Childrens Sermon Service

Editor's note: To prepare for this lesson, go to a library and find a book of names and their meanings. Be prepared to mention the names of some or all of the youth listening to your lesson. Good morning, boys and girls. Each of you has a name, don't you? (Let them answer.) Do you know your middle name? (Let them answer.) Do you know your last name? (Let them answer.) Do you each have a last name? (Let them answer.) Of course, we all have names. Each of our names is important. Our parents gave us our names. Some of us are named after someone else in our family. How many of you are named after someone in your family? (Let them raise their hands.)

All of our names have a meaning. Jesus' name does. Today's scripture tells us that Joseph had a dream. In Joseph's dream an angel told him to take Mary as his wife. Mary was to have a son named Jesus. Jesus was to be called "Emmanuel," which means "God is with us."

How many of you knew that Jesus' name meant "God is with us?" (Let them answer.) I brought a book with me. It has many of your names in it. Just as Jesus' name has a meaning, so does your own name. This book tells the meanings of your names. (Read some or all of the names of the children listening. Tell them what their names mean. You might add your pastor's name at the end.) So each of us has a name. Our name is very important to us. Our name has a meaning. Jesus' name is very important to us, too. It has an important meaning. As Christmas gets closer, remember the meaning of Jesus' name. It means that "God is with us."