Sunday School Lesson for 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.
This lesson 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.
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.
Sunday School Lesson on Luke 21 for Children: Jesus is our Hope
Passage: Luke 21:25-36
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade (better geared to older grades)
Materials Needed: Construction paper, markers, stickers, scissors, tape/glue, paper plates, paper towel tubes, string or pipe cleaners, pictures of signs, music makers, decorations, Bibles.
Lesson Opening: This lesson opens the season of Advent with thoughts about the hope that we have in Christ and how we notice signs of God’s presence and love. To get started, select from one of the following openers, or select another of your own choosing.
- Surprise! Play a game to surprise one another and try to predict things. Partner children and have them line up back to back a few feet away from each other. Hand one person in each partnership a ball, and invite them to toss and catch the balls. The catch is that they cannot see each other, and have to try guessing at what point the other will turn to toss the ball. They’ll need to pay attention for signs that their partner is going to throw.
- Things we don’t know… invite students to list things that they wonder about the world, in any sort of category. Explain that there are a lot of things we don’t know and might never know until Heaven. One of those things is when Jesus will come back! People have wondered and tried to find out for many years, but the truth is that no one can know.
- Is it time yet? Play a version of “what time is it, Mr. Wolf” (various names exist for the game). Have one student line up as “prophet,” and let the rest of the children gather on the other end of a playing area. The group of kids will approach the “prophet” and call out “is it time yet?” or “what’s the news?” The prophet will insist there is nothing to “report”, but at a chosen time will turn around to chase the others. Students will try to make it back to the start without getting tagged, and if they are tagged, will join as “prophets.”
- Get ready! Hold an Advent-themed relay race, with students racing to gather items like packages, ornaments, and bows.
- Show me the signs…Display various signs and have students identify what they are for or where they might be seen. To make this a game, have a matching component or have students pick up pictures of signs as a relay and return to groups to match with words.
Bible Lesson: (Luke 21: 25-36) Sunday School Lesson for Kids Explained for Children – The Signs of the Second Coming of Jesus
Explain that today’s lesson is about the hope we have in God and the signs we see of His love and presence. It’s the first week of Advent, a time of joyful waiting for the coming of Christ.
Ask: What do you do if you’re waiting for something for a long time? How do you wait if you don’t know when something will happen?
Bible Lesson:
This passage is not too long, but it can be a little difficult to interpret and understand. It involves a conversation where Jesus discussed signs of the end of time. Consider with students what these things mean, but also the importance of everyday signs of God’s love and faithfulness. Older students can take turns reading the verses. Or for any audience, consider reading out loud, pausing to discuss elements.
“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.” -Luke 21:25-28
It’s interesting to see that people in the time of Jesus were interested in signs of the end times, just as people today are curious. Then as now, we don’t know the exact time, but Jesus described some signs of its approach. There would be chaos and calamity before the return of Christ, and tribulation as described in the book of Revelation. These descriptions weren’t meant to be frightening, though, but to offer hope for things to come.
Ask: Have you ever heard of someone saying they know when the end of the world will be? What do you think of that?
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. -Luke 21:29-32
This parable would have been relevant to the people of Israel, who had plenty of fig trees around. The tree would bud before summer came, indicating that the season was on the way. Jesus was making the analogy to God’s kingdom. After certain signs, the end could be expected, just as the buds marked signs of coming fruit. The last verse of this passage is especially powerful. Only as true God could Jesus say that His words would never pass away, but it was and is true. No matter what else happens, God’s words will never die or leave us.
Ask: Can you think of signs you see in life that indicate something is going to happen? How can these be good or bad?
“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 21:34-36
Here Jesus warns us to be ready. We don’t know exactly when His coming will be, but we can be prepared for it by remaining constant in prayer and close to God’s presence. We can share the love of Jesus with others and remind them He is near. Of course, “stay awake” doesn’t literally mean that we can’t sleep, but we should be aware of Christ’s return and of is presence now. And while we wait and expect, we can have hope! We hope in the love of God and the knowledge that He is faithful to His promises.
Ask: What can remind you of God’s power and presence? What will you do while you wait for Christ’s return?
Note that even though we might not see all of these signs of the end of time, there are other signs we can look for in our lives. We are surrounded by signs of God’s love and care for us. He gives us blessings and mercies each day. His word reminds us of these things, too. We have the hope of Christmas and the Advent of Jesus. We can also hope for His eventual Second Coming, and meanwhile we have the hope of His constant love and presence. That’s something we can take heart in every day!
Pray: Say a prayer thanking God for keeping His promises, and asking for help in being patient and hopeful in all things. Acknowledge His presence, power, and eventual return.