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Free Workshop Rotation Model Lessons - Season 2

Children’s Sermon

Acts 17:22-31


Paul, Mars Hill, and the Unknown God


May 14, 2023

6th Sunday of Easter

Lectionary Year A


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ASK    (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

  • Good morning!
  • [show box] Can you tell me what this is? (a box, a present, a gift)
  • And, can you tell me what you think is inside this gift box? [let the guessing begin]
  • Why do you think those things might (or might not) be inside this box? (because of its shape, maybe because of the time of year it is, maybe because of the color of the box…)
  • Why do you think it is so hard to guess what is inside the box? (because we can't see what's in the box and there is no one to tell us what is in it or give us hints about what is inside the box).


TELL    (a.k.a. The Freeway)

  • In today’s story, we hear about an apostle - an apostle is someone who has learned from Jesus and then teaches others what they have learned from Jesus.
  • This apostle, Paul, is in Athens, Greece in today’s story.
  • While he’s there, he sees this monument (like a statue) that says, “To the unknown god.”
  • What this means is that the Greeks were honoring any god who existed but they didn’t know about.
  • So Paul uses their curiosity and respect about the unknown to tell them about the God we know.
  • The God who created everything we know.
  • The God who gave life to all that's living.
  • Paul tells them that we are the sons and daughters of this God and that because we belong to God, God cares about us and about what we do.
  • A little bit later in the story, we hear that some of the Greeks laughed at what Paul said and didn't believe him.
  • Other Greeks said, "We'd like to talk to you some more about this God."
  • And, most importantly, there were other Greeks who believed what Paul said.


SHARE the Good News   (a.k.a. The Destination)

  • [Hold up the box] It’s like some of the Greeks chose to receive a gift from Paul.
  • Actually, it’s more like Paul unwrapped the gift so that the people of Athens could see what was inside of it.
  • As Paul unwrapped the gift [start to unwrap / open box and take out the type of candy that you put in it.], there were new things for the people to learn about and receive that they could then share with others.
  • And, if we look in this gift box, let’s see if there’s something for you to receive and then share with others [reveal the candy inside the gift box].
  • Oh look! There's some candy in this box! While it’s not new information, it is definitely something you can receive and share with others.
  • After we pray, let’s have each of you take a piece for yourself and then take some other pieces to share and pass out to the congregation as you return to your seats.
  • And, as we do that, let’s remember the good news of today’s story - in the same way Paul helped the Greeks in Athens know more God, we too, can help each other know God (even better than we already do).
  • But before we share, let's pray.


CLOSING Prayer

  • Let’s pray.  This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,
Dear God,

Thank you that learning about you…

Thank you that learning about you…


…is like receiving a gift …

…is like receiving a gift …


…that we can share with those around us.
that we can share with those around us.


Thank you and Amen.




Originally posted May 18, 2014
Updated on April 16, 2023
Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia



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Supplies: A gift bag with some sort of candy in it that isn’t too unhealthy (like individually wrapped life-savers). Or, if you want to make it fancier, find a box  to put the candy in and then wrap the box like it is a present. The lesson is written as if a wrapped box is being used.


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