Significance

• Children's sermons remind everyone of the famous statement Jesus made, "Let the little children come to me and forbid them not." He said this to correct the disciples. The men worried that it might bother Jesus when parents brought babies for Him to touch and bless. Jesus further explained that, unless we are like little children, we won't be able to enter the kingdom of God. See Luke 18:15 to 17.
  
  

Identification

• Usually the children's sermon happens between the worship segment of a church service and the main sermon. The pastor steps to the front of the platform and invites any children in the congregation to join him at the front of the sanctuary. They leave the pews where they have been sitting with their parents and often sit on the steps of the floor. Children's sermons last fewer than ten minutes. Occasionally other church leaders take turns giving the children's sermon as well.
  
  

Features

• Most children's sermons start with a question to get the children engaged with the topic. Then the pastor tells a simple story or gives an object lesson to illustrate a verse. Some children's sermons are told by puppets. Others involve chalk drawings, felt boards or hand signals. The best children's sermons are interactive because, when children are encouraged to give opinions, they tend to pay better attention.
  
  

Benefits

• Adults usually enjoy the children's sermons, too. Many adults lean forward straining to hear what is being said. If the theme of the children's sermon resonates with that of the main sermon, the pastor can use it to capture the attention of his whole congregation. This becomes a helpful preview to improve the congregation's comprehension of his longer message. For adults whose learning style is more visual or kinesthetic than auditory, the children's sermon may be an important cognitive key to the essential points that the sermon will contain.
  
  

Function

• Many churches dismiss the children to more age appropriate groups where they can do activities while the adults hear the sermon at the end of the children's sermon. This functions as a kind of intermission in the middle of the Sunday service. It also takes advantage of the fact that the children are already gathered in a group that teachers or volunteers can shepherd to their classes easily. They have already separated from their parents. It is a helpful segue for everyone.