The Big Influence of Small Things

Book excerpt: Anyone who has done children's sermons will sooner or later hear from someone that "I learn more from the children's sermon than I do from the real sermon." And indeed, the truths of scripture are so simple that even a child can understand them. So it's no accident that children's sermons have become a central part of the worship service in many churches. Brett Blair and Tim Carpenter offer a year's worth of object lessons that engage children and impart profound lessons for all ages. Two sermons are provided for each Sunday in Cycle A of the Revised Common Lectionary, one based on the Second Lesson and one based on the Gospel. The messages are structured in two parts: the "lesson" uses an object to draw out active responses from children, then the "application" connects that object to the assigned scripture reading. Each message includes a clear statement of its exegetical aim. Bright, innovative, perceptive, creative, grace-filled... Brett Blair and Tim Carpenter are all of those and much, much more, and that is reflected beautifully in their new book The Big Influence Of Small Things. James W. Moore Pastor, St. Luke's United Methodist Church Houston, Texas Brett Blair is the pastor of Scenic Hills United Methodist Church in Memphis, Tennessee. He holds the M.Div. degree from Yale University Divinity School and is a cum laude graduate of Oral Roberts University with B.A. and M.A. degrees in New Testament Literature. Tim Carpenter is the pastor of First United Methodist Church in Bolivar, Tennessee. He is a magna cum laude graduate from Memphis Theological Seminary with a M.Div. degree, and holds the B.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Florida.