Waiting for the Right Gift
Children's sermon
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First Thoughts: This first Sunday after Christmas we are introduced to two familiar characters, Simeon and Anna, who have been waiting a long time to see the Messiah. This lesson focuses on what it means to wait on God and to maintain your faith while you wait. In preparation for this message, I invite you to think about times in your life when you've had to wait for something your heart really longed for: a certain relationship, a meaningful job, a child. What is it like to wait months, even years, to receive that answer from God? What did you do to nurture your faith in the meantime?
Props You Will Need: none
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Hey, (name), you look a little down. What's wrong?
Leader 2: Oh, it's no big deal. I just didn't get the Christmas present I was hoping for.
Leader 1: What's that?
Leader 2: A new ten-speed racing bicycle.
Leader 1: Well, maybe you'll get it next year.
Leader 2: But I've waited two years already. I'm just about to give up hope that I'll ever get it.
Leader 1: Yeah, it's hard to wait for something you really want. It reminds me of our scripture passage today. It tells us of some folks who waited a REALLY long time to get something they wanted.
Leader 2: Who's that?
Leader 1: Their names were Anna and Simeon. They were waiting for the Messiah to be born and spent all their lives in the temple just hoping to see him. Anna was 84 years old and had spent most of her life looking for Christ.
Leader 2: That must have been hard!
Leader 1: I would think so. Imagine it, every day watching all the little children being brought into the temple, always asking in your mind, "Is it this one, God? Is it this one?"
Leader 2: How did they manage to stay hopeful after so many years?
Leader 1: I'm sure they prayed a lot, read scripture, and probably encouraged each other when they were feeling down. Plus, they trusted God. If God says God's going to do something then -- sooner or later -- God's promises will come true. So, after all this waiting, finally Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus and they recognized him at once as the Messiah.
Leader 2: They must have been so excited!
Leader 1: They were. They sang songs and gave thanks to God and then they shared the good news with everyone around -- that the Christ Child had been born! They shared their joy with everyone!
Leader 2: Does that mean that when I finally get my bike I'll need to share it with my little brother?
Leader 1: Well, that's something to think about!
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody! How was your Christmas? Did you get lots of great presents? I did too. But you know what? I didn't get the one present I really wanted -- a ten-speed racing bicycle! I've been hoping for one for the past two years. Have you ever had to wait for something you really wanted? It's hard, isn't it? Sometimes I think I'll just never get one, and I want to give up hope. But our scripture lesson today tells us about two people who waited even longer than I have for something they REALLY wanted badly. Their names were Simeon and Anna. They were looking for the Messiah to be born and spent all their lives in the temple just waiting for him. Anna was 84 years old and had spent most of her life looking for Christ. Imagine it, every day watching all the little children being brought into the temple, always asking in your mind, "Is it this one, God? Is it this one?" How do you think they managed to keep their spirits up all that time? They probably prayed a lot, read scripture, and encouraged each other when they were feeling down. Plus, they trusted God. If God says God's going to do something then -- sooner or later -- God's promises will come true. So, after all this waiting, finally Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus, and they recognized him at once as the Messiah. They were so happy they sang songs and praised God and told everyone around them the good news -- the Messiah was finally here! That's what it's like when we finally get something we've wanted for a long time. We're so grateful and happy that we want to share that happy feeling with those around us. And that's how the good news spreads into the world!
Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for always keeping your promises. Thank you for forgiving us when we mess up, for giving us help when we feel weak, and for loving us every day. Please help us have the faith to trust you when we have to wait for your promises to come and to help each other keep hope. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: A great way to follow up this children's sermon in a classroom or home setting is to talk about people who are waiting on God. Who is waiting on God's blessing right now? Someone who is sick waiting on physical recovery? Someone grieving, waiting on comfort and spiritual healing? Someone pregnant or adopting, waiting on the arrival of a child? What can we do to encourage that person and help them keep their faith in their long wait? Suggest visiting that person or writing a card or drawing a picture. Close with a pray for the person(s) on your heart and enable your children to follow up with their contact.
Props You Will Need: none
Teaching As A Team:
Leader 1: Hey, (name), you look a little down. What's wrong?
Leader 2: Oh, it's no big deal. I just didn't get the Christmas present I was hoping for.
Leader 1: What's that?
Leader 2: A new ten-speed racing bicycle.
Leader 1: Well, maybe you'll get it next year.
Leader 2: But I've waited two years already. I'm just about to give up hope that I'll ever get it.
Leader 1: Yeah, it's hard to wait for something you really want. It reminds me of our scripture passage today. It tells us of some folks who waited a REALLY long time to get something they wanted.
Leader 2: Who's that?
Leader 1: Their names were Anna and Simeon. They were waiting for the Messiah to be born and spent all their lives in the temple just hoping to see him. Anna was 84 years old and had spent most of her life looking for Christ.
Leader 2: That must have been hard!
Leader 1: I would think so. Imagine it, every day watching all the little children being brought into the temple, always asking in your mind, "Is it this one, God? Is it this one?"
Leader 2: How did they manage to stay hopeful after so many years?
Leader 1: I'm sure they prayed a lot, read scripture, and probably encouraged each other when they were feeling down. Plus, they trusted God. If God says God's going to do something then -- sooner or later -- God's promises will come true. So, after all this waiting, finally Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus and they recognized him at once as the Messiah.
Leader 2: They must have been so excited!
Leader 1: They were. They sang songs and gave thanks to God and then they shared the good news with everyone around -- that the Christ Child had been born! They shared their joy with everyone!
Leader 2: Does that mean that when I finally get my bike I'll need to share it with my little brother?
Leader 1: Well, that's something to think about!
Teaching On Your Own: Hey everybody! How was your Christmas? Did you get lots of great presents? I did too. But you know what? I didn't get the one present I really wanted -- a ten-speed racing bicycle! I've been hoping for one for the past two years. Have you ever had to wait for something you really wanted? It's hard, isn't it? Sometimes I think I'll just never get one, and I want to give up hope. But our scripture lesson today tells us about two people who waited even longer than I have for something they REALLY wanted badly. Their names were Simeon and Anna. They were looking for the Messiah to be born and spent all their lives in the temple just waiting for him. Anna was 84 years old and had spent most of her life looking for Christ. Imagine it, every day watching all the little children being brought into the temple, always asking in your mind, "Is it this one, God? Is it this one?" How do you think they managed to keep their spirits up all that time? They probably prayed a lot, read scripture, and encouraged each other when they were feeling down. Plus, they trusted God. If God says God's going to do something then -- sooner or later -- God's promises will come true. So, after all this waiting, finally Mary and Joseph brought in the baby Jesus, and they recognized him at once as the Messiah. They were so happy they sang songs and praised God and told everyone around them the good news -- the Messiah was finally here! That's what it's like when we finally get something we've wanted for a long time. We're so grateful and happy that we want to share that happy feeling with those around us. And that's how the good news spreads into the world!
Closing Prayer: Thank you, God, for always keeping your promises. Thank you for forgiving us when we mess up, for giving us help when we feel weak, and for loving us every day. Please help us have the faith to trust you when we have to wait for your promises to come and to help each other keep hope. In Christ's name we pray, Amen.
Follow-Up Lesson: A great way to follow up this children's sermon in a classroom or home setting is to talk about people who are waiting on God. Who is waiting on God's blessing right now? Someone who is sick waiting on physical recovery? Someone grieving, waiting on comfort and spiritual healing? Someone pregnant or adopting, waiting on the arrival of a child? What can we do to encourage that person and help them keep their faith in their long wait? Suggest visiting that person or writing a card or drawing a picture. Close with a pray for the person(s) on your heart and enable your children to follow up with their contact.
