1. STORY: Simeon and Anna meet Jesus (Luke 2:22-40)

• We’ve learnt of how prophet Isaiah foretold the birth of Jesus, and how shepherds and wise men came to worship Him.
• Shepherds and Wise Men aren’t the only ones who got to meet the baby Jesus and experience the love and power of God face-to-face. There were others.
• The Bible recounts that when Jesus was still a baby, Mary and Joseph took him to the temple in Jerusalem to be dedicated to the Lord, in accordance with Jewish custom.

• Let’s read Luke 2:21-40 together.
  (Paraphrase for younger kids; e.g. http://ministry-to-children.com/bible-lesson-simeon-and-anna-see-the-savior/)

2.  LESSON:

• God Promised a Saviour
  • God’s Word teaches us about His promise to send the Savior and how His promises came true.  The Bible gives us the rest of the story of this baby.  Jesus grew up and lived a perfect life obeying God’s laws.  He died on the cross for our sins, was buried and rose again on the third day.  When a person believes by faith that Jesus died in his/her place their sins are forgiven.
  • Just as Simeon had faith that God would keep His promise that he would see the Savior before he died we have faith that what Jesus did to save us from our sins over 2000 years ago is true.  None of us were living when Jesus did this for us.  We believe it even though we didn’t see it. Once we believe by faith that Jesus is our Savior we need to live our lives day by day by faith.  We need to read and obey God’s Word so we can know how to live and trust His promises even when we don’t understand.
• God Promised Jesus will come again
  
  • Did you know that if you are a follower of Christ, we are waiting for something God has promised but has not happened yet?  God has promised that one day Jesus is going to come back and take all who believe in Him back with Him to heaven.  This is an exciting promise for those who believe in Jesus because at any moment believers could hear the trumpet of God and in a twinkling of an eye go up to meet Jesus in the air and live forever with Him. (1 Thess. 4:13-18)
  • Simeon and Anna both believed that God would send the Savior and waited for Him to keep His promise.  All who believe God’s promise for Jesus’ return believe He will come back one day and are waiting for that promise to come true.  How are you and I going to wait for that promise?
  • Let’s be like Simeon and Anna and live with an attitude of worship and obeying God every day.  Let’s have an attitude of praising Him and thanking Him for all that He has done and will do for us as we believe Him by faith.  (Hebrews 11:13)

3. ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS:

• Song:
  
  • Go Tell it on the Mountain 
  • Jesus Christ is coming again (to the tune of “Santa Claus is coming to town”)

I’m gonna shout out

I’m gonna not cry

I’m gonna sing loud

I’m telling you why

Jesus Christ is coming again

He’s written my name

In His book of Life

Died for us all, the naughty and nice

Jesus Christ is coming again

He loves you when you’re sleeping

He loves you when you’re awake

He loves you when you’re bad or good

So be good for Jesus’ sake.

• Memory Verse: Hebrews 11:1 “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
• Sharing: Get kids to take turns sharing what they can thank God for this past year