Children’s Sermon on Revelation 2 – Letter to Smyrna – Facing Persecution

Use this children’s sermon on Jesus’ letter to Smyrna to teach children about our hope during times of persecution. 

Scripture: Revelation 2:10

Needed: nothing

Children’s Sermon: Tell children, Everyone take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds. Ready, go! (Count from 1 to 10). Okay, breathe!

Was it hard to hold your breath for 10 seconds? Maybe it was hard but not impossible. You could do it.

We held our breath for 10 seconds, but Jesus told the Christians in the city of Smyrna that they would be persecuted for 10 days. People would arrest them and put them in jail and maybe even kill them because they believed in Jesus. But that period would last only 10 days. It would be a hard time, but after 10 days, it would be over.

Do you think the Christians in Smyrna were glad to know their time of persecution would last only 10 days?

Do you think the Christians in Smyrna could stay strong and last for 10 days?

They would probably feel like they were holding their breath, waiting for it to be over. It would be a hard thing, but they could do it. They could last 10 days, knowing that the hard time would soon be over.

The Bible tells us that Christians all over the world will some day face a period of persecution that will last three and a half years. We have to stand strong during those three and a half years and keep our faith in Jesus. It will be hard, but we can do it, because we know it won’t last forever. If we can stand strong for three and a half years, then the period of persecution will be over.

Closing Prayer: Father God, we thank You for giving us a goal and telling us how long that coming period of persecution will last. Help us to get ready for it now, so that when it comes, we can stand strong for You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.