Entrance into the Temple

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to introduce the New Testament. In kindergarten, you will go over the Annunciation, the Nativity, the entrance to the Temple, and the Epiphany. The students will also learn differences between the Old and New Testaments. In this lesson, the students will learn the story of when our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Temple as a baby and the story of Saint Simeon the Elder.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK- 10 Minutes

Guide the children in singing "My God is so Big." Ask the children about any miracles in the Bible, Saint stories, or personal that have shown them and God can do anything.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes

Read the story of when our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Temple in Luke 2:25-40 to the kindergarteners. Be sure to read with emphasis and inflection in your voice. It is important to make the reading come alive to keep them engaged with the story.

Memory Verse:
"For my eyes have seen Your salvation." (Luke 2:30)

CONTENT (KEY POINTS)- 10 Minutes

The Life of St. Simeon

On the eighth day of the Coptic month of Amshir, or February 15, we celebrate the feast of presenting the Lord Christ to the temple after 40 days of His blessed birth. St. Joseph the righteous and His mother, the Virgin Mary, presented Him in the temple, to fulfill the Law of the Old Testament.

St. Luke the Evangelist says that when His parents brought Him according to the custom of the law, the just and devout Simeon the elder took Him in his arms and blessed God and said, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your Word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the Glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32).

Per church tradition, Simeon was one of the 70 elders who translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek. This was about three hundred years before the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the time of Ptolemy Soter in the year 296 B.C. He brought 70 men from among the learned Jewish teachers and scholars and commanded them to translate the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek.

He put every two of the 70 elders in an isolated place so they would not agree on one translation, and to make sure of a correct text after comparing all of the translations. When Simeon was translating the verse from Isaiah 7:14, "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel," he was afraid to translate that a virgin would conceive, because the King would ridicule him. He wanted to translate the virgin as a "young lady." He was undecided with this translation and God revealed to him in a vision that he would not die before he would see Christ the Lord born of a virgin. (Note: this story is recorded in the Synaxarion)

This was fulfilled and he lived about three hundred years When Christ was born; he was so old that he could hardly see anymore. When he carried the Child Jesus in his hands, his sight came back to him The Holy Spirit told him, "This is the child that you have been waiting for." He blessed God and said, "You are letting Your servant depart in peace according to Your Word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the Glory of Your people Israel" (Luke 2:28-32).

The prayers of Saint Simeon be with us and Glory be to our God forever. Amen.

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

Saint Simeon did not have enough faith in the Word of God, but our Merciful Father allowed him to see the Truth of the Words. Let's not forget the important lesson that Saint Simeon teaches us, to always trust in the Truth of the Bible. The Bible is the Living Word of God, we depend and rely on God's Word to fortify our relationship with Him.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Share the icon attached below with the kindergartners and ask them what they see. Encourage them to take a close look and share their observations. Some things to make sure are covered...

Our Lord Jesus Christ is wrapped in swaddling clothes and has a cross in His halo/light
Saint Mary is presenting our Lord Jesus Christ to Saint Simeon
Saint Simeon is holding the Lord in his hands
Saint Simeon's very old age is represented by his long beard
Saint Joseph is holding two turtledoves as an offering
Saint Anna the Prophetess is among them
The background has a golden lampstand, 10 Commandments, and the star of David to show they are in the Temple
Saint Mary is wearing blue with stars because she is called the "Second Heaven"

ACTIVITY - 5 Minutes

Quiz the kindergartners on the story of our Lord Jesus Christ entering the Temple as a baby. Offer candy, stickers, or points to those who answer correctly.

Why did Saint Joseph and Saint Mary bring our Lord Jesus Christ to the Temple?
- (Answer: to fulfill the Law of the Old Testament)
How old was Saint Simeon the Elder?
- (Answer: about three hundred years old)
What was Saint Simeon's job before God granted him a long life?
- (Answer: he translated the Old Testament from Hebrew to Greek)
Why did God let Saint Simeon live so long?
- (Answer: He promised Saint Simeon that he would see God born of the Virgin Mary with his own eyes)
What miracle happened to Saint Simeon that made him know that he was carrying the Lord Jesus Christ and not just any baby?
- (Answer: he went from almost being blind to seeing again when he held our Lord)
Who was the second person who prophesied about our Lord Jesus Christ that day?
- (Answer: Saint Anna the Prophetess)

SERVANT RESOURCES

Presentation of the Lord, copticchurch.net

Sermon by His Grace Bishop Abraham (as Fr. Isaac) on the Entry of our Lord at the Temple

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Review the story of when our Lord Jesus Christ went to the Temple as a baby. Encourage your children to pray through the intercessions of Saint Mary, Saint Simeon, and Prophetess Anna during your prayer routines at home. Be sure to read the Bible with your child every day. During the week, talk to your child about the Bible in our lives, focusing on how we can trust the Word of God.