Kids Talk

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #12

March 31, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #12 – What is idolatry? [NCC Q17]

Powerpoint Pictures: Money, School, Tennis Ball, Bride and Groom, Sun lounger on Beach

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What do you dream about? Is about something you’d like to have? Or you like to do? Or about someone you’d like to be?

Maybe it is about some of these things?

Being rich and having lots of money. So you can buy lots of nice things.

Getting good grades at school. Doing well in your exams.

Being a professional sportsman or woman. Winning Premier League. Olympic Gold, Wimbledon.

Getting married. Have a husband or wife. Then a family.

Or travelling the world and going on lots of adventures. Seeing all the wonderful sights there are to see.

Now all of these things are good things. But they can be bad things, if they become an idol.

Idolatry is a sin.

Remember what sin is. Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, not being or doing what he requires in his law.

But, what is meant by idolatry?

That’s what our next big question asks. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: What is idolatry?

What comes into your mind when you hear the word ‘idol’?

It could be a statue that people bow down to. Like a golden calf which the Israelites worshipped at the bottom of Mount Sinai.

Those aren’t the only kind of idols there are.

An idol can be anything that takes the place of God in our lives. Anything that we look to, to give us joy and satisfaction, instead of God.

And all of us tempted to look to other things. To things that are created.

What the apostle Paul writes in Romans 1:25 is true of everyone. “They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator – who is for ever praised. Amen.” (Romans 1:25)

Worshipping and serving created things rather than the Creator.

That’s what idolatry is.

So, what is the answer to the question “What is idolatry?”

It is this:

A: Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

What is idolatry? Idolatry is trusting in created things rather than the Creator.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #11

March 25, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #11 – What is sin? [NCC Q16]

Powerpoint Pictures: Bank Robber, Shape of person on floor, Car Speeding, Child Catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

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What do the following people have in common?

A bank robber. A murderer. Someone who drives at 100mph down the High Street. Child catcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

They all are law-breakers.

They have all broken the laws of this country which are set by the Government and they each deserve to be punished.

But they are not the only law-breakers.

We all are law-breakers too, even you children. You may not have broken the laws of this country, but you have broken God’s law.

Remember in the previous Big Question we saw that no-one has been able keep the law of God perfectly.

Because we break God’s law, we are sinners who sin.

What is sin?

That’s what our next big question asks. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: What is sin?

There are lots of ways of answering this question.

It is falling short of God’s standard, like Evil Kenevil fell short in his ‘jump’ of Snake River Canyon.

It is living life as if God did not exist. Even though he made you and he gives you life and lots of good things to enjoy, you and I forget about Him and don’t thank Him as we should.

But it is also breaking God’s law.

“Everyone who sins breaks the law. In fact, sin is lawlessness.” (1 John 3:4)

Sin is lawlessness.

It is not following and obeying what God tells us to do in His law.

You can break God’s law by doing something wrong and even by thinking something wrong. This is something we all do – which is why we need Jesus to save us!

Like criminals are punished for breaking the laws of this country, so we deserve to be punished for breaking God’s law. However, because Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve, when we trust in Jesus, we can be forgiven and be given eternal life with Him in heaven instead.

So, what is the answer to the question “What is sin?”

It is this:

A: Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, not being or doing what he requires in his law.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

What is sin? Sin is rejecting or ignoring God in the world he created, not being or doing what he requires in his law.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #10

March 11, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #10 – Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose? [NCC Q15]

Powerpoint Pictures: Evil Queen and Magic Mirror in Snow White

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In the story of Snow White, every morning the Evil Queen would go to a mirror and ask a question.

Does anyone know what the question is?

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?”

Actually, it is not that question.

It is “Magic mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?” Because the mirror is a magical truth revealing mirror.

The mirror never lies and it would tell the Evil Queen that she was the fairest of all, until she was not.

Snow White was!

The mirror had the purpose of revealing the truth.

Now in the Bible, we are told that there is something which is like a mirror revealing the truth – the Law of God.

We’ve seen in previous questions that obeying God’s law is how we glorify God. And even though God created humans able to keep the law, since Adam and Eve’s disobedience, no-one has been able keep the law of God perfectly.

But that doesn’t mean that the law is no longer needed. So, what is its purpose?

That’s what our next big question asks. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?

The purpose of the law is to be like a mirror. To show us what we are like. That we are sinners whoo need a Saviour.

“…through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

We know that we are sinners because the law shows us how perfect God is and how not perfect we are, because we sin and break the law, which is why we need Jesus.

So what is the answer to the question, “Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose?”

It is this:

A: That we may know the holy nature of God, and the sinful nature of our hearts; and thus our need of a Saviour.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Since no one can keep the law, what is its purpose? That we may know the holy nature of God, and the sinful nature of our hearts; and thus our need of a Saviour.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #9

February 26, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #9 – Did God create us unable to keep His law? [NCC Q14]

Powerpoint Pictures: Pictures to illustrate a Headache, Sore Throat, Runny Nose, Cough, Temperature

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If you woke up one day and you had a headache, a sore throat, a runny note, a bit of a cough, and a high temperature, what have you probably got?

A cold.

These are all symptoms of a virus.

The common cold virus.

And it is likely that you will pass it on to someone else in your family or your class at school.

I want us to think about another virus.

A virus everybody has. I have it. You have it. Everyone around the world and who has ever lived (apart from one man) has it.

The sin virus.

All people are born sinners and we know this because everyone sins. We’ve seen that since the fall no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly. No-one loves God and loves their neighbour as they should and in doing so breaks God’s law.

But has it always been this way?

That’s what our next big question asks. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: Did God create us unable to keep His law?

Were human beings right from the very beginning unable to obey God’s Word perfectly.

Were Adam and Eve created as sinners?

No.

They were made very good.

They were able to keep God’s law in the Garden of Eden by loving God and one another.

But when tempted by Satan, they chose to disobey God’s command by eating fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

As soon as they did this, they became sinners. They caught the sin virus. And since then it has spread to every human being.

“…through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners.” (Romans 5:19)

So what is the answer to the question, “Did God create us unable to keep His law?”

It is this:

A: No, but because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, we are all born in sin and guilt, unable to keep God’s law.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Did God create us unable to keep His law? No, but because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve, we are all born in sin and guilt, unable to keep God’s law.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #8

February 12, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #8 – Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? [NCC Q13]

Powerpoint Pictures: Duke Caboom; Evil Kenevil

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Can you tell me who this is? [Duke Caboom].

Duke Caboom is a dare devil stunt motorcycle rider from Toy Story 4.

Before him was another famous dare devil. This man. Evil Kenevil.

Evil Kenevil did lots of crazy stunts. Jumping over buses and cars on his motorbike.

[Following illustration is taking from the New City Catechism Curriculum].

Evil Kenevil came up with a plan to do something really spectacular. He was going to jump across the Snake River Canyon in a specially designed ‘Skycycle’ like a rocket.

Well, when the day came the spectators who had come to watch were left disappointed. Evil got a little way across the Canyon before his parachute was released and he landed safely.

He fell short.

He didn’t make the jump.

No-one was interested in how far he got. The fact is, he didn’t reach the other side. Almost is not good enough.

What happened helps us to understand our next Big Question.

Now with our Big Questions, we’ve seen that God created us to glorify Him, and the way we glorify Him is by loving Him and obeying His commands and laws. And the law of God requires that we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves.

But can we do this?

That’s what the next big question is all about. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?

The Bible is clear that this answer to this question is “No!”

Since Adam and Eve disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden (the fall), no-one has.

The truth is that none of us can.

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23)

Like Evil Kenevil fell short of the bank on the other side of the Snake River Canyon, so all of us have fallen short of perfectly loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and loving our neighbour as ourselves.

This is why we need Jesus, as we’ll see in future questions.

So what is the answer to the question, “Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?”

It is this:

A: Since the fall, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? Since the fall, no human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: THE BIG BIBLE ADVENTURE #14 – GENESIS 25:19-34

February 12, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing for a weekly assembly in a local junior school. The plan is to tell the story of the Bible over 4 years.

The Big Bible Adventure #14 – Genesis 25:19-34

Powerpoint Pictures: Desert Island; £10 note; iPhone; Playstation 4; Car; House

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Imagine you are stranded on a desert island. All your food is gone and you haven’t eaten for over a week. You are starving!

Then I come along carrying a can of soup and say that I will give you this soup, but you’ve got to give me something in return.

What would you be prepared to give me?

Remember you are starving and if you don’t eat soon, you will die. [£10? iPhone? Playstation 4? Car? House?]

In the next part of the Bible story we see someone who gave away the most valuable thing he had for a bowl of soup (or rather bread and stew).

Isaac and Rebekah are now married, and Rebekah finally is pregnant (which is essential if God is going to keep His promise to Abraham).

While Rebekah was pregnant, God told her that she was going to give birth to twins and that the younger son would be the head of the family, not the older son.

The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

How was that going to happen, because usually it would be the oldest son who would be head of the family, once the father died?

Isaac and Rebekah’s sons were Esau (the oldest) and Jacob (the youngest). Esau was a hairy man, he loved the outdoors and going hunting and he was his dad’s favourite. Jacob wasn’t hairy, he was a home boy and his mum’s favourite.

Now one day Esau came home from a day’s hunting and was starving. He asked Jacob for some of his stew. But Jacob said that he would want something in return.

His birthright.

The birthright was very valuable. It meant that when his father died, Esau would become the head of the family and receive most of the inheritance.

Esau said “It’s a deal!”

He gave up his birthright (which is the most valuable thing he had) for some stew.

But God used this to begin to keep the promise he made to Rebekah that the older son will serve the younger.

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More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: bigal101)

KIDS TALK: THE BIG BIBLE ADVENTURE #13 – GENESIS 24

February 5, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing for a weekly assembly in a local junior school. The plan is to tell the story of the Bible over 4 years.

The Big Bible Adventure #13 – Genesis 24

Powerpoint Pictures: David Beckham, Victoria Beckham, Homer Simpson, Marge Simpson, Prince Phillip, The Queen, Shrek, Fiona, Prince William, Kate Middleton

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Who are the following men married to? [David Beckham, Homer Simpson, Prince Phillip, Shrek and Prince William].

God had promised Abraham that from him would come a great people, and from this people there would be one who will be the Saviour of the world.

Currently, this great people stood at 1, Abraham and Sarah’s son Isaac.

Now if God was going to keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac would need to have at least one child, but before he could have children, he needed a wife!

Today a man and a woman meet, fall in love and then get married. But things happened differently in Bible times. And in this case Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac.

Abraham sent his servant with camels loaded with gifts back to where his family was from. When the servant reached his destination, he rested by a well, which it seems was a good place to look for a wife. But how would he know who the right girl for Isaac was?

He needed help, so he did the sensible thing and turned to God in prayer.

“O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham… May it be that when I say to a girl, ‘Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,’ and she says, ‘Drink, and I’ll water your camels too’ – let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.” (Genesis 24:12, 14)

At that moment Rebekah arrived at the well. The servant asked her for a drink.

What do you think she did? She poured him a drink and one for his camels too! She was the one.

The servant went home with her and met her family and told them about all that had happened.

After hearing the servants story, Rebekah’s family asked whether she would be happy to go with the servant and she said “Yes”.

When the servant returned and Isaac saw Rebekah, it was love at first sight, and they were married.

This was God continuing to keep His promise.

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More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: bigal101)

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #7

January 29, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #7 – What does the law of God require?

Powerpoint Pictures: Red Traffic Light; Go to Jail on Monopoly Board; No Diving sign; Sign up to Facebook Page; Football Player handling ball

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I want us to think about different types of rules or commands.

If the traffic lights are on red, what do your parents need to do? [Stop the car!]

Where do you find a ‘Go to Jail’ picture? [On a Monopoly Board]; What do you do if your counter lands on this square? [Go to jail].

Where might you find a ‘No Diving’ sign? [At the swimming pool].

How old do you have to be in order to use Facebook? [13 years old].

What’s wrong with this picture of a footballer handling the ball? [It is against the rules for them to].

Rules and laws are good. They keep people safe. Life works well and is most enjoyable when people obey the law.

Now with our Big Questions, we seen that God created us to glorify Him, and the way we glorify Him is by loving Him and obeying His commands and laws.

But what does God require us to do in His law?

That’s what the next big question is all about. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: What does the law of God require?

You see, God has given commands and laws to tell us how to live as those He has made and especially as those He had saved.

To the people of Israel, after He saved them from slavery in Egypt, He gave 10 commands that covered all of life.

Jesus summarised what they were to do like this.

“Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)

This is what the law of God requires and tells us how God expects us all to live – to be people who love Him and who love other people.

So what is the answer to the question, “What does the law of God require?”

It is this:

A: That we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbour as ourselves.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

What does the law of God require? That we love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength; and love our neighbour as ourselves.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

KIDS TALK: THE BIG BIBLE ADVENTURE #12 – GENESIS 22:1-14

January 29, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing for a weekly assembly in a local junior school. The plan is to tell the story of the Bible over 4 years.

The Big Bible Adventure #12 – Genesis 22:1-14

Powerpoint Pictures: School Exam Hall; Driving Test in Action; Eye Test Chart; Child playing Instrument; Someone doing a push up; Blood being taken; Ear

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What kinds of tests do you get? [School tests, driving test, eye test, music exams, fitness tests, blood tests, hearing tests].

God had done the impossible and kept His promise to give Abraham and Sarah a son Isaac. It looks like all is set for Abraham’s family to become a great nation.

But then comes a shock in the story.

Abraham is given a test.

“Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about.”” (Genesis 22:1-2)

The test Abraham faced was the hardest of all. To sacrifice or kill his son. The one he loved. The one he’s waited such a long time for.

This test will see whether Abraham really loved God and whether Abraham really believed God would keep His promise.

After all, if Isaac dies, how will the promise be kept?

Abraham and Isaac took at journey into the mountains with all the stuff needed to build an altar. When they arrived at the place, Abraham constructed the altar and probably with a tear in his eye placed his son Isaac upon it.

He then lifted up his knife and just as he was about to bring it down…

A voice shouted, “Stop! Don’t harm the boy!”

Abraham had passed the test. He showed that he loved God more than anything and that he believed God would keep His promise.

In Isaac’s place God provided a ram to die, a substitute.

Abraham has a son but he is only the first part of the promise. It is still a long way from being a great nation. Also, will Isaac be the promised Saviour?

[ALTERNATIVE ENDING: Now later on in the Bible we find another occasion where a Father sacrifices His Son. In doing so it wasn’t testing how much this person love God but showing us how much God loves us because the Father was God and the Son Jesus. Jesus was the Son, God said ‘whom I love’. This time there was no substitute, Jesus was the substitute. He was dying instead of us, so that we can be forgiven of our sins and adopted into God’s family. That’s how much God loves us.]

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More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: bigal101)

KIDS TALK: THE BIG BIBLE ADVENTURE #11 – GENESIS 18:1-15 & 21:1-8

January 22, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing for a weekly assembly in a local junior school. The plan is to tell the story of the Bible over 4 years.

The Big Bible Adventure #11 – Genesis 18:1-15 & 21:1-8:

Powerpoint Pictures: Invisible Man; Eyebrow; Superman Flying; Ear; Brain

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Can anybody do the following? [Be invisible, lick your eyebrow, fly like superman, smell your own ear, read my mind]. It was a bit unfair of me to ask whether you could do any of these things because they are all impossible to do.

In the true story of the Bible we’ve been looking at something that seems impossible to do.

God has promised Abraham that he would have a family as big as the number of stars in the sky. He even changed his name so that it now meant ‘father of many’.

But the problem of Sarah being childless still remained. Sarah couldn’t have children yet God promised she would.

It looked like a promise that was impossible to keep.

Abraham is now 99 years old.

One day he sees three men walking by – it was the Lord coming to remind Abraham of his promise with two of his angels – so he invites them in for a spot of dinner.

Over dinner God tells Abraham that in a years time, his wife Sarah will give birth to a son. Sarah just happened to be earwigging at the time, and when she heard what was said she began laughing. She thought that she was far too old to have a child.

But God reminded her of something. “Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son.” (Genesis 18:14)

The very next year, when Abraham was 100 years old, Sarah finally gave birth to the son God had promised. They called him Isaac which means ‘to laugh’ because they laughed with joy at his birth.

God proved to Abraham that He was worth trusting.

God the promise maker is also the promise keeper.

But this was not the end of the story? Would he be the one who would bring blessing to the whole world? Is he the Saviour?

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More talks from The Big Bible Adventure can be found HERE.

(Photo: bigal101)

KIDS TALK: BIG QUESTION #6

January 8, 2020 by dan

This is part of a series of kids talks I’m doing in the morning service at Banstead Community Church based on the New City Catechism.

Big Question #6 – How can we glorify God?

Powerpoint Pictures: Pictures of Fans of following – Football Team; Pop Star; Royal Family; President of USA; Politicians (e.g. Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson)

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Who or what are the following people fans of?

Football Team e.g. Crystal Palace.

Pop Star e.g. Justin Bieber.

Royal Family or President.

Politicians e.g. Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson.

These fans are glory givers. They tell other people how amazing and wonderful the person or group or object they are fans of is; how great they are; because they love them.

Now, we saw with Big Question 4 that we have been created, not to give glory to created things, but to the Creator.

How and why did God create us? God created us male and female, in His own image, to glorify Him.

But how do we glorify God?

That’s what the next big question is all about. Let’s look at it now…

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Q: How can we glorify God?

How do we do what we have been created to do?

How do we show that we think that God is amazing and great?

“Love the LORD your God and keep his requirements, his decrees, his laws and his commands always.” (Deuteronomy 11:1)

We glorify God by loving Him, and the way we show that we love God is by trusting Him and obeying Him, by praising and thanking Him and telling other people how wonderful He is.

So what is the answer to the question, “How can we glorify God?”

It is this:

A: By loving Him and by obeying His commands and laws.

Let’s say the question and answer out loud together.

How can we glorify God? By loving Him and by obeying His commands and laws.

Children when you go out to Sunday School you’re going to learn a song that will help you to remember this.

CHRISTMAS RESOURCES ROUND-UP

December 26, 2019 by dan

After 10+ years of being responsible for Christmas services at Banstead Community Church, I’ve done a number of Christmas sermons, short carol service talks, and plenty of kids talks. For those looking for inspiration and ideas, here they are in one place.