Chapel Talks for Christian Children Originally released for 2004 2005 Featuring 42 lessons on Jesus in the Gospels NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHING HOUSE Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. The NIV and New International Version trademarks are registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by International Bible Society. Use of either trademark requires the permission of International Bible Society. All hymns, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. Copyright 1993 by Northwestern Publishing House, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. All rights reserved. Order of Service copy masters may be reproduced by the purchaser; however, no other part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise except for brief quotations in reviews, without prior permission from the publisher. Northwestern Publishing House 1250 N. 113th St., Milwaukee, WI 53226-3284 www.nph.net 2004 by Northwestern Publishing House
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 42 devotions is based on Bible texts that are the Gospel readings for the Sunday, according to the three-year lectionary in Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal. In these lessons, the children will see that Jesus is their Savior and will learn how they can show their thankfulness to him in their daily lives. 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: Laurie Biedenbender, John Miller, Beth Tess, and Luke Werre.
Table of Contents Preface Hymn Index Hymns of Praise Index Devotion Bible Text 1 Treasure for Eternity Luke 12:32-34 2 The Truth Unites and Divides Luke 12:51,52 3 The Narrow Door Luke 13:23,24 4 Be Great Be Humble Luke 14:8-11 5 A Love-Hate Relationship Luke 14:26,27 6 One Means So Much Luke 15:8-10 7 Gaining Friends for Eternity Luke 16:1-8 8 Which One s the Rich One? Luke 16:19-22 9 Faith in Something Powerful Luke 17:5,6 10 O Give Thanks to the Lord Luke 17:12-15 11 Free Indeed! John 8:31,32 12 Faithful Workers Luke 19:11-13 13 Believers: Alive Forever! Luke 20:37,38 14 The Truth: Jesus Is the King Luke 23:35-38 15 Jesus Says, Be Ready! Matthew 24:37-39 16 Making Straight Roads Matthew 3:1-3 17 Prove It! Matthew 11:2-5 18 Believe It! Matthew 1:20,21,24 19 An Evil King Matthew 2:13 20 Undeserved Gifts John 1:16,17 21 The Sinless One Steps Up Matthew 3:13-17
22 God s Lamb John 1:29-31 23 Jesus Calls His Disciples Matthew 4:18-20 24 Happy People Matthew 5:1-5 25 Jesus Reveals His Glory Matthew 17:1,2 26 Jesus Resists Temptation Matthew 4:1-4 27 Jesus Quenches Our Spiritual Thirst John 4:13-15 28 We See Jesus in Our Troubles John 9:1-7 29 Jesus Willingly Goes to the Cross Matthew 20:18,19 30 Jesus Brings the Dead to Life John 11:41-44 31 Jesus Is Welcomed Matthew 21:7-9 32 Jesus Is Alive! Matthew 28:8-10 33 Behind Closed Doors John 20:19-21 34 A Riddle Solved Luke 24:13-16,27 35 I Am the Gate John 10:7-9 36 Many Rooms John 14:1-4 37 We Obey Because We Love John 14:15-18 38 Victory! John 17:1-5 39 The Comforter John 16:5-7 40 Around the Globe Matthew 28:18-20 41 By Their Fruit You ll Know Them Matthew 7:15-20 42 Sick Sinners Matthew 9:11-13
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, and Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary. Where a tune is not in a hymnal, an alternate is suggested. The metrical pattern is also included for choosing other tunes. Devotion Hymn Title CW TLH LW LBW ELH 1 I Am Jesus Little Lamb 432 648 517 (1) 177 2 Blest Be the Tie That Binds 494 464 295 370 420 3 You Are the Way; through You Alone 356 355 283 464 363 4 Jesus Sinners Does Receive 304 324 229 291 426 5 Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spoke 453 421 379 455 422 6 God Loved the World So That He Gave 391 245 352 292 403 7 We Give Thee But Thine Own 485 441 405 410 445 8 Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken 465 423 (2) (2) 424 9 Oh, for a Faith That Will Not Shrink 405 396 (3) (3) 364 10 Now Thank We All Our God 610 36 443 533 63 11 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word 203 261 334 230 589 12 O Master of the Loving Heart 491 (5) (5) (5) (5) 13 Yours Forever, God of Love 426 338 256 (6) 515 14 The King of Love My Shepherd Is 375 431 412 456 370 15 Saints, Behold! The Sight Is Glorious 216 (7) (7) (7) (7) 16 On Jordan s Bank the Baptist s Cry 16 63 14 36 106 17 O Jesus, Lamb of God, You Are 27 328 (8) (8) 271 18 Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel 23 62 31 34 110 19 The Star Proclaims the King Is Here 91 131 81 (9) 173 20 Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound 379 (10) 509 448 (10)
Devotion Hymn Title CW TLH LW LBW ELH 21 To Jordan s River Came Our Lord 89 (11) (11) (11) (11) 22 Lamb of God, We Fall before You 354 358 (12) (12) (12) 23 Jesus Calls Us o er the Tumult 463 270 (13) 494 (13) 24 Blessed Are the Saints of God 394 391 370 (14) (14) 25 Beautiful Savior 369 657 507 518 54 26 Savior, When in Dust to You 124 166 93 91 296 27 Come to Calvary s Holy Mountain 106 149 96 301 412 28 On My Heart Imprint Your Image 319 (15) (15) (15) (15) 29 A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth 100 142 111 105 331 30 Christ, the Life of All the Living 114 151 94 97 333 31 Hail, O Once-Despised Jesus 351 367 284 (16) 270 32 He s Risen, He s Risen 143 198 138 (17) 350 33 O Sons and Daughters of the King 165 208 130 139 366 34 Abide, O Dearest Jesus 333 53 287 263 579 35 I Am Jesus Little Lamb 432 648 517 (1) 177 36 Rise, O Light of Gentile Nations 577 498 (18) (18) 199 37 May We Your Precepts, Lord, Fulfill 458 412 389 353 (19) 38 Draw Us to Thee 170 215 153 (20) (20) 39 Holy Spirit, Light Divine 183 234 166 257 (21) 40 Spread, Oh, Spread the Mighty Word 576 507 321 379 201 41 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less 382 370 368 293 197 42 God Loved the World So That He Gave 391 245 352 292 403 (1) Tune: WEIL ICH JESU SCHÄFLEIN BIN (77 88 77) (2) Tune: HYFRYDOL (87 87 D) (3) Tune: ST. PETER (CM) (4) Tune: ADAM; suggested alternate: ST. ANNE (CM) (5) Tune: AZMON; suggested alternate: ST. ANNE (CM) (6) Tune: VIENNA (77 77) (7) Tune: CORONAE; suggested alternate: GUIDE ME (87 87 47) (8) Tune: WEIMER (LM) (9) Tune: O HEILAND, REISS DIE HIMMEL AUF (LM) (10) Tune: NEW BRITAIN (CM) (11) Tune: WINCHESTER NEW (LM) (12) Tune: RINGE RECHT (87 87) (13) Tune: STUTTGART (87 87) (14) Tune: VOLLER WUNDER (77 77 77) (15) Tune: DER AM KREUZ (87 87 77 88) (16) Tune: O DURCHBRECHER ALLER BANDE (87 87 D) (17) Tune: WALTHER (11 11 11 11) (18) Tune: O DU LIEBE MEINER LIEBE (87 87 D) (19) Tune: MERIBAH (886 886) (20) Tune: ACH GOTT UND HERR (447 447) (21) 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, and Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary. Devotion Hymn Title CW TLH LW LBW ELH 1-5 Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now 230 3 201 253 23 6-10 With the Lord Begin Your Task 478 540 483 444 82 11-14 Glory Be to God the Father 239 244 173 167 410 15-19 Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes 12 66 29 35 109 20-25 The People That in Darkness Sat 90 106 77 (1) 153 26-31 Lamb of God, Pure and Holy 268 146 208 111 41 32-36 I Know That My Redeemer Lives 152 200 264 352 351 37-42 Beautiful Savior 369 657 507 518 54 (1) Tune: LOBT GOTT, IHR CHRISTEN (86 866)
Treasure for Eternity Luke 12:32-34 1 Suggested for Pentecost 12 Visual Materials a worn-out purse or wallet several one-dollar bills Object Lesson Show the children the wallet or purse. Ask them what it is for. Show them the money inside it. Explain how money disappears when we spend it on something. Also point out how not only the money disappears, but the place where we keep our money may also wear out after a while. It may fall apart. It may not keep moisture out. Perhaps the latch, zipper, or handle on it may break. Nothing here on earth lasts forever. It either disappears or wears out. Bible Truth Sometimes we hold a wallet or purse tightly because we don t want anyone to take the money that is in it. Would we be that upset if someone tried to take away from us our chance to do memory work? or to go to church? Very often we love and are more concerned about money and things in this world than we are about God and his Word. That is sin. Jesus gives us a treasure that never disappears or wears out. It s his forgiveness. Because of his forgiveness, God promises to take care of all our needs as well. One day he ll take us to heaven. That s a treasure that never wears out. Jesus said to his believers: Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. We want God s Word more than anything else. We hear of his forgiveness there. We learn how he takes care of us and that heaven is ours. These things last forever. God is bigger than all money. He wants us to rely on him. Discussions and Applications 1. How might someone try to take away your chance to do memory work? to go to church? 2. Why does Jesus have to talk to us about money?
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 Jesus Christ, Be Present Now Lord Jesus Christ, be present now; Our hearts in true devotion bow. Your Spirit send with grace divine, And let your truth within us shine. Glory to God the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One! To you, O blessed Trinity, Be praise throughout eternity! THE MESSAGE Treasure for Eternity Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Luke 12:32-34). Leader: Lord Jesus, sometimes we care more about things we own than we do about the things you give us through your Word. Forgive us. Help us to see that your forgiveness and many promises are worth more than all the money in the world. Amen. HYMN I Am Jesus Little Lamb I am Jesus little lamb; Ever glad at heart I am, For my shepherd gently guides me, Knows my needs and well provides me, Loves me ev ry day the same, Even calls me by my name. Day by day, at home, away, Jesus is my staff and stay. When I hunger, Jesus feeds me, Into pleasant pastures leads me; When I thirst, he bids me go Where the quiet waters flow. Who so happy as I am, Even now the shepherd s lamb? And when my short life is ended, By his angel hosts attended, He shall fold me to his breast, There within his arms to rest. PSALM 145 Leader: The LORD is righteous in all his ways Children: And loving toward all he has made. Leader: The LORD is near to all who call on him, Children: To all who call on him in truth. Leader: He fulfills the desires of those who fear him; Children: He hears their cry and saves them. 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.