Children's Message

Date: January 18, 2026

Scripture:

Isaiah 49:1–7, New International Reader's Version

The Servant of the Lord

49 People who live on the islands, listen to me.
Pay attention, you nations far away.
Before I was born the Lord chose me to serve him.
Before I was born the Lord spoke my name.
² He made my words like a sharp sword.
He hid me in the palm of his hand.
He made me into a sharpened arrow.
He took good care of me and kept me safe.
³ He said to me, “You are my true servant Israel.
I will show my glory through you.”
⁴ But I said, “In spite of my hard work,
I feel as if I haven’t accomplished anything.
I’ve used up all my strength.
It seems as if everything I’ve done is worthless.
But the Lord will give me what I should receive.
My God will reward me.”
⁵ The Lord formed me in my mother’s body to be his servant.
He wanted me to bring the family of Jacob back to him.
He wanted me to gather the people of Israel to himself.
The Lord will honor me.
My God will give me strength.
⁶ Here is what the Lord says to me.
“It is not enough for you as my servant
to bring the tribes of Jacob back to their land.
It is not enough for you to bring back
the people of Israel I have kept alive.
I will also make you a light for the Gentiles.
Then you will make it possible for the whole world to be saved.”
⁷ The Lord sets his people free.
He is the Holy One of Israel.
He speaks to his servant, who is looked down on and hated by the nations.
He speaks to the servant of rulers. He says to him,
“Kings will see you and stand up to honor you.
Princes will see you and bow down to show you their respect.
I am the Lord. I am faithful.
I am the Holy One of Israel.
I have chosen you.”

Object:

A star sticker for each child (Reflective glitter stars would work best.)

Message:

Good morning, friends. Today, I want you to imagine something wonderful. Imagine holding a tiny, tiny star in your hands. At first, it looks like a little speck. But then it catches the light, and suddenly, it begins to glow. Even though it’s small, it shines bright and warm. Can you cup your hands together like you’re holding a little star?

Now imagine God leaning down close to you and saying, “I made you to shine like that star. I made you to be a light for others.” Isn’t that amazing? Even when you are small, even when you think you don’t have much to give, God says that your light matters. Your kindness matters. Your love matters. Your brave heart matters.

Think for a moment about someone who has been kind to you. Maybe a friend shared a toy. Maybe someone helped you find something you lost. Maybe someone gave you a hug when you were sad. When other people show kindness, it feels like a warm light shining right into your heart.

Now, imagine that your kindness can shine for someone else in the same way. When you help, when you share, when you listen, when you forgive — your little starlight glows brighter and brighter. And when we shine our lights together, the world gets brighter.

God invites us to help with something wonderfully big, bigger than we can see. God is making the world full of love, peace, and goodness, just like heaven. When we understand that, we get to shine our light in amazing ways. God’s light shines in us and through us, and we become part of the bright, beautiful light that helps the world.

Let’s remember that with a song. We’ll sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Point to your heart when we sing, “This little light of mine,” and then stretch your arms out to the world when we sing, “Let it shine.”

(Sing the song with motions.)

God’s light is inside you, and God made you to shine. To help us remember God’s light inside us this week, I have a star sticker for you to take withogether, and I will place a star in your hands. Take this star as a reminder of God’s love and light shining inside of you.

Let's pray together.