Worship Programs

Theme:

"Kingdom Power"

Third Sunday in Advent -

Sunday School Opening Exercises

Scripture Memory: 2 Corinthians 1:20

“For no matter how many promises are made, they are “yes” in Christ.”

Play a game with the kids.  Choose a few keen observers to leave the room.  While away from the rest of the group, instruct them that they are to return to the group and watch carefully their actions.  One member of the group is the leader and it is the observers’ job to determine who that leader is.  Choose one person left behind in the room to be the leader.  He will lead the group in chosen movements, facial expressions, etc. that the rest of the group will mimic.  The kids in the group will need to watch him to determine the next action, but are to be careful so that they are not giving away the identity of the leader.  Have the children outside return and observe the group carefully.  When the leader has been found out, play the game again, choosing new participants.

Make the following points based on Luke 2:21-40:

• God had promised since Old Testament times that He was going to send to the people of Israel, a “Messiah.”  He would be their King and save them.  God didn’t tell the Israelites exactly when He was going to send the Messiah, so there were many who spent their lives watching for Him to come.  The Old Testament gave many clues about who and what to look for, so they weren’t searching aimlessly.

• One of those who was waiting and watching for the Messiah to come was a man named Simeon.  God had actually made Simeon a promise many years earlier.  He told Simeon that in his lifetime, he would see the Messiah.  So, he had spent his life hoping for that day.  Simeon was a very old man and near the end of his life, so he must have been very excited knowing that the Messiah was coming soon.

• After Jesus was born, His parents brought Him to the temple as it was Jewish custom for parents to present the firstborn son to God in the temple, along with an offering of a lamb, or if they were poor, pigeons.  On the particular day that they brought Jesus, God told Simeon that he should be at the temple as well.  When Simeon saw the baby Jesus, he knew that He was the promised Messiah.  God put a special feeling into his heart that told him this little baby was the one he had been waiting so long to see.  Simeon put a special blessing on Jesus and His parents. 

• Simeon didn’t know exactly what was going to happen during baby Jesus’ lifetime, nor would he live to see what would happen, but he knew that Jesus was the Messiah sent to save His people.

• God kept His promise to Simeon and to the children of Israel.  He will also keep all the promises He makes to us.

• Name some of the promises that God has made in the Bible (e.g. I will never leave you or forsake you, etc.).