Prepare the way: a children’s sermon for the second Sunday of Advent

What you need

Bring a broom (a small hand broom works well) and a toy road. For the road, draw a road on a long strip of paper, or use a toy car track. Before the talk, lay it on the floor or a low table. Slide a book under one part to make a hill, and scatter a few crumpled paper “rocks” along it. Bring a toy car to drive on the road, and a Bible marked at Mark 1:3.

This talk fits the Second Sunday of Advent in Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary (December 6, 2026), when the readings are Isaiah 40:1–11 and Mark 1:1–8. It also works on any Sunday when John the Baptist is the Gospel.

The talk

(Invite the children to come forward. Hold up the broom.)

Good morning! What is this? (Let them answer.) That’s right, a broom. What do we use a broom for? (Sweeping, cleaning up.) When does your family clean up the house? (Let them answer: when company is coming, before a party, on Saturdays.) Yes! When someone special is coming, we get ready. We sweep the floor and pick things up.

Now look at this road. (Point to the toy road.) Can my car drive down this road? (Drive the toy car into the rocks and the hill, and let it tip over.) Oh no! It’s too bumpy. What should we do? (Let the children suggest ideas. Invite one or two to sweep the paper rocks away and pull out the book.) Let’s try again. (Drive the car smoothly along the road.) Much better!

Long ago, God’s people were far from home, and they were sad. God gave a prophet a message for them. The message said: Get a road ready for God! Fill in the valleys. Make the mountains low. Smooth out the bumpy places. God is coming!

Many years later, a man named John lived in the wilderness. He wore clothes made of camel’s hair, and he ate locusts and wild honey. (Let the children react.) Locusts are big grasshoppers. Crunchy!

John had a job a lot like this broom’s job. (Hold up the broom.) He was getting the road ready for Jesus. (Open the Bible to Mark 1.) The Bible says John was the voice calling out, “Make ready the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight!”

John helped people get their hearts ready. He told them to turn back to God. People came from everywhere. They told God they were sorry for the wrong things they had done. John baptized them in the Jordan River, and they started fresh.

How can we get our hearts ready for Jesus? (Let them answer.) We can sweep away grumpy words. We can say “I’m sorry.” We can forgive. Every time we do, we make the road smooth for peace. Today many churches light the second candle on the Advent wreath, the candle of peace.

And here is the best part. When God comes, God comes gently. The prophet said God is like a shepherd: “He will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom.” That means God holds the little lambs close, right next to God’s heart. And God holds you close like that, too.

A question to ask the children

Ask: “What is one way you can make peace this week?”

Children might say they could share a toy, say sorry to a brother or sister, let someone go first, or invite a new friend to play. Receive every answer with delight, and say: “Every one of those sweeps the road smooth for Jesus.”

If a child names something hard, like a fight at home or someone who is mean to them, thank them gently. Making peace never means letting someone hurt you, and grown-ups can help. Let a parent or the pastor know after worship.

Closing prayer

Ask the children to repeat each line after you.

Dear God,
help us get our hearts ready for Jesus.
Help us make peace.
Hold us close,
like a shepherd holds the lambs.
Amen.