Main Objective: What can we truly count on? There are a lot of things in life that can be confusing, and children will receive many mixed messages about what and who to believe. Are fairytales and legends true? What about scary things like ghosts? What can we trust and believe? This message reminds children of the importance of trusting in Jesus above all things. We may not know all of the details of His return, but we can certainly count on it. We know that He died and rose again for our sins. He loves us and redeems us, and we can hang our hopes on Him!
Download the complete 2 Thessalonians 2 Sunday School Lesson for Kids.
Law/Gospel Theme: There are a lot of confusing ideas we might develop about who we are and how we are saved. We sometimes think we need to behave a certain way to earn God’s favor and please Him. This can lead to a sense of threat or fear when it comes to considering the Second Coming of Jesus. We might worry over the thought of Christ’s return, nervous over how we have acted or lived. The comforting and beautiful thought we should focus on, though, is that Jesus has died for us and loves us. We don’t know when He will return, but we can be confident that our sins are covered and that He keeps all of His promises.
Optional Materials: (Optional) Objects representing fear or “haunted” elements, cross, Bible.
Bible Passage: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17
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 several decorations, some from various holidays and some representing “spooky” elements like skeletons or Halloween items.
Hello, Children of God!
You know, there are some things in life that just really confuse me. For instance, holidays…I mean, I like to celebrate one season at a time, but it seems like the craft stores start advertising Christmas when it’s still swimsuit time. Or take Halloween, which we recently had…a lot of people like dressing up and carving pumpkins and looking at scary things (hold up “spooky” items)…but is that okay? I mean, are there ghosts or spirits that we should worry about? How do we know what’s true or what to trust in? How do we even know when to celebrate holidays?? There are so many things I just don’t know.
Here’s another thing that confuses me: When is Jesus coming back? In the Bible, we read that He is returning some day “soon”, but that was over two thousand years ago. What is soon? When will He come again, and what will it be like? This is another thing that we just don’t know for sure. People throughout history have claimed to know the day of Christ’s return, or have speculated on the details. But the fact is, Jesus Himself said that no one knows.
The apostle Paul warned the people of Thessalonica (the Thessalonians) that there would be people claiming to know the Day of the Lord or the hour of Christ’s return, but that no one really knew what it was. Paul warned the people to focus not on what was uncertain, but on the truths that they did know for certain. The same is true for us!
Even though we don’t know the details of when or how Jesus will come back, and even if there are a lot of things that can be confusing to consider, we know without a doubt that He loves us and cares for us. We know that Christ came to Earth, lived among us, died for our sins, and came back to life! We know that He calls us to live in His presence and serve Him. So no matter what else comes along, we can certainly hope in the truth of His resurrection. God kept His promise to send a savior. Someday, He will keep His promise to return. Meanwhile, we can live in His presence and count on Him always!
Let’s say a prayer now to thank God for the promises we can count on.
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for the promises of the Bible
Thank you for sending Jesus
Help us to trust in you
Even when we don’t understand things
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. 5 Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things?
But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. -2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17