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Three children's sermons:

1) Illustration of the Tripod (see below)
2) Trinity Sundae (scroll down)
3) Three Circles--in One Chain (scroll down)
4) In Times of War a children's sermon for Memorial Day (see below)

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1) Illustration of the Tripod
a children's sermon for Trinity Sunday
by Rev. Frank Schaefer

Props: three sticks

Good morning boys and girls, who can tell me what we are celebrating today?  This is not an easy question, and the word I'm looking for isn't easy either.   Why don't I tell you?  Today we celebrate Trinity Sunday.

Trinity is a word which means "three."  The church believes that God is three ...and yet, one.  So today we celebrate our one God who is three persons in one.  What do you think are those persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

I know, I know, some of you probably want to ask: how can this be? Three persons in one?  Well, you're absolutely right.  This is not easy to understand.  the Trinity of God is one of the great mysteries.

In order to understand the threeness of God a little better, there are some good illustrations from nature.  I brought this morning three sticks with me and I would like to stand them up  (build a tripod).  You see how beautiful the three sticks are standing together?  They support each other.    Just like the three persons in God support each other.

Now, do you think that two sticks propped against each other could stand up?  (let the kids try).  That doesn't seem to work very well, does it?  What about just one stick? Do you think one stick could be made to stand up straight?  Not likely.

so it is with God.  God revealed himself in three different persons and all of these persons have an important task.  God the father is our creator, Jesus is our savior (redeemer), and the Spirit is our helper and comforter.    We need God to be all three in order to stand in our faith.

Let us bow our heads and pray: "Dear God, we thank you for being a great and loving God.  We thank you Father for making us in your image; we praise you in the name of Jesus who saved us from sin and death, and in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.  Amen."

 

2) Trinity Sundae
A children's sermon for Trinity Sunday
by Susan in San Pedro

Props: big block of Neopolitan ice cream, whipped cream in a spray can

Picture a chapel full of children. Chaplain Susan comes out of the sacristy with a big block of Neopolitan Ice Cream on a platter. "What's this?" she asks. "ICE CREAM!" they reply. "Is strawberry the same as chocolate?" "No." "Is vanilla the same as strawberry?" "No." "Are they all ice cream?" "YES!!!"

"Now, stay with me boys and girls, what do we mean when we talk about "THE TRINITY"? (Someone will get "Father, Son and Holy Spirit" ... these are bright kids.) "EXACTLY!" "Is the Father the same as the Son?" "No." "Is the Son the same as the Spirit?" "No." "Are they all God?" "YES!!!" And then -- in honor of Trinity Sunday -- you can pour chocolate syrup over the whole thing and have (TA-DA!) ... TRINITY SUNDAE!!!

 

3) Three Circles--in One Chain
a children's sermon for Trinity Sunday
by Alex in Ohio

I was thinking of cutting out three circles and interlocking them. I think this is an ancient symbol for the trinity. I would say that sometimes there is so much to say about God that we almost don't know how to express ourselves, but we do our best.

I would then talk about the first circle, God the Creator, who created everything, and continues to create. Then I would talk about the second circle, God the Redeemer, who grants us eternal life. And then I would talk about about, God the Sustainer, who keeps sustaining us on our earthly walk. There are three circles, "three persons", but they are interlocking. There is only one God: Three-in-One.

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In Times of War
a children's sermon for Memorial Day
props: A daily newspaper with pictures and articles about the war.

The newspapers are filled with articles and pictures of war. Every time you turn on the television the news broadcasts are filled with stories about war. When you hear people talking, it isn't long before you hear the subject of the war brought into their conversation. It seems that everywhere we turn, all we hear is talk about the war.

Many of us have friends or family members who have had to leave their jobs and families to enter the military because of the war. These are difficult and confusing days. If these are difficult and confusing days for adults, I know that these times must be difficult for children to understand.

Why do wars happen? I think that wars happen for the very same reasons that children get into fights on the playground:

• Someone has something and someone else wants it.
• Someone said something and someone else didn't like it.
• Someone is different and someone else doesn't like them.
• Someone is hurting others and someone needs to stop them.

That isn't the way God meant for it to be, but that's the way it is and that's the way it will always be until Jesus comes again to take us to heaven to be with him. (Matthew 24:6 and Mark 13:7) So, what can we do, and what should we do when there is war? I think there is really one answer -- PRAY!

PRAY for those who have served and who are serving  in the military to protect our country and try to make the world a safer place.

PRAY for God's protection! God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

PRAY for God's for guidance! In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6

PRAY for world leaders! [Pray] for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2: 2-4

PRAY for our enemies! Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Luke 6:27

Heavenly Father, we don't understand all that is going on in the world today, so we turn to you in prayer. We put our trust in you to guide us through these difficult days. Amen.