Children’s Message: What is Faith? Trusting God’s Promises
Main Objective: Faith can be a difficult concept for youngsters to grasp, as it is not necessarily tangible or easily explained. This message aims to communicate to kids that we can trust God no matter what, and know that He will provide for us in this life and the next. It is not always easy to live for the Lord, but we can remember His promises past and present, and trust He will fulfill future hopes as well.
Law/Gospel Theme: Sometimes we grow concerned that we need to “do more” for God, and that He requires certain actions out of us. The good news of faith is that we recognize our powerlessness. Faith is not about us, but about God and what He has already done for us through the work of Christ. The good news of the Gospel is joy in knowing our Savior is powerful and trustworthy.
Optional Materials: Hidden item (toy, treat, etc.) in a paper bag
Bible Passage: Hebrews 11:29-12:3
Children’s Sermon based on the Lectionary Reading (August 18, 2019) PROPER 15 (20) Tenth Sunday after Pentecost Year C
Bonus Ideas: Some more inspiration for your teaching
- video teaching example of this message
- sermons for kids
- Object lessons on Faith
- “Faith is the Key” children’s sermon and activities from Sermons 4 Kids
- “F is for Faith” coloring page (attached below) from the Bible Alphabet series.
Note: All elements are open to adjustment. Cater to
the needs and ages of your group.
“Faith” Children’s Message & Object Lesson from Hebrews 11:29-12:3
Message: Greet students, and display a paper sack with a hidden item in it…
Hello! I want to start with a little guessing game…what do you think I have inside this bag?? (Allow possible guesses).
Do you think it’s…a puppy? Maybe a pillow? Why not? How about a book? Or a flower? Well, what if I told you that this bag had a cookie inside? Would you believe me? (Allow possible answers).
How could you know for sure? Well, I guess I could prove it to you. Why don’t I take it out of the bag? (Remove cookie/treat from bag).
Okay, here it is! You can see it…looks like a cookie, right? You could touch it if you wanted to, and see that it feels like a cookie. You could smell it. You can even take a bite and taste that it is definitely a cookie!
But what if I didn’t take it out of the bag? You would have to trust me, and believe that it was a cookie even if you couldn’t see it. You’d have to have faith that I was saying the truth. Do you know what faith means? (Allow responses)
The Bible talks about faith, and says some great things about people who demonstrated faith. The Bible says that faith is being confident and assured of things we hope for, but cannot see. Having faith means that we believe even if we cannot be physically a hundred percent sure. Can we see God? Not necessarily…we see evidence of what He has done and continues to do. But we cannot always see His face or touch him with our bodily hands.
Faith means we still know He is there and that He does wonderful things for us. The Bible talks about people who demonstrated faith. There were people like Noah, who built an ark in anticipation of a flood that hadn’t started yet…or there was Abraham, who left his home to follow God; or Rahab, who trusted God when her whole city was collapsing around her. And we can be like those faith “heroes”, too!
But do you know the truly wonderful thing? We don’t have to do anything special to have faith. It does not depend on us or any sort of actions we might do. Faith is not about us; it’s about God. It is about what He has already done and what He promises to do. You see, trust has to do with what we are believing. To trust someone, it helps to know they are worthy of trust. If you know me well, and you know I tell the truth, you might not have much difficulty believing there was a cookie in the bag. But if you had just met me, it might be harder to trust me.
We know
that God is worthy of our trust. He has already proven it, because every
promise of the Bible came true! Because of Jesus, we have all we need and our
lives are covered in God’s grace. That’s a pretty amazing thing to put our
faith in.
It’s also important to know that faith gives us hope.
Sometimes our lives as Christians are not easy. Some of the people in the Bible who demonstrated faith had extreme challenges. Some of them even died! Trusting God does not mean our lives on earth will always go smoothly. But it does mean that we have a future hope for something greater.
We know that there’s a Heavenly home awaiting us, and that God has promised us something much better than a cookie. We trust in Him and put our hope in what He has already done for us. Our Heavenly treasure awaits us one day, and in that we can place our faith!
Will you
say a prayer with me to thank God for His faithfulness?
Suggested Children’s Prayer
(Have kids repeat each line, if desired)
Dear God,
Thank you for being worthy of our trust
Thank you for all you have done
And for all you promise to do
Help us to have faith
And to believe in your Word
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
Thank you for Jesus
In His name, Amen!
“Faith” Coloring Page for Children
Hebrews 11:29-12:3 NIV
By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.
30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. 31 By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. –Hebrews 11:29-12:3
Tony you are truly a blessing to the body of Christ, I enjoy using your materials to help me prepare for our children’s ministry classes.
Melanie (Lusaka, Zambia, Africa).
Your wonderful site is a great tool for extra ideas, to keep my Children’s Church class busy. I teach a class of 4-11 year olds. Thank you so much!