Just the right time
Children's sermon
Object:
a 1999 calendar
Good morning and Happy New Year! Today is the first day of a new year, and it is a very special year because it is the last year that will begin with 19. Here is a calendar for this new year. (Show the calendar.) There are 365 days in the year which will end on December 31 (show the December date), and then we will begin a new century. What will the next year be? (Let them answer.) Yes, it will be 2000. We will all have to get used to writing 20 something instead of 19 something.
Are there any special days in this new year? For instance, will any of you have a birthday in this year? (Let them answer.) Of course, we will all have a birthday sometime during the year. What about Jesus? Will he have a birthday this year? (Let them answer.) Yes, he will have a birthday, which we will celebrate on December 25. There it is on the calendar. (Show the date.)
Now, even though we celebrate the birthday of Jesus on December 25, we really don't know the exact day of his birth. We just picked a day to celebrate because the Bible doesn't tell us the exact date. We really don't even know the exact year, although we know it was about 2,000 years ago. What the Bible does tell us is that he was born at just the right time by God's plan. We can't point to an exact day and year like we can for your birthday, but we do know it was just the right day and year for him to be born. So whether it was December 25 or some other date or whether it was 2,000 years ago or 2,005 years ago doesn't matter. What matters is that he was born and that he did all that was necessary for you and me to become his people. Let's thank God for that.
Dear God: We thank You so much for sending Your Son, Jesus, into the world at just the right time. Amen.
Are there any special days in this new year? For instance, will any of you have a birthday in this year? (Let them answer.) Of course, we will all have a birthday sometime during the year. What about Jesus? Will he have a birthday this year? (Let them answer.) Yes, he will have a birthday, which we will celebrate on December 25. There it is on the calendar. (Show the date.)
Now, even though we celebrate the birthday of Jesus on December 25, we really don't know the exact day of his birth. We just picked a day to celebrate because the Bible doesn't tell us the exact date. We really don't even know the exact year, although we know it was about 2,000 years ago. What the Bible does tell us is that he was born at just the right time by God's plan. We can't point to an exact day and year like we can for your birthday, but we do know it was just the right day and year for him to be born. So whether it was December 25 or some other date or whether it was 2,000 years ago or 2,005 years ago doesn't matter. What matters is that he was born and that he did all that was necessary for you and me to become his people. Let's thank God for that.
Dear God: We thank You so much for sending Your Son, Jesus, into the world at just the right time. Amen.
