KIDS SUNDAY SERMON SERIES LAUNCHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (DRE)
The Department of Religious Education (DRE) is excited to introduce the Kids Sunday Sermon Series, an easy-to-download weekly sermon resource designed for children in grades K to 3 or older. Based on the upcoming Sunday Gospel reading, each sermon is crafted to help children engage with scripture, learn about their faith, and deepen their understanding of Christian teachings. With a new sermon released every week, the Kids Sunday Sermon Series will eventually cover every Sunday of the ecclesiastical year, providing a year-round resource for faith formation.
About the Kids Sunday Sermon Series:
The Kids Sunday Sermon Series is an excellent tool for both religious educators and parents to engage children with the Gospel.  It can be used by Sunday Schools, Church Vacation Schools, Youth Camps, and Families for teaching the Gospel to the next generations!
Here’s how it works:
A. For Religious Educators:

 

  • Download the weekly sermon document from religioused.goarch.org to a tablet or print it out.
  • Begin and end the lesson with prayer and the sign of the cross.
  • Read THE BIBLE STORY with your students and use WHAT THE STORY MEANS to make the Gospel come alive.
  • Use the QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS to guide reflection.
  • Use the ANSWER KEY for helpful insights.
  • After each sermon, we have a related to the theme COLORING PAGE just for kids! Encourage your students to take their time, use their imagination, and make it as colorful as they like. There’s no right or wrong way—just let them have fun, get creative, and learn about their faith in a fun and artistic way!
Reading Aloud: Encourage students to take turns reading aloud to make the lesson more engaging. If students are shy, they can take a “pass” or listen to an audio version of the Scripture using Bible Gateway’s free audio resources, which offer a variety of translations!
Check it out here: Bible Gateway Audio.
3-2-1 Check-In: At the end of the lesson, have students take a moment to reflect by sharing the following (this helps deepen their understanding and gives everyone a chance to be heard):
3 things they learned
2 things they already knew
1 thing they still wonder
Stump the Priest! After each lesson, students can pick a couple of tricky questions from the lesson to challenge the priest with (perhaps at Coffee Hour). This fun tradition helps build curiosity and positive interactions between students and clergy.
B. For Parents:
  • Download the sermon from religioused.goarch.org to your computer or tablet, or print it out.
  • Start with prayer, including the sign of the cross and a simple prayer like the Lord’s Prayer.
  • Read THE BIBLE STORY together, and discuss WHAT THE STORY MEANS.
  • Use the QUESTIONS TO DISCUSS to engage children in conversation about the lesson and the ANSWER KEY for helpful insights.
  • Parents can integrate these discussions into family time, whether it’s at dinner, during a walk, or before bed.
  • Kids will also enjoy a COLORING PAGE that ties into the week’s theme, fostering creativity and spiritual growth.
Additional Resources for Clergy, Adults, and Youth:
In addition to the Kids’ Sunday Sermon Series, the DRE offers the SUNDAY SERMON SERIES (easy to download on religioused@goarch.org) for clergy, youth, and the adult faithful. These sermons are designed to enrich the spiritual lives of the faithful and can even be adapted for high school age groups. The content is rich with theological insights, practical lessons, and quotes from Saints. It provides inspirational material for sermons for clergy as well as catechetical material for Sunday School, Adult Education, and Bible Study.
We’re excited to provide these accessible, engaging resources for both children and adults. Whether in the classroom, at home, or during church services, our goal is to make the teachings of the Gospel and our Orthodox faith come alive for everyone.
About the Department of Religious Education
The Department of Religious Education (DRE) serves as a leading resource for faith formation, offering tools, programs, and materials to help children, youth, and adults grow in their understanding of Orthodox Christianity. The department strives to nurture the spiritual development of individuals and communities across the Archdiocese.