Children’s Sermons In A Sack

I’m not certain who first coined the idea of “Sermons in a Sack,” but if you need a break from the usual children’s sermons, this is a good alternative for summer. These kids messages in a sack are creative, interactive ways of sharing Bible lessons, scripture passages, or characteristics of God.  It’s an object lesson, utilizing an object of the child’s choosing.

Typically, one child is given a brown paper lunch bag to fill with any item.  The “sack” is then given to the teacher.  It is the teacher’s responsibility (and challenge) to teach about God, using that particular object.  Children will love the opportunity to stump the teacher!  If the message is given during the regular service, adults get a pretty good kick out of this as well.  Everyone appreciates a good visual; the more random, the better.

Using Children’s Sermons In A Sack

1. Introduce the concept.
Start off with a random item of your choosing in a paper bag.  Use that object to teach a lesson.  Remember to always end up at the cross, sharing the crux of the gospel.  Be creative!

2. Select a child to be the recipient of the first paper bag.
Encourage him/her to stump the teacher with an item of their choosing.  Have the child return the bag the following week.

3. If you are good on your feet, teach the object lesson utilizing the child’s item.
If not, have a second item of your own selection ready to go for the Bible lesson.  Then at the end of your lesson, reveal what the child brought in as a “teaser” for the next week.

4.  Distribute an empty bag to another child in order to keep the sermons going.
The whole church will look forward to this each Sunday, especially if you can do tie the object back into the Gospel story.

5.  It’s always good to keep a spare “Sermon in a Sack” ready to go, in the event that the child with the bag is not present.
Being prepared will save you and the forgetful child from being embarrassed. Another option is to hand out the bag to a child during Sunday school, this means they will have to think quick with their classmates help.

Optional: Put Pastoral Staff On The Spot
If your church’s ministry will play along, have a different staff member attempt to give the children’s sermon each week. This can be a easy & fun way for the other ministers to be more involved in the children’s ministry.

Share Your Children’s Sermon Ideas?

Have you tried sermon’s in a sack? What creative objects have you utilized for teaching purposes?  What are some of the most random things you have used to share the gospel?

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