God allowed the disciples to see Jesus for who is is--the son of God.  They were blinded by the light that came from Jesus' face, and his clothes were suddenly sparkling white.

All this goes to show that God is an awesome God; God is high and mighty....and here is the surprising part: even though God is all powerful, he still loves us and treats us very gently and with great care.  That's something, isn't it?  Even though we cannot see the almighty God with our human eyes, God still cares for us little ones and is always near us.

Let's say thanks to almighty God for loving us and for taking care of us:   "Dear God we thank you for your awesome power that you put to work in the world for the good of all people.  Thank you for being so awesome and, yet, you handle us so gently, caring about us and loving us.  You are always near us to wipe our tears, to encourage us and to lead us on the path of righteousness.   Be with us today and in the days to come and watch over us little ones.  Amen."

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The Alleluia Box
a children's sermon on the meaning of Lent/Transfiguration/ Easter
by an anonymous DPSer

This is not an original idea. I am breaking the 7th commandment. A friend of mine did this in her church a number of years ago, but it is a clever idea. You will need to decorate o paint a medium to large box. (I am paining the box white, and may use symbols on the sides -- picture of the ark, the wilderness, etc.)

1- Put the Alleluia in a box. (Use a lightweight paper banner with the word printed on it, and reverentially place it in the box.) Talk about the season of Lent, and the walk to the cross.

2- Leave the box in a noticeable place during the season of Lent. Maybe at some point as a reminder mention that the alleluia is waiting in there.

3- Easter Sunday open the box. Have one (or more) helium balloons in the box. Tied to the balloon have a lightweight paper banner with the word "Alleluia" written in gold letters. Our alleluias rise....

(If you do this make sure that the ceiling fans won't interfere. Do a test run with a long thread on the balloon.)

The friend I know who did this in her church kept one little alleluia balloon floating in the sanctuary for the whole season of Easter. It was a nice game to see where the balloon was each week.