7 Tips to Better Childrens Sermons
an article for Childrens "Sermoneers" by (Rev.) Neil MacQueen, www.sundaysoftware.com
 

You've probably seen a lot of children's sermons in your life and already have a sense of what passes for "good." And you've probably winced at a few bad ones over the years too. What's the difference between "good" and "wince"? I've delivered plenty of both! So let me suggest these 7 Tips to Better Childrens Sermons... all of which could be placed under the category of "Children First, Sermon Second."

1. "Children First" ...When you step forward to invite the children, make them feel invited!  Greet them as they come to you. Wait for the late-arriver to sit down. Make eye-contact. This will help YOU settle down too. Introduce yourself, and say things like, "I'm Jacob's mom" and "Isn't it fun to be up here on the steps at God's house." And smile! ...some children have a fear of being in front of others, especially when there's an unfamiliar adult up there. You'd think this would be obvious, but sometimes the pastor or adult leaders is not aware just how intimidating they can appear to a timid child. Tip: have a prop in your hands to attract their attention.

A long time ago a parent told me that her daughter was scared of "the man in the black robe"... which just happened to be me. Funny thing was, she was the playmate of one of my kids and knew me well! Fair to assume other kids might have the same misgivings. I solved the problem by paying attention to who seemed a little bit intimidated about coming up front and giving them a little space as they approached. Then I did a number of things to put them at ease, including sweeping my robe's billowy sleeves over their heads as they walked up. I'd often hold one of my story props as they approached which took the focus off me. See #6 below.

"Invitation" goes beyond how you greet them. Invitation is also about the WARMTH of your presence and presentation. Some leaders are so focused on (or nervous about) what to say and do, that they forget to relate to the kids, and start rushing through their words or presentation. One simple but effective way to reduce the temptation to rush is to ALWAYS start your children's sermon with a casual conversation with one or more of the students. "I like your sweater" "Can you smell the flowers up here this morning?"  It will put you at ease and keep you from barreling into the sermon. You'll also want to take the time to ask questions, and then remember to deal tenderly with their responses.  For example, when asking a question to which a child has eagerly raised their hand but not gotten the 'right' answer, don't just say, "no" and move on to the next hand. Take a moment to affirm the child. After the children's sermon is over, give out a few high-fives, and make a point to acknowledge them in the cookie line after church.

Many church concepts are tough for children.  When using church words like "grace" ...make sure you define what grace is either by an aside comment, by asking them to tell you, or by making such important words the point of your sermon. Note to pastor: the adults can sense when you're connecting with kids or going over their heads. They can tell how well prepared your children's sermon is. Members, and especially parents, will pay you credit if you do good by the kids. Or they will form an unfortunate opinion about you if you regularly botch or shoot over the kids' heads.

Once upon a time, children's sermons included upper elementary age kids. But in many churches these days, they top out at around 2nd grade, and therefore your presentation must also. The younger they are -the more you need to simply your concepts. See #4 below for more.

If you rush you are wasting their time and yours. And keep it concise. Practice this discipline: write out your children's sermon and then summarize it in one sentence. I knew a pastor who was so afraid of forgetting his summary sentence that he taped it to the top inside of the paper bag he always brought with him to hold his props. If you can't summarize your children's sermon in 10 seconds or 20 words, then you probably can't get it right in 3 minutes either.

4. Avoid complex metaphors and symbols, and "object" lessons.

Object lessons are easily identified by their "like" statements, as in, "I brought in this rock today to illustrate the point that God is like a rock in our lives." The problem is that to a Kindergartner who thinks "concretely" (remember Piaget?) -you have just taught them that God is a hard piece of stone and looks grey. Their minds cannot make the mental leap with you in the short time provided. Instead, use objects for what they are and avoid attaching symbolic meaning to them. (Use objects as PROPS to help tell a story. See #6 for more about this.) You can't completely avoid metaphors ("like" comparisons) so stick to metaphors they understand: "God is like a good parent, a teacher, a coach" -but make sure you explain the metaphors.

A lot of wasted time and opportunity has been disguised as clever object-lessons and demonstrations. Some demonstrations are too elaborate or off-point, and end up being really just fun distractions. I love magic tricks and occasionally used them to illustrate what I thought was the point. "God makes the sin disappear!" But really, all I was demonstrating to the 6 years olds was "The pastor made a coin disappear from his hand, I wonder where it went?" (everybody loves these demonstrations, but they don't teach the lesson to the younger kids). Use demonstrations sparingly and be sure to focus on "the point of it."  Make sure the demonstration (or illustration) is focused on the point of the children's sermon, and not some ancillary or obscure point. And make sure you slow down and explain this point!  (Better yet, tell a story...)

If you want to describe faith or forgiveness, tell a story about it. Stories stick in the brain and the story can continue to teach its meaning after you're gone. And practically speaking, storytelling grabs their attention quicker, keeps it longer, and stories keep you from groping for what to say next. See #6 and 7 for more about this. And make sure your stories are kid-friendly. Instead of a story about a man who went to work with his briefcase, tell a story about a boy who went to school. Note: you can make up your own stories! But... if the day's scripture has a story in it, re-tell it.

Note: Remember to have a POINT.  So many times you hear a volunteer or pastor tell a story and botch the point of the story. Write it own concisely in kid-friendly concepts and vocabulary. Take it out and read it if you have to. It's that important.

6. Use props.

Props focus their attention and create anticipation. Their eyes will even track the prop as you move it. Props also put the storyteller at ease too. But remember, a rock is just a rock to a 5 year old. They can't quite understand that it is "the weight of sin weighing us down."  Beware of turning props into symbols they can't understand.

Suggestions: If you're telling a story about when you were a little boy, bring a ballcap and toy. Involve the kids in your story by assigning roles and distributing props. For example, if you're telling the story of the man let down through the roof, have one of the kids lay down on a blanket and put a bandage around their leg. Assign someone to be Jesus. And when it gets time to "lower" the man through the roof, you grab the blanket by the boy's head (for safety) and let the kids grab the rest of the blanket and drag him a few feet towards Jesus. If you are telling the story of Moses talking to God on Mt. Sinai, throw a GIANT robe over the smallest girl and have her be Moses. If you're telling the story of the disciples in the boat, have your oldest child lay down on a pillow you brought (and tell them not to wake up until you specifically ask them to) and during the story cue all the kids to shout "wake up Jesus." And when it comes time for the waves to crash over the boat, don't forget to sprinkle a little bit of water out of the squirt bottle you've secretly brought.

The secret to many successful storytellers and children's sermon presenters is their props. Over the months and years, I would vary my delivery. But often I would bring a big brown bag that had story props in it. What I learned was that the kids eagerly awaited what I had in the bag. It focused their attention. And the props helped them remember my lesson.

Share your props!  One Sunday, I retold the story of Jesus and the 10 Lepers pulling 10 Barbie Dolls out of my brown bag (Ken was Jesus, of course).  I made several of the boys hold them-- much to the giggles and grimmaces of the children. Years later in a Confirmation class, one of my students said it was one of his favorite Bible stories because of that children's sermon. Props help us remember.

Speaking of props.... YOU are a prop. Don't stand or sit there stiff. Be animated. Especially with younger children (but also with all of us) our focus naturally goes to whatever moves. It's a great way to keep their attention, especially when you're trying to make your point. Props focus them. Your hands and facial expressions and where you move to will focus them too.

 

Ask this question about your children's sermon: what is the Gospel in it?  ...what is the good news about God in it? In my experience watching other pastors and volunteers lead children's sermons, this GOD-POINT is one of the things they often leave for the last moment of their children's sermon -or leave out entirely. It happens because they run out of time, or didn't think of the 'point' ahead of time, or they had a really "nice moral teaching".  

One of the ways I've "cured" myself of this teaching faux pas is to tell the kids the God-Point FIRST, right at the beginning of my children's sermon or Sunday School lesson (try it, it works!) and then again at the conclusion (and often several times in-between!).

The best way to make SURE that you're God-centered is to always base your children sermon on one of the scripture readings from the day. This discipline of always basing your children's sermon on one of the day's Bible passages will also take the guesswork out of planning "what to teach" and help you avoid children's sermons like "God is like this coat hanger which I just grabbed from the back of the church because I didn't have plan of what I was going to say."

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Final Thought:  Is the children's sermon really a message for adults in disguise?  Why yes...actually IT IS THAT TOO !  ....but only if you do it well enough to be good for both audiences.  Many adults, me included, will judge you poorly if you shoot the message over the kids' heads in an obvious attempt to speak to the adults. The best messages are ones you "overhear" ...and then suddenly realize the speaker is speaking to you as well.

FINAL Final Thought:  Dear Pastor, delivering well-prepared & good children's sermons will not only put you in good standing with the kids, it will gain you respect with the parents and other adults as well. It's a sacred trust. Don't leave it to the last minute. It's a wonderful opportunity to become a spiritual mentor and role-model, and as the kids grow up, it will pay off in terms of their relationship with the church, with God, --and with you.

For more of my thoughts on children and youth ministry, go to www.sundaysoftware.com/articles

Copyright 2007. Updated 2011, Neil MacQueen, www.sundaysoftware.com All rights reserved. Permission granted for local church and teacher training use.

Neil MacQueen is a Presbyterian minister, veteran of "the steps up front," Children and Youth ministry writer and consultant, and developer of interactive Bible software for children and youth.  For more of his articles about the church, go to www.sundaysoftware.com/articles and www.sundayresources.net