J. C. Ryle Sermons to Children: Seven Biblical Lessons for Children

by J.C. Ryle

I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
– Proverbs 8:17

Children, I am going to talk to you about Jesus Christ and your souls. I want to make you happy, but I know that people are never really happy unless their souls are happy – and I am sure that people’s souls cannot be truly happy unless they love Jesus Christ. That is the reason I am going to write to you now. I want to tell you something about Jesus Christ and your souls.

Dear children, I hope you will all pay close attention. I pray that the Spirit of God will come into your hearts and make you able to do so. Try to listen to me. Try to understand what I say. Try to remember and carry away something in your minds. I hope to do you all a great deal of good.
– J. C. Ryle

In this compilation of seven sermons to children, J. C. Ryle tells captivating stories from the Bible with easy-to-understand application for children.

About the Author
John Charles Ryle (1816-1900) graduated from Eton and Oxford and then pursued a career in politics, but due to lack of funds, he entered the clergy of the Church of England. He was a contemporary of Spurgeon, Moody, Mueller, and Taylor and read the great theologians like Wesley, Bunyan, Knox, Calvin, and Luther. These all influenced Ryle’s understanding and theology. Ryle began his writing career with a tract following the Great Yarmouth suspension bridge tragedy, where more than a hundred people drowned. He gained a reputation for straightforward preaching and evangelism. He travelled, preached, and wrote more than 300 pamphlets, tracts, and books, including Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Principles for Churchmen, and Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Ryle used the royalties from his writing to pay his father’s debts, but he also felt indebted to that ruin for changing the direction of his life. He was recommended by Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli to be Bishop of Liverpool where he ended his career in 1900.

Genres: Childrens

114 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 1, 2022

About the author

(John Charles Ryle) Ryle started his ministry as curate at the Chapel of Ease in Exbury, Hampshire, moving on to become rector of St Thomas's, Winchester in 1843 and then rector of Helmingham, Suffolk the following year. While at Helmingham he married and was widowed twice. He began publishing popular tracts, and Matthew, Mark and Luke of his series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels were published in successive years (1856-1858). His final parish was Stradbroke, also in Suffolk, where he moved in 1861, and it was as vicar of All Saints that he became known nationally for his straightforward preaching and firm defence of evangelical principles. He wrote several well-known and still-in-print books, often addressing issues of contemporary relevance for the Church from a biblical standpoint. He completed his Expository Thoughts on the Gospels while at Stradbroke, with his work on the Gospel of John (1869). His third marriage, to Henrietta Amelia Clowes in 1861, lasted until her death in 1889.

Reviews

[Andrew Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book of sermons to read to children, especially on the Lord’s Day!

[Anete Ābola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. When I was a child, I would have loved this straight forward approach that speaks to children so that they can understand, BUT not leaving anything important out of the Gospel message, not talking down to children, but speaking as equal to equal in the things of God. This is a serious and sweet book, and it would be useful for every child to read/hear all these little sermons.

[Chenny Mae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of sermons intended for children, and despite reading it as an adult, I found it remarkably insightful and uplifting.

I believe every parent should introduce their children to this book. Unlike the typical fluffy devotionals for kids that may only touch on trivial matters, this book delves into the core of the gospel. It doesn't dilute the message but rather effectively explains essential doctrines to young minds, such as sin, human nature, hell, heaven, and the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is an invaluable resource for effectively sharing and teaching children about the gospel.

[Susan Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for children!

These sermons are full of truth and wisdom for adults and children. They are longer than children's sermons given in most churches, but the guidance and direction provided are excellent. Adults can benefit from the simple, direct messages contained and grow in faith.