Children’s Sermon (Ephesians 1:3-14) Chosen By God for a Purpose!

Young students might not yet be wrestling with the question of life purpose, but every child seeks to be known and loved. Whether or not they have strong relationships with family, it’s important for kids to know that they are chosen by God and adopted into His family. This message reminds students that God has a special plan and purpose for them, and that He has always cared for them and will continue to do so.  The object lesson emphasizes how even basic things have tremendous potential and powerful purpose.

Law/Gospel Theme: Children know (hopefully) that being in a family means unconditional love without working to earn it. Parents give their children what they need simply because they are part of the family. This message reminds them that God has made us His children, and He gives us what we need because He loves us. We don’t have to earn His grace or love. We know He calls us His own and has a special plan for us. When we love and seek to serve Him, we can be confident we act in His will and will carry out His purposes.

Optional Materials: Simple items with definite purpose, such as fruit or tools.

Bible Passage: Ephesians 1:3-14

More Teaching Ideas:

• Watch the video demonstration of this children’s sermon and related craft ideas.
• Download our Bible coloring page on the book of Ephesians.
• Compare a full Sunday School Lesson from Ephesians chapter 1.
• Compare another Bible object lesson from Ephesians 1:3

Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs. Use your judgment and ideas to best serve students.

Children’s Sermon (Ephesians 1:3-14) Chosen By God

Greet the children, with some sort of everyday object, in this suggestion an apple…

Hello, children of God! What do I have here? This is an apple. It probably seems pretty plain and ordinary, right? I mean, we might eat apples every day. There’s nothing too exciting about a piece of fruit. But I just so happen to have big plans for this apple. I am going to turn it into a pie! I am going to peel it, and chop it, and mix it with some other ingredients, and transform it into a delicious new creation. I have another apple here, and it might serve a different purpose. I could cover it with caramel and nuts like candy, or I could smash it down and turn it into juice or cider! There are a lot of things I could do with such a simple thing. I could take the seeds and try to plant another apple tree, too. I guess it’s not so ordinary after all. I have chosen it to fulfill an important purpose.

Did you know that you were chosen for a special purpose, too? You might feel like your life is just simple and basic, but God has a plan for you. He has promised to bless you and provide you with special and wonderful things. In the book of Ephesians, we are reminded of the grace and blessings He gives us. God chose us and had a plan for us even before the world began! How can that be? He loves us so much that He knew what our lives would be like before we were born, and before the Earth was born. God has adopted us into His family. He calls us His children. Because of that, we are promised a special inheritance. An inheritance is something that your family gives you to take care of you when they pass away. God has given us an inheritance as His children. We are part of His will, and one day we will receive Heaven!

For now, though, we are promised that God will make us part of His will, and we recognize that we have a purpose to live out. God wants all people to know Him and be in His family. Our purpose, then, is to help make that happen. We might not know exactly how God will have us do that, but we can be assured that He calls us to be part of His plans. The Holy Spirit reminds us of God’s presence and purpose in and through us. Sometimes we might feel like our lives are not that significant, or like we aren’t really going to go far. But that is absolutely untrue! God has chosen us. He has brought us into His family. He will use us, if we let Him. It might take some work, like the slicing and chopping I have to do on the apple. It might involve other people or components, like the crust I have to make for a pie. We aren’t sure how He’s going to work His will, but we know our lives will have meaning. God chooses us! He loves us and He promises to be present with us. Whatever happens and wherever our life paths lead, we recognize His hand is on us and will give us all we need. He is our Father, and just like our earthly fathers, He cares for us and has remarkable things in store for our lives! Anything is possible when we remember who we are in Christ.

Let’s say a prayer to thank God for making us part of His family, and ask for help in carrying out His will for our lives:

Prayer: 
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for your many blessings
Thank you for choosing us and adopting us
And creating us with purpose
Help me to follow you and know your will
Thank you for your love
I love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!

Bible Verses/story to Reference:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.  –Ephesians 1:3-14