LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Isaiah 9:6, we discover an amazing promise God made hundreds of years before Jesus was born. The prophet Isaiah told the people about a special baby who would come to save them. This baby would be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. God’s people had to wait a very long time for this promise to come true, but God kept His word perfectly. When the right time came, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as God had planned all along.
God’s perfect timing teaches us an important lesson about patience and trust. Just like the people of Israel waited for many generations for the Messiah to arrive, we sometimes have to wait for God’s plans to unfold in our lives. God always knows the best time to give us what we need. Unlike our human predictions that sometimes don’t come true, God’s promises are always certain. He sees the past, present, and future all at once, and He sent Jesus at exactly the right moment in history to bring peace between God and His people.
Lesson and activities adapted from Trueway Kids
OPENING ACTIVITY 6:00-6:15
Activity 1: Christmas Character Memory Match
Items Needed:
- Christmas story character cards (2 copies of each per station)
Print two copies of the Christmas character cards per station on cardstock. Place all cards face down on the floor or table. Children take turns flipping over two cards at a time trying to find matching pairs. When they find a match, they can keep the cards until it’s time to play again. Talk about how we’re waiting for Christmas when we celebrate Jesus’ birthday, and all these people were waiting for Jesus too!
SONG 6:20-6:30
PRAYER 6:30-6:40 p.m.
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Pray for patience as we wait for Christmas and celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Thank God that He always keeps His promises and sent Jesus at just the right time.
BIBLE VERSE GAME 6:40-6:50 | Ornament String Memory Verse
Items Needed:
- Large laminated paper ornaments placed on the floor in order
- Precut Paper Ornaments (pre-hole punched)
- Yarn or Ribbons
- Crayons
Place large ornaments on the floor in a path or circle, each with part of the scripture from Isaiah 9:6. Have children bounce, hop, or jump from ornament to ornament while saying the memory verse together. Do this several times, getting faster or sillier each time. Make it fun by changing movements – tiptoe, march, hop on one foot, etc.
On the last time around, give each child a piece of string. As they bounce through the words, have them string the ornaments with the Bible Verse onto their string. Hold up the string and have children say the verse together, pointing to each ornament.
BIBLE STORY 6:50-7:00
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Isaiah
Question 2: Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
The Interactive Story
Note: Pause for responses and interactions at the points marked with questions and actions.
Let me ask you something – when is your birthday? (Let a few children answer.) Are you excited when your birthday is coming? Do you have to wait for it? (Responses.) Waiting is hard, isn’t it!
Today we’re going to learn about how God’s people waited a VERY long time for someone special to be born. Longer than waiting for your birthday – they waited for HUNDREDS of years!
A long, long time ago, there was a man named Isaiah. Can you say Isaiah? (Children repeat.) Isaiah was a prophet. Does anyone know what a prophet does? (Responses.) A prophet is like a mail carrier for God! God gives the prophet a special message, and the prophet delivers that message to the people. Isaiah had a very special message from God about a baby who was going to be born.
But this wasn’t just any baby – this was going to be the MOST important baby ever born! Can you guess who it was? (Responses.) That’s right – Jesus!
Let me tell you what Isaiah’s message said. God told Isaiah: “A baby is coming! A very special baby will be born, and we will call Him wonderful names.” Can everyone stand up? Let’s act this out together!
The first name is “Wonderful Counselor.” That means Jesus is wise and helps us know what to do. When you’re confused, what do you do? (Act out looking confused, then getting an idea.) Jesus helps us!
The second name is “Mighty God.” That means Jesus is STRONG and POWERFUL! Show me your strong muscles! (Children flex.) Jesus is even stronger than that! He’s God!
The third name is “Everlasting Father.” That means Jesus loves us and takes care of us forever and ever and ever. How many of you love hugs? (Responses.) Jesus loves us with a love that never, ever ends! Give yourself a big hug! (Children hug themselves.)
The fourth name is “Prince of Peace.” That means Jesus brings peace – peace means everything is calm and good and happy. Let’s all take a deep breath and sit down peacefully. (Children sit calmly.)
Now here’s the tricky part. After Isaiah told the people this message from God, do you know how long they had to wait for baby Jesus to be born? They had to wait about 700 YEARS! Can you count to 10? (Children count.) Imagine counting to 700. That’s a lot of waiting!
Let’s try waiting for just a little bit. Everyone fold your hands and close your eyes. We’re going to sit very quietly and wait. (Wait for 15-20 seconds in silence.) Okay, open your eyes! Was that hard? Waiting can be difficult!
But you know what? God ALWAYS keeps His promises. Even though the people had to wait a very long time, God didn’t forget. And when the PERFECT time came – not too early, not too late, but just right – baby Jesus was born in Bethlehem!
Can you point to your head? (Children point.) God is so smart, He knows EXACTLY the right time for everything! He knew the perfect time to send Jesus.
And guess what? We’re getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ birthday very soon! We don’t have to wait 700 years – we just have to wait a few more weeks until Christmas!
Theological Questions:
- Who sent the message to Isaiah about Jesus? (God did! God told Isaiah what to say to the people.)
- Is Jesus just a regular person, or is He God? (Jesus is God! He’s called “Mighty God” in our verse!)
Life Application Questions:
- When you have to wait for something special, like your birthday or Christmas, what can you remember? (God always keeps His promises! He gives us things at the perfect time!)
- How can we practice being patient while we wait? (We can pray, we can be kind, we can trust that God knows the best time for things!)
Prayer:
Dear God, thank You for keeping Your promise to send Jesus at just the right time. Help us to be patient while we wait for things we’re excited about, just like Your people waited for Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
BIBLE CRAFT 7:00-7:10 | Jesus in a Manager Scene
Craft 1: Jesus in a Manger Scene (Featured Closing Activity)
Items Needed:
- Pre-cut stable scene template (printed on cardstock)
- Crayons or markers
- Glue sticks
- Optional: small cardboard pieces or bottle caps for stands
Give each child a pre-cut and pre-folded stable scene and the character pieces. Have them color all the pieces with crayons or markers. Help them glue small cardboard pieces or bottle caps to the back of each character so they can stand up. Once decorated, children can set up their manger scene and play with it, retelling the story of Jesus’ birth. Send these home so families can display them during Advent.
SNACK TIME & CENTERS 7:10-7:25
Items Needed:
- Coloring page
- Crayons
- Snack
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks. A coloring sheet will be available for kids to color while they eat their snack.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Isaiah 9:6 (KJV):
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway:
Patience and Waiting
What I Learned Today:
- God made a promise through Isaiah that a special baby would be born to save us.
- God’s people waited a very long time, but God kept His promise and sent Jesus at just the right time.
- We need to be patient and trust God’s perfect timing, just like the people who waited for Jesus.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- Who is the special baby that Isaiah told us about? (Jesus!)
- What are some of the special names Isaiah said Jesus would be called? (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace)
- Who gave Isaiah the message about Jesus? (God did)
- Did God keep His promise to send Jesus? (Yes! God always keeps His promises)
- Is Jesus just a regular person or is He God? (Jesus is God – He’s called “Mighty God”)
Life Application Questions:
- What is something you’re waiting for right now? (Christmas, birthday, etc.)
- Is waiting easy or hard? Why? (Hard, because we get excited and want things now)
- How can you practice being patient while you wait for Christmas? (Pray, trust God, help others, enjoy each day)
- What does it mean that God gives us things at the “right time”? (God knows the perfect time – not too early, not too late)
- How can remembering that God kept His promise about Jesus help you when you have to wait? (If God kept His promise about Jesus, we can trust Him with everything – He always keeps His promises!