Children’s Sermon on the Birth of John the Baptist

Use this children’s sermon on the birth of John the Baptist to teach children about God answering prayer.

 

Scripture: Luke 1:1-25

 

Needed: a picture of Zechariah and Elizabeth (included below)

 

Children’s Sermon: Ask children, How many of you have ever prayed for something?

 

Did God do what you asked Him to?

 

Did God do something different than you asked Him to?

 

God doesn’t always say yes to our prayers. He might have His reasons for saying no. He might have His reasons for doing something different than you asked. He might make you wait before He answers your prayers.

 

There’s a story in the Bible about Jesus’ uncle and aunt, Zechariah and Elizabeth. They had never had a child, and they were praying for one their whole life. Now, they were old, and they had given up hope that God would ever give them a child.

 

But one day, when Zechariah was working in the Temple, because he was a priest, the angel Gabriel appeared to him and said…

 

(Read Luke 1:13, quoted here in the NIV.)

 

“‘Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.’”

 

Did you hear that? The angel said God had heard Zechariah’s prayer to have a son! It was a long time after Zechariah started praying for a son, but God eventually answered his prayer.

 

And do you know who Zechariah and Elizabeth’s son was? He was John the Baptist, the famous prophet who even baptized Jesus! God made Zechariah and Elizabeth wait for a son, but then He gave them a truly special son. He did even more for Zechariah and Elizabeth than they prayed for.

 

So, when we pray, let’s remember that God can do even more than we ask, but sometimes, He makes us wait, and sometimes, He has a different plan altogether from what we prayed.

 

Closing Prayer: Father God, we thank You that You are a good God who always knows the best thing to do when we pray to You. Help us to be thankful when You answer our prayers and to trust You when you do something different than we prayed for. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.