Scripture: Matthew 2:13-23 and Luke 2:21-40
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn many people like Simeon and Anna wait for a very long time for someone to tell them Jesus is here.
- Students will learn it is important to obey God when He tells us to do something because often our obedience can help us avoid earthly consequences.
- Students will learn our first priority is to worship God and dedicate everything to Him.
- Students will practice measurement by measuring marked off distances.
Guiding Question: Why is it important to obey God no matter what?
Materials: Tape or objects to mark distances, measuring tools (rulers, yardsticks, etc)
Procedure: Review the scripture above with the students. Remind students that Jesus and his family had to travel to Egypt and back and to the temple in Jerusalem. Even though this was a great deal of traveling, Jesus and his family remained obedient to what they had to do. Explain that sometimes it can be difficult to be obedient to God, especially when we don’t understand what He is doing in our life or calling us to do. It is important that we worship God and stay obedient so we can serve Him and receive blessings from Him.
Introduce the activity. Have the students go outside and mark off certain distances such as from a tree to a bush or from a sidewalk to a car. After students have marked off the distances, have them measure the distance in inches or in feet. Bring students back together to compare distances.
Additional Questions: How can students compare distances?
Supplemental Activity: Have students look up distances between some of their favorite places. For example, how many miles is it between home and McDonalds, home and the beach, etc. Then have students find the difference, such as what is the difference between miles from home and the beach and home and McDonalds?