Here’s a simple Sermon Prep Sheet I’ve created that might be helpful for some of you. It’s nothing new, but rather a collaboration of thoughts gathered from more experienced preachers and communicators than I over the years.
Stephanie Carmichael, writing for Matthias Media:
Teach all the time: Young children live in the moment. Help them to learn in the moment by making the most of opportunities as they arise. Talk about God in the day-to-day things you are doing.
Teach at a special time: Try to set aside a special time to read about God. Prepare for this time. If you are going to read the Bible, think about what you will read and how to simplify and explain it.
Questions and answers: Listen to your children’s questions, and give quality time to answering them. But also ask them questions about what you’ve been trying to teach to check they have understood.
Teach through your life: You are a living example (or visual aid) of someone who loves God. Set a faithful example of dependence on God and let them see you reading the Bible for yourself.
Be prayerful: Like adults, children need God’s help to grow in Christ and they can learn to pray. So pray for them and pray simple prayers with them (e.g. “sorry God that we…”, “thank you God for…”, “God, please help…”).
Be simple: Young children are not abstract thinkers so be literal and concrete. Use real examples where possible (eg. God made this flower). Use simple vocabulary that they can understand. Avoid jargon.
Be specific: Move from the specific (God loves Ben) to the general (God loves everyone). Use lots of familiar examples so that they can understand.
Repeat and repeat again: You might get tired of saying it, but remember young children thrive on repetition.
Be thankful: Approach God with thankfulness. Model to your children how we can thank God in various situations and what we can thank God for.
Be visual: Young children learn through their eyes as well as their ears. Use pictures, visual aids, picture books etc.
**MORE teaching tips for those who teach preschool or any age
Over at ministry-to-children.com, you can check out a children’s bible lesson I wrote awhile back based on J.C. Ryle’s sermon for children called, No More Crying. This sermon and other addresses to children can be found in the book, The Two Bears, (Grace and Truth Books, 2004).
The lesson is shaped around “3 places” which kids (and parents) will easily remember:
I’ve really enjoyed partnering with my buddy Cam in our ministry to high school students called InsideOut. Our desire is that our students would be changed by the renewing of their minds. With that in mind (pun intended) we are currently making our way through a series called The 4G’s taken from Tim Chester’s excellent book called, You Can Change. These are the 4 Truths about God that can set us free to live in light of the gospel:
1. God is great, so we don’t have to be in control.
2. God is glorious, so we don’t have to fear others.
3. God is good, so we don’t have to look elsewhere.
4. God is gracious, so we don’t have to prove ourselves.
You can read Chester’s chapter on these 4G’s here. Chapter 2 (Why Would you Like to Change?) is also available here. LBC members, please continue to pray for this ministry to our students.
The best preachers and teachers take profound, meaty truths and break them up into little, understandable bites so their listeners can “get it” and do something with it. I love what John Stott says in his well-known book, Between Two Worlds:
To preach instead over people’s heads, is to forget who they are. As Spurgeon once commented, ‘Christ said, “Feed my sheep … Feed my lambs.” Some preachers, however, put the food so high that neither lambs nor sheep can reach it. They seem to have read the text, “Feed my giraffes” ‘ (p. 147).
Related Posts:
7 Reasons Why Pastors Should Teach a Preschool Class
Parents and teachers, here is a Thanksgiving lesson I wrote awhile back for children – probably best suited for elementary age. It presents the story of Jesus and the Ten Lepers from Luke 17:11-19 with the main point being, “All gifts from God should point us back to God and cause us to give thanks to God!”
A couple weeks ago at our Wed. night ministry to families (called SEEDS), I shared the gospel using giant silly bands! I got the idea from this great website and made it my own. The basic outline: God is the King (Gold Crown), We are Sinners (Black Heart), Jesus is the Savior (Red Cross), and Turn, Trust and Follow (Green Foot), is an easy way for kids to remember the gospel visually. Special thanks to Connie Homola for making these silly bands out of PVC pipe!
Kevin Larson, lead pastor of Karis Community Church, explains:
Jesus taught us that the kingdom belongs to children. We are to receive him with the faith of a child (Luke 18:16-17). What’s the answer to monsters under the bed? God is in control. How are we comforted when someone teases us on the playground? He loves us, and that’s what counts. What do we do if we find ourselves sad? We reflect upon our joy in Christ. Our need is not for better answers. It’s for our hearts to embrace the right ones. Gospel truths are not simplistic. They are rich and deep. But they’re simple. I remember a skit, back in my college ministry days, where three Christians were competing in a game show. One girl, trying to play the airhead, kept answering “Jesus,” with much enthusiasm, to every question. Everyone laughed. But maybe it was our Enemy who was truly laughing. If he can get us to assume gospel truths, he’s won most of the battle. If he can get us to mock God’s word, that’s success for him. In our counseling, in our preaching, and in our evangelism, is “Jesus” our answer? Are the promises of Scripture our comfort? If not, we might just need to go back to Sunday School. (Read the whole thing …)
(HT: Eric Schumacher)
Ten years ago I taught 6th graders at Grace Christian School in Deephaven, Minnesota. I loved it. Pouring my life into young people was (and still is) a passion of mine. After all those years, I recently heard from one of my former students. It was so encouraging to hear about what God is doing in her life and how she remembers 6th grade as the year she started making a habit of reading the Bible on her own. She is now a junior at Bethel University in Minnesota with a burden to share her faith in Christ. I was so blessed to read this article and to be a small part of the story God is writing in her life.
So, if you’re a teacher, be encouraged. You’re making a difference. Many times you won’t get to see the fruit of your labor, but God is at work! BTW … if you’re a former 6th grade student of mine, I’d love to hear from you!
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