A witness to the light: a children’s sermon for the third Sunday of Advent

What you need

Bring a flashlight and a picture of baby Jesus. A Christmas card with a nativity scene works well, or the baby Jesus from a nativity set. Before worship, set the picture where you can reach it, such as on a chair or the altar rail, and check the flashlight batteries. A Bible marked at John 1:8 is helpful too, so the children can see that the story comes from Scripture. If your church has an Advent wreath, gather the children near it.

This talk fits the Third Sunday of Advent in Year B of the Revised Common Lectionary, when the Gospel is John 1:6–8, 19–28 and the second reading begins, “Always rejoice” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). In 2026 that Sunday is December 13. Many churches light the pink candle of joy that day.

The talk

(Invite the children to come forward and sit with you. Hold the flashlight behind your back.)

Good morning! I brought something with me today. Can you guess what it is? It is small, and it helps us in the dark. (Let them guess. Then show the flashlight.) That’s right, it’s a flashlight!

What do we use a flashlight for? (Let them answer: camping, finding things under the bed, when the power goes out.) Let me turn it on. (Switch it on. Shine it on the ceiling, then on the floor.) Did you see what happened? Wherever I point the flashlight, your eyes follow. A flashlight shows us where to look.

Today’s Bible story is about a man named John. John lived out in the wilderness, by the Jordan River. Lots of people came to hear him. Some people even wondered if John was the special king God had promised to send.

So some leaders sent helpers to ask him, “Who are you?” And John told them, “I am not the Christ.” They asked more questions, and John kept saying no. Then he said he was a voice calling out: Get ready! The Lord is coming!

(Open the Bible to John 1.) Here is what the Bible says about John: “He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.”

John was a lot like this flashlight. (Hold it up.) A flashlight helps you see something else. John helped people see someone else. (Shine the flashlight on the picture of baby Jesus.) Who is this? (Let them answer.) Yes, it’s Jesus! John pointed everyone to Jesus. Jesus is the light. Jesus shows us how much God loves us.

Do you think John was grumpy that everyone would look at Jesus more than at him? (Let them answer.) No! John was happy. Later he said that Jesus made his joy full.

So today, on the third Sunday of Advent, many churches light a pink candle. It is the candle of joy. Christmas is getting close, and the light is coming. One of today’s readings says, “Always rejoice.” That means: be glad, all the time, because God loves you.

And here is some more good news. You can be like John. When you are kind, when you share, when you tell a friend that God loves them, you are pointing to Jesus. You are like a flashlight for God’s love. (Shine the flashlight on the picture one more time.)

A question to ask the children

Ask: “What makes you so happy that you want to tell everyone?”

Children may name a birthday, snow, a new baby in the family, or a pet. Receive every answer with delight, and then say: “John had good news like that. He was so happy about Jesus that he told everyone. We get to tell people too.”

If you have more time, ask a second question: “How could you shine God’s light for someone this week?” Children might say they could help a friend, share a toy, or make a card for someone who is sad.

Closing prayer

Ask the children to repeat each line after you.

Dear God,
thank you for John,
who pointed to Jesus.
Help us shine your light
and share your joy.
Amen.