Anna and Simeon - Luke 2:21-41

Teaching Videos

Idea 1

Play “Who Am I?” with the kids.

Ask one leader to be Anna and another to be Simeon.
Let the kids ask yes and no questions to both Anna and Simeon and see how much they can find out in 5 minutes.
Write down everything on a large piece of paper, or let the kids write down what they find out as you go.
After they have found out a bunch of things, show them a video about Anna and Simeon, or read them a story, so they can see how many facts the got right.

Idea 2

Read “Simeon’s Promise” on page 262 in The Children’s Bible in 365 Stories by Mary Batchelor

Questions:

Idea 3

Talk about promises.

Think of a story from your own life when someone promised you something and then it came true. Share it with the kids.
Ask the kids to think of a time when someone promised them something and then it came true.
Talk about how the one person who always keeps their promises is God.

Idea 4

Talk about Jesus being a light.

Give all the kids little flashlights, or small tea lights (the battery kind).
Create an obstacle course and turn all the lights off so it is dark.
Let the kids go through the course on their own using the lights.
Once they are finished, ask the kids what they think would be easier, going through the obstacle course in the light, or using their flashlights and going through in the dark? Which was more fun!
Talk about how Simeon said Jesus was a light. How do lights make things easier?

Idea 5

Bible Promises Falling From the Ceiling

Write out some bible promises, fold them up and put them into balloons. (Psalm 136:1, Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 121:2)
Blow up the balloons and tape them to the ceiling.
Give the kids a pen and one at a time, let them pop a balloon and watch the promise fall.
Read each of the promises and talk about what they mean.

Idea 6

Read different statements and decide if they are about Anna and Simeon.

Write down on a board two different columns one with Anna and the other with Simeon.
Read through these statements and decide who they are about.

Idea 7

Chant “God keeps His Promises”

Have the kids chant “God keeps His promises”
They can do it while jumping up and down, running across the room, doing jumping jacks, pushing a chair etc.

Idea 8

Reminders that God keeps His promises

Give the kids small pieces of paper and ask them to write “God keeps His promises” on each one.
Ask the kids to put these pieces of paper all over their houses so they can remember throughout the week that God keeps His promises.

Idea 9

Tell the story to the kids using messages in envelopes

before you begin, put the Simeon and Anna pages into envelopes. Label each envelope with the title on each page.
Sit down with the kids and begin telling the story.
Say something like “After Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph took Him to the temple to present Jesus to God and to make a sacrifice. That’s how they did things…when the first baby boy was born in a family they needed to present their baby to God and make a sacrifice (two doves or two pigeons).
Ask the kids what they would choose the doves or the pigeons?
Then say something like “Could you imagine going to the temple to present God to God?” Let the kid’s comment on this thought.
Then continue with the story “When Mary and Joseph got to the temple they were met by two different people. One was a man named Simeon and the other was a lady named Anna….let’s start with Simeon”
Use the three envelops about Simeon to help tell the story.
Explain that Simeon was given a promise. Ask one kid to open the promise envelope and read it. Then go through quickly what it means.
Explain that Simeon gave a little speech when he saw Jesus. Open and read the “Speech” Envelope
Explain that Simeon said a bit more and gave a blessing. Open and read the blessing envelope.
Then move onto Anna
Say “let’s find out a bit about Anna” then open and read the “Who is Anna” envelope.
Then find out what Anna did by reading the “what did Anna do” envelope.