Bible Study – We Keep Our Promises
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
It is the beginning of a New Year. A brand new calendar for a fresh start on life. Most people start the new year by making some New Year Resolutions. Making a resolution is like making a promise to do better next year than we did last year. For example: Watch less TV or computer games and get more exercise or be nice to other kids – even my brothers and sisters.
Some people don’t take New Year’s resolutions very seriously. After all, they’re just promises to yourself. We might think that if we don’t follow through, it’s no big deal. But it is a big deal! A promise is a promise and it’s important to keep your promises—even if it’s just a promise to yourself.
The Bible tells about a very important promise God made to His people. Thankfully, God is always faithful in keeping His promises. We learn in the Bible about a man named Simeon. Simeon was a very old man who had waited his whole life to see God’s promise come to himself and to God’s people.
Opening Prayer: Thank you, God, for helping us to learn about your promises. Amen.
Please open your Bibles to Luke 2:22-40 and read or read the scriptures below.
Luke 2:22-40
Jesus Presented in the Temple
22 When the time came for the purification rites required by the Law of Moses, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”[a]), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: “a pair of doves or two young pigeons.”[b]
25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:
29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss[c] your servant in peace.
30 For my eyes have seen your salvation,
31 which you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
33 The child’s father and mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, 35 so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36 There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four.[d] She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 When Joseph and Mary had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.
Questions:
- Who revealed to Simeon that Jesus was the child he was waiting for?
- What was the promise?
- Who was the prophet who worshiped night and day at the temple?
- What does God’s promise mean to you?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Lumo-Gospel of Luke Chapter 2:22-40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FpiR-lcc9o
Jesus is Dedicated Luke 2 22-40: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfZsL5EYW3E
Gospel of Luke Summary – Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIb_dCIxzr0
Song: God is so Good - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMvpQ06anYc
Activities:
Promise Star: you will need 5 craft sticks and a marker to lightly color one side of each stick. Then glue the middle of the sticks together on top of each other to form a star. Before gluing the sticks together, you can write a promise on each end of all the craft sticks for promises that you would like to keep.
Snow Flake Prayer: You will need a square or round white piece of paper. Fold it as many times as possible. Cut little notches out on all the folded edges. Unfold your snowflake and write promises around the snowflake and then hang it in your room or door. It is important to keep your promise as God does.
Make a Scroll: You will need a half sheet of paper. Write out one of God’s promises found in the Bible, both scripture and verse. Paste a straw to the top and bottom of the sheets of paper. Roll the straws toward the center of the page so that each page resembles a scroll.
Simeon Recognizes Jesus - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/simeon-recognizes-jesus-3
Simeon Recognizes Jesus - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/simeon-recognizes-jesus-7
Simeon Recognizes Jesus – Decoder: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/simeon-recognizes-jesus-9
Simeon Recognizes Jesus – Cryptogram: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/simeon-recognizes-jesus-4
Prayer: Almighty God, just as You’re faithful to keep Your promises, help us to be faithful in keeping our promises. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
