The Bible gives us many beautiful images when it comes to the hope of the Resurrection. Many of these words were originally offered in times that were very dark and challenging for God’s people. Throughout history, we have been able to cling to the knowledge that there will come a day when our earthly trouble will be no more. What a joyful promise we have, even amid challenges. This message uses the enthusiasm of the Advent season to explain how joyous and helpful it is to await a longed-for future event. Just as we look forward to Christmas and the hope that it brings, we should even more look forward to the Second Coming and the future that God has in store for us!
Don’t miss the complete 17-pages Sunday School Lesson from Isaiah 65 about the NEW CREATION.
Law/Gospel Theme: Our lives might often feel challenging, but because of Jesus, we have hope in a life after our current struggles. And we have the hope of Christ’s return! Enemies will be friends, sorrows will be no more, and joyful things will come. This passage is a comforting and exciting promise of God’s love and faithfulness. Jesus is the fulfillment of Isaiah’s words here, and we know that He is who we look forward to meeting someday!
Optional Materials: (Optional) Christmas-related items, decorations, or treats.
Bible Passage: Isaiah 65:17-25
Children’s Sermon & Bible Object Lesson on Heaven
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 with some Christmas items: decorations, a gift bag, jingle bells, etc.
Hello, Children of God!
You know what I have noticed a lot lately? It seems like everywhere I look, there’s something about Christmas. If desired, hold up Christmas decorations or items, or sing part of a Christmas song. I mean, if you go to craft stores, it’s been Christmas since June, but that’s another story. Around other places, I started getting ads for holiday shopping before it was even Halloween! I know it will be here soon, but sometimes it feels like it’s a little too soon. We have to celebrate Thanksgiving first, after all, don’t we? I’m surrounded by tinsel and trees!
Why do you think this might be? Why do we love Christmas so much? Now, I have a sneaking suspicion that part of the ad enthusiasm is commercial: people want us to start Christmas shopping early so they can get our money. But there is a joy and excitement during the holiday season that’s hard to deny. Why do we love Christmas time so much? I guess for one thing, there’s a sense of anticipation. That means we are looking forward to something that is going to happen. Maybe at Christmas we look forward to presents, or parties, or having time off school. Maybe we look forward to family traditions like decorating or singing carols.
I can think of something else that should provide us with a lot of joyful anticipation. Do you know what it might be? That’s right: Jesus! Now, I know that might seem like just another “Sunday School answer”, but it’s true. Jesus is the greatest thing we can look forward to, and He is worth it. We know that our lives now might be full of trouble and stress, but we have another life to look forward to, in Heaven!
The Bible gives us a lot of neat looks at how we can have joyful anticipation of what is to come. There was a prophet, a man who gave messages for God, named Isaiah. He lived hundreds of years before Jesus, but he spoke a lot of words about who the Messiah would be and what he would do. This Isaiah fellow provided some beautiful images of what God will do at the end of time. He said that God promises to create a new heavens and new earth, so wonderful that we won’t even remember the present life. God will wipe away all of our tears and sorrows. There won’t be suffering or death, and enemies will be friends. Those sound like some wonderful things! Isaiah wanted God’s people to know that God would be faithful and would provide them with wonderful joys. We can take hope in that promise, too! That future expectation is ours. Someday we will be in God’s country forever. He will wipe away our tears and give us good things that will last. That’s even better than Christmas presents or cookies with sprinkles.
So as we start to get excited about Christmastime, remember what it is that we await during the Advent season. We wait for the coming of Jesus. We celebrate that He was born, and look forward to His return. We know that He will give us new life! We can always rejoice in that, no tinsel or shopping countdowns required!
Let’s say a prayer now to thank God for giving us hope and promising a life with Him.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for the hope of the resurrection
And promise of new life and change
Help us to always be steadfast in You
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
“For behold, I create new heavens
and a new earth,
and the former things shall not be remembered
or come into mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in that which I create;
for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy,
and her people to be a gladness.
19 I will rejoice in Jerusalem
and be glad in my people;
no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping
and the cry of distress.
20 No more shall there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not fill out his days,
for the young man shall die a hundred years old,
and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed.
21 They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
23 They shall not labor in vain
or bear children for calamity,
for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the Lord,
and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer;
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox,
and dust shall be the serpent’s food.
They shall not hurt or destroy
in all my holy mountain,”
says the Lord.
-Isaiah 65:17-25