First Thoughts: So now we enter the season of Epiphany, a time of divine insight and inspiration! This is a great time of year and we interact with some really fun scripture passages in this season. But it makes sense for us to start off with a clear understanding of what epiphany really is. Unlike pursued knowledge, epiphany is really a gift, like the Christ Child himself. We cannot compel it or earn it; we can only endeavor to be ready vessels to receive it. Think of a time in your life when you received an epiphany -- an answer to a difficult problem or a clearness in your sense of calling. How did you prepare yourself to receive that epiphany? What was it like when the epiphany came? There are many things we might feel when we receive an epiphany from God, everything from exhilaration and joy to fear and trembling (because we know without a doubt that God is speaking to us, and it can be a little intimidating to be on God's radar like that!) Carry your own stories of epiphany with you in your time with the children and prepare yourself for another one as you meet with them!
Teaching On Your Own: Hey, everybody, I have a problem. My best friend Sam seems to be really sad lately and I don't know why. I've asked him if something is bothering him, but he always says it's nothing. I keep going over things in my mind, trying to figure out what I might have done to upset him. But I can't think of anything. You know what I need? An epiphany! Who knows what an epiphany is? An epiphany is a message from God, when God shows you something you didn't know before. Right now the church is in the season of epiphany, where we invite God to show us things in a new way.
Today's story is about people who were always ready for God's epiphany -- wise men from the east. Does anybody know the story of the wise men? They saw the Christmas star in the sky and followed it to Bethlehem so they could meet Jesus. As they watched the night sky they were really watching for an epiphany. But you know what? Even after they found Jesus they were still listening for an epiphany from God, which is a good thing, because God had another important message to give them. See, on their way to see the baby, they met King Herod. The king told them to let him know when they found Jesus, so Herod could visit the baby too. But Herod wasn't telling the truth. He didn't want to welcome the baby into the world -- he wanted to kill the baby. Isn't that terrible? But the wise men were wise! They had a dream from God telling them not to go back to Herod but to sneak away. Because they were willing to listen and follow that epiphany, they escaped safely and so did Jesus and his family. (suddenly realizes)
Wait a minute, escape... escape... Hey! I just thought of something. When I was over at Sam's house the other day his snake wasn't in the cage. I wonder if his snake escaped and that's why he's been sad. I bet that's it! And now I know what to do. I'm going to help Sam look for his snake. I will bring my gray sweater. Sam's snake loves to snuggle up inside that sweater! Nothing quite like snuggling up with a snake, you know. Anyway, I think I've had my epiphany. Why don't we ask God for some more?
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Hey (name), what's going on? You look like you're worried about something.
Leader 2: Yeah, I'm trying to figure something out.
Leader 1: What is it?
Leader 2: My best friend Sam seems to be really sad lately and I don't know why. I've asked him if something is bothering him, but he always says it's nothing. I keep going over things in my mind, trying to figure out what I might have done to upset him. But I can't think of anything.
Leader 1: Sounds like you need an epiphany.
Leader 2: What's an epiphany?
Leader 1: It's a message from God, when God shows you something you didn't know before.
Leader 2: Yep, that's what I need then.
Leader 1: You know, right now the church is in the season of epiphany, where we invite God to show us things in a new way. Today's story is about people who were always ready for God's epiphany -- wise men from the east.
Leader 2: Hey, I know this story. They saw the Christmas star in the sky and followed it to Bethlehem so they could meet Jesus, right?
Leader 1: That's right. As they watched the night sky they were really watching for an epiphany. But you know what? Even after they found Jesus they were still listening for an epiphany from God, which is a good thing, because God had another important message to give them.
Leader 2: What was that?
Leader 1: On their way to see the baby, they met King Herod. The king told them to let him know when they found Jesus, so Herod could visit the baby too. But Herod wasn't telling the truth. He didn't want to welcome the baby into the world -- he wanted to kill the baby.
Leader 2: That would have been terrible!
Leader 1: Yep, but the wise men were wise! They had a dream from God telling them not to go back to Herod but to sneak away. Because they were willing to listen and follow that epiphany, they escaped safely and so did Jesus and his family.
Leader 2: (thinks) Escape... escape... Hey! I just thought of something.
Leader 1: What?
Leader 2: When I was over at Sam's house the other day his snake wasn't in the cage.
Leader 1: (blanches) His snake?
Leader 2: Yeah. I wonder if his snake escaped and that's why he's been sad.
Leader 1: Sounds like you might have received your epiphany.
Leader 2: And now I know what to do. I'm going to help Sam look for his snake. I will bring my gray sweater. Sam's snake loves to snuggle up inside that sweater!
Leader 1: (looks creeped out) Ugh, sure. Sounds like a great idea.
Leader 2: A great epiphany, you mean!
Closing Prayer: Loving God, thank you for opening our eyes to new things and for showing us new ways we can make the world a better place. Help us in this season of Epiphany to listen and look for you. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: To reinforce this lesson in a classroom or home environment talk a bit about the nature of epiphany. Explain that epiphanies come not because we necessarily work hard for them, but because we're ready to receive them. Lots of explorers and scientists and adventurers have made new discoveries not because they found what they were looking for, but because they were willing to see something completely new. Revisit the story of the wise men -- how they took action and changed directions based on how God spoke to them. Sometimes epiphanies can be very dramatic, like the Christmas star in the sky. Sometimes they can be so quiet we might miss them, like a dream we could ignore. The important thing to remember, though, is that God is always looking to talk to us -- we just need to be ready to hear that message. Introduce the children to the word eureka. Ask them if they know what it means. Explain that the word is Greek for "I've got it!" It's something we can say when we're excited because God is speaking to us. Have the children say it a few times loudly and enthusiastically.
For a craft idea, give each child a light bulb template on a piece of paper. Invite them to color the light bulb, write the word eureka on it, and then cut it out. Provide each child with a bit of silly putty they can put on the back of their light bulb, and then stick it to their head. The light bulbs remind us that God wants to "turn on the light" in our minds and to show us things that we can't see right now. We wear these on our foreheads to keep our minds open and ready for a message from God. Close with a time of prayer.
