Read the Bible texts using different translations or age-appropriate children’s Bibles, act it out, use puppets or visual aids.

• Isaiah 35:1-10
• Psalm 146
• James 5:7-11
• Matthew 11:2-15

Memorize

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in YHWH his God” Psalm 146:5

Listen to and sing the songs that will be a part of this week's worship service.

• “Hark the Glad Sound” (Lutheran Service Book 349)
• “The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns” (LSB 348)
• “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” (LSB 338)
• “Your Great Name” (Natalie Grant)
• “Hymn of Joy” (Michael Koons)
• “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” (Getty)

1. Ailments-Assign each person an ailment—blind, deaf, lame, mute. Attempt to do a normal activity together with the ailments assigned. Then read Isaiah 35:4-6a and talk about the joy that will come from God’s physical healing. Also talk about the other ways God will make us well when He comes.
2. Patience-Select a treat like a marshmallow and put it in front of each person. If they are patient and wait to eat it until you say so, they can have two. While you wait, talk about patience—what’s difficult or easy, what to do while we wait, and what we’re waiting for. Talk about patiently waiting for Jesus to come again. Then eat!
3. I Spy-Play I Spy. Jesus told the people to see and hear what He was doing to assess if He was the Messiah they had been waiting for. What would one spending time with Jesus have seen and heard? How do we know Jesus was the Messiah they had waited for?

Recitation: The Office of the Keys [Luther’s Small Catechism, Blue p. 220, Maroon p. 224, Black-p. 314]

Q & A: Assign one person to be the catechizer to ask questions and allow others to answer. (Guide them/provide unknown answers.)

• Luther’s Small Catechism, 2008 Questions 269-277 (Blue p. 220-224, Maroon p. 224-227)
• Luther’s Small Catechism, 2017 Questions 334-339 (p. 314-316)

Need a catechism? Let us know!

1. Share highs and lows of the day.
2. How have you seen God at work lately?
3. What does the Scripture reading teach about God?
4. What does it teach about people?
5. What is the key theme of the Scripture reading?
6. What do you learn about the key theme? How can you apply it to your daily walk with the Lord? (Yourself, your relationship with God or your relationships with others?)
7. Any cautions to heed? Any promises to anticipate?

• Adoration (Wow, God!): Proclaim at least three things that amaze you about God today.
• Confession (Sorry, God!): Confess, repent, and ask for forgiveness.
• Thanksgiving (Thanks, God!): Thank God for blessings, lessons, gifts, etc.
• Supplication (Please, God!): Ask God to intervene where you know of needs.