Isaiah describes the Messiah as Everlasting Father! A good father loves and provides for his family. Jesus came to show us our Heavenly Father so that we can be children of God and experience love that will never ever run out. There are a number of attributes associated with the description of the Messiah as a father, but for the sake of this lesson we will focus on love that lasts forever!

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

Advent Intro

Remind the kids that we’re in Advent season. Advent means ‘arrival’. Imagine you were stuck on an island and you were running out of food and supplies but you knew that someone was going to come rescue you. Advent would be when that that rescue team finally arrives. 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. The Old Testament is full of promises that one day the Christ would come. One of Israel’s prophets named Isaiah wrote this special description of the Christ. Listen carefully to the names that he gives:

Read Isaiah 9:6

Today we’re going to focus on the third name that was given: Everlasting Father. A good father is someone who loves his children, provides for them and protects them. Jesus came to show us our Heavenly Father who loves us, provides for us and gives us life for eternity!

How much is everlasting?

Props: A ‘bottomless’ water pitcher, a bunch of small dixie cups. The bottomless pitcher will only pour out a portion of its contents at a time, creating the illusion that you’ve emptied it out, allowing you to ‘empty’ it out over and over again.

There is a letter in the Bible written by the Apostle Paul that helps us to understand Everlasting Father. Listen to what Paul prayed for his friends who followed Jesus (Eph 3:14–19). He says:

For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Paul says that when we talk to God it’s like talking to a loving father. We’re all like a big family with God as our Father!
I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. When we believe in Jesus he comes to live in our hearts and that is how we become part of God’s family! [Pretend to pour some water into the bottomless pitcher that’s already pre-filled]
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, Paul says that Jesus’ love for us is so wide [hold your arms wide], and so long [point forward into the distance], and so high [reach high], and so deep [crouch and point down]. Now that’s everlasting!
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. He says that our loving heavenly Father fills us with his love. God loves each one of you!

It might seem unbelievable that the wide, long, high, deep love of Jesus can live inside of us [pour out the jug into a dixie cup], but God’s love for us lasts forever [pour out the jug again into another dixie cup]. Even when it seems like we might reach the end of it [‘empty’ the jug again], it lasts forever! [‘empty’ the jug again] … And ever! [‘empty’ the jug again]

… And ever! [‘empty’ the jug again]

… And ever! [‘empty’ the jug again]

… And ever! [‘empty’ the jug again]

This Christmas we can know that Jesus came to fill us with an everlasting love!

Prayer: Thank you Lord that you are our Father. Thank you for the many ways that you provide for us and care for us and that your love for us lasts forever and will never run out! We pray for those people who don’t have loving fathers and we’re glad that they can turn to you and know your love. Please help us to show your love to others this Christmas.

Activity (Care-kit gifts)

We’re going to do something special today to share the love of Jesus with others. Most of us have loving homes with people who love us and care for us. Some people don’t have loving homes and don’t have people to care for them and show them the love of Jesus. There are many homeless people in our city who aren’t going to get Christmas presents this year. We are going to do something to share Jesus’ love for them. We’re going to be making care-kits and a Christmas card that each of you can take with you and give away to somebody who needs it!

(We’ve partnered with our outreach ministry and all the items for this activity have been supplied)

Review Questions

  • What was the name of Jesus that we spoke about today?
  • Why do you think that Isaiah describes the Christ as a Father?
  • What does everlasting mean?
  • Can the love of Jesus ever run out?
  • Will Jesus ever stop loving you?
  • How can we share that love with others?

 

 

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