Jesus Was Dedicated
(Luke 2)
August 30th, 2026
Sunday Recap
•
Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
The story of Jesus’ dedication in the temple further reveals Him to be the expected Messiah—the chosen One promised to bring salvation to all who repent and believe. Here we discover that Simeon and Anna were patiently waiting for God’s Messiah to enter the world, and through their words, we learn that Jesus is worthy of worship and that He would usher in salvation and redemption for both the Israelites and the Gentiles.
We can also see a correlation between Simeon’s words and those of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, who said:
“And the glory of the Lord will appear, and all humanity together will see it.” (Isaiah 40:5)
“I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations.” (42:6)
“All the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.” (52:10)
These Old Testament prophecies, written long before Christ was born, were receiving their first sparks of fulfilment through His arrival.
Simeon and Anna were well-acquainted with the Scriptures and believed in God’s promise of the coming Messiah. Verse 27 tells us that the Spirit led Simeon into the temple to see Jesus face to face. In verse 38, Anna praised God in the temple, declaring Him to be the promised Redeemer for Jerusalem. Simeon and Anna intimately knew the God of their salvation and believed by faith that Jesus really was their long-awaited Messiah.
As you lead your kids this week, help them understand how Jesus is worthy of our worship. Lead them to look to God’s Word to see that Jesus really is the Son of God who made the way to save people from their sins.
Ask the Lord to guide you as you proclaim His power to save, just as Simeon and Anna did centuries ago. May you be found faithful and expectantly waiting for the Messiah’s return, beholding His glory and declaring His good news to all who will hear.
***Next Week: Wise Men Visited Jesus (Matthew 2)
Family Discipleship Plan
•
Family Discipleship Plan •
-
Read Luke 2 from the Bible.
-
Television commercials are always making big promises. A little lizard promises that a few minutes can save you money on your car insurance; a pink bunny promises that his batteries keep going and going. These are fun advertisements, but can we really trust what they promise?
When Simeon was an old man, he remembered the promise God had made to him. God had told Simeon he would not die until he had seen the Messiah—the promised Savior. But could Simeon trust this promise?
Simeon saw Jesus being dedicated at the temple, and the Spirit told him this baby is the Messiah. Simeon got to hold Jesus—the promised Savior—in his arms! Simeon rejoiced because God had kept His promise.
The promises we hear on TV or from others are often broken. While we’re not perfect at keeping promises, we can trust that God is always faithful to do what He says He will do! The promises of God are always perfect, and there is no greater proof than the birth of Jesus—the promised one who saves people from sin!
Simeon and Anna worshiped Jesus as the Messiah who God promised to save people from their sins. By trusting in Jesus, we can be saved from our sins and, like Simeon and Anna, praise God for His salvation.
Pray: God, You are the promise keeper! We can trust You to do what You say because You are faithful and perfect in all Your ways. Our greatest proof of Your faithfulness is that You sent Jesus just as You promised. We want to be like Simeon who looked to Jesus and recognized Him as the one who saves people from sin! Amen.
-
Preschool:
“God loved the world and gave his only Son to all who believe in him.”John 3:16
1st-5th:
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” John 3:16 NiRV
-
Mornings
Ask God to remind You of His promises and His ability to always keep His promises. How do the stories of God’s faithfulness in the Bible help us trust Him now?
Evenings
Praise God for the peace, joy, and hope we can have in Him because He is a faithful God. Thank Him for the examples of faithfulness you read in Scripture and see in your own experiences. How does God’s faithfulness give us peace and joy right now? How does God’s faithfulness give us hope for the future?
-
For Fun
Make a promise like going out for ice cream or going to a movie that will be fulfilled later in the week. Throughout the week, talk as a family about what it’s like to wait and how waiting might make you forget or doubt the promise. As you get closer to the fulfillment of the promise, talk about the joy and anticipation each person feels. Compare all the feelings of the week to what Simeon might have felt. Remind kids that God can always be trusted to keep His promises.
To Serve
Take a flower arrangement to a senior adult Bible study group. Write the words of 2 Corinthians 1:20 (For every one of God’s promises is “Yes” in him. Therefore, through him we also say “Amen” to the glory of God.) on a tag and attach it to the bouquet. If possible, ask a member of the group to share how they have seen God’s faithfulness in their life. Remind kids that God always keeps His promises!