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ChristmasLessonPart2:AnnaThefocusofthislessonistointroduceAnnaandemphasizethefactthatshelivedherlifeexpectingGod’spromisestobefulfilled.

Review:Askstudentsthesequestionstoreviewlastweeksteaching.Whodidwelearnaboutlastweek?SimeonWhatdoeshisnamemean?GodhasheardWelearnedthatSimeonwasexpectingsomething.Whatwashewatching,waitingandprayingfor?GodtosendthepromisedOne,God’sSonSimeonwasapartofthesmallgroupofJewsthatwerefaithfultoGodandbelievedinhispromises.Whichotherpeopledidwelearnaboutwhowerealsointhisgroup?Zacharias,Elizabeth,Mary,Joseph,theshepherdsWhatdidtheHolySpiritrevealtohim?“hewouldnotseedeathbeforehehadseentheLord’sChrist”WheredidtheHolySpiritleadhim?TothetempleWhodidhemeetatthetemple?Mary,JosephandbabyJesus

• Todaywearegoingtolearnaboutoneotherpersonwho,justlikeSimeon,wasexpecting

Jesusandwasatthetemplethatverysameday.OpenyourbiblestoLuke2:36-38toreadaboutthisperson.

o Luke2:36Nowtherewasone,Anna,aprophetess,thedaughterofPhanuel,ofthetribeofAsher.Shewasofagreatage,andhadlivedwithahusbandsevenyearsfromhervirginity;37andthiswomanwasawidowofabouteighty-fouryears,whodidnotdepartfromthetemple,butservedGodwithfastingsandprayersnightandday.38AndcominginthatinstantshegavethankstotheLord,andspokeofHimtoallthosewholookedforredemptioninJerusalem.

**Passoutstudentworksheets**–helpstudentsfillintheblanksoftheworksheet

asyougoovertheinformation.

• WhatisthenameofthisotherpersonthatwasexpectingJesustobesent?o Anna

• WelearnedlastweekthatitishelpfultoknowthemeaningofnamesintheBible.The

nameAnnameans“favororgrace”.(Writeonworksheet)

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o GodhadfavorandgraceuponAnna’slifebecauseofherfaithfulnessandbeliefinGod’spromises.Sheservedinthetempleandwasexpecting–waitingandwatchingforGod’spromisestobefulfilled!

o (Interestingtonote:ThenameAnnaistheGreektranslationoftheHebrewname“Hannah”.HannahintheOldTestamentisalsocharacterizedbyprayer,fastingandbeingdedicatedtoservingGodinthetemple–justlikeAnna!)

• Howdoesthefirstpartofverse36describeAnna?

o Shewas“aprophetess”(Writeonworksheet)o ThismeansshespokeGod’struths,shespokeandtaughtaboutGod’sWordtoothers.She

believedwhatGodhadsaidthroughtheprophetsintheOldTestamentandsharedthiswiththosearoundher.

• Continuereadingverse36.Whatdoesthescripturessayaboutherageandwasshe

married?o Shewasawidowadvancedinyears(writeonworksheet)o Weknowshewasveryold.Verse37saysshewasmarriedfor7yearsandthenherhusband

diedandshewasawidowfor84years.84+7=91Thescripturesdon’ttellushowoldshewaswhenshegotmarried,butwecanconcludeshewasover91yearsold!

• Continuereadingverse37.WheredoesthescripturesayAnnaspenthertime?

o She“didnotdepartfromthetemple”(writeonworksheet)o Shehaddedicatedherlifetoservingatthetemple.o (Review:Whoelsewasatthetemplethatday?Simeon,Mary,JosephandJesus)

• HowdidAnnaserveGodatthetemple?

o She“servedGodwithfastingsandprayers”(writeonworksheet)o FastingmeansnoteatinginordertofocusonGod.FromthisverseweknowthatAnna’s

prayersweresuchanimportantpartofherlifethatshedeniedherselfevenfoodattimessoshecouldfocushermindandspendtimeinprayer.

o Whatdoyouthinkshewasprayingabout?(Hint:ShewaspartofthegroupofJewsthatwerefaithfulandbelievedinGod’spromises.Sowhatdoyouthinkherprayerswereallfocusedon?)ThatGod’spromiseswouldbefulfilled–thatthepromisedOnewouldbesenttosetupHiskingdom!

• ThescripturecontinuesandsaysAnnaservedGodwith“fastingandprayersdayand

night”.o Thistellsusthatshefastedandprayedcontinually–thiswasherlife!Herliferevolved

aroundprayingtoGodandbelievinginHispromisestosendtheMessiah.Shebelievedthissomuchthatherentirelifewasdedicatedtofastingandprayersatthetemple.ShetookthepromisesoftheOldTestamentseriouslyandprayedforthemdayandnight…dayafterday,yearafteryear!

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• Readthefirstpartofverse38.Whatdoes“cominginthatinstant”mean?Whatexactinstantwassheapartof?

o Wehavetolookatthepreviousversestoknowwhatthismeans.Thepreviousverses(thatwereadlastweek)toldusallaboutSimeonbeingatthetemplemeetingMary,JosephandJesus.

o So,Annawasalsoatthetempletheverysameday.Remember–thetemplewasabusyplaceandtherewerehundredsofpeoplecomingandgoing.But,GodallowedAnnatobeinjusttherightplaceatjusttherighttimetohearSimeonspeakingaboutJesus!

• AfterseeingandhearingSimeonwithMary,JosephandJesus,whatdidAnnado?

o Firstly,“shegavethankstotheLord”–shewasinstantlyfilledwithpraiseandthankstoGod!

! Afterallheryearsoffastingandprayers–howdoyouthinkshefeltwhenmeetingthisbaby,theOnewhoGodhadpromised?Shewasprobablyoverwhelmedwiththanksandpraise!ShehadbeenwaitingandexpectingtheMessiah,theRedeemer,theOnewhowouldfulfillthepromisesmadetoAbrahamandDavid!

o ThenextpartoftheversegoesontosayafterAnnagavethanksshe“spokeofHimtoallthosewholookedforredemptioninJerusalem”.

! Godhadansweredherprayersandshewantedtotelleveryoneaboutit!ShewenttoallthoseJewswhowereseekingandbelievedinGod’spromises–allthosewhowereexpectingChristandshetoldthemhowGodhadstayedtruetoHispromise.ShetoldthemhowGodhadansweredheryearsandyearsofprayers!Howexcitedshemusthavebeen!Thekindofexcitementthatshecouldnotkeeptoherself–shehadtosharethisnewswithothers!

RememberthemeaningofAnna’sname??Hernamemeans“favororgrace”.AfterreadingthesescripturesaboutherwecanclearlyseethatGod’sfavorwasuponAnna;andinHisgraceHeallowedhertoseethe“RedemptionofIsrael”!Godhadheard(meaningofSimeon’sname)theprayersofthesefaithfulJewsandsentJesustoearthtofulfillHispromises.Jesusdidn’tcomeasabigstrongkingwithroyalrobesandacrownonhishead.GodsentthispromisedSonasalittlebaby,borntoafaithfullyobedientJewishcouple.Hewasbornnotinapalaceorevenanicehouse,butinastablemeantforanimals.WhiletherestofIsraelmighthavebeenlookingforagreatandmightyking,SimeonandAnnarealizedexactlywhothislittlebabywasatthetemplethatday.TheywerebothsooverjoyedthatGodhadsentHisSonjustasHehadpromised!TheylivedtheirlivesexpectingGodtostaytruetoHisWord;theyremainedfaithfulevenwhenittookyearsandyearsforthesepromisestocometrue.• AsfaithfullyobedientChristianstoday,whatshouldwebeexpecting?Isthereanything

thatGodhastoldusinHiswordthatwillhappenatafuturetime?(Hint:Jesuscamethefirsttimeasababy,whatdoestheBibletellusabouthissecondcoming?)

o SimeonandAnnawereexpectingJesustobesenttoearth.Theywaitedyearsandyearsforthistohappen.AswereadandstudyGod’swordweknowthatGodhaspromisedtosend

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Jesustoearthasecondtime.Notasababy,butasaKing,tosetupHiskingdomandruleandreignovertheearth.Thisiswhatweshouldbeexpecting!WeshouldbelikeSimeonandAnna,prayingforGod’spromisestocometrue!

JustlikeSimeonandAnnawehaveGod’sWord.Wehaveachoicetoread,studyandbelieveit,likeSimeonandAnna,ortoignoreit,liketheunfaithfulJews.ThisisachoicethatYOUhavetomake;noonecanmakeitforyou.WillyouchoosetoliveyourlifeclingingtoGod’sWordandexpectinghispromisestocometrue?WillyouchoosetobelikeSimeonandAnnaandremainfaithfulasyouwaitforJesus?

Christmas Ornament Craft Supplies:

• picture frame ornaments • photo of each child • printed messages (see below) • decorations (pom-poms, glitter, buttons, etc.) • glue • scissors • paint pen

Using a paint pen, write the year at the bottom of the front side of the frame. Cut photo to appropriate size and put into frame. Cut out the “message” and have each student write his or her name in the blank. Glue to the back of frame. Allow students to decorate the front of frame using glue and decorations.

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I, _______________________, am expecting Jesus. I

celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas and I believe that He is coming again!

I, _______________________, am expecting Jesus. I

celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas and I believe that He is coming again!

I, _______________________, am expecting Jesus. I

celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas and I believe that He is coming again!

I, _______________________, am expecting Jesus. I

celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas and I believe that He is coming again!

I, _______________________, am expecting Jesus. I

celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas and I believe that He is coming again!

I, _______________________, am expecting Jesus. I

celebrate Jesus’ first coming at Christmas and I believe that He is coming again!