Children’s Sermon Lesson Message on the Reliability of Christ: What does it mean to believe in Jesus? How do we know the truth of what He says and who He is? We teach children many stories from the Bible, but it is important for us to emphasize that the Bible is the true word of God, and every story in it actually happened. This message contrasts popular legends and fairy tale stories with the life of Jesus, to explain that Jesus truly did live on Earth. The message also reminds kids that although we don’t see Him, He is still alive and with us today!
Law/Gospel Theme: We have the wonderful promise of salvation through Christ alone. However, what can convince us of the truth of this? Scripture reminds us that Jesus is not just another story or legend. We have the hope of knowing that the Bible is the true and reliable Word of God. The Gospel good news we have assures us that Jesus truly lived, died, and rose again, which provides us with peace and joy that can only be found in knowing the Lord. This passage reminds us that we can trust in Jesus and put Him first in our lives.
Optional Materials: Books or images that contain elements of myth, fairy tale, or legend (optional).
Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
More Teaching Ideas:
- Watch the video demonstration of this children’s sermon and related Bible Craft ideas
- See all our latest Children’s Sermon Lessons
- Download our free 1 Corinthains Bible Coloring Page
- Download our printable Short Bible Verses for Kids
Children’s Sermon (1 Corinthians 15:1-11) The Most Important Thing
Greet children and discuss strange legends…
Hello, children of God! Have you ever heard something that sounded too strange to be true? For instance, what if I told you that this book gave me precise instructions for spotting alien spaceships? (Feel free to use other stories or examples as appropriate to the materials or audience you might have). Really, check it out! There’s even a picture…Okay, maybe you wouldn’t believe that one. But this one is real…I have this map that will tell me exactly where I can find bigfoot! There’s a trail marked out and everything. I think you might still be doubting. You don’t really believe me, do you? Well, I guess it makes sense that you might be skeptical. After all, I don’t really have proof of these things, and you know they aren’t actually real. Describing these myths and legends is a bit like reading fairy tales (hold up fictional story/fairy tale). They’re interesting, but we know they aren’t true.
Do you know what? Some people think this way about Jesus, unfortunately. There are people out there who believe Jesus was like a legend or a myth. Some might think that He was a person who lived, but He was just a teacher or good guy, and not actually God’s Son. People doubt that what the Bible says is true. So how do we respond? How do we know that we can trust Jesus?
Well, for one thing, we can actually look at a lot of scientific and historic evidence that proves the life, death, and resurrection of Christ. There are many prophecies that were made before Jesus came to live, that came true with His life. Besides that, we have the words of Jesus Himself, as well as a lot of others who saw Him and witnessed the work He did.
Paul reminds us of this in the book of 1 Corinthians. He describes how Jesus appeared to people after He came back to life from the dead. He truly died, and He truly came back to life. He showed up for the apostles, and then to over five hundred people! And then He came to Paul. Paul called himself the “least of the apostles” because he had tried to hurt the followers of Jesus before his conversion. But Paul knew first hand how real and how important Jesus is. After meeting Christ, he devoted his life to serving Him. Paul knew that it was God working in and through him that made anything possible.
The same is true of us, to an extent. We don’t actually see Jesus with our eyes. He lived on Earth many years ago, so we have not walked with Him physically. However, we know and trust that He lived, and that He continues to be present with us. He cares for us and gives us what we need. Jesus is not a myth like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. He is God, come to Earth as a human to die and pay the price for our sins. Knowing that Jesus is true and that He died for us should provide us with great joy and excitement! We can have faith to believe His words. We don’t see Him in bodily form on Earth, but we can see the work He does and we can be His hands and feet as we love others and share the good news of the Gospel. Paul’s work is ours, too!
Let’s pray and thank God for being real and true…
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for sending Jesus
Thank you that we can trust and hope in Him
Help us to keep that hope
And share your promises with others around us
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
1 Corinthians 15:1-11English Standard Version
The Resurrection of Christ
15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.