2.3. God Is Hope. December 12, Bible Passage: 2 Samuel 7; Matthew 1; Isaiah 7:1 14 (Joseph) Schedule EXPLORE DISCOVER RESPOND BLESS

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1 December 12, 2018 Bible Passage: 2 Samuel 7; Matthew 1; Isaiah 7:1 14 (Joseph) God Is Hope REMEMBER VERSE For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Schedule EXPLORE DISCOVER RESPOND BLESS 1

2 Leader Prep Each week you ll find a list of resources along with encouraging articles that help you prepare your heart to present the lesson. Further Resources A Small Group Enhancement is available for this lesson. Download the following resources to help you plan and lead TruStory lessons: Customizable copy of Lesson Scope and Sequence TruStory How It Works document HomeFront Weekly: Lesson 3 is provided for this lesson. The weekly for the next lesson to be sent home for preteaching by parents is found in BLESS. If you have questions about Tru curriculum or are looking for great training, blogs, and other support resources, visit truministry.com. Inspire Shares personal stories from fellow ministry leaders about how God has worked in their lives During college, I tried to knock out at least one class each summer. One year I took a required class: Old Testament. For six weeks that summer I sat in the hot sun every day and read my hefty black King James Bible. I read so extensively mostly because I wanted an A. But while reading one day, I suddenly felt a surge of awe that made me want to fall on my face right there on the sidewalk. For a second I couldn t even think straight as I stared at my fat Bible. This story I had heard my whole life was suddenly so big! I had an overwhelming sense of how far-reaching and wonderful God s story is so multi-layered and multi-connected. And I felt buoyed with a new sense of joy and hope. This continual sense of awe and joy in reading The Big God Story gives me hope that I will daily discover more and more about how amazing God s love is. That I will experience what the Scripture says: God s compassions are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22 23). That God will be faithful to His promises today and in the future because He has been faithful to His promises in the past. I have hope that I will forever stand amazed by this God, who takes such great pains to weave a story of love for His people, and for me. Tori Funkhouser ROCKHARBOR Church Equip Offers perspective and context to the lesson's Bible passage Many of us probably skip over the genealogies when reading through Matthew and Luke. But these lists of names actually contain an important message of hope for us. 2

3 The key to deciphering this message takes us back to the time of the Jewish captivity when Judah had a king, Jeconiah, who was so wicked that God cursed his bloodline, saying, None of his offspring will prosper, none will sit on the throne of David or rule anymore in Judah (Jeremiah 22:24 30). The problem was that this was the royal line from David. The Messiah had to come from this line. How would God get around His own blood curse and provide a Messiah through the line of David? It actually took a miracle. God had promised David that his throne would never end (2 Samuel 7:13). With this blood curse, this promise seemed to be in jeopardy. What God did, though, was allow the royal bloodline to continue down through Jeconiah all the way to Joseph, the husband of Mary. This is reflected in the genealogy in Matthew, which ties Jesus (through adoption by Joseph) to the royal line of David. But there is no blood descendant of Jeconiah that would sit on the throne, since Jesus is not Joseph s actual son. So, Jesus is the legal heir to the throne of David. But what of the bloodline? If Jesus did not share the bloodline of David, would He still be considered heir to the throne? In the Luke genealogy we see that Jesus, through His mother, Mary, does share the blood of David, but through David s son Nathan, who wasn t a part of the royal line and therefore wasn t under the blood curse. Therefore, Jesus is related to David in two different ways. He is entitled to the throne both by blood and by legal title. This could only have been accomplished through the miraculous virgin birth. These genealogies reveal a sovereign God who has an incredible message of hope for us. Support Provides reflection and assessment through encouragement, prayer, and time in God's Word Isaiah 9:6, which begins For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, so clearly describes Jesus that it s hard to believe it was written hundreds of years before His birth! The more we read these prophecies about Jesus, the more we discover how clearly God spelled out His plan to bring a Savior: God gave His people signs to look for; God gave them facts about Jesus character and His physical appearance; and God gave them descriptions of Jesus life, mission, and purpose. God did this so people could know Jesus was the Messiah for whom they d been waiting for so long. As you prepare for this lesson, take time to savor the fact that God gave us these prophecies to show us His plan and to really think and pray about what these prophecies mean to you. What is God trying to show you about His love and His story? How does this give you hope? Pray God would give the children hope through His love, His saving plan, and His goodness as you share with them this part of The Big God Story. EXPLORE// 10 min. Small Group Leaders SMALL GROUP S E C T I O N Children engage in fun, creative activities designed to pique their curiosity about the day s portion of The Big God Story. 3

4 Option 1: What Is It? (for younger kids) In this EXPLORE, children will receive descriptions to help them guess an object in the room. Index cards (10) Pen or marker SET UP Before the children arrive, take a look around your room. Identify 10 objects and describe each one on an index card without revealing the name of the object. In the Old Testament, God gave certain people special messages, called prophecies, to share with His people. Many of the prophecies were about the promised Messiah. But by the time Jesus, the Savior, came to earth, many people didn t recognize Him even though God had given them many clues about Him over the years. In our own lives today, sometimes we think we understand what s being described to us, but we really don t. Today let s play a game that gets us thinking about describing things. Put children in two teams, and give each team five of your prepared cards. On your signal, have the kids on each team go through the cards one at a time and try to figure out the object described on each card. When the teams finish, go through the cards with them to see if they made the correct guesses. The team with the most correct answers wins the game. Option 2: Christmas Family Tree (for older kids) Children can share what they like about Christmas and create an ornament to decorate a tree together. Family Tree Ornament template (see Resources) Butcher paper (about 5', brown or green) Tape Marker (black) Scissors (1 pair per child) Pencils or pens Optional: red and green paper (1 sheet per child) PREPARE AHEAD For this activity, invite parents to stay with their children. SET UP Print a copy of the Family Tree Ornament template for each child. Optional: Print the ornaments on red and green paper. Tape the butcher paper vertically to the wall and on it draw an outline of a Christmas tree. 4

5 What do you look forward to most at Christmas time? Does your family have fun traditions? Interact with responses. I think it s fun to decorate my family s Christmas tree. It reminds me that Christmas is almost here! Today, let s create some ornaments to put on our paper tree, but these won t be your typical ornaments. Give a Family Tree Ornament template to each family and have them cut it out. Encourage parents to work with their kids to fill in the blanks on the ornament. (If any kids don t have family members present, have volunteer leaders help them.) Once the kids finish, invite them to tape their ornaments to the butcher paper tree. DISCOVER// 30 min. Host/Worship Leader/Storyteller LARGE GROUP S E C T I O N Children participate in discovering God s Word through Bible Verse memorization, interactive storytelling techniques, and worship as response. Traditions and Remember Verse Mementos for your church Traditions (rocks, marbles, gum balls, etc.) Remember Verse image (see Resources) Remember Verse animation (see Resources) Give the children mementos (such as rocks, marbles, or blocks) for accomplishments such as memorizing the Remember Verse or bringing their Bibles. Have them put the objects into a clear container or add them to a structure, and celebrate when it s complete. This week s Remember Verse focuses on a character trait of God that s highlighted in today s portion of The Big God Story. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 Connect Question What do you hope for this Christmas? Activity: Writing on Wreaths 5

6 Connect Question image (see Resources) Connect Activity image (see Resources) Wreath template (see Resources) Scissors Pens SET UP Print and cut out the Wreath template, one per child. Pass out a paper wreath and pen to each child. Encourage children to think of their answers to the Connect question. Then have children walk around the room and talk to as many people as possible about what they hope for this Christmas. After children discuss their answers, have them write what they hope for on their friends wreaths. Encourage children to fill up their wreaths by talking to as many people as possible. The Big God Story Bible Passage: 2 Samuel 7; Matthew 1; Isaiah 7:1 14 Storytelling Technique: Building a Family Tree God Is Hope Timeline image (see Resources) Timeline animation video (see Resources) Leaf and Birds template (see Resources) Family Tree images (see Resources) Family Tree Reference diagram (see Resources) Bibles Dictionary Butcher paper (5' 10') Construction paper (at least 6 sheets green, 2 4 sheets blue) Scissors Tape Marker (black) SET UP From the butcher paper, cut out a tree trunk and about a dozen branches. From the green construction paper, cut out a couple dozen leaves. From the blue paper, cut out a few birds. Print the six Family Tree images (King David, Nathan, Solomon, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus) and cut them out. Also print the Family Tree Reference for yourself as a guide to show you where to place the images on the Family Tree and where to draw lines between them. Lead children in a Prayer of Release to pause, be still, and ask the Holy Spirit to quiet their hearts and minds. What does hope mean? What does it mean to hope for something? Interact with responses. Great thoughts. Get out dictionary, flip to the page with the hope definition, and read the definition aloud. Or, read the following definitions from to cherish a desire with anticipation and to expect with confidence. Have you ever hoped for something to happen? Interact with responses. Then share an age-appropriate story about how God has given you hope. 6

7 During our previous time together, we heard how God s Son, Jesus, came to be with us. Prior to His arrival, people had been hoping for the promised Savior for hundreds of years. And as they waited, God prepared their hearts for His arrival. God sent prophets to share His message with the people, to tell them a Savior would come. We call these messages prophecies. Isaiah was a prophet, and God used him to reveal more of His plan to send the Messiah. God also revealed His plan through the second king of all Israel a king named David. King David loved God with all of his heart, and God blessed David with an unimaginably wonderful promise. God promised that Jesus would come from David s family tree! Just like you and I have a family tree that shows all of the people in our family, Jesus has a family tree too. Today we ll build His family tree together. Attach trunk of Family Tree to the wall low enough so kids can reach it. Ask children to turn to 2 Samuel 7:12 and follow along. God said, When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12 13). Place branches and leaves on Family Tree. Optional: Have a few volunteers help with this. Wow this was huge news! David was excited about this promise! Over and over again he praised God, saying, How great you are There is no one like you, and there is no God but you (v. 22). David praised God for His love and the hope of His promise. Place David image at top of Family Tree. That s what it feels like to have hope! When you have hope, you can t help but worship God. And who gave David hope? Allow responses. Yes, God did. He s the one who gives us hope. King David asked God to keep this promise. David said, Keep forever the promise you have made so that your name will be great forever (vv ). Does God keep His promises? Allow responses. He sure does! God doesn t say one thing and do another. He always keeps His promises! As God kept His promise to David, David s family grew and grew. David had many sons, and two of them were Nathan and Solomon. Solomon became the king after David died. Place Nathan and Solomon images on Family Tree below David and draw lines from them to David. Many years passed. Then the big moment arrived the moment when God came to earth to be with us. He came as a baby born to a young woman named Mary. Place Mary image on Family Tree below Nathan and draw a line from Mary to Nathan. But Mary wasn t alone. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph. Place Joseph image on Family Tree below Solomon and draw a line between Joseph and Solomon. Let s take a look at Matthew 1, the first chapter of the first book of the New Testament. In this chapter we get to read about Jesus family tree. Place Jesus image on Family Tree below Mary and Joseph and draw lines from them to Jesus. Who was on this family tree? Pause for answers. Yes: King David! Refer to David image on Family Tree. Who else was on the family tree? Who else came from the family line of David? Allow responses. Joseph, who would be Jesus adopted father! Refer to Joseph image on Family Tree. Joseph was a little confused when he heard the news about Mary. But one night, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. Encourage kids to turn to Matthew 1:20 and follow along. The angel said, Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins (Matthew 1:20 21). Joseph did what the angel said and married Mary (Matthew 1:24). Long ago, before Mary and Joseph were even born, God promised David that Jesus, the Savior, would come from his family line. That came true through both Mary and Joseph! Mary, who gave birth to Jesus, was related to King David through David s son Nathan. And Joseph, the husband of Mary, 7

8 was related to King David through the royal line of David s son King Solomon. God made all this happen because He is in control! And He sent the Savior people had been waiting for: Jesus, the hope of the world. Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven of our sins and adopted into God s family. As God s family, we re able to help care for one another and worship Him together! God gave His people promises, and He was faithful to keep them. Because God was faithful to fulfill His promises in the past, we know He will be faithful to keep His promises now and in the future. If time permits, share an age-appropriate story about a time God s promises gave you hope during a difficult time. Do you want to know something else? We have even more to hope for: Jesus promised that He would one day return, and one day we ll be with Him forever and ever! Worship Response This time allows kids to respond to God through worship. Make plans for your worship time, but prepare yourself and your team to hold them loosely if the Holy Spirit leads the group in a different direction. Images: Romans 8:24 25, Psalm 25:5, 1 Peter 1:13, Psalm 33:22 (see Resources) Christmas music (instrumental) Christmas tree Christmas ornament die cuts (1 per child) Markers Chenille wires (1 per child) SET UP Set up the Christmas tree in an area where it s accessible to the children. Part of celebrating Jesus birth is also celebrating the fact that He is coming back again! Last week, we read and celebrated the fact that God has fulfilled the prophecies telling of Jesus birth and that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Today we re going to celebrate again, but this time we ll read messages of hope for the future! Tech: Cue music and rotate images. Encourage older kids to stand and read each verse out loud. Alternatively, have children look up the verses in their Bibles. Encourage the kids to think about God s words while reading the verses. Allow the kids some time to sit quietly and pray, asking God to reveal how He has given hope to each person individually. After they ve had time to pray and listen to God, invite them to come forward and take a die cut ornament, chenille wire, and marker. They can write a prayer of thanks to God for the hope He s given us. Then they can use the chenille wire to thread through the hole of the ornament and make a loop or a hook and hang their ornament on the tree. SMALL GROUP S E C T I O N 8

9 RESPOND// 15 min. Small Group Leaders Children reflect on what the Holy Spirit is teaching them and respond through creative activities and games. Reflect: God Is Hope Encourage the kids to open their Bibles and read the suggested passages. Questions for Younger Kids Why do we need hope? 2 Corinthians 4:16 18 How does Jesus give us hope? How can we seek hope when things aren t easy? Psalm 10:17; 94:19 How has God given you hope? Questions for Older Kids What s the difference between a hope and a wish? Why do we need hope? 2 Corinthians 4:16 18 Read Romans 5:2 5 aloud while the kids follow along, or have a volunteer read the verses. How does knowing this change the way we live? The prophecies about Jesus were told hundreds of years before they came true. What does that tell you about God? Why do you think God gave the Israelites prophecies about Christ s birth? How has God given you hope? Option 1: Group Up (for younger kids) Jesus made the way to be part of God's family! In this game, children will group together according to numbers you call out. Upbeat worship music (suggestion: Celebrate, TruWorship Sincerely Yours) God spent hundreds of years preparing the hearts of His people through prophecies, leading up to the moment when Mary gave birth to God s Son, Jesus. Because of Jesus, we re now a part of God s family! Today let s play a game that reminds us we re all a part of one big family God s family and because of that we ought to stick together. Explain that, as the music plays, the children must roam the room and dance. Encourage them to listen carefully because as soon as the music stops, you will call out a number and the kids must get into groups of 9

10 that size. Any kids that find themselves not part of a group are out and must sit off to the side until the end of the game. Continue playing until you have a winner. Replay as time permits. Option 2: Act It Out (for older kids) Children will act out passages from today's Big God Story. Bibles Optional: Bible-times costumes for Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, and 2 angels Last week we heard about the prophecy of the coming Messiah from Mary s perspective. This week we heard about it from Joseph s point of view. Today we re going to pretend that this scenario happened in this day and age. Take a moment to think about what it would be like to be in Mary s or Joseph s position. What would it be like to receive such amazing news? Put kids into groups of five, and tell each group they ll be acting out the following scenes. The kids within each group will need to decide who will play each role: Mary, Elizabeth, Joseph, the angel Gabriel, and an angel of the Lord. Scene 1: Mary is visited by the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:26 38). Scene 2: Joseph is visited by an angel of the Lord (Matthew 1:18 24). Scene 3: Mary visits Elizabeth (Luke 1:39 45). Scene 4: Joseph and Mary talk about everything. Encourage the kids to use their imaginations to decide what the people would be like today. How would they act? What would they sound like? Where would their meetings take place? What would they say, and how would they feel? Give the kids several minutes to read each of the passages, to discuss as a group what should happen, and to practice. Remind them that each skit should be no longer than one to three minutes. Then give each group an opportunity to perform for the class. BLESS// 5 min. Small Group Leaders Children receive a blessing from their leaders and sometimes one another. A blessing may be prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words to encourage and guide. HomeFront Weekly: Lesson 4 (see Resources) Remember Verse cards (see Resources) Blessing cards (see Resources) Bible Card stock (1 sheet for every 4 children) Scissors 10

11 PREPARE AHEAD Print the Blessing cards onto card stock and cut them apart, making one card for each child. Open a Bible and read Psalm 31:24: Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the LORD. Children, may you be filled with the everlasting hope that only comes from God. May you trust that He will be with you all the days of your life. Give each child a Blessing card to take home. Our parents need God s hope too! They need to be reminded that He will care for them. This week, try to find an opportunity to bless your parents. You might send them an encouraging verse from the Bible or pray for them however God leads you. If you have trouble figuring out what to say or how to bless your parents, you can use the Blessing card to help you. Send home Remember Verse cards and the HomeFront Weekly with your kids. 11

2.2. Jesus Is Immanuel. December 5, Bible Passage: Isaiah 7:14; 9:1 7; Luke 1:1 4, (Mary) Schedule EXPLORE DISCOVER RESPOND BLESS

2.2. Jesus Is Immanuel. December 5, Bible Passage: Isaiah 7:14; 9:1 7; Luke 1:1 4, (Mary) Schedule EXPLORE DISCOVER RESPOND BLESS December 5, 2018 Bible Passage: Isaiah 7:14; 9:1 7; Luke 1:1 4, 26 56 (Mary) Jesus Is Immanuel REMEMBER VERSE For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.