Children’s Sermon

Luke 2:1-20

Needing Light

Object suggested: Kaleidoscope. If kaleidoscope is not available stained glass windows may be used to illustrate the lesson, but may be less effective.
Kaleidoscopic images

A kaleidoscope is an interesting object. It is tube-shaped and has a small hole at one end that allows you to look inside the tube to the opposite end. On the far end of the tube is a section that holds bits of glass, flowers, colored oil, beads, sequins, or other colorful objects. (Let children look into kaleidoscope if available and time permits.)

These pretty objects are reflected by mirrors inside the tube and create beautiful patterns that change when you move the kaleidoscope. The patterns created sometimes look like stained glass windows. The word kaleidoscope comes from Greek words that mean “beautiful form to see.”

Looking through a kaleidoscope is an enjoyable experience. The patterns sparkle and change and glow! It may make you feel relaxed or even creative, like you’d like to sing a song or write a story.

The one thing that is needed to enjoy a kaleidoscope or a stained glass window to the fullest is light. Without light we would not be able to see the colorful objects reflected into beautiful patterns.

Christmas is all about light. Jesus is sometimes described as “the light of the world.” The story of Jesus’ birth is a familiar story. Jesus was born Bethlehem where his parents had traveled to pay their taxes. There were shepherds in the fields watching over their sheep that night and an angel came to tell them that the newborn baby was the Messiah, the Savior of the world. And the Bible tells us that “… the glory of the Lord shone around them…” (2:9).

Jesus is the light that lets us see the beauty of God’s love. God’s love all around us in the things he created such as beautiful trees, mountains, oceans, flowers, and in the smiles, and kind deeds of others.

When we experience God’s love we can think of our lives as having a beautiful pattern or design. God’s love will cause our lives to sparkle and change and glow. His love will be reflected in us to others. Jesus is “the light of the world.”

Scripture quotations from the World English Bible