Chapel Talks for Christian Children Originally Released for 2007 2008 Featuring 43 lessons on We Worship Jesus NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHING HOUSE Milwaukee, Wisconsin
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark requires the permission of Biblica, Inc. All hymns, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. Copyright 1993 by Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. Leader s Guide and Order of service copy masters may be reproduced by the purchaser. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 www.nph.net 2007 by Northwestern Publishing House Published 2012
Preface Chapel Talks for Christian Children is a resource for worship with children. It can be adapted to a variety of settings, including Christian elementary schools, Sunday schools, vacation Bible schools, and children s sermons. This series of 43 devotions is based on the Bible texts that are the Verse of the Day for each Sunday, according to the three-year lectionary in Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. In these lessons, the children learn the truths of God s Word that lead us to worship Jesus. Note that a separate devotion for Ash Wednesday is included if you choose to have a special devotion for that day instead of one based on the Sunday reading. Each devotion has a leader s guide that includes the theme of the devotion a Bible text the suggested week for use suggestions for visual materials suggestions for an object lesson a Bible truth section for explaining and applying the text discussion and application questions A copy master for each devotion includes a short order of service a hymn of praise for the season a text and prayer for the devotion a hymn for the day a psalm selection for the day optional prayers Permission to copy the order of service is granted to purchasers of Chapel Talks for Christian Children. Such permission is not transferable to other congregations or institutions. Carl S. Nolte Editor Acknowledgements We gratefully acknowledge the dedicated writers of these lessons: Jonathan Arndt, Rebecca Kruschel, Jane Mose, and Joel Otto.
Table of Contents Preface Hymn Index Hymns of Praise Index Devotion Bible Text Church Year 1 The Living Sword of the Word Hebrews 4:12 Pentecost 13 2 Jesus Is the Death-Destroyer 2 Timothy 1:10b Pentecost 14 3 Food for the Soul Jeremiah 15:16 Pentecost 15 4 Repeat the Rejoicing! Philippians 4:4 Pentecost 16 5 Learning from the Past Romans 15:4 Pentecost 17 6 Grace Is Enough 2 Corinthians 12:9 Pentecost 18 7 Down on Our Knees Philippians 2:10,11 Pentecost 19 8 What s in a Name? Hebrews 2:12 Pentecost 20 9 Lean on the Lord Isaiah 25:9b Pentecost 21 10 God Makes Us Useful Ephesians 2:10a Pentecost 22 11 Freedom! John 8:31,32 Reformation 12 Are You Ready? Matthew 24:42 Last Judgment 13 It Never Ends! Revelation 7:15a Saints Triumphant 14 God Stays the Same Revelation 22:13 Christ the King 15 He Is Coming Soon! Revelation 22:20 Advent 1 16 Prepare the Way Luke 3:4,6 Advent 2 17 Messenger of Jesus Matthew 11:10 Advent 3 18 Immanuel God with Us Matthew 1:23 Advent 4 19 The Rule of Peace Colossians 3:15a Christmas 1 20 A Star in the East Matthew 2:2 Epiphany 21 A Son Loved by His Father Mark 1:11 Baptism of Our Lord 22 Jesus The Father s Splendor Isaiah 49:3 Epihany 2 23 Which One? Matthew 4:23 Epiphany 3
24 Listen to Him Mark 9:7b Transfiguration 25 One-Way or Round-Trip? Joel 2:13b Ash Wednesday 26 Two Teams Matthew 4:10b Lent 1 27 A Humble Job Philippians 2:8b Lent 2 28 Eyes of Faith John 3:14,15 Lent 3 29 Good News John 3:16 Lent 4 30 A Ransom Paid Mark 10:45 Lent 5 31 The Hour Has Come John 12:23 Palm Sunday 32 A Day Made by God Psalm 118:24 Easter 33 Believing without Seeing John 20:29 Easter 2 34 I Gotta Tell You Something! Luke 24:32 Easter 3 35 Hey, I Know You! John 10:14 Easter 4 36 One Way John 14:6 Easter 5 37 Jesus Says John 14:23 Easter 6 38 We Belong John 14:18 Easter 7 39 The Eternal Flame Acts 2:4 Pentecost 40 We Simply Cannot Understand! Isaiah 6:3b Holy Trinity 41 The Book for All Occasions Psalm 119:105 Pentecost 2 42 Caught by God 2 Corinthians 5:19 Pentecost 3 43 God s Team Psalm 132:9 Pentecost 4
Hymn Index The hymn in each devotion is cross-referenced for the following hymnals: Christian Worship, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, Lutheran Book of Worship, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, and Lutheran Service Book. Where a tune is not in a hymnal, the metrical pattern is also included for choosing other tunes. Devotion Hymn Title CW TLH LW LBW ELH LSB 1 Onward,ChristianSoldiers 537 658 509 518 (1) 662 2 ForMetoLiveIsJesus 606 597 (2) 267 473 742 3 HowPreciousIstheBookDivine 284 285 (3) 332 232 (3) 4 TakeMyLifeandLetItBe 469 400 406 404 444 783/ 784 5 HowShalltheYoungSecureTheirHearts 509 286 (4) 474 176 (4) 6 AllDependsonOurPossessing 421 425 447 415 468 732 7 DrawUstoThee 170 215 (5) 153 (5) 701 8 AllHailthePowerofJesus Name 370 339 329 272 49 549 9 IAmJesus LittleLamb 432 648 (6) 517 177 740 10 WiththeLordBeginYourTask 478 540 444 483 82 869 11 AMightyFortressIsOurGod 200/ 262 229 297 251 656/ 201 657 12 Come,OPreciousRansom,Come 8 55 24 34 88 350 13 DrawUstoThee 170 215 (5) 153 (5) 701 14 CrownHimwithManyCrowns 341 341 170 278 55 525 15 SavioroftheNations,Come 2 95 28 13 (7) 332 16 OnJordan sbankthebaptist scry 16 63 36 14 106 344 17 WhenAlltheWorldWasCursed 20 272 (8) 187 107 346 18 Oh,Come,Oh,Come,Emmanuel 23 62 34 31 110 357 19 LetAllTogetherPraiseOurGod 41 105 47 44 148 389 20 AswithGladnessMenofOld 83 127 82 75 168 397 21 AllWhoBelieveandAreBaptized 299 301 194 225 241 601
Devotion Hymn Title CW TLH LW LBW ELH LSB 22 OSplendorofGod sglorybright 586 550 271 481 81 87 23 SongsofThankfulnessandPraise 82 134 90 88 172 394 24 HowGood,Lord,toBeHere 95 135 89 89 (9) (9) 25 JesusSinnersDoesReceive 304 324 291 229 426 609 26 AMightyFortressIsOurGod 200/ 262 229 297 251 656/ 201 657 27 Oh,PerfectLifeofLove 138 170 (10) (10) (10) 452 28 AmazingGrace HowSweettheSound 379 (11) 448 509 (11) 744 29 GodLovedtheWorldSoThatHeGave 391 245 292 352 403 571 30 GloryBetoJesus 103 158 95 98 283 433 31 Hosanna,LoudHosanna 130 161 (12) 106 279 443 32 Awake,MyHeart,withGladness 156 192 129 128 341 467 33 OSonsandDaughtersoftheKing 165 208 139 130 366 470 34 Abide,ODearestJesus 333 53 263 287 312 919 35 TheLord smyshepherd;i llnotwant 360 436 451 416 371 710 36 YouAretheWay;throughYouAlone 356 355 464 283 363 526 37 TakeMyLifeandLetItBe 469 400 406 404 444 783/ 784 38 DrawUstoThee 170 215 (5) 153 (5) 701 39 HolySpirit,LightDivine 183 234 257 166 (13) 496 40 WeAllBelieveinOneTrueGod 270 251 374 213 38 953 41 HowPreciousIstheBookDivine 284 285 (3) 332 232 (3) 42 GodLovedtheWorldSoThatHeGave 391 245 292 352 403 571 43 Hark!TheVoiceofJesusCrying 573 496 381 318 191 827 (1) Tune: ST. GERTRUDE (65 65 D with Refrain) (2) Tune: CHRISTUS, DER IST MEIN LEBEN (76 76) (3) Tune: WALDER (CM) (4) Tune: ST. PETER (CM) (5) Tune: ACH GOTT UND HERR (447 447) (6) Tune: WEIL ICH JESU SCHÄFLEIN BIN (77 88 77) (7) Tune: NUN KOMM, DER HEIDEN HEILAND (77 77) (8) Tune: WAS FRAG ICH NACH DER WELT (67 67 66 66) (9) Tune: POTSDAM (SM) (10) Tune: SOUTHWELL (SM) (11) Tune: NEW BRITAIN (CM) (12) Tune: ELLACOMBE (76 76 D) (13) Tune: SONG 13 (77 77)
Hymns of Praise Index The seasonal hymn of praise in each devotion is cross-referenced for the following hymnals: Christian Worship, The Lutheran Hymnal, Lutheran Worship, Lutheran Book of Worship, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, and Lutheran Service Book. Devotion Hymn Title CW TLH LW LBW ELH LSB 1-10 Lord,OpenNowMyHearttoHear* 282 5 (1) 197 24 908 11-14 Lord,KeepUsSteadfastinYourWord 203 261 230 334 589 655 15-24 HarktheGladSound!TheSaviorComes 12 66 35 29 109 349 25-31 Christ,theLifeofAlltheLiving 114 151 97 94 333 420 32-38 IKnowThatMyRedeemerLives 152 200 352 264 351 461 39-43 IAmJesus LittleLamb 432 648 (2) 517 177 740 *Note: For variety, this hymn may be sung with another melody in the same meter (LM), for example, OLD HUNDREDTH (CW 334). (1) Tune: ERHALT UNS, HERR (LM) (2) Tune: WEIL ICH JESU SCHÄFLEIN BIN (77 88 77)
1 The Living Sword of the Word Hebrews 4:12 Suggested for Pentecost 13 Visual Materials a picture of a knight or soldier with a double-edged sword Object Lesson Talk to the students about the importance of a double-edged sword for a soldier or knight. With it, he could cut both ways. A sharp sword was a valuable weapon. Ask if the sword did the soldier any good if it was in the scabbard, or holder. Ask if it would be useful if he left it at home when he went into battle. Bible Truth Tell how the Bible speaks about itself, the Word of God, as a living sword. The writer of Hebrews says, The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (4:12). A sharp, double-edged sword could slice off limbs of opposing soldiers. God s Word also cuts deep. Explain that when we hear God s law, even our thoughts and attitudes are judged. Our selfishness, greed, and hatred are exposed as sins against God. These sins earn death and hell. But God s Word also has the power to help and heal. The other edge of the living sword of the Word is the good news of Jesus. He endured our punishment on the cross. His death is the payment that gives us forgiveness and life. God tells us that there is no other way to heaven except by faith in Jesus. The Word has the power to give that faith as the Holy Spirit works through the gospel. The Word continues to work in our hearts to give us the strength to live Christian lives. The living and active Word makes us living and active Christians. The Word kills our old sinful nature and gives life to our new self. Discussions and Applications 1. A soldier needed to use a sword to fight for his life. How do Christians use the Word for their good? (study, read, hear it) 2. How do Christians use the Word for the good of others? (share the good news of Jesus with others)
CHAPEL TALKS FOR CHRISTIAN CHILDREN Leader: We worship in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Children: Amen. HYMN OF PRAISE Lord, Open Now My Heart to Hear Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through your Word to me draw near. Let me your Word e er pure retain; Let me your child and heir remain. To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, three in One, Shall glory, praise, and honor be Now and throughout eternity. THE MESSAGE The Living Sword of the Word The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). Leader: Blessed Lord, thank you for using the power of your Word in our lives to make us your believers. Help us continue hearing and learning your Word for our spiritual growth. Give us opportunities to share your Word with others. Amen. HYMN Onward, Christian Soldiers Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ, the royal master, leads against the foe; Forward into battle see his banners go! Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. Like a mighty army moves the Church of God; Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod. We are not divided, all one body we, One in hope and doctrine, one in charity. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war, With the cross of Jesus going on before. PSALM 119:81,82,88 Leader: My soul faints with longing for your salvation, Children: But I have put my hope in your word. Leader: My eyes fail, looking for your promise; Children: I say, When will you comfort me? Leader: Preserve my life according to your love, Children: And I will obey the statutes of your mouth. PRAYER REQUESTS THE LORD S PRAYER (spoken together) OFFERINGS OF LOVE FOR JESUS Leader: Now, children, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness. The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Children: Amen.