Title: The King is Coming: Preparing for Jesus’ 1000 Year Reign
Objective:
To help young children understand the significance of Sukkot and the promise of Jesus’ return to reign on Earth for 1,000 years.
Introduction:
Hello, everyone! Today, we are going to learn about a special celebration called Sukkot and how it connects to our faith in Jesus. We will talk about how God has wonderful plans for us, especially about the time when Jesus will come back and be our King!
What is Sukkot?
Sukkot is an exciting Jewish festival also known as the Feast of Tabernacles. It celebrates the time when God’s people lived in tents during their journey in the wilderness after being freed from Egypt. During this time, they thanked God for all that He had done for them. Just like they built tents to remember God’s care, we can remember how God takes care of us, too!
Why is Sukkot Important?
Sukkot teaches us many important lessons:
1. **God Provides**: Just like He provided food and shelter to the Israelites in the wilderness, He provides for us every day. We can trust that God will take care of us because He loves us.
2. **Thankfulness**: During Sukkot, families spend time together in their tents and thank God for the things He gives them. We should always be thankful for our blessings and share them with others.
3. **Joy and Celebration**: Sukkot is a time of joy! It’s a time to celebrate the harvest and enjoy being with loved ones. God wants us to be joyful and to celebrate life together as a family.
Connecting Sukkot to Jesus’ 1000 Year Reign:
Now let’s talk about the amazing promise we have from God—that Jesus will return one day and reign as King! This time is sometimes called the “Millennial Kingdom,” which is a fancy way of saying Jesus will rule for 1,000 years.
1. **King Jesus Will Be Here**: Just like the Israelites looked forward to reaching the Promised Land, we look forward to the day when Jesus comes back. He will make everything better and be the perfect King. We will live with Him, and there will be peace!
2. **Preparing Our Hearts**: Just like they got ready for Sukkot by building tents, we need to prepare our hearts for Jesus’ return. We can do this by:
– **Praying**: Talking to God and thanking Him for Jesus.
– **Loving Others**: Showing kindness and love to everyone around us.
– **Learning About Jesus**: Reading our Bibles and learning how to follow Him.
3. **Living With Joy**: Just as Sukkot is a time of joy, we can choose to live joyfully every day, knowing that Jesus is our Savior and King. We can share that joy with others to help them get ready too!
Conclusion:
Sukkot reminds us of God’s goodness and provision, and it points us to the wonderful promise of Jesus returning to reign for 1,000 years. Let’s remember to prepare our hearts, live joyfully, and share our love with others. The King is coming, and we can’t wait to celebrate together with Him!
Prayer:
Let’s end with a prayer.
“Dear God, thank You for loving us and for the promise of Jesus’ return. Help us to prepare our hearts and live joyfully as we wait for our King. We love You! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Activity:
To remember Sukkot and Jesus’ 1000 Year Reign, let’s make our own mini tents using paper and markers! You can draw things that remind you of God’s blessings in your life.