Children’s Message on Luke 21 “The First Sunday of Advent.”
Note: During the season of Advent, messages and lessons will include a unifying focus that coincides with the four themes of the Advent Sundays (hope, peace, love, and joy). Additionally, each week a Christmas song will be featured, which also incorporates the theme.
Main Objective: This message opens the Advent season by considering signs. In the time of Christ, people asked for signs of the end times, and we continue to eagerly await the Second Coming now. While we don’t know when that will be, we have the hope of God’s faithfulness to His promises. Meanwhile, we can look out for signs of God’s love and presence now. We know He is with us always, and we can take hope in simple exhibits of His care. Advent reminds us that Jesus is our hope every day.
Law/Gospel Theme: At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Christ, but sometimes forget the anticipation that preceded the Incarnation. Jesus was the fulfillment of God’s promises to His people, the Messiah come to save. The people of God had hoped and waited for Jesus. We rejoice that He came to Earth to live and die for us. On the other side of the resurrection, we now await His return, knowing that God will be faithful to that promise, as well. Our hope is in His presence now and always.
Luke 21:25-36 Children’s Sermon- What is the Sign of the Second Coming of Jesus?
Optional Materials: Pictures or representations of signs (traffic or road signs, building signs, signs of things that we hope for).
Bible Passage: Luke 21:25-36
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children, and talk about signs…
Hello, children of God!
Have you ever seen signs? I’m sure you have. Signs are all around us, after all. Hold up pictures or examples as you discuss. You probably see signs on the road, telling you important instructions like “stop” or “one way.” There are often signs on buildings or in public places, and they might tell you things like the store hours or where the restrooms are (those are important to look out for!). Then there are other kinds of signs, not things in writing necessarily, but things that can indicate something to come. If it’s been a long cold winter and you can’t wait for spring, you’ll look for signs that warmer weather is on the way. Maybe the sight of flowers peeking through the snow gives you that sign. Or we often see signs of holiday seasons. Lights and decorations would tell us that Christmas is on the way. You might be seeing some of those signs lately, because we are entering the season of Advent.
Advent means “coming,” and during Advent we celebrate how Jesus came to Earth to live and die for us. We also know that Jesus will come again someday. We don’t know when this will be, but it gives us hope to know that God will keep His promise to return for us. People have wondered throughout time when that return would be. In fact, while Jesus was on Earth, people asked Him for signs of the end of time. Then, like now, they wanted to understand how they could be ready for the end, and they wanted to know when it would be. Jesus gave them some signs and said that many things needed to happen before His return. We don’t know exactly when that will take place, and it has now been more than 2,000 years since Jesus described these things.
However, while we wait, we have hope that comes from other signs. We can be on the lookout for signs of God’s love and presence. He has promised to be with us always. We don’t quite see Him with our eyes, but we can see signs of His care. These signs can be simple everyday things. Having people near us that love us is a reminder of God’s blessings. Sometimes we see signs of His closeness in nature, like a beautiful sunset or flower. Maybe really great things happen, like an illness cured, or simple things like our favorite lunch being featured in the cafeteria. And we remember God’s faithfulness when we read His Word. The Bible gives us many signs of God’s love. He cares for us and provides for us, and He keeps His promises always.
We might not always receive signs in huge, exciting ways. We might not see all the signs of the Second Coming. But God gives us signs of His love and presence every day if we look for them. And this gives us hope. Hope encourages us and gives us something to look forward to. We can remember that now in the Advent season, and every day of the year!
Let’s pray and thank God for signs of His presence and love…
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for keeping your promises
And for always being with us.
Help us to look for signs of your presence and care.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Luke 21: 25-36 Meaning for Kids
“25 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.” -Luke 21:25-36