Are We There Yet? Part 5
Children's sermon
Important Note: Set the alarm!!!
Note: This Christmas Eve sermon is the last in the series to continue through Advent. This is a great opportunity to have some fun with the children as you celebrate Christmas. Be sure to set the alarm for opening the box this time. To decide how long to set the alarm for, read through the message and see how many minutes it takes you to tell the story about the shepherds, then add a minute or two to give time for the children’s responses. The timing does not have to be perfect. The most important part of this series is that the more fun you have with it, the more fun everyone else will have too!
Objects: You will need three objects:
1) A box with the word “WAIT!” written on the side of it in big letters. The box should be big enough to hold a collection of “gifts” you will give the children when you do finally open it. Fun gifts might be things like noisemakers or other party-favors so you can all celebrate the fact that the box has been “finally” opened. You will not actually need to have the gifts inside the box until the last message of the series when you finally open the box.
2) A piece of paper with a note that says, “Do not open until you hear the alarm go off!”
3) An alarm clock of some kind. For the most fun, find a big, old alarm clock that looks like it will make a lot of noise, but anything with an alarm on it will work.
One volunteer: For the most fun, pick one child to help you with this message. You can either pick them yourself or ask for a volunteer. The child will play the role of an angel and you will tell them the words they are to say as you go through the message. If you do not want to use a volunteer, you can modify the message and read the part yourself (but it is more fun with a volunteer).
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their sheep at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests.” (vv. 8-14)
Message:
(As the children join you, place the box and alarm clock on the floor where everyone can see it and have the note in your hand. Be sure to set the alarm for opening the box this time.)
Hi everyone! I have the box with me again. And I am really excited this time! Remember that I found this box and it had this note with it that said, “Do not open until you hear the alarm!”? (Let them respond.) Well, we’ve had it with us for the past four weeks of Advent and we’re still waiting for the alarm. But I’m thinking that since this is Christmas Eve, we might finally hear the alarm and get to see what’s inside the box.
While we wait tonight, I thought it might be fun to remember the story of what happened the night Jesus was born. I am going to need someone to help me. Does anyone want to help? (Let them respond or pick a child to help.) Great. My helper is going to stand up by me and just watch us for a few minutes while we remember the story together.
While Mary and Joseph were in town with the baby, the Bible says there were a bunch of shepherds out in the country taking care of their sheep. Since it was nighttime, the sheep were in their pens and the shepherds were probably sitting around watching them. I’ll bet some of them were even asleep already. Let’s pretend to be those shepherds, okay? Everyone kind of lean back like you are resting against a tree, or even lie down like you are sleeping if you want too. Can we do that? (Let them respond.) Great! We’re all really tired after working all day taking care of our sheep. We’re in the country, so the stars are shining, and it’s just a nice quiet night. It was so quiet, we all started to yawn. Let’s do that, okay? (Let them respond.) Cool. Then, just as we all started falling asleep, something happened. Do you know what it was? (Let them respond.) Just when everyone was falling asleep, the sky got really bright and an angel suddenly appeared. (Ask your volunteer angel to stand in the middle of the group of sleeping shepherds and raise their arms up like wings.) When they saw the angel, the shepherds got really scared. What do you think they did? (Let them respond.) But the angel talked to them. Angel, can you say, ‘Don’t be afraid!’? (Let the angel say it.) Then the angel said, “I have great news!” (Let the angel say it.) The angel said, “A Savior has been born in town for you!” (Let the angel say it.) And then the angel said, “Why don’t you go check it out?” (Let the angel say it.)
And do you know what the shepherds did next? (Let them respond.) Yes, they went into town and found the baby, and then went to tell everyone that what they had all been waiting for had finally happened. Just like Isaiah had said a long time ago, God had sent someone to help them. They had waited a really long time, and boy, do you think they were excited? (Let them respond.) Yes, me too.
THE ALARM RINGS!
HEY! That’s our alarm! (Let them respond.) That means we finally get to find out what is inside the box. Are you ready? (Let them respond.) What do you think is inside? (Let them respond.) Let’s find out. (Open the box, making it as dramatic as you want to make it.) I think there are things in here for all of us! (Hand out the gifts or let the children pick their gift from the box. For the most fun, let them open their gifts now and let them make a lot of noise to celebrate.) We had to wait a long time, but this was a good surprise, wasn’t it? (Let them respond.)
I hope we remember to say a little prayer to say “Thank You” to the shepherds, the angel, and God, for the great surprises they all gave us on Christmas. Let’s do that now.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you again for reminding us how much you love all of us, and how important it is for us to take care of each other. Please help us find ways to let the people around us know that we love them. Amen.
Note: This Christmas Eve sermon is the last in the series to continue through Advent. This is a great opportunity to have some fun with the children as you celebrate Christmas. Be sure to set the alarm for opening the box this time. To decide how long to set the alarm for, read through the message and see how many minutes it takes you to tell the story about the shepherds, then add a minute or two to give time for the children’s responses. The timing does not have to be perfect. The most important part of this series is that the more fun you have with it, the more fun everyone else will have too!
Objects: You will need three objects:
1) A box with the word “WAIT!” written on the side of it in big letters. The box should be big enough to hold a collection of “gifts” you will give the children when you do finally open it. Fun gifts might be things like noisemakers or other party-favors so you can all celebrate the fact that the box has been “finally” opened. You will not actually need to have the gifts inside the box until the last message of the series when you finally open the box.
2) A piece of paper with a note that says, “Do not open until you hear the alarm go off!”
3) An alarm clock of some kind. For the most fun, find a big, old alarm clock that looks like it will make a lot of noise, but anything with an alarm on it will work.
One volunteer: For the most fun, pick one child to help you with this message. You can either pick them yourself or ask for a volunteer. The child will play the role of an angel and you will tell them the words they are to say as you go through the message. If you do not want to use a volunteer, you can modify the message and read the part yourself (but it is more fun with a volunteer).
And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their sheep at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those whom his favor rests.” (vv. 8-14)
Message:
(As the children join you, place the box and alarm clock on the floor where everyone can see it and have the note in your hand. Be sure to set the alarm for opening the box this time.)
Hi everyone! I have the box with me again. And I am really excited this time! Remember that I found this box and it had this note with it that said, “Do not open until you hear the alarm!”? (Let them respond.) Well, we’ve had it with us for the past four weeks of Advent and we’re still waiting for the alarm. But I’m thinking that since this is Christmas Eve, we might finally hear the alarm and get to see what’s inside the box.
While we wait tonight, I thought it might be fun to remember the story of what happened the night Jesus was born. I am going to need someone to help me. Does anyone want to help? (Let them respond or pick a child to help.) Great. My helper is going to stand up by me and just watch us for a few minutes while we remember the story together.
While Mary and Joseph were in town with the baby, the Bible says there were a bunch of shepherds out in the country taking care of their sheep. Since it was nighttime, the sheep were in their pens and the shepherds were probably sitting around watching them. I’ll bet some of them were even asleep already. Let’s pretend to be those shepherds, okay? Everyone kind of lean back like you are resting against a tree, or even lie down like you are sleeping if you want too. Can we do that? (Let them respond.) Great! We’re all really tired after working all day taking care of our sheep. We’re in the country, so the stars are shining, and it’s just a nice quiet night. It was so quiet, we all started to yawn. Let’s do that, okay? (Let them respond.) Cool. Then, just as we all started falling asleep, something happened. Do you know what it was? (Let them respond.) Just when everyone was falling asleep, the sky got really bright and an angel suddenly appeared. (Ask your volunteer angel to stand in the middle of the group of sleeping shepherds and raise their arms up like wings.) When they saw the angel, the shepherds got really scared. What do you think they did? (Let them respond.) But the angel talked to them. Angel, can you say, ‘Don’t be afraid!’? (Let the angel say it.) Then the angel said, “I have great news!” (Let the angel say it.) The angel said, “A Savior has been born in town for you!” (Let the angel say it.) And then the angel said, “Why don’t you go check it out?” (Let the angel say it.)
And do you know what the shepherds did next? (Let them respond.) Yes, they went into town and found the baby, and then went to tell everyone that what they had all been waiting for had finally happened. Just like Isaiah had said a long time ago, God had sent someone to help them. They had waited a really long time, and boy, do you think they were excited? (Let them respond.) Yes, me too.
THE ALARM RINGS!
HEY! That’s our alarm! (Let them respond.) That means we finally get to find out what is inside the box. Are you ready? (Let them respond.) What do you think is inside? (Let them respond.) Let’s find out. (Open the box, making it as dramatic as you want to make it.) I think there are things in here for all of us! (Hand out the gifts or let the children pick their gift from the box. For the most fun, let them open their gifts now and let them make a lot of noise to celebrate.) We had to wait a long time, but this was a good surprise, wasn’t it? (Let them respond.)
I hope we remember to say a little prayer to say “Thank You” to the shepherds, the angel, and God, for the great surprises they all gave us on Christmas. Let’s do that now.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you again for reminding us how much you love all of us, and how important it is for us to take care of each other. Please help us find ways to let the people around us know that we love them. Amen.
