Isaiah describes the Messiah as Mighty God! It means that, even though Jesus made himself weak, nothing and nobody is stronger than him. He created us and we can trust him to be our strength and to give us abundant life!

Key Verse

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

– Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Lesson

Explaining Advent

Explain to the kids that we’re in Advent season. Advent means ‘arrival’. When a mommy has a baby in her tummy/in her womb and the time starts getting closer for the baby to arrive, everyone gets excited for a new little baby. Some of you might have experienced that with a little brother or sister! Advent is like the arrival of that baby. Advent is a word to describe Christmas because we’re celebrating the arrival of Jesus Christ!

The nation of Israel waited a long time for the Messiah. One of Israel’s prophets named Isaiah wrote this special description of the Christ that was to come. Listen carefully to the names that he gives:

Read Isaiah 9:6

Today we’re going to focus on the second name that was given: Mighty God. Mighty means strong. So, we’re going to play a game called ‘strongest between’

What is Stronger Between…?

Props: Cards of various animals ranging from smallest to biggest, and a card with baby (here’s a link to the Animal cards pdf)

Animals-contactsheet

Explain to the kids how you will play the game: You’ll show them two animal pictures and they’ll take turns to choose which of the two animals they think is stronger. Start off with two images of smaller creatures like an ant and a spider. If the child chooses the spider then set the ant aside and show them spider versus wasp … Keep it going until you get to the strongest animal.

Say: “Wow, what could be stronger than an elephant!?” Allow the kids a few responses and then say: “What about the person who made the elephant?”

Jesus is Stronger!

Props: A nativity set

One of the most dangerous animals that the Bible talks about is the behemoth. We don’t really know exactly what kind of animal it is. Maybe a hippo, maybe an elephant (hold up the picture of the elephant). Listen carefully to what God says about this animal in Job 40:15–19!

15 “Look at Behemoth,

   which I made along with you

   and which feeds on grass like an ox.

16 What strength it has in its loins,

   what power in the muscles of its belly!

17 Its tail sways like a cedar;

   the sinews of its thighs are close-knit.

18 Its bones are tubes of bronze,

   its limbs like rods of iron.

19 It ranks first among the works of God,

   yet its Maker can approach it with his sword.

Wow, that sounds like a big strong scary creature but God says that he made even the strongest animals, and even the strongest things in this world are not as strong as him! Nothing is stronger than God!!!

Remember that, long before Jesus was born, Isaiah said that the Messiah would be Mighty God! When Jesus was born in a stable in Bethlehem he was just a little baby (hold up the baby picture). How could that little baby be mightier than a whale, or an elephant, or a rhino? Listen carefully to this verse from Colossians 1:16 about Jesus:

16 For in him (Jesus) all things were created: things in heaven and on earth … all things have been created through him and for him.

That means that Jesus existed before he was born, and he was even there before the world was created!. He is God, because everything was created through him!

Application

The Bible says that Jesus saves us from our sins. Because Jesus is Mighty God we can trust that he really does have the power to save us and to forgive our sins! Jesus is powerful enough to conquer death and give us life forever.

It also means that Jesus is our strength when we are weak. Sometimes you might feel weak or overcome with sadness. We can come to Jesus and be reminded that true strength comes from him.

The Mighty God coming as a little baby is also a wonderful reminder that things are not always as they seem. Sometimes life seems unfair, and we might see people in this world abusing their power and doing wrong things. It doesn’t mean that they are really the strong ones, or are really in charge. Jesus is the Mighty God, and he is really in charge, even when it might not seem like it.

Let the 9-11s watch the Birth of Jesus Bible Project video

Prayer: Thank Jesus that he is our Mighty God! Thank him that he loves us and has the power to set us free from our sins and give us abundant life. Pray that each of the children would be strengthened by him.

Review Questions

  • Which animal do you think is the strongest?
  • What was the animal we spoke about in Job 40?
  • Who created the behemoth?
  • Where was Jesus when the world was created?
  • At Christmas did Jesus come to earth showing off his power?

 

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