Children's Message

INTRODUCTION

As we transition from summer to fall, we are called back together to work out how we will live in community as a witness to our faith. As a refresher, we ask you to consider these “Lessons in Leadership” as a way of shaping the body we seek to be. This is not a how-to with specifics for each communal situation, but an attitude check, a value inventory to ask who we will be together as we build up the church. We invite you to join us for “Lessons in Leadership.”

LESSONS IN LEADERSHIP

Following God’s Way Together

Threaded Image: The Path
Repeated Phrase: “We are learning to walk in God’s way—together.”

Big Idea:
God teaches us how to lead by helping, listening, forgiving, and loving—especially when it’s hard. We learn how to follow God’s way together.

Each week of this series begins with this opening dialogue. This will invite the children (and all listening) into the storytelling approach to each message.

OPENING (Gathering)

(Lay out the path before speaking. Pause between sentences.)

Leader:
Friends, come close.
Today, we are going to hear a story from the Bible.
This is part of God’s big story.

Following God is like walking on a path.
We do not run.
We do not jump ahead.
We walk, one step at a time.

And we never walk alone.

Let’s say this together:

All:
“We are learning to walk in God’s way—together.”

Each week, this series will build on the theming of walking a path. Use the materials in this VISUAL PATH KIT LIST.

Reusable for the Whole Series

CORE MATERIALS (One-Time Prep)

1. The Path Base

Neutral fabric strip (felt, burlap, or green cloth)
OR a long strip of butcher paper taped to the floor.

2. Footprint Steps (4 total)

Cardstock or felt footprints.
Large, readable words printed on each:
- HELP
- WELCOME
- MAKE PEACE
- FORGIVE

3. Symbols for Each Step (Optional but Powerful)

HELP - Open hand cutout.
WELCOME - Heart or open door.
MAKE PEACE - Two hands together or bandaged heart.
FORGIVE - Heart with a small bandage.

4. Storage

Zip folder or envelope labeled “Path Steps.”

Keep the order consistent week to week.

WEEK 1 – POWER

August 23, 2026

God’s Power Helps Us Help

Scriptures:

Exodus 1:8-2:10, New International Reader's Version

⁸ Then a new king came to power in Egypt. Joseph didn’t mean anything to him. ⁹“Look,” he said to his people. “The Israelites are far too many for us. ¹⁰ Come. We must deal with them carefully. If we don’t, there will be even more of them. Then if war breaks out, they’ll join our enemies. They’ll fight against us and leave the country.”

¹¹So the Egyptians put slave drivers over the people of Israel. The slave drivers treated them badly and made them work hard. The Israelites built the cities of Pithom and Rameses so Pharaoh could store things there. ¹²But the worse the slave drivers treated the Israelites, the more Israelites there were. So the Egyptians became afraid of them. ¹³ They made them work hard. They didn’t show them any pity. ¹⁴ The people suffered because of their hard labor. The slave drivers forced them to work with bricks and mud. And they made them do all kinds of work in the fields. The Egyptians didn’t show them any pity at all. They made them work very hard.

¹⁵There were two Hebrew women named Shiphrah and Puah. They helped other women having babies. The king of Egypt spoke to them. He said, ¹⁶ “You are the ones who help the other Hebrew women. Watch them when they get into a sitting position to have their babies. Kill the boys. Let the girls live.” ¹⁷But Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. They didn’t do what the king of Egypt had told them to do. They let the boys live. ¹⁸ Then the king of Egypt sent for the women. He asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

¹⁹The women answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like the women of Egypt. They are strong. They have their babies before we get there.”

²⁰So God was kind to Shiphrah and Puah. And the number of Israelites became even greater. ²¹Shiphrah and Puah had respect for God. So he gave them families of their own.

²² Then Pharaoh gave an order to all his people. He said, “You must throw every Hebrew baby boy into the Nile River. But let every Hebrew baby girl live.”

Moses Is Born

2 A man and a woman from the tribe of Levi got married. ² She became pregnant and had a son by her husband. She saw that her baby was a fine child. And she hid him for three months.³ After that, she couldn’t hide him any longer. So she got a basket made out of the stems of tall grass. She coated the basket with tar. She placed the child in the basket. Then she put it in the tall grass that grew along the bank of the Nile River. ⁴ The child’s sister wasn’t very far away. She wanted to see what would happen to him.

⁵ Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile River to take a bath. Her attendants were walking along the river bank. She saw the basket in the tall grass. So she sent her female slave to get it. ⁶When she opened it, Pharaoh’s daughter saw the baby. He was crying. She felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.

⁷Then his sister spoke to Pharaoh’s daughter. She asked, “Do you want me to go and get one of the Hebrew women? She could breast-feed the baby for you.”

⁸ “Yes. Go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. ⁹Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and feed him for me. I’ll pay you.” So the woman took the baby and fed him. ¹⁰ When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter. And he became her son. She named him Moses. She said, “I pulled him out of the water.”

Matthew 16:13-20, New International Reader's Version

Peter Says That Jesus Is the Messiah

¹³Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. There he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist. Others say Elijah. Still others say Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah. You are the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! No mere human showed this to you. My Father in heaven showed it to you. ¹⁸ Here is what I tell you. You are Peter. On this rock I will build my church. The gates of hell will not be strong enough to destroy it. ¹⁹ I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. What you lock on earth will be locked in heaven. What you unlock on earth will be unlocked in heaven.” ²⁰ Then Jesus ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

OPENING (Gathering)

(Lay out the path before speaking. Pause between sentences.)

Friends, come close.
Today, we are going to hear a story from the Bible.
This is part of God’s big story.

Following God is like walking on a path.
We do not run.
We do not jump ahead.
We walk, one step at a time.

And we never walk alone.

Let’s say this together:

All:
“We are learning to walk in God’s way—together.”

(Place the HELP footprint on the path.)

Story:

Long ago, God’s people were living in a place where they were afraid.
A powerful king was afraid of them.
He used his power to hurt people and make their lives hard.

But God was still working.

God used small, brave acts of help.

Two women helped babies stay safe.
A mother hid her child.
A sister watched carefully.
A princess chose kindness instead of fear.

This baby grew up to help many people.
God’s power was not loud.
It did not shout.
It worked through helping hands.

Later, Jesus asked his friends,
“Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered,
“You are the one God sent.”

Jesus said this kind of knowing does not come from being strong or important.
It comes from listening to God.

God’s power helps people help.

This step says HELP.

Let’s say it together:

All:
“HELP.”

Wonder Together (Ask these questions and let children sit in silence as they consider their responses.)

I wonder why God uses helping hands.
I wonder who felt safe because someone helped.
I wonder what kind of power God loves best.
I wonder how helping might change the world.

(Silence.)

Body Prayer:
Hold your hands open.

All:
“God’s power helps us help.”

Between the Sundays

Family Conversation Starters and Activities

Lessons in Leadership: Walking God’s Way—Together

These simple questions and activities help families talk, play, and pray together during the week. They connect with the children’s message from Sunday and invite faith into everyday moments, at meals, in the car, before bed, or while playing.

Each week focuses on one step on the path as we learn how to lead in God’s way—together.