Print this free children’s message and object lesson based on Matthew 2:13-23 then watch our teaching example below to prepare to share this kids sermon in your church or Sunday School.
Children’s Message: Matthew 2:13-23
“A Tale of Two Babies” God is in Control No Matter What
Main Objective: The slaughter of the innocents is not exactly a cheery and simple story, but we don’t want to ignore it. It’s important to tackle tough topics with young children, and to emphasize that God is still in control, even though things appear out of order. With this message, God’s providence is visible as we view Herod’s slaughter and the birth of Jesus, and compare it to the birth of Moses and the evil of Pharaoh.
Law/Gospel Theme: Even when life is challenging or things appear evil, God is in control and has a plan for our lives. All the Bible points back to Christ. Moses was born amidst tough circumstances and was called to rescue the Israelites from Egyptian slavery. Jesus was born as the fulfillment of God’s promises to us. He rescued us from the slavery of sin and gives us new life.
Optional Materials & Object Lesson Props
Baby doll, first aid kit or band-aids, “escape” or “exit” symbol, picture of Egypt, crown or picture of king.
Bible Passage: Matthew 2:13-23
FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY. Year A. December 29, 2019
Bonus Ideas:
- Don’t miss all our sermons for kids and the video example of this message
- Compare our full length Mary & Joseph Sunday School lesson
- Find more Sunday School Lessons on Sunday School Works
- Compare the Matthew 2:13-23 Children’s Sermon on rfour.org
- Get more activities from the Herod the Grinch lesson on Sermons 4 Kids
- Get extra learning activities and Matthew 2 Sunday School Lessons
- Learn the background information on Matthew 2 and the Flight to Egypt a key early event in the Life of Jesus. You can also read this Devotional on the Flight to Egypt.
Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Children’s Message (Matthew 2:13-23) God is in Control Object Lesson
Greet the children, prepared with your visual props.
Hello, children of God! Today I want to tell you about two special babies who grew up to be rescuers! First, though, I have a question. Can you think of something in the world that would be bad? What are some evil or sad things we see around us? (Allow for some responses)
Well, unfortunately, we live in a world that is impacted by sin. We all do bad things, and there is evil around us. This has always been the case. However, we also have hope, because we know that God is in control and will always be around us.
Now, I have some items here that I want to share with you. Maybe these things will help you understand the rescuers I want to tell you about. Let’s see if you can guess who they are…so, one of the elements in the story is a baby (hold up doll), and this baby was born in some unique circumstances.
Another part of the story involves a wicked king (hold up crown) who wanted to do some bad things. The story has to do with a far-away place called Egypt (hold up picture of Egyptian place or artifact).
Now, the story also has to do with a miraculous escape (hold sign) and an important rescuer (demonstrate first aid kit). Do you have any idea what story I’m telling you about?? (See if any students are familiar enough with the Moses story).
Well, these things have to do with an Old Testament figure named Moses. You see, when Moses was born, there was a bad king called Pharaoh. He was worried that God’s people, the Israelites, were going to get too strong and over-power Him. So he made a rule that all of the baby boys born to Israelites had to be killed! That sounds horrible, doesn’t it?
Well, one of those babies was born to a mother who did not want her son killed. So she took her new baby, placed him in a special basket, and floated him down a river. It worked, because Moses survived, and he grew up in Egypt. When he got a little older, God called him to rescue the Hebrew people and lead them out of Egypt and out of their slavery. God’s hand was on his life all the time…
That is a wonderful story, but it certainly is not the end of God’s plans and rescue missions. Later, when Jesus was born, there was a bad king whose name was Herod. Herod got worried because he didn’t want the people of God threatening his power and kingdom, just like the bad Pharaoh had worried about. Herod made a law that all of the baby boys two years old and younger had to be killed!
However, God always knows what He is doing. Mary and Joseph heard about Herod’s nasty plan, and they whisked their precious son away to hide in safety. Do you know where they went? Egypt! And this was also partly to help an important prophecy come true.
God knew and planned how Jesus would live and grow, long before it happened. And after Jesus grew up a little, and wicked King Herod was gone, Jesus returned from Egypt, and ultimately He rescued us from our slavery to sin! The story of Moses is only a brief preview of how amazing Christ’s work is to our lives.
So even though horrible things sometimes happen,
God still knows what is to come, and has a plan and purpose for it. This can be
so hard for us to understand. We need to trust God’s presence and promises. He
will always take care of us. Even though this world gives us trouble, one day
He will make all things new! Why don’t we thank God for providing, and ask for
His help to remember that?
Children’s Prayer Moment
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for your purposes and plans
You are always present and at work
Even when things seem bad or difficult
Help us to trust in that, and to trust in you
We love you, God!
Thank you for Jesus
In His name, Amen!
Matthew 2:13-23 (NIV) The Escape to Egypt
13 When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.”
14 So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15 where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17 Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18 “A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more.”
19 After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child’s life are dead.”
21 So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23 and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.
Coloring Page: Mary and Joseph Escape to Egypt
This free Christmas coloring page is from Christian Clip Arts and used by permission. This printable activity sheet is also included in the combined Sunday School lesson above.
When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
I am new to your Ministry to Children and want to thank you for sharing ! I praise god for your caring and know I will enjoy using your lessons !