Today, I taught my Preschool Sunday School class the story of Simeon and Anna as found in Luke 2.
You can watch me tell the story on my Youtube Channel. You can also get a copy of the printable lesson below. It includes a game and craft.
Happy Sunday!
Download the printable lesson here:
Sunday School Lesson – Simeon and Anna
Attention Grabber:
Waiting Game – Set a timer for 1 minutes and tell the kids they have to “wait” before you can begin the lesson.
Ask, Is it hard to wait sometimes? Like when you wait all year for your birthday to come or for Christmas.
In today’s story, we’re going to hear about two people who had to wait.
Bible Lesson:
The Bible tells us that there was a man named Simeon. He was in Jerusalem. God had promised him that he would get to see Jesus before he died. But, he had to wait. Day after day, he worked, went home, went to bed, worked, went home, went to bed, worked…and day after day he waited.
One day, the Holy Spirit told him to go into the temple. He went in and there saw Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus. They had come to the temple to dedicate him to the Lord. Maybe you had were a part of a baby dedication service when you were a baby.
Well when Simeon came into the temple and saw baby Jesus, he knew exactly who He was! He took Him up into his arms and blessed God and said:
Read Luke 2:28-32.
Anna, an old widow woman, also came into the temple. She was 84 years old. She did not depart from the temple, but lived near there. Maybe she helped clean up around the temple or helped take care of the plants or flowers around the property. We don’t know what all she did there, but we do know the Bible says she served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
Anna came into the temple that instant and listen to what she said and did…
Read Luke 2:38.
Anna spoke to others and told them who she had seen at the temple.
Simeon and Anna had to wait to see Jesus, but He is always worth the wait!
Game: Joy/Wait Game
Tell the kids that when you say, “Joy,” they should jump for joy. When you say, “Wait,” they should stop. Continue calling out either Joy or Wait and allow the kids to jump/stop.
Craft: Toilet roll watch
Trace the bottom of an empty toilet roll onto white paper. Draw numbers and hands like a watch face. Cut the side of the toilet tube, so it slips onto the child’s wrist like a slap bracelet. Glue the watch face to the side.
This story comes from Luke 2: 22-40.
22 And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant[e] depart in peace,
according to your word;
30 for my eyes have seen your salvation
31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and for glory to your people Israel.”
33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four.[f] She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
The Return to Nazareth
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.