Advent Day 24: Temporary Connections

12/24/24 • 5 min

Countdown to Christmas with Zach - An Advent Podcast for Kids

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story!

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Temporary Connections

Julie sighed in satisfaction as she looked at the Christmas decorations she had hung in her room. She had tried to tie a string from her closet door to her curtain, but the string wasn’t long enough, so she’d stretched her curtain into the middle of her room and managed to tie the string tightly around it. Bells and Christmas ornaments were meticulously strung along the string. It had taken her the better part of an hour to get it all set up the way she wanted.

A few minutes later, Mom walked in to close Julie’s blinds and noticed the string contraption and the curtain suspended parallel to the floor. “Julie?” Mom asked. “Will you please cut this string so we can close your blinds? It’s getting dark outside.”

Julie stomped her feet and wailed, “But it took me forever to tie that string!”

“I’m sorry, honey, but it can’t stay this way. Next time, make sure you’re connecting it to something that won’t have to move if you want it to last a long time.” Julie burst into tears and flung herself on her bed.

Mom sighed. “I understand you’re upset. When you’ve had a chance to process, we’ll talk about it.”

Mom walked out to the living room where Julie’s older brother, Dan, was working on building a ramp for his car and connecting it to the couch. “Just so you’re aware, you’ll have to take your ramp down before bedtime,” Mom told him.

“Okay, Mom. Why is Julie so upset?”

“I asked her to cut a string she tied to the curtain.”

Dan nodded. He had seen Julie stringing up her decorations earlier. “She spent a long time doing that.”

“I know. I explained if she wanted it to last a long time, she’d have to be wiser about how she set it up.” Mom sat on the couch to watch Dan build. “It’s a good reminder for how we should live our lives. The things of this world are temporary, but the truth and salvation of Jesus lasts forever! We need to build our lives wisely by trusting and obeying Him.”

So how about you?

Are you building your life in a way that will last? The only way to do that is to trust in Jesus. (See “Have You Heard the Good News?”) Then live out His truth in your daily life. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus tells a story about a man who built his house on rock and another who built his house on sand. When the rain came, the house on sand washed away, but the one on the rock stood firm. Jesus is the Rock—build your life on Him.

Key Verse

John 6:27 NIV "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Song of Man [Jesus] will give you."

Key Thought

Build your life on Jesus.

Further Reading

Matthew 7:24-29; John 6:27-29

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Temporary Connections

Julie stomped her feet and wailed, “But it took me forever to tie that string!”

Mom sighed. “I understand you’re upset. When you’ve had a chance to process, we’ll talk about it.”

“Okay, Mom. Why is Julie so upset?”

“I asked her to cut a string she tied to the curtain.”

Dan nodded. He had seen Julie stringing up her decorations earlier. “She spent a long time doing that.”

So how about you?

Key Verse

John 6:27 NIV "Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Song of Man [Jesus] will give you."

Key Thought

Build your life on Jesus.

Further Reading

Matthew 7:24-29; John 6:27-29

Previous Episode

Advent Day 23: Mary's Part

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Mary's Part

Speaking parts were being assigned for the church Christmas program, and Kaylee eagerly waited for her name to be called. She was sure she was the perfect one to take the part of Mary, the mother of Jesus. No one can memorize lines as well as me, she thought.

“Braelyn.” Mrs. Roberts’ voice interrupted Kaylee’s thoughts. “I think you would be a good choice to play the part of Mary.”

Kaylee gasped. Braelyn! She stutters sometimes, Kaylee thought. What kind of Mary would she be? Kaylee scowled. Well, that’s just fine with me. Who wants to be in this dumb play anyway? When Mrs. Roberts offered her another part, Kaylee made excuses and refused to be in the production at all.

On the night of the program, Kaylee sat in the front row. She had come to laugh at Braelyn’s mistakes. Mrs. Roberts will be embarrassed for making such a dumb choice! she thought in disgust as Braelyn walked up front. That drab outfit looks like it was made from a feed sack. Mom would have made me a much better costume than that! She snickered to herself and rolled her eyes.

Hesitantly, Braelyn began reciting from Luke chapter one: “My soul magnifies the Lord...because...because...” She paused briefly. “Because he has looked with favor on the humble condition of his servant.”

Humble condition, thought Kaylee. That sure fits Braelyn! Suddenly another thought struck her, causing her mouth to drop open in surprise. It fits Mary too! Kaylee tried to push that thought away, but she couldn’t. More unwanted thoughts persisted as she watched the rest of the Christmas performance. Mary was willing to obey God and carry out His commands, and Braelyn’s like that too, Kaylee realized. She’s a good Mary!

In her heart, Kaylee knew that if she had gotten the part, she would be saying Mary’s words only to make herself look good and be the star performer. But Braelyn was humble like the real Mary was—and like how Jesus was too. They were both willing to obey God and make sacrifices for the good of others. Feeling ashamed, Kaylee prayed silently, asking God to forgive her proud spirit and to help her be humble like Mary—and Jesus.

So how about you?

Are you humble like Mary? Or do you think you should be the one chosen to sing the solo, answer the questions, or lead the group because you do it best? Jesus wants humble servants who are willing to serve His purpose instead of their own so that He will be honored. Even though He is God, Jesus was willing to die for our sins so we could be saved. Mary was His humble servant. Does that description fit you?

Key Verse

Matthew 20:27 NLV "Whoever wants to be first among you, let him be your servant."

Key Thought

Be a humble servant.

Further Reading

Luke 1:26-33, 46-49

Next Episode

Advent Day 25: A Gingerbread House

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A Gingerbread House

"Mom! Tell Ella to stop dipping her finger in the icing!”

“Karis, you know she’s only five. You can’t expect her to make a gingerbread house without eating any of it.”

“But I want it to be perfect!” It was a Christmas tradition for Karis and Ella to make a gingerbread house. Karis lined up the red and green gumdrops like little army men. The containers of colored sprinkles stood at attention like soldiers. “Mom, I think there’s more icing in Ella’s hair than on our gingerbread house.”

“Don’t worry about it, honey,” said Mom. “I’ll give her a bath when you’re finished.”

Karis smiled at her sister. “If you get any more icing on your face, you’ll look like a snowman.”

Ella giggled and handed her sister a broken piece of graham cracker.

“That’s a great idea, Ella,” said Karis. “We can use little pieces of graham cracker to make shingles for our roof. We’ll stick them on with icing.”

An hour later, Karis plopped the last gumdrop on the roof of the gingerbread house to make a chimney.

Mom picked up a leftover graham cracker and used it to scrape the bottom of the icing bowl. “That’s one of the most beautiful gingerbread houses I’ve ever seen, girls. I’m so proud of you.” She popped the graham cracker into her mouth.

“You know, this gingerbread house reminds me of a Bible verse. Jesus said He was going to heaven to prepare a place for us to be with Him forever. It took you girls a whole hour to make your house. Can you imagine how awesome the place is that Jesus is preparing for us? If we trust in Jesus, He’s already made a home in our hearts, and one day we’ll get to be with Him in heaven forever.”

Karis smiled. “I’m pretty sure the place Jesus is preparing for us in heaven isn’t made out of gingerbread.”

Mom smiled and licked a bit of icing off her finger. “You’re right. I don’t think it will be made of gingerbread. But it will be just as sweet!”

So how about you?

Have you ever built a gingerbread house? Then you know how much time and preparation it takes to make it look good. Right now Jesus is preparing a place for those who trust in Him, and it will be better than any mansion on earth! But there’s only one way to get there. Trust in Jesus, and He will make a home in your heart—and prepare one for you in heaven too. (See “Have You Heard the Good News?”)

Key Verse

John 14:2 ERV "There are many rooms in my Father's house...I am going there to prepare a place for you."

Key Thought

Christians have a home with Jesus.

Further Reading

John 14:2-4, 23; Romans 10:9