John 10:22-30

Scripture:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls!

Pastor: Sammy, we have more sheep this week in our Gospel reading from John.

Sammy: I know! This passage is great, Pastor! I love that we get to talk about sheep again. I am an expert in sheep. Well, I am a sheep. That’s why I am an expert.

Pastor: Let’s not get carried away, Sammy. When your shepherd calls you, do you know his voice?

Sammy: Of course! My whole family knows the voice of our shepherd. We love him. He takes good care of us and makes sure that we have what we need. And he protects us from danger. We listen to him.

Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. Do you follow your shepherd?

Sammy: We do! We trust him to guide us where we need to go.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think happens if Sammy or her family wander too far away from the shepherd and from the other sheep?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Well, those are really good answers. Sheep can get really hurt if we wander far away. We could get lost. And we may not be able to find enough water. And sometimes we can get stuck in bushes or thorns. Or we could fall off of a cliff or a ledge. Or a wild animal could try to hurt us.

Pastor: It sounds to me like sheep need and rely on their shepherd.

Sammy: Yes we do.

Pastor: You know, Sammy. Jesus is the best shepherd there is. When we become one of his sheep, we belong to him forever. He loves us so much, that he laid down his life for his sheep. He takes good care of us. We are the sheep of Jesus.

Sammy: Jesus is truly the best shepherd out there. You have to be really brave to be willing to die for your sheep. That’s great love.

Pastor: Yes it is. Boys and girls, will you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for being our Good Shepherd. Thank you for speaking to us. Thank you for protecting us. Thank you for laying down your life for us. Thank you for loving us. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

John 21:1-19

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls!

Pastor: How are you doing today, Sammy?

Sammy: I am doing great! I am ready for the breakfast buffet that you guys brought for me.

Pastor: Um. What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: You know, just like in the Gospel reading for today. Jesus had breakfast with his disciples on the beach. I like breakfast. I like the beach.

Pastor: So what makes you think that we brought you a breakfast buffet?

Sammy: Well, Jesus gave direct orders to Simon Peter today. He said to Peter, “Feed my sheep.” I don’t see any other sheep in church this morning, so I must be getting all of the good food you brought for me today.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think Jesus means when he says, “Feed my sheep”?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: You see, Sammy, Jesus isn’t talking about feeding the literal sheep in the pasture—although we do need to feed our sheep if we are raising them.

Sammy: Oh. He’s not?

Pastor: No, he’s not. He’s talking about the people he loves, all of us. We are Jesus’s sheep and he is the good shepherd. Jesus calls Simon Peter to feed and take care of the sheep—that’s us—because Jesus loves us. As Christians, we are called to serve each other in love.

Sammy: Jesus loved us first, so we are called by Jesus to love other people.

Pastor: That’s exactly right. That’s what being a Christian is all about: following Jesus: He is the way, the truth, and the life. When Jesus comes into our hearts when we are baptized and become part of God’s family, we are changed forever, and we can’t help but serve each other.

Sammy: It’s amazing what the love of God can do!

Pastor: Yes it is.

Sammy: Okay, but I do have one more question: can you all bring me breakfast next week?

Pastor: Sammy, we are going to pray now. I would be glad to bring you breakfast after church. Boys and girls, can we please fold our hands and bow our heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for feeding us. Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for sending your people out to love each other. Thank you for modeling that love for us. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

John 20:19-31

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, boys and girls!

Pastor: Hey Sammy! I was thinking that we could talk about Thomas today.

Sammy: That sounds great, Pastor! Thomas the Twin. Such a great last name. Twin.

Pastor: No, Sammy. Twin is not Thomas’s last name.

Sammy: I was listening to you read the Gospel today, Pastor. I heard you call him Thomas the Twin. First name: Thomas. Middle name: The. Last name: Twin.

Pastor: Sammy, Thomas had a twin. He was a twin. His mama had two babies in her belly at the same time.

Sammy: Oh. That makes so much more sense.

Pastor: I want to talk about what being a twin meant in Jesus’s day. How many of you boys and girls know twins?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: It sounds like many of us know twins or get to play with twins. Jesus called Thomas as his disciple. What is really neat about this call was Thomas was the second born twin.

Sammy: Second born? Does that matter?

Pastor: In Jesus’s day birth order was everything. The first born baby received the inheritance and the title of his father’s last name. The second born baby was called “The Twin” and did not receive the same inheritance.

Sammy: What’s an inheritance?

Pastor: That is what parents give to their children. It’s their homes and their money.

Sammy: Well, it doesn’t seem fair that Thomas’s older brother got everything and Thomas was just called Thomas the Twin.

Pastor: I think Thomas was the one who received everything, Sammy. Jesus gave him the opportunity for fellowship with God. He ate with Jesus, walked with him, and learned from him.

Sammy: That’s true. There is no place I would rather be than right next to Jesus.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. When Thomas received the power of the Holy Spirit from Jesus, he went to India and taught people about the amazing love of our God. He brought the love of Jesus to everyone he met. He was changed forever.

Sammy: What about his inheritance?

Pastor: He received it.

Sammy: He did?

Pastor: Yes, he did. With God, our inheritance is the same, whether we are the first born, the last born, a boy, a girl, old, or young. God gives us the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven with him. He sees each of us as equals, and he doesn’t place more value on one of us over the other.

Sammy: I feel so blessed, Pastor. I have a lot of comfort knowing I have an inheritance with Jesus.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. Let’s pray. Boys and girls, can you fold your hands and bow your heads. Dear Jesus, thank you for Thomas. Thank you for helping us see and believe. Thank you for sending us out to share your love. Help us to love others no matter where we go. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Luke 24:1-12

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning!

Bartholomew: Good morning and Hoppy Easter!

Sammy: It’s the Easter bunny!

Bartholomew: Hi Sammy! Hi boys and girls! My name is Bartholomew.

Sammy: Wow! Hey, Pastor, did you know that a celebrity was coming to church today? Can I have your autograph? Did you leave eggs outside for us?

Bartholomew: Hang on a second, Sammy. I am here to tell you about Jesus. He is risen! Our focus today isn’t on me—I’m just a little bunny. Our focus is on Jesus.

Pastor: That’s right, Bartholomew. Jesus died on the cross and rose again. Today we celebrate that he is alive. He beat death!

Bartholomew: Eggs-actly.

Sammy: But what does that mean?

Bartholomew: Jesus took on our sins and died in our place. Now, all people who believe in him get to live in heaven with him forever. He beat death. And because we have faith in Jesus, we get to beat death, too.

Sammy: That’s cool.

Pastor: Yes it is. Today is a big day of celebrating that Jesus is alive. Boys and girls, what are some of the things that you get to do on Easter?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: So, Bartholomew, did you leave eggs for the boys and girls to find after church?

Bartholomew: Yes I did. After church, we will head outside for an egg hunt for all of the children. And I have special bags for you, too. But I want you to remember that the eggs you find are a symbol of the new life we receive in Jesus. Remember Jesus loves you today.

Sammy: Thanks, Bartholomew. I am so glad that Jesus was willing to die for me and that he is now alive.

Pastor: Well, let’s close in prayer. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for the power of your name. You are the King of Kings. You are the Lord of Lords. You are God. We thank you for choosing us. We thank you for coming down from Heaven for us. We love you. Amen.

Bartholomew: Bye, everyone! Hoppy Easter!

Sammy: Bye, boys and girls! See you next week!

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, this Gospel reading was a long one today.

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. The Gospel reading today is all about the Passion of our Lord Jesus.

Sammy: So much happened while you were reading the Gospel. Jesus shared communion, he prayed in the Garden, and he was put on trial several times.

Pastor: Several people did not like Jesus. We meet some of them in the reading today. One of the things we have to remember is that Jesus committed no sin. He lived a perfect life. Boys and girls, have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: Jesus did not deserve death, but he chose to die because we deserve death. We are sinful, and the price for sin is death.

Pastor: Jesus went willingly to the cross, and he knew what he was going to suffer.

Sammy: You know, Pastor, as I listened to you read the Gospel today, I wondered who I would be if I was there to witness Jesus on the cross.

Pastor: What do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: Would I betray Jesus, like Judas? Would I deny Jesus, like Peter? Would I be one of the ones who wanted Jesus to die, like the crowds or priests or Herod? Would I be willing to carry the cross like Simon? Would I mock Jesus like the soldiers? Or would I ask for forgiveness like the thief on the cross? Or would I stand at a distance and watch like Mary and the other women? Who would I be?

Pastor: I think each of us plays all of or many of these roles during our lives. God knows our hearts. He gives us faith and teaches us through the trials and challenges we face.

Sammy: But, Pastor, I worry that I am not good enough to deserve what Jesus did for me. He took my sin so that I could eat at his table with him forever.

Pastor: Sammy, none of us deserve the gift that Jesus gives us. None of us our worthy. We are broken and made new in Jesus. And he asks us to go and love as he loved us.

Sammy: I will try, Pastor. I will try.

Pastor: Boys and girls, this week, I want you to think about how you can better love someone. What can you do to show Jesus’s love to someone else?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: Great answers! Let’s close with prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for your great love. Thank you for taking our sin so we could eat at your table. Thank you for your goodness and grace. We love you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

John 12:1-8

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Hey, Pastor! I am free this evening.

Pastor: Okay…what do you mean, Sammy?

Sammy: Exactly what I said. I am free this evening. You know, for you to invite me over for dinner.

Pastor: Uhh, Sammy, I–

Sammy: I know I haven’t been over to your house in some time, so I thought I would share my dietary preferences and restrictions, and my favorite foods, and what I don’t like to eat.

Pastor: Sammy, wait a second. Why do you think you’re coming over for dinner tonight?

Sammy: I guess I just got really inspired with Lazarus and Mary and Martha having Jesus over for dinner. I know Martha cooks really well, and I thought that you might cook really well, too, Pastor. Well, except for maybe that one time that you almost cooked a mouse on your grill.

Pastor: Sammy, the dinner that Lazarus and Mary and Martha had for Jesus was a very special event.

Sammy: I know. And I cannot wait to see how special the dinner you prepare for me is going to be, too.

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think I should make for Sammy at the dinner?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I love all of these answers. Pastor, I will take one of everything!

Pastor: Let’s talk more about Jesus’s dinner with Lazarus before we get too carried away. Mary did something very special for Jesus at this event. She purchased very expensive perfume, called nard, and she poured this perfume on his feet.

Sammy: I like perfume. I don’t know what nard is, but I like Estee Lauder, Chanel, Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Burberry…

Pastor: Sammy. Let’s focus.

Sammy: I’m just giving you ideas for my welcoming gift when I get to your house, Pastor.

Pastor: Mary’s perfume was a very special kind of perfume. She anointed Jesus with the perfume, which is an essential oil. She was preparing Jesus for his path to the cross.

Sammy: That is a special oil. I am glad that Mary gave that perfume to Jesus. If anyone deserves the best we can give, it’s Jesus.

Pastor: Amen to that, Sammy. Boys and girls, can you please fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer with me? Dear Jesus, thank you for helping us to recognize the gifts we have. Thank you for helping us share with others. Help us to honor and love you better each day. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: 

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone!

Pastor: Hey Sammy! Did you know we have just two more weeks of Lent until we reach Palm Sunday and Holy week?

Sammy: I didn’t know that, Pastor! That’s great news! But what does that news mean?

Pastor: Well, Sammy, Palm Sunday is a special day where we celebrate Jesus’s arrival in Jerusalem. 2,000 years ago, Jesus and his disciples arrived in Jerusalem and Jesus rode into the city of Jerusalem on a donkey.

Sammy: That’s very special. That donkey was one lucky critter to carry the Son of God.

Pastor: Yes indeed. When the donkey came into Jerusalem with Jesus on his back, the crowds of people grew and grew. They lined up in the streets to see Jesus. Boys and girls, what were some of the things that you think the people saw when Jesus rode by on the donkey?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: These are great answers!

Pastor: Yes they are! People laid their coats in the road so that the King of Kings, Jesus, could have a grand entrance. And they grabbed palm branches and waved them in the air.

Sammy: And there was singing and dancing…

Pastor: Yes, Sammy. The people sang and danced and shouted “Hosanna!” which means, “Save us!” The people knew that Jesus was coming to save them.

Sammy: What was he saving them from? From evil rulers? Bad laws? Chores?

Pastor: No, Sammy. Jesus came to save us from our sins. He saved his people, but not in the way that they expected him to save them.

Sammy: I am glad that Jesus came for me.

Pastor: Me too, Sammy. Let’s pray. Can we please fold our hands and bow our heads? Dear Jesus, Thank you for being with us and for saving us. Thank you for choosing to walk a difficult road so that we could live in peace with you forever. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: 

Luke 13:1-9

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Pastor, I have to tell you, this week has been challenging for me.

Pastor: Why is that, Sammy?

Sammy: Well, there just seems to be a lot happening in our country and our world right now. I mean, there always is a lot happening, but a little lamb like me has trouble processing everything that is going on. It’s overwhelming.

Pastor: Tell me about it, Sammy. But one thing that I can encourage you and all of the boys and girls here to do is just to worry about kid stuff. Focus on being kids.

Sammy: That sounds like a good plan to me.

Pastor: Jesus knew about the current events of his day. There was a lot of violence and bad things happening around him. He responded with encouragement and tried to help people see that they need to focus on their relationship with God.

Sammy: That’s a good thing to focus on. I think being closer to God will help me have more peace about what is going on in the world.

Pastor: Absolutely. And our God is a God of second chances and multiple opportunities. Boys and girls, can you think of a time when you made a mistake and your family or friends gave you another chance?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: I make mistakes all the time! I think one of my biggest mistakes was tipping over the water bucket onto Farmer Luke. He wasn’t happy with me, but he refilled the bucket, told me he forgave me, and gave me another chance to drink my water out of the bucket.

Pastor: That’s great, Sammy. It’s important that we have mercy on each other, just like God has mercy on us. Let’s pray together. Can everyone please fold your hands and bow your heads? Dear Jesus, thank you for your mercy and love. Please forgive us when we make mistakes. Help us to forgive each other when we make mistakes. Please keep our focus on you. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture: 

Luke 13:31-35

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: [Doesn’t appear right away. Stays hidden.]

Pastor: Sammy? Sammy? Are you there? Hmmm. Maybe we need to try again boys and girls. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: [Peeking up and hiding again.] Shhhh!

Pastor: Did you guys see Sammy? What’s going on Sammy?

Sammy: [Peeking up and hiding again.] Shhhh!

Pastor: Boys and girls, what do you think is going on with Sammy today?

[Allow time for responses]

Pastor: These are great ideas. Sammy, if you can hear me, I just want you to know that you are safe. Our church family, including the boys and girls, are here.

Sammy: [Peeking up] Are you sure? Is the fox gone?

Pastor: What fox?

Sammy: Jesus saw a fox this morning in the Gospel reading. And I trust and love Jesus with all my heart. And if he says there is a fox, then I need to hide.

Pastor: Oh! Is that what is making you upset?

Sammy: Yes, Pastor! And we have foxes all over the place around here. I can’t be too careful.

Pastor: Well, Sammy, Jesus was talking about a man named King Herod. He isn’t really a fox; he’s a man.

Sammy: So why did Jesus call him a fox?

Pastor: Jesus calls Herod a fox because he behaves like one. Boys and girls, how does a fox behave?

[Allow time for responses]

Sammy: That’s exactly right! Foxes eat little lambs like me for snack.

Pastor: I want you all to remember that Jesus is the King of Kings, and he is even King above Herod in our Gospel for today. Jesus protects us, just like a mama hen protects her baby chicks.

Sammy: Speaking of chicks…

Pastor: Not now, Sammy. Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for keeping us safe from foxes in our lives. Please help us to always trust in you. Thank you for giving us faith. Amen.

Sammy: Bye, everyone!

Pastor: Bye, Sammy!

Scripture:

Luke 4:1-13

Script:

Pastor: Good morning boys and girls! Welcome! Let’s say good morning to our friend Sammy. Ready? One, two, three: Good morning, Sammy!

Sammy: Good morning, everyone! Hey Pastor do you have a favorite food to eat?

Pastor: Yes Sammy I do. I like to eat insert favorite food here. I can’t get enough of it. What do you like to eat Sammy?

Sammy: I really enjoy hay. I can eat up to two pounds per day. I also love eating in the pasture. I would eat all day if I could.

Pastor: Where do you put it all Sammy? You are such a little lamb.

Sammy: I have four chambers in my stomach. So, I always have extra room for more food!

Pastor: Boys and girls, what are your favorite foods to eat?

Give time for the kids to answer

Sammy: Pastor. What does Jesus mean that man shall not live on bread alone? Does that mean we should be eating a lot of different foods?

Pastor: Jesus is not talking about eating different foods. He is saying that food is not what gives us life. He is quoting Moses in the book of Duet. Chapter 8, “man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.”

Sammy: Okay but how do words help us live? Don’t we need food?

Pastor: Moses point was not that food was not important, it is. But trust in the lord is more important. God created us with his word and now he sustains us with his word.

Sammy: So, if we follow God always, we will always know where to go?

Pastor: That is right Sammy. Boys and girls, can you fold your hands and bow your heads in prayer? Dear Jesus, thank you for guiding us with your word. Thank you for leading us away from trouble and always leading us to you. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!