This children’s message from Matthew 24:36-44 will show kids how the Advent Season is a way to “be prepared” for the second coming of Jesus Christ. Download the printable children’s sermon below and then watch the video as you prepare to share this Bible object lesson at your church.
“Be Prepared: Advent and the Second Coming of Christ”
Children’s Sermon Object Lesson on Matthew 24:36-44
About this Children’s Sermon
Main Objective: Children understand the concept of waiting for a much-anticipated event, and they can certainly relate to the idea of being prepared…but they might not quite associate those things with Christmas or the coming of Jesus. This message aims to remind kids that Advent is not only about the initial coming found in the Incarnation, but also has to do with our awaiting the eventual return of Christ.
Law/Gospel Theme: We know that Jesus came to Earth, lived, and died, to take our sins away and grant us eternal life in Him. Because of that, we rejoice in the Advent of His birth, and eagerly anticipate His second coming.
Object Lesson Props / Optional Materials: Clock or watch, calendar (optional)
Bible Passage: Matthew 24:36-44
Lectionary Reference: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT. Year A. December 1, 2019
More Message Ideas for Matthew 24:36-44
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Children’s Sermon (Matthew 24:36-44)
Be Prepared Object Lesson for Kids for Advent
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. With this one, you can be as dramatic and elaborate as coming in wearing pajamas, or as simplistic as looking upset and hurried… These suggestions are merely one possible way to demonstrate the message.
Come rushing in, pretending to look for lost items or appearing very frazzled…
Oh no, I’m late, it’s my turn to talk, where are my things? I’m not ready for this at all…where did I put the…? Oh, hi, kids! Well….I’m sorry. It looks like I can’t find…I’m not sure…you know, I am not very prepared right now. See, it’s my clock’s fault! (Hold up broken clock, or day planner or calendar). Yeah, it doesn’t seem to be working, so I didn’t realize what time it really was, and I didn’t know that… well, I guess I’m just not very ready today. Have you ever felt like something was happening, and you weren’t prepared for it? Maybe you had a test at school you didn’t study for…or a game or performance that you wanted to practice for more. Or you woke up late and felt rushed.
What about preparing for visitors? What kinds of things do you have to do if you have a friend coming over, or family visiting for holidays? You probably have to clean your room, make sure you have plenty of snacks, figure out when company will arrive…(allow some child responses)
Well, today we are talking about a very special sort of preparation. We are talking about getting ready for Jesus! Now, we are entering the season of Advent…do you know what “Advent” means? It means “coming”, and we are getting ready for the coming of Jesus! A lot of people around this time of year get ready for Christmas, maybe by shopping or decorating or getting busy with baking and wrapping and things…but in the church, we are getting ready to honor the birth of Jesus. God came to Earth as a baby… the people in that time had been hearing prophecies and predictions about Him, and they were eagerly awaiting the birth of the Messiah. We know that Jesus already came, and we get to celebrate and be grateful for how God kept His promises in that way!
But guess what? Jesus is going to come back someday! The Bible tells us that Jesus will return again, and all the sadness will go away and he’ll scoop us up and take us to Heaven! Do you know when that will be? Well…me neither. In fact, no one knows when Jesus will come back again. It might be tomorrow…it might be in a hundred years! But He tells us to be ready…wait…how can we be ready for something if we don’t know when or how it will happen??
Well, we want to prepare our hearts. God is always present with us, and He wants us to be mindful of that presence and live in a way that pleases Him. We should daily be in prayer and study our Bibles. And we can be excited that He will come back again. So as we get ready for Christmas, remember to be thankful for the coming of Jesus. And rejoice in the excitement that we will one day see Him face to face!
Children’s Prayer Moment
Dear God,
Thank you for coming to Earth for us
Thank you for keeping your promises to save us
Help us to live in your presence
And know what it means to prepare our hearts for You
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
Thank you for Jesus. In His name, Amen!
Matthew 24:36-44 New International Version (NIV) The Day and Hour Unknown
36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
42 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
I am interested in reviewing your materials for future events.