“Guess Who?” an object lesson for the 2nd week of Advent

Object lesson for Week 2 of Advent: “Guess Who?”

Objects needed:

A copy of the children’s game “Guess Who?” if you can find one.

Theme/Main Idea:

With Jesus’ birth, God entered into human history and gave God a face! In knowing Jesus, we have a chance to know God. In living our lives with Jesus, we can know true hope no matter what happens.

Presentation:

“Have you ever had to describe a good friend to someone who hasn’t met them? What sort of things did you say to describe them?

[Take time for children’s answers. They are likely going to mention personality traits as well as physical traits.]

These are all great descriptions. I noticed that people mentioned physical characteristics—how tall, what color hair, etc.—as well as personality traits—nice, funny, etc.—when describing their friends. Now, for a stranger who hasn’t met our friend, it might be easier for them to recognize our friend if we just stuck to physical traits.

[Take out “Guess Who?” game]

Do you guys know what this is? Yes. It is a game. Has anyone here ever played this game? Yes? Well how do you play? That’s right, you try and guess the other player’s mystery person before they guess yours. And, it is all about asking questions like, ‘Is it a boy? Does he have a mustache? Does he wear glasses?’ And, as you go… it narrows things down until you can guess who the mystery person is.

Now… I kind of have a silly question for you. If you were going to play this game and God was your mystery person, how would you describe God? Would you use physical characteristics to describe God like in this game [hold Guess Who? Game up], or would you use personality characteristics—sticking to what God is like… gentle, kind, powerful?

[Give children time to respond]

Yes. We might think about pictures we have seen of Jesus when we describe God, but even those pictures… well, we can’t be sure exactly what Jesus looked like. So, more often than not, I think I would describe Jesus or God like some of you did: Loving, kind, peaceful… those kind of things.

Until God came to earth as Jesus, we had a hard time knowing Jesus. The Bible tells us that Jesus is a perfect representation of God—He shows us exactly what God is like because he is God. So, after Jesus came, people could know God better than they ever had before!

Even now, after Jesus has been born, lived, died, rose from the grave and has returned to heaven, we can still know God well by knowing Jesus. We can know Jesus by reading the Bible, by talking to Jesus in prayer, and through worship—what we are doing right now! Yes, he might not be here physically. We might not be able to reach out and touch Jesus, but Jesus is here and we can still know him in our hearts, minds, and souls. And, just like our best friends, we’ll find that the words we use to describe our friend Jesus will not focus on how Jesus looks, but on the traits that really make a difference to us. The hope of the whole earth—to know God and be loved by God—this hope was met when Jesus was born.

Let’s pray:

“God, thank you for the hope we have in Jesus Christ. Because Jesus came to us we don’t have to guess about who you are and how you feel about us. You love us, care for us, and want us to love you in return. Thank you, God for this season of hope and for the joy you have placed in our hearts. Amen.”

Key Text:

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” (Colossians 1:15-20)

© Chaplain Chris Haughee, 2017 www.intermountainministry.org

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