Advent 2009 Children s Lessons

Size: px
Start display at page:

Download "Advent 2009 Children s Lessons"

Transcription

1 Advent 2009 Children s Lessons Leader s Introduction: Purpose and Meaning of Advent Advent marks the start of the Christmas season. It begins on the Sunday nearest November 30 and lasts four Sundays. The date it begins changes from year to year. The word Advent means "the coming." It is a time of spiritual reflection as well as cheer and anticipation. The Advent celebration includes the lighting of candles in the Advent wreath. An Advent wreath is made from greens to symbolize continuous life and contains four candles three purple and one rose. Often a fifth candle (white) is added to the center of the wreath for lighting on Christmas Eve, in celebration of the birth of Jesus. The Advent devotion time can be flexible and may include reading Scripture, a prayer, a Christmas carol, and/or having a reading. If your students are older, pick a leader for every week. Include the students directly in the Advent celebration. Remember to use safety when lighting and extinguishing the candles each week. The candle lighting is progressive from week to week, preparing the way for the coming of Jesus. Below are suggested Scripture readings for each Sunday of Advent: First Sunday: Hope light one purple candle to symbolize Hope Read Isaiah 60:2-3 Second Sunday: Peace Light two purple candles to symbolize Hope and Peace Read Mark 1:4 Third Sunday: Joy Light two purple candles to symbolize Hope and Peace and one rose to symbolize Joy Read Isaiah 35:10 Fourth Sunday: Love light all four candles to symbolize Hope, Peace, Joy and Love Read Isaiah 9:6-7 Christmas Eve Light all four candles and add the fifth white candle to symbolize the light of Christ Read Luke 1:68-79 and Luke 2:1-20

2 Leader s Introduction: How to use the Teaching Materials Over the next four weeks these lessons will help your students reflect look back at what happened and remember and look forward at what Jesus is going to do. Each week we will focus on a character from Jesus birth, look at their reaction to the Christ child and ask ourselves (our students) what will we do with Him? Reflection back on what was, reflection inward on what is and anticipation at what Jesus wants to do. Create an atmosphere of celebration in your classroom. Have the students help decorate as you all anticipate Christmas together with excitement! Include a nativity set that will be referenced throughout the four weeks of Advent. Include an advent wreath with candles, providing opportunity for students to interact with the Advent ceremony. The material is written in a large group/small group format. It provides a large group opening that catches the student s attention and introduces the theme for the day, the biblical teaching, the scriptural context and the lesson goals, and includes a large group activity that provides opportunity for movement and interaction with the teaching goals. The small group material is for readers and non-readers. It includes a question section intended to encourage dialog and personal interaction with the teaching material and a personal response that allows the students a practical application of the presented material. Each week also contains a memory verse. The lessons parallel the provided sermon series in scriptural context and general theme. The themes, however, are re-written for a child s context and application. The ideal situation to use the material is during children s worship. The material may be modified, however, for use during Sunday school or small group setting. Each lesson contains the sections: Lesson Preparation, Opening, Bible Point, Activity, Questions and Personal Response. Leader s Introduction: Additional Resources The following websites will provide ideas on crafts, games, and activity elements to include during the Advent season:

3 The following videos would provide an additional element to each week of Advent: A very special baby: Lesson 1 Be Still: Lesson 2 The Grinch Who Stole Christmas: (last ten minutes of movie): Lesson 3 Let your light shine: Lesson 4 Charlie Brown Christmas: (Linus shares meaning of Christmas)

4 Are you Afraid? (Herod) Scripture Context: Matthew 2:1-18 Memory Verse: John 3:16-17 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 1 Large Group Kids will acknowledge their own personal fear(s). Kids will see Jesus as the peace-giver. Kids will put their trust (fears) in Jesus LARGE GROUP PORTION Lesson Preparation: As students enter, have the room totally changed. Make it dark with windows covered and lights out, have the furniture moved, or keep out of site and let them think you re not there. Make some significant change so the students will wonder what is going on? Opening: What are you afraid of? After all have arrived, ask them how many of you felt afraid when you walked in? (Some won t admit it but keep conversation going with those who did.) Why were you afraid? (Allow for responses but direct to obvious: things were different, you weren t here, it was dark, etc ) We are all afraid of something. (Use images to show different scenarios or characters the students might relate to. Have them dialog about what the person might be afraid of.) What is something you re afraid of? (Give several students a chance to respond, include your own personal fear as well.) Bible Point: We all fear something, but we don t have to. We can have peace.

5 This is the time of year we begin to start thinking seriously about Christmas. It s hard not to when every store, TV channel and website is blaring Christmas music and images. For those of us who are Christians Christ believers, Christmas is so much more than all that noise. Christmas is a time to reflect look back and remember; and to expect look forward to Jesus. This time of year is called Advent and over the next four weeks we are going to reflect on what happened and look forward to what Jesus is going to do. Each week we re going to focus on a character from the nativity. Now not all of these people will show up in the nativity set you have at home (or we have here) but they were all present at Jesus birth. Let s read together Matthew 2:1-16 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea. This happened while Herod was king of Judea. After Jesus' birth, Wise Men from the east came to Jerusalem. They asked, "Where is the child who has been born to be king of the Jews? When we were in the east, we saw his star. Now we have come to worship him." When King Herod heard about it, he was very upset. Everyone in Jerusalem was troubled too. So Herod called together all the chief priests of the people. He also called the teachers of the law. He asked them where the Christ was going to be born. "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied. Then Herod called for the Wise Men secretly. He found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem. He said, "Go! Make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, bring me a report. Then I can go and worship him too." After the Wise Men had listened to the king, they went on their way. The star they had seen when they were in the east went ahead of them. It finally stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy. The Wise Men went to the house. There they saw the child with his mother Mary. They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures. They gave him gold, incense and myrrh. But God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they returned to their country on a different road. Herod realized that the Wise Men had tricked him. So he became very angry. He gave orders concerning Bethlehem and the area around it. All the boys two years old and under were to be killed. In these Scriptures we see one person who was afraid Herod. What did he have to be afraid of? He was the king. He was in charge of the country and had all of these chief priests and wise men to help him. It didn t matter that Herod was an adult a full grown man who was the king of Judea it didn t matter that he was famous and had lots of people who listened to what he said; he was afraid of a baby! We all shared things earlier that we are afraid of, but none of you mentioned babies. Who s afraid of a baby? And what does it say Herod did because of this fear? First he lied. In verse 8 Herod tells the Wise Men that he wants to know where this baby is so then I can go and worship him too. He never had any intention of worshipping the baby that he feared. He lied to the Wise Men. Then he got mad. After the Wise Men saw the baby, God warned them in a dream to not go back to Herod but go home a different way. When Herod found out the Wise Men didn t come back and report on the baby s location he got mad!

6 Finally Herod did something awful. Herod responded out of anger and did something that was unbelievable and horrible he ordered that all the boys under 2 years old in the area be killed. Herod s fear drove him to sin he lied, became angry and then he committed murder! That story seems absolutely unbelievable, but it is true! Here is something else that is true. Read John 3:16-17 God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world. He sent his Son to save the world through him. Herod did not have to be afraid of Jesus. Jesus offers us freedom from our fears; He offered the same to Herod. Jesus came as a baby to save us. What do your fears drive you to do? What things do you do or what attitudes do you have because of something you re afraid of? You don t have to be afraid - God sent us Jesus! Jesus wants your fears - your thoughts - and your heart. We are all afraid of something, but we don t have to let our fears rule us, like Herod did. Jesus came to save us and to bring us peace. All you have to do is give your fears (your thoughts) and your heart to Him. You can do that today this first Sunday of Advent! (Provide an opportunity for students who desire to accept Jesus to pray. If you are moving students into small groups, this would provide a good opportunity to connect in a more personal setting with students. Be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. For help on leading a child to Christ, download from resources provided.) Activity: Sending Your Fears Away Provide each student with a balloon, a small piece of paper and a pencil. Have each student write down their fear on the paper and then slip it into the balloon s opening. (Younger children will need assistance.) Students should blow-up their balloons and hold tightly to the end to keep the air inside. With all the students standing on one side of the room, on the count of three, let them release their balloons seeing who can send their fear the furthest. Explain that Jesus wants to take our fears and unlike the balloon, He ll really be able to do it!

7 Are you Afraid? (Herod) Scripture Context: Matthew 2:1-18 Memory Verse: John 3:16-17 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 1 Small Group Kids will acknowledge their own personal fear(s). Kids will see Jesus as the peace-giver. Kids will put their trust (fears) in Jesus SMALL GROUP PORTION Discussion Questions: 1. What was it that you said you were afraid of? 2. Why are you afraid of that? 3. When you are faced with what you re afraid of the dark, spiders, being alone, etc., what do you do? How do you respond/react? 4. Is there ever a time that fear causes you to say or do something that is hurtful to others or to yourself? Herod was afraid of a baby baby Jesus. Because of that fear he lied, became angry and in the end killed innocent children. What Herod didn t realize is that Jesus came not to make him scared but to take away his fear to save him from his fears. Jesus came to save you too and He wants to take away your fears to give you peace. What do you need to do? (Give him your fear your thoughts and your heart.) Personal Response: Non-Readers: Draw a picture of what you re afraid of. When it s all done draw a big no/do not symbol the red circle with a line. As a small group, create a bulletin board that says Jesus came to save and have each student post their picture on the bulletin board. [If you do not have bulletin board space, create a space using a border on a wall and the header.]

8 Readers: Using old magazines; cut out words and images of things you and others are afraid of. Glue all of those words and images in a collage onto paper. Over top of the images write the memory verse: John 3: Students can take their papers home and post on their bathroom mirror, refrigerator, in their backpack or on the back of their bedroom door as a reminder that they do not need to be afraid Jesus came to save them! Leaders: This lesson opens the door to the salvation message. Take time to prayerfully seek the Lord s guidance and when you sense the moving of the Holy Spirit, initiate conversation with your students ask them if they would like the peace that only Jesus can give. For help in leading children to Christ, download the included document.

9 Do you have room? (Innkeeper) Scripture Context: Luke 2:1-8 Memory Verse: Revelation 3:20 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 2 Large Group Students will know that Jesus wants to live in their house (life). Students will see how crowded their life is and discover what is taking up all the room. Students will desire to make room for Jesus. LARGE GROUP PORTION Preparation: Have the room changed this week so that the area around the nativity is over-crowded with things kids like and do a TV, videos, gaming system, stack of school books, a computer, a bike, skateboard, various other toys, Christmas gifts and decorations, etc. Make the area so crowded that the nativity is hidden from view. Opening: How many of you had an amazing, fear-free week? Did someone give a fear to Jesus last Sunday and have a word to share on how Jesus gave them freedom from that fear and peace? (You may want to have one or two students prepared ahead of time to share. Conduct an interview-style conversation with the student(s) to control time and lead discussion.) It is awesome that some of you experienced peace instead of fear! You already got an amazing Christmas gift from Jesus! Did anyone notice that we have more stuff in our room this week than we did last week? What did we add? (Allow time for their responses pointing out the items they list as you go.) How many of

10 you spent time this week doing these things? (Go through some of the items and get a show of hands making the point that they were busy.) Wow you guys are busy and your lives are awfully crowded with stuff! Hey wait a minute we re missing something from last week. What s not here? (Give clues to lead students to recognize the nativity is gone.) Baby Jesus and the nativity are missing where on earth did they go? (Get a few students to help you sort through the stuff to find it.) Oh my goodness, our room got so crowded with toys and games and school things and Christmas decorations that we lost sight of Jesus! (Take the nativity out and restore it to a place of prominence in the room.) Bible Point: Jesus wants to live in your house (life) is there room? Last week there was a character from the nativity we talked about anyone remember who it was and what he did? (Allow time for responses and review of last week s lesson: Herod was afraid of baby Jesus and his fear led him to sin. Jesus came to give him peace and Herod missed it!) This week we re going to look at another character from the nativity and like Herod, this one isn t found in your traditional nativity set! Let s read Luke 2:1-7 and see if we can discover who it is. In those days, Caesar Augustus made a law. It required that a list be made of everyone in the whole Roman world. It was the first time a list was made of the people while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be listed. So Joseph went also. He went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea. That is where Bethlehem, the town of David, was. Joseph went there because he belonged to the family line of David. He went there with Mary to be listed. Mary was engaged to him. She was expecting a baby. While Joseph and Mary were there, the time came for the child to be born. She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn. Who were some of the characters mentioned in this passage? (Allow students to share responses. Perhaps write the names down on a white board, hold up the characters from the nativity that appear, etc.) Now wait a minute no one mentioned our character for this week. Let me look at this again. (Pause and look again at the Scripture verse.) I see the problem, the character isn t directly mentioned but they talk about what he did, or didn t do, in verse 7. Let s read it together again: She gave birth to her first baby. It was a boy. She wrapped him in large strips of cloth. Then she placed him in a manger. There was no room for them in the inn. Who had no room for Jesus? (The person who owned the inn the innkeeper.)

11 Jesus was born that night in the town of Bethlehem and the innkeeper s house was so crowded he didn t have room for Jesus. In fact, his house was so crowded he didn t even know that it was Jesus! The Bible says in Revelation 3:20: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any of you hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me. Jesus is saying that He wants to come into your house into your life. Just like Mary and Joseph knocked on the door of the innkeeper s house, Jesus is knocking on your house s door your heart, and He wants to come on. What will you do? Are you like the innkeeper whose house was so crowded that there wasn t any room? Are you so busy like the innkeeper that you don t even notice when Jesus is at your door? Or are you willing to get rid of some of the clutter (point to the items they agreed fills their lives from earlier in the lesson) and make room for Jesus? I want you all to close your eyes and think through what your typical Monday is like. What are you going to do tomorrow from the time you wake up on? (Perhaps go through some of the things typically they will do wake up, brush teeth, eat breakfast, get stuff together for school, etc putting emphasis on how full their day is and busy. Do not include prayer and Bible study on purpose.) Do you spend every day going from one activity to another? Do you have time do you have room for Jesus? How do we make room? By setting aside time to pray and have Bible study. By taking time to think about Jesus and listen for Him to talk to you not out loud but through your heart. Activity: Get Ready Relay (high energy) Provide piles of clothing pants, shirts, socks, shoes, jackets, hats, etc try to come up with about ten different clothing items. Have as many piles of clothes as you will need teams to participate based on your number of kids. Assign one student to be it for each team. The other members of the team run across the room one at a time to the pile, grab one item of clothing, race back and dress it, when they are done the next person goes. Continue this until it is fully dressed and the kids are all exhausted! Make the point that as fast as they ran to dress it so their team would win, is often how fast we run through our day with all the stuff we fill it with. Challenge them to slow down this week and make room for Jesus! Provide each student with a clothes pin as a reminder of the game and their need to slow down and make room for Jesus.

12 Do you have room? (Innkeeper) Scripture Context: Luke 2:1-8 Memory Verse: Revelation 3:20 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 2 Small Group Students will know that Jesus wants to live in their house (life). Students will see how crowded their life is and discover what is taking up all the room. Students will desire to make room for Jesus. SMALL GROUP PORTION Discussion Questions: 1. What kinds of things keep you busy during a day? 2. How many of those things are important and need to happen? 3. Which of those things can you get rid of or shorten the time of? 4. Where can you make room for Jesus in your typical day? 5. How will you do that? 6. What difference do you think it will make in your life, when you intentionally make room for Jesus? Personal Response: Revelation 3:20: 'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If any of you hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with you. And you will eat with me. Review this week s memory verse and have each student include it on their pictures/schedules: Non-Readers: Have each student draw a picture of them doing something that makes room for Jesus. Ask them to share what that thing is and when they are going to do it this week. Write their responses for them on their paper. Ask them to take their paper home and post it somewhere they ll be reminded to make room for Jesus. Readers: Create a daily schedule for the week. Have each student fill out the things they have to do and when like school, practices, lessons, family functions, etc. Then have them fill in time for Jesus before they add things like TV, gaming, playing with friends, etc. Things for Jesus

13 might include prayer, Bible study or devotions and church. Have them take their chart home and see how well they do making room for Jesus. Ask them to put a sticker on each day they set aside time for Jesus and then bring the schedule back next week to share with the group.

14 Is it hard to Obey? (Joseph) Scripture Context: Matthew 1:18-25 Memory Verse: John 15:9-11 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 3 Large Group Students will see there are times when what God asks or does doesn t make sense. Students will know that even when God doesn t make sense, they need to trust Him. Trust in God and surrender to His will means, I m going to obey even when I don t understand. LARGE GROUP PORTION Preparation: When the students arrive give each one a card with an instruction on it, asking the student to do something completely random. Items can include things like standing on one foot, laying on the floor, holding their arm in the air, folding and unfolding a piece of paper, etc. You can give all the students the same instruction, or a variety of instructions. Allow them to follow the instruction for a period of time while you do something else to prepare for the morning. Opening: Did any of you wonder why I asked you to do what you ve been doing? Does anyone have a clue why? I must admit, there was no reason other than to demonstrate that sometimes we re asked to do things that just don t make sense. Today we re going to look at another character from the nativity who was asked to do something that was really hard to understand. Bible Point: Joseph Obeys So far, we have looked at two characters from the nativity. Who are they and what did they teach us? (Allow responses: Herod and we learned to not fear but give Jesus our fears because He came to save us and give us peace. The innkeeper showed us that we need to be intentional about making room for Jesus our lives get busy and crowded and there s no room for Him.)

15 How many of you were able to make room for Jesus this past week? What did you do or remove? (Encourage responses, perhaps have several students prepared in advance to share their stories. Share your personal story as well.) What was different about your week when you made room for Jesus by being intentional with prayer and Bible study? (Encourage the response that their week was better, less stressed and busy, they were nicer, happier, etc.) Our memory verse last week said that Jesus stands at the door of our heart and wants in He knocks but it is up to us whether we open the door or not whether we let Him in or not. We get to choose. Today we re going to look closely at a character from the nativity who had to choose. His choice was to obey God or not. Let s read together and see who this is and what he did: Matthew 1:18-24: This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. His mother Mary and Joseph had promised to get married. But before they started to live together, it became clear that she was going to have a baby. She became pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph was a godly man. He did not want to put her to shame in public. So he planned to divorce her quietly. But as Joseph was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, son of David, don't be afraid to take Mary home as your wife. The baby inside her is from the Holy Spirit. She is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That is because he will save his people from their sins." All of this took place to bring about what the Lord had said would happen. He had said through the prophet, "The virgin is going to have a baby. She will give birth to a son. And he will be called Immanuel." The name Immanuel means "God with us." Joseph woke up. He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do. He took Mary home as his wife. In that Bible passage, who was the character with a big choice? (Joseph.) Joseph is the character from our nativity we re going to look at today and Joseph really is someone you ll find in your nativity at home and ours here at church. (Take time to point out the Joseph figure in your church nativity.) Joseph was given the choice to obey God and take Mary home to be his wife, or to walk away divorce her quietly. Sometimes God asks us to obey and the choice is pretty easy and makes sense, but there are times when God doesn t seem to make sense, when it is hard to understand God s plan. The Lord speaks to Joseph in a dream and tells him that Mary is going to have a baby, but the baby is from the Holy Spirit and will be God s Son. This baby is going to fulfill Isaiah s prophecy. Wow that is a lot for Joseph to take in. Remember, no one had ever had a baby like this before and this wasn t anybody this was his fiancée. I am sure that for Joseph it seemed like God didn t make sense:

16 Jesus, the promised Messiah, is coming as a baby. And Mary, his fiancée, is going to be His mother? Joseph had a decision to obey God even though what He asked seemed crazy and didn t make sense, or to walk away. Of course, you know the story and Joseph did choose to obey. Joseph put his trust in God s plan. Joseph obeyed God and as verse 24 says, Joseph woke up. He did what the angel of the Lord commanded him to do. He took Mary home as his wife. Joseph teaches us a valuable lesson that even when God doesn t seem to make sense, you can put your trust in Him and obey. In everything, choose God s way! Joseph and Mary went on to get married and Joseph had the privilege of being Jesus earthly father. What an amazing gift because he chose to obey. Activity: Simon Says Play a game of Simon Says with your group. Start the game by asking them to do some pretty common things things generally asked in a game of Simon Says. (Raise your right hand, pat your stomach, turn around, etc.) As the game goes on, however, start asking the group to do more difficult or more bizarre things. (Ask them to do multiple things at once such as stand on one foot, turn in circles, pat their belly and rub their head. Then ask them to wiggle like a fish on a hook or pretend to be a dog drinking from a stream, or something else that is silly. Make sure to not embarrass one student or draw undue attention to one specific student during the game.) How many of you could follow Simon? Some of the times Simon asked you to do things that were really hard and other times you were asked to do something that was silly or embarrassing or you didn t understand. This was just a silly game but a good reminder that you, like Joseph, will sometimes be asked to obey God even when it doesn t make sense. Remember, that God s plan is ALWAYS the best plan and if you obey Him, you will always make the right choice!

17 Is it hard to Obey? (Joseph) Scripture Context: Matthew 1:18-25 Memory Verse: John 15:9-11 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 3 Small Group Students will see there are times when what God asks or does doesn t make sense. Students will know that even when God doesn t make sense, they need to trust Him. Trust in God and surrender to His will means, I m going to obey even when I don t understand. SMALL GROUP PORTION Discussion Questions: 1. How was what God told Joseph in his dream so hard to believe? 2. Is it surprising that Joseph made the choice he did? 3. Do you think it was hard for Joseph to make the right choice? Why? 4. Have you ever been asked to do something other than in class today that didn t make sense? What was it and what did you do? 5. Is there something that God asks you to do that doesn t make sense? What is it? 6. Why is it important to ALWAYS choose to obey God even when He doesn t make sense? How do you know this? Read this verse together as a class. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. (John 15:9-11) What did God promise would be ours if we obeyed? (The Father s love and complete joy) Review this memory verse together. Create hand motions or some other way to learn it together as a group.

18 Personal Response: Non-Readers: As a group talk about some of the things God asks us to do: share, be kind, tell the truth, read our Bibles, pray, help out in church, give to others in need, etc. Let them talk about things they know and share their own thoughts. Hold up pictures of a variety of scenes in which students are given a choice. When you hold up the picture have the group shout Obey on the things God would want them to do. Make sure to include some pictures they shouldn t say Obey as well. (You can use images from magazines, the internet, or show a few short video clips.) Readers: Give each student an opportunity to read additional Scripture verses, either individually or in pairs. Genesis 22:17-18 John 15:9-11 Exodus 19:4-6 Romans 2:13 Leviticus 25:18 Ephesians 6:1-3 Deuteronomy 6:24 I John 2:5 I Kings 3:14 Jeremiah 7:23 Job 36:11 Matthew 28:19-20 After each verse have them write out what God has promised if we obey. Pray with the group, asking God to help them to always choose His way.

19 Get Excited! (Shepherds) Scripture Context: Luke 2:8-20 Memory Verse: Luke 2:10-11 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 4 Large Group Students will share in the shepherd s excitement. Students too will hurry to see Christ. Students will want to share the good news with their friends and family. LARGE GROUP PORTION Opening: What is the best news you have ever heard? (Give students opportunity to share things. Suggest news such as: you re going to move to a new house, or you re not going to move, you re going to have a brother or sister, you re getting a dog, you got an A, you made the team, etc.) When you hear good news what is the first thing you do? (Scream, jump up and down, clap, cheer, etc.) Let s do that together on the count of three, I m going to say good news and all of us are going to cheer Good News (Be prepared for the noise.) Wow that was amazing. Every time today that I say the phrase Good News I want you to cheer. Now let s try a few other responses, but this time, let s do it with faces and hands and not voices! Show me what you look like when you re: scared, angry, happy, confused, and overjoyed. (Take time to go through a few, encouraging the kids to show you how they respond; add Good News to see if they remember to cheer.) Bible Point: This is our final week of celebrating Advent anticipating together the coming of Jesus! We have looked back at the nativity scene at how some of the people responded or reacted to Jesus. Let s review together: Herod was scared of baby Jesus and his fear led him to sin. Jesus came to take away our fears; to save us and give us peace.

20 Innkeeper was too busy and his house was too crowded for Jesus. He taught us that we need to be intentional about making room for Jesus! Joseph was given a hard choice to obey God even though it didn t make sense or to walk away. We learned from Joseph that it is best to always obey God! We have one more character to look at and actually it is a group of people who had two things in common what they did for a living and what they all experienced one night! Let s read together Luke 2:8-20 and see who it is and what they did! There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby. It was night, and they were looking after their sheep. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. And the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. It is for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord. Here is how you will know I am telling you the truth. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger." Suddenly a large group of angels from heaven also appeared. They were praising God. They said, "May glory be given to God in the highest heaven! And may peace be given to those he is pleased with on earth!" The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem. Let's see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about." So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger. After the shepherds had seen him, they told everyone. They reported what the angel had said about this child. All who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary kept all these things like a secret treasure in her heart. She thought about them over and over. The shepherds returned. They gave glory and praise to God. Everything they had seen and heard was just as they had been told. Who from our nativity are we talking about today? That s right, the shepherds! What were the shepherds doing that night? (They were looking after their sheep.) And who showed up? (An angel of the Lord.) The scripture tells us of three things the shepherds did when the Angel of the Lord showed up on their hill that night. First they were terrified (verse 9). And who wouldn t be? Something completely out of the ordinary happens to them and it scared them to death. What do you think their faces looked like? (relate back to what students did in opening encourage them to look terrified) o But then the angel spoke to them and gave them some Good News. (cheer) The angel tells them about the baby Jesus, where they can find him, and why God sent Him to earth to give us peace.

21 After the shepherds heard that they weren t terrified anymore now they were excited and interested/intrigued. They wanted to see if this thing the angels said was true they wanted to find the baby. The scripture tells us that they hurried off. o And then they see Him baby Jesus. And as soon as they do, they know that what the angels said is the truth and they are amazed. The shepherds were so overjoyed by what they saw - baby Jesus - that they told everyone what they had seen and heard. Verse 20 tells us that they gave glory and praise to God. The Good News (cheer) of Jesus isn t just for us to keep to ourselves. The Good News (cheer) is to be shared with everyone. God wants us to respond like the shepherds we should be amazed, excited, overjoyed and tell everyone we know! Activity: Whisper the Good News Have the students form groups of four to six kids. Tell them that we are going to see which group can be the quietest AND get the message passed from the first person to the last the most accurately. Whisper into the ear of the first person a message. (Suggestion: use a portion of the memory verse or a phrase about Jesus being the Good News.) Have them whisper from one to the next the message. When all are done see which group was able to pass on their message of Good News the best. Give them a cheer for doing such a great job! We can all share the Good News! If you learn Luke 2:10-11, it will be a great start in helping you!

22 Get Excited! (Shepherds) Scripture Context: Luke 2:8-20 Memory Verse: Luke 2:10-11 Lesson Goals: Children s Lesson Week 4 Small Group Students will share in the shepherd s excitement. Students too will hurry to see Christ. Students will want to share the good news with their friends and family. SMALL GROUP PORTION Discussion Questions: 1. Who are the four characters we ve looked at and what were their reactions to Jesus? (Herod fear, Innkeeper no room, Joseph obeyed, Shepherds excitement) 2. Which character are you most like? Why? It is easy this time of year (Christmas) to get excited about a lot of things presents, decorations, family, good food, etc., but we must remember the most important thing the Good News! (cheer) 3. What is the Good News and what are we supposed to do with it? 4. Who do you know that you can tell about Jesus? When, where and how can you do that? Personal Response: Non-Readers & Readers: Share the Good News! Provide small gift boxes, wrapping paper, bows, and name tags for each student. For non-readers, provide a paper that says Good News! and give each student an opportunity to add glitter or decorate it. For Readers, provide them a sheet that says at the top: Good News and have them write out what the good news is sharing the gospel story.

23 Include the verse Luke 2:10-11 on the paper. Have each student wrap their Good News in a beautifully decorated package and choose one person to share it with. Encourage them to talk about who they want to share the Good News with and why. Remind them that it isn t just a package and piece of paper they are to share but truly the story of Jesus!

Come and Worship Him Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12

Come and Worship Him Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12 Fall 2016 ~ Primary Lesson #12 Learning Objectives Come and Worship Him Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-20, Matthew 2:1-12 1. The children will be able to retell the story of Jesus birth. 2. The children will identify

More information

Luke 2:1-7. The birth of Jesus

Luke 2:1-7. The birth of Jesus Luke 2:1-7 The birth of Jesus In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor

More information

The story of Christmas occurred over 2000 years ago. It is the story of God sending his

The story of Christmas occurred over 2000 years ago. It is the story of God sending his The story of Christmas occurred over 2000 years ago. It is the story of God sending his Son Jesus Christ to earth. Jesus was the Son of God so he was greater than a king, yet,he was born in a very lowly

More information

Matthew 1: Luke 2:1-4

Matthew 1: Luke 2:1-4 Matthew 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.

More information

Nativity Story Advent Chain

Nativity Story Advent Chain Joyful Catholic Families Nativity Story Advent Chain Advent is not a set number of days. It can be 22 to 28 days long. If Advent is 28 days long, use the first four pages of this chain. If Advent is less

More information

OVERVIEW. All scriptures are taken from the NIrV translation of the Bible. PAGE 1

OVERVIEW. All scriptures are taken from the NIrV translation of the Bible. PAGE 1 OVERVIEW The Emoji Christmas Program uses skits, songs and Scripture to re-tell the Christmas story in a fun, new way that can involve everyone in your Children's Ministry. The Emoji Christmas Pageant

More information

Good News of Great Joy! An Advent Chain Activity Book

Good News of Great Joy! An Advent Chain Activity Book Good News of Great Joy! An Advent Chain Activity Book Scripture taken from the Good News Translation Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. Good News of Great Joy!

More information

LIVE NATIVITY HANDBOOK

LIVE NATIVITY HANDBOOK LIVE NATIVITY HANDBOOK Neighbors enjoy coming together to watch the story of Christmas acted out by their own children. Invite them to join your family for a short but meaningful celebration of how God

More information

Jesus Was Born. Leader BIBLE STUDY. from sin.

Jesus Was Born. Leader BIBLE STUDY. from sin. UNIT 17 Session 2 Use Week of: Jesus Was Born 2 BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus

More information

LEADER DEVOTIONAL. Younger Kids Leader Guide Unit 4, Session Christmas 2018 LifeWay

LEADER DEVOTIONAL. Younger Kids Leader Guide Unit 4, Session Christmas 2018 LifeWay LEADER DEVOTIONAL Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday. From the moment sin entered the world, its

More information

Journey to Bethlehem Labyrinth

Journey to Bethlehem Labyrinth Journey to Bethlehem Labyrinth This shows positions for 25 stops for Dec 1 st to 25 th. For starting on Advent Sunday, follow the table below. If starting on Advent Sunday, adjust the number of stops to

More information

Jesus Is Born Luke 2:1-20; Hebrews 1:1-4

Jesus Is Born Luke 2:1-20; Hebrews 1:1-4 Session 3 Jesus Is Born Luke 2:1-20; Hebrews 1:1-4 Worship Theme: Jesus is born. Weaving Faith Into Life: Kids will worship Jesus and give God glory because he was born as a small baby for everyone. Session

More information

T H E G R E A T E S T G I F T ( N I V T R A N S L A T I O N )

T H E G R E A T E S T G I F T ( N I V T R A N S L A T I O N ) C H R I S T M A S P A G E A N T S C R I P T T H E G R E A T E S T G I F T ( N I V T R A N S L A T I O N ) C H A R A C T E R S N a r r a t o r M a r y J o s e p h K i n g H e r o d D o v e S h e p a r d

More information

Jesus Is Born (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12 Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-20)

Jesus Is Born (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12 Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-20) BIBLE SKILLS & GAMES LEADER GUIDE Jesus Is Born (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12 Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-2) Age-Level Overview Age-Level Overview Open the Bible Activate Faith Lower Elementary Workshop Focus: Jesus

More information

KINDERGARTEN OVERVIEWS November 30 January 12 UNIT 1 PRESTONWOOD

KINDERGARTEN OVERVIEWS November 30 January 12 UNIT 1 PRESTONWOOD KINDERGARTEN OVERVIEWS November 30 January 12 UNIT 1 PRESTONWOOD 4:45 p.m. and 9:15 a.m. Kindergarten Hoping November 30 & December 1, 2013 Unit 1, Session 1 Bible Story: Jesus Walked on Water Bible Story

More information

Scripture & Prayers. for Advent IV, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Compiled by Lisa Traylor Prayers from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer

Scripture & Prayers. for Advent IV, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Compiled by Lisa Traylor Prayers from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer & s for Advent IV, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Compiled by Lisa Traylor s from the 1979 Book of Common Advent IV The Story of St. Mary, mother of Jesus In the sixth month of Elizabeth s pregnancy,

More information

October 3, Dear Church Partners,

October 3, Dear Church Partners, October 3, 2016 Dear Church Partners, In this packet are six free object lessons for your use! My hope is that you will find this resource helpful for you as you interpret the Change for Children campaign

More information

CHRISTMAS TOOLKIT. Tips and ideas to help people celebrate and proclaim the Savior s birth at Christmastime. Christ is born!

CHRISTMAS TOOLKIT. Tips and ideas to help people celebrate and proclaim the Savior s birth at Christmastime. Christ is born! CHRISTMAS TOOLKIT Tips and ideas to help people celebrate and proclaim the Savior s birth at Christmastime. Christ is born! KEEPING CHRISTMAS IN CHRIST It s not uncommon to hear of keeping Christ in Christmas

More information

TEACH THE STORY APPLY THE STORY (10 15 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 58 PAGE 60

TEACH THE STORY APPLY THE STORY (10 15 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 58 PAGE 60 Use Week of: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 9; Luke 2 STORY POINT: Jesus was born to bring peace between God and people. KEY PASSAGE: Hosea 13:4 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Is there anything God cannot

More information

Je s u s as a Yo u n g Boy

Je s u s as a Yo u n g Boy Prayer Dear God, Thank you that everyone is important to you, even little children. Help me to remember this whenever I feel small and unimportant. In Jesus name, Amen. 17 Then the shepherds told everyone

More information

Club 345 Small Groups

Club 345 Small Groups LEADER DEVOTIONAL Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday. From the moment sin entered the world, its

More information

Jesus Was Born. Bible Passage: Isaiah 9; Luke 2. Story Point: Jesus was born to bring peace between God and people. Key Passage:

Jesus Was Born. Bible Passage: Isaiah 9; Luke 2. Story Point: Jesus was born to bring peace between God and people. Key Passage: December 22nd/23rd Christmas #2 - Elementary SGL Jesus Was Born Bible Passage: Isaiah 9; Luke 2 Story Point: Jesus was born to bring peace between God and people. Key Passage: In this the love of God was

More information

1 st 4 th Grade Teacher Guide

1 st 4 th Grade Teacher Guide 1 st 4 th Grade Teacher Guide Jesus was Born Bible Passage: Matthew 2:1-12; Luke 2:1-20 Main Point: God became man and showed us how to have power to obey Him. Memory Verse: Phil 2:7 He gave up his place

More information

WELCOME ACTIVITY PAGE

WELCOME ACTIVITY PAGE LEADER DEVOTIONAL From the moment sin entered the world, its consequences were obvious. God s people were separated from Him; they did not enjoy the intimate relationship with their Creator for which He

More information

AN EMOJI CHRISTMAS: ANGEL EMOJI Adapted from

AN EMOJI CHRISTMAS: ANGEL EMOJI Adapted from ANGEL EMOJI STORY INTRO Can you believe there was actually a time when people communicated without emojis? If you go back just 20 years, people weren t sending smiley faces and sad faces and laughing faces

More information

MAIN POINT: God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus earthly parents.

MAIN POINT: God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus earthly parents. SESSION TITLE: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-56 MAIN POINT: God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus earthly parents. KEY PASSAGE: 1 John 4:9, This is how God showed

More information

4 th -6 th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 16, Session 1: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph

4 th -6 th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 16, Session 1: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph TEACHER BIBLE STUDY 4 th -6 th Grade Kids Bible Study Guide People had been waiting a long time for Jesus. God hinted at His coming in the garden of Eden when He promised a seed to conquer the serpent.

More information

Can. Can. Christmas? you tell me the story of. All Scriptures quoted from the NIV (1984) All Scriptures quoted from the NIV (1984) by Bethany Tapp

Can. Can. Christmas? you tell me the story of. All Scriptures quoted from the NIV (1984) All Scriptures quoted from the NIV (1984) by Bethany Tapp Can you tell me the story of Christmas? by Bethany Tapp All Scriptures quoted from the NIV (1984) Can you tell me the story of Christmas? All Scriptures quoted from the NIV (1984) by Bethany Tapp Jesus

More information

WHAT IS ADVENT? HOW TO PREPARE HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE

WHAT IS ADVENT? HOW TO PREPARE HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the

More information

Joy from Above Luke 2:1-20

Joy from Above Luke 2:1-20 Sermon Transcript Joy from Above Luke 2:1-20 Joy s pretty popular this time of year, I would say. It s one of those attributes that gets a lot of face time in December, a lot of holiday cheer for several

More information

The Christmas Story. Zechariah and Elizabeth. From Luke 1:1-25

The Christmas Story. Zechariah and Elizabeth. From Luke 1:1-25 The Christmas Story Zechariah and Elizabeth From Luke 1:1-25 In the days when Herod was king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah. His wife s name was Elizabeth and they were both honorable and

More information

A Preschool Christmas Program. Written by Scott and Andrea Vander Ploeg

A Preschool Christmas Program. Written by Scott and Andrea Vander Ploeg on the Road to bethlehem A Preschool Christmas Program Written by Scott and Andrea Vander Ploeg 2014 http://www.prekplays.com All material is copyrighted and all rights are reserved. Once you have purchased

More information

A look at God s message to those participating in the birth of our Lord. Lesson 4

A look at God s message to those participating in the birth of our Lord. Lesson 4 You Can Trust God With Your Fears A look at God s message to those participating in the birth of our Lord. Lesson 4 Mission Arlington Mission Metroplex Christmas Curriculum 2010 Scriptures Jeremiah 1:4-8

More information

Advent 4: Shepherds See God s Promised Son Lesson Aim: To praise God as the shepherds did when they saw baby Jesus.

Advent 4: Shepherds See God s Promised Son Lesson Aim: To praise God as the shepherds did when they saw baby Jesus. Teacher s Guide: Ages 4-5 Prophets & Promises: Advent of the Promised One Unit 10, Lesson 51 Advent 4: Shepherds See God s Promised Son Lesson Aim: To praise God as the shepherds did when they saw baby

More information

Advent and Christmas (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-20)

Advent and Christmas (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-20) CREATIVE DRAMA LEADER GUIDE Advent and Christmas (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12; Luke 1:26-58; 2:1-20) Age-Level Overview Age-Level Overview Open the Bible Activate Faith Lower Elementary Workshop Focus: Jesus

More information

Christmas Eve 2017 Pastors Dave Hoffman and Mark Hoffman Foothills Christian Church December 24, 2017

Christmas Eve 2017 Pastors Dave Hoffman and Mark Hoffman Foothills Christian Church December 24, 2017 Christmas Eve 2017 Pastors Dave Hoffman and Mark Hoffman Foothills Christian Church December 24, 2017 Dave: What we re going to do now is we re going to read through the Christmas story. The birth of Jesus.

More information

Advent 3: Jesus Is Born Lesson Aim: To know Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem.

Advent 3: Jesus Is Born Lesson Aim: To know Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. Teacher s Guide: Ages 4-5 God of Wonders: The Wonder of Advent Unit 10, Lesson 50 Advent 3: Jesus Is Born Lesson Aim: To know Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. THE WORSHIP Who God Is: The God Who

More information

Sign up for Mom's Mustard Seeds HERE

Sign up for Mom's Mustard Seeds  HERE Thank you for downloading this printable from Mom's Mustard Seeds. The best way to receive daily and weekly updates from Mom's Mustard Seeds is via Email. Mom's Mustard Seeds is committed to helping all

More information

A new perspective on the Advent, by Rev. Courtney Arntzen

A new perspective on the Advent, by Rev. Courtney Arntzen A new perspective on the Advent, by Rev. Courtney Arntzen INTRO: The advent of Jesus Christ is not only as it seems There is more going on than we imagine Voice #1: In the beginning was the Word, and the

More information

Directions for Use. I hope these devotions will spur your creativity and bless your kids! Amanda Singer

Directions for Use. I hope these devotions will spur your creativity and bless your kids! Amanda Singer Directions for Use In the Kids Choir Program at Community Bible Church, we begin with worship and devotional time every week. It is so important that kids have spiritual reference on each song they sing.

More information

Copyright Bible Kids Fun Zone All rights reserved. Week 5. (The Wisemen Visit Jesus)

Copyright Bible Kids Fun Zone All rights reserved. Week 5. (The Wisemen Visit Jesus) Copyright Bible Kids Fun Zone 2014. All rights reserved. Week 5 The Gift of Himself! (The Wisemen Visit Jesus) Bible Kids Fun Zone grants permission to reproduce this document for offline local classroom

More information

Life of Christ. Beginnings to Baptism. NT111 LESSON 02 of 07. An Angel Brings Good News

Life of Christ. Beginnings to Baptism. NT111 LESSON 02 of 07. An Angel Brings Good News Life of Christ NT111 LESSON 02 of 07 An Angel Brings Good News Christian University This course was developed by Christian University & Our Daily Bread Ministries. But the angel said to him, Do not be

More information

Wise Men Knew God s Promise Lesson Aim: To know promises from God are found in the Bible.

Wise Men Knew God s Promise Lesson Aim: To know promises from God are found in the Bible. Teacher s Guide: Ages 4-5 Prophets & Promises: Advent of the Promised One Unit 10, Lesson 52 THE WORSHIP Who God Is: The God of Peace Wise Men Knew God s Promise Lesson Aim: To know promises from God are

More information

Day 204. Angels help God s people. They bring messages from God.

Day 204. Angels help God s people. They bring messages from God. The angel said to him, I am Gabriel. I serve God. I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. Luke 1:19 Day 204 Angels help God s people. They bring messages from God. Gabriel was

More information

Born in a Manger. The story about the birth of Christ comes alive in this lesson as the children hear, see, and become part of this special event.

Born in a Manger. The story about the birth of Christ comes alive in this lesson as the children hear, see, and become part of this special event. Born in a Manger The story about the birth of Christ comes alive in this lesson as the children hear, see, and become part of this special event. TOPICS Birth of Jesus, Christmas AS KIDS ARRIVE (15 minutes)

More information

Session 2 PRESCHOOL UNIT 5. Add Christmas elements to the decor you are currently using.

Session 2 PRESCHOOL UNIT 5. Add Christmas elements to the decor you are currently using. BIBLE STUDY Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem the very place the Messiah was prophesied

More information

The questions at the end of each day are totally optional and may need rephrasing for your unique audience!

The questions at the end of each day are totally optional and may need rephrasing for your unique audience! FAMILY ADVENT 1 Introduction We did this in our family and it seemed to go down well (the first time with a three and a five year old) so I wanted to offer it as a potential resource for others. The idea

More information

Advent 3: The Promised Son Is Born Lesson Aim: To know God keeps His promises.

Advent 3: The Promised Son Is Born Lesson Aim: To know God keeps His promises. Teacher s Guide: Ages 4-5 Prophets & Promises: Advent of the Promised One Unit 10, Lesson 50 Advent 3: The Promised Son Is Born Lesson Aim: To know God keeps His promises. THE WORSHIP Who God Is: The God

More information

Advent The Christmas Story Revisited 1. Read the Nativity Scene in Luke Chapter 2 and summarise the story

Advent The Christmas Story Revisited 1. Read the Nativity Scene in Luke Chapter 2 and summarise the story 1 Advent The Christmas Story Revisited 1. Read the Nativity Scene in Luke Chapter 2 and summarise the story The Birth of Jesus At the time the Emperor Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the

More information

A YOUNG MAN S PREDICAMENT Matthew 1:18-25

A YOUNG MAN S PREDICAMENT Matthew 1:18-25 A YOUNG MAN S PREDICAMENT Matthew 1:18-25 Matthew 1:18-25 (NKJV) 18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found

More information

Advent. Daily Bible Study available at thirsty.ifesworld.org

Advent. Daily Bible Study available at thirsty.ifesworld.org Advent Daily Bible Study available at thirsty.ifesworld.org InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA All Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011

More information

God s Unfolding Story

God s Unfolding Story Bible Story: Shepherds Told About Jesus (Luke 2:1-20) Bible Phrase: Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Matt. 2:1). Bible Truth: God sent His Son, Jesus, to the world. New Testament Unit 4: Jesus Birth Lesson

More information

Christmas Bingo. Question Where was Mary living when the angel visited her? Answer Nazareth Scripture: Luke 1:26-27

Christmas Bingo. Question Where was Mary living when the angel visited her? Answer Nazareth Scripture: Luke 1:26-27 What was the name of the angel who told Mary that she would have a son named Jesus? Gabriel Scripture: Luke 1:26-27, 30-31 Where was Mary living when the angel visited her? Nazareth Scripture: Luke 1:26-27

More information

A Family Christmas. by Jake Petzold

A Family Christmas. by Jake Petzold A Family Christmas by Jake Petzold Copyright 2017 Concordia Publishing House 3558 S. Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63118-3968 1-800-325-3040 cph.org All rights reserved. This downloadable resource is

More information

A Rockin Royal Christmas!

A Rockin Royal Christmas! 232 Cast: Herod (Adult Male) Sherlock StoryTeller Librarian 3 Shepherds 3 Wise Men 3 Angels Vinny (Innkeeper) Innkeeper s Wife A Rockin Royal Christmas! 1. A ROCKIN ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! STORYTELLER:

More information

Carols and Candles Letters Home

Carols and Candles Letters Home Carols and Candles Letters Home For many years a carol service has been held at St Tudwal s church, Llanstadwell, on the Sunday evening before Christmas. Back in 2012 I felt it was time for something a

More information

Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph

Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Use Week of: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1; Luke 1 STORY POINT: God chose Mary and Joseph to be Jesus earthly parents. KEY PASSAGE: Galatians 4:4-5 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why

More information

TEACH THE STORY APPLY THE STORY (10 15 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 108 PAGE 110. Leader BIBLE STUDY

TEACH THE STORY APPLY THE STORY (10 15 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) (25 30 MINUTES) PAGE 108 PAGE 110. Leader BIBLE STUDY UNIT 29 Session 2 Use Week of: Jesus Was Born Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: 1 John 4:9 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue

More information

MAKE UP PACKET SESSION 4 PROPHECY AND

MAKE UP PACKET SESSION 4 PROPHECY AND MAKE UP PACKET SESSION 4 PROPHECY AND THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST December 2017 Student s Name: The Goal of This Session: The purpose of this session is to help the student 1. understand that God always

More information

Why Jesus Came Give. Caesar Augustus gave a decree -- an imperial edict

Why Jesus Came Give. Caesar Augustus gave a decree -- an imperial edict 1 Jesus came to teach us to give. Why Jesus Came Give One of the great things about Christmas is giving. At the end of our celebration we watched the movie, Little Women. In her book, Little Women, Louisa

More information

1 CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL SUMMARIZE IT

1 CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL SUMMARIZE IT 1 CHRISTMAS DEVOTIONAL The people of Israel had waited a very long time for their Messiah (or A LOOK AHEAD During the month of December there will be about 10 devotionals focusing on the birth of Jesus

More information

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM

JOURNEY TO BETHLEHEM LESSON SNAPSHOT BOTTOM LINE: Jesus came for everyone. OBJECTIVE: Kids will learn that Jesus loves everyone. KEY PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20, The Shepherds Visit Baby Jesus. MEMORY VERSE: But the angel said to

More information

Christmas Eve. St. Luke s United Methodist Church. December 24, o clock in the Evening. 300 E lla Taylor Road Yorkt own, Virginia 23692

Christmas Eve. St. Luke s United Methodist Church. December 24, o clock in the Evening. 300 E lla Taylor Road Yorkt own, Virginia 23692 St. Luke s United Methodist Church 300 E lla Taylor Road Yorkt own, Virginia 23692 Christmas Eve December 24, 2016 5 o clock in the Evening Telephone (757) 898-3017 www.stlukesyorktown.org The Order of

More information

December 24, 2018, Christmas Eve Grade: Kinder

December 24, 2018, Christmas Eve Grade: Kinder Christmas Eve Social: Setting the Tone for the Experience (3:15, 4:30, 5:45, 7:30) 3:15 & 5:45 Find the Sheep Large bag of cotton balls; hide cotton balls around room before kids arrive Brown paper lunch

More information

Jesus Was Born. Leader BIBLE STUDY. from sin.

Jesus Was Born. Leader BIBLE STUDY. from sin. Unit 17 Session 2 Use Week of: 2 Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20 MAIN POINT: Jesus was born to be God s promised Savior. KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21 BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus

More information

1 st -3 rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 16, Session 1: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph

1 st -3 rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 16, Session 1: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph TEACHER BIBLE STUDY People had been waiting a long time for Jesus. God hinted at His coming in the garden of Eden when He promised a seed to conquer the serpent. (Genesis 3:15) The prophets told of His

More information

The Shepherd s Candle - Week Four (Today you can begin lighting 4 candles, then pray, and say the key verse together.)

The Shepherd s Candle - Week Four (Today you can begin lighting 4 candles, then pray, and say the key verse together.) 43 The Shepherd s Candle - Week Four (Today you can begin lighting 4 candles, then pray, and say the key verse together.) Sunday and Monday, December 21 and 22 If we were going to plan the birth of the

More information

The Son of God Is Born! Luke 1:26-45; 2:1-20

The Son of God Is Born! Luke 1:26-45; 2:1-20 Session 4 The Son of God Is Born! Luke 1:26-45; 2:1-20 Worship Theme: Jesus birth is something to celebrate. Weaving Faith Into Life: Children will celebrate the Savior s birth. Session Sequence What Children

More information

Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday.

Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday. Leader DEVOTIONAL Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday. Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar

More information

Christ the Savior Is Born Count-Up-to-Christmas Activity Card 4 Family Devotions to Accompany the Count-Up-to-Christmas Activity Card

Christ the Savior Is Born Count-Up-to-Christmas Activity Card 4 Family Devotions to Accompany the Count-Up-to-Christmas Activity Card Christ the Savior Is Born Count-Up-to-Christmas Activity Card 4 Family Devotions to Accompany the Count-Up-to-Christmas Activity Card Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is

More information

Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know the good news of Jesus birth is for all people.

Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know the good news of Jesus birth is for all people. Teacher s Guide: Ages 8-9 God of Wonders Advent: The Wonder of Advent Unit 10, Lesson 51 Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know the good news of Jesus birth is for all people. THE

More information

Crazy kingdom. January 23-24, Loving others like Jesus did can look pretty crazy. Matthew 5:11-12; 5:40-45; 20:26-27, 1 Corinthians 13:4

Crazy kingdom. January 23-24, Loving others like Jesus did can look pretty crazy. Matthew 5:11-12; 5:40-45; 20:26-27, 1 Corinthians 13:4 rd th 3-5 January 23-24, 2016 Matthew 5:11-12; 5:40-45; 20:26-27, 1 Corinthians 13:4 Connect Time (15 minutes): Five minutes after the service begins, split kids into groups and begin their activity. Large

More information

Christmas Eve Services 5:30 and 7:00 pm. Family Advent Guide

Christmas Eve Services 5:30 and 7:00 pm. Family Advent Guide Christmas Eve Services 5:30 and 7:00 pm Family Advent Guide 1 A Note for Families Advent is an opportunity to pause and reflect on the birth of Jesus. But, for some families, this time of year can be filled

More information

Jesus Is Born. Large Group Openings. Jesus Is Born 151

Jesus Is Born. Large Group Openings. Jesus Is Born 151 Large Group Openings Jesus Is Born Large Group Openings, Jesus Is Born Rotation Leader Guide. Spark Sunday School 2009 Jesus Is Born 151 LARGE GROUP OPENINGS Jesus Is Born (Matthew 1:18-25; 2:1-12 Luke

More information

Bible Passage: Luke 2:8 20 (The Birth of Jesus) Jesus Is The Promise

Bible Passage: Luke 2:8 20 (The Birth of Jesus) Jesus Is The Promise December 20, 2015 Bible Passage: Luke 2:8 20 (The Birth of Jesus) Jesus Is The Promise REMEMBER VERSE LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done

More information

Session 3 PRESCHOOL UNIT 19 1 UNIT 19 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS

Session 3 PRESCHOOL UNIT 19 1 UNIT 19 // SESSION 3 // CYCLE 1 PRESCHOOL 3-5 YEAR OLDS BIBLE STUDY Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem the very place the Messiah was prophesied

More information

We can tell others about Jesus birth.

We can tell others about Jesus birth. Praise Jesus! Angels Appear to Shepherds Lesson 3 Bible Point We can tell others about Jesus birth. Bible Verse Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone (Mark 16:15). Growing Closer to

More information

Hiriam, The Innkeeper!

Hiriam, The Innkeeper! Hiriam, The Innkeeper! By John B. Wintermute A CHRISTMAS PLAY FOR THE SANCTUARY Performance Rights It is an infringement of the federal copyright law to copy or reproduce this script in any manner or to

More information

Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama Synopsis of Sermon Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor WHO IS JESUS?

Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama Synopsis of Sermon Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor WHO IS JESUS? Mt. Traveler Missionary Baptist Church, Waverly, Alabama Synopsis of Sermon Preached by Rev. B. C. Datiri, Pastor December 2, 2012 1. Born King of the Jews Matthew 2:1 12 1. In this celebrative holiday

More information

THE WONDER OF A MANGER by Rom A. Pegram

THE WONDER OF A MANGER by Rom A. Pegram THE WONDER OF A MANGER by Rom A. Pegram In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius

More information

Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know the good news of Jesus birth is for all people.

Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know the good news of Jesus birth is for all people. Teacher s Guide: Ages 10-12 God of Wonders Advent: The Wonder of Advent Unit 10, Lesson 51 Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know the good news of Jesus birth is for all people. THE

More information

Bells Tell the Story. A Jesus Cares Ministries Christmas Service

Bells Tell the Story. A Jesus Cares Ministries Christmas Service Bells Tell the Story A Jesus Cares Ministries Christmas Service 2 Bells Tell the Story: A Jesus Cares Ministries Christmas Service Written by Jeanne Aeschliman Revised by Myrtiss Riediger Edited by Jane

More information

PONDER POINT The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Luke 2:8 20 Savior Is Born

PONDER POINT The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Luke 2:8 20 Savior Is Born December 10, 2017 Jesus Is Savior DATE PONDER POINT The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Luke 2:8 20 Savior Is Born THE BIG GOD STORY Zephaniah 3:17a REMEMBER VERSE Welcome (6 minutes):

More information

JESUS IS CHRISTMAS Following are notes to staff and lesson plans for a 9 week Christmas series based on nativity figures.

JESUS IS CHRISTMAS Following are notes to staff and lesson plans for a 9 week Christmas series based on nativity figures. JESUS IS CHRISTMAS Following are notes to staff and lesson plans for a 9 week Christmas series based on nativity figures. Notes to staff CHRISTMAS is for GIVING. YOU are a GIFT from God to the parents

More information

The Birth of Jesus. The Shepherds and the Angels. 2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world

The Birth of Jesus. The Shepherds and the Angels. 2 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world The Reading of Luke 1:11-16 An Angel of the Lord Appears to Zechariah 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him,

More information

LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE

LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE TEACHER BIBLE STUDY God is in control of all things. Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem

More information

Birthday Party for Jesus. Dec. 17,2017. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Christmas Celebration.

Birthday Party for Jesus. Dec. 17,2017. The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Christmas Celebration. Dec. 17,2017 Birthday Party for Jesus DATE PONDER POINT Christmas Celebration The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. Zephaniah 3:17a THE BIG GOD STORY REMEMBER VERSE Welcome (6 minutes):

More information

Leader Devotional. Preschool classes Dec. 17, 2017

Leader Devotional. Preschool classes Dec. 17, 2017 Leader Devotional Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem the very place the Messiah was prophesied

More information

Giving to the King: The Wise Men Lesson Aim: To explore ways to give our treasures to Jesus.

Giving to the King: The Wise Men Lesson Aim: To explore ways to give our treasures to Jesus. Teacher s Guide: Adaptation for Children with Disabilities Kings & Kingdoms: Advent of the King Unit 10, Lesson 52 Giving to the King: The Wise Men Lesson Aim: To explore ways to give our treasures to

More information

God s Messengers. References Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2:8-14; The Desire of Ages, pp

God s Messengers. References Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2:8-14; The Desire of Ages, pp LESSON God s Messengers Year B 4th Quarter Lesson 10 GRACE God s grace is His gift to us. References Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38; 2:8-14; The Desire of Ages, pp. 43-48. Memory Verse The angels... serve

More information

2 Joseph Takes Mary as Wife

2 Joseph Takes Mary as Wife 1 The Angel Appears to Mary 2 Joseph Takes Mary as Wife Luke 1:26-38 Matthew 1:18-25 And the angel answered her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;

More information

PARENTS GUIDE GOD S UNFOLDING STORY FOR KIDS: HOME EDITION PARENTS GUIDE CHRISTMAS

PARENTS GUIDE GOD S UNFOLDING STORY FOR KIDS: HOME EDITION PARENTS GUIDE CHRISTMAS GOD S UNFOLDING STORY FOR KIDS: HOME EDITION PARENTS GUIDE CHRISTMAS PARENTS GUIDE GOD S UNFOLDING STORY FOR KIDS: HOME EDITION PARENTS GUIDE CHRISTMAS By David and Amy Morrow Illustrations by Heath McPherson

More information

THE IS COMING! An Advent Chain. of the names of Jesus

THE IS COMING! An Advent Chain. of the names of Jesus Savior THE IS COMING! An Advent Chain of the names of Jesus Scripture taken from the Good News Translation Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Savior THE IS COMING! The word Advent

More information

Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday.

Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday. Leader DEVOTIONAL Leaders: this is just for you! Read ahead of time to engage with the Bible story on an adult level and prepare your heart to teach on Sunday. People had been waiting a long time for Jesus.

More information

Verse 3. All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. Verse 4. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to

Verse 3. All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. Verse 4. And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to 31 And a sword will pierce your very soul." Verse 36. Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when

More information

Teacher BIBLE STUDY. Older Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 4 Session LifeWay Christian Resources

Teacher BIBLE STUDY. Older Kids Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 4 Session LifeWay Christian Resources 3rd-5th Grade (Both Hours) December 28, 2014 Teacher BIBLE STUDY The wise men were magi. Their study of the stars led them to Judea to find and worship Jesus, the newborn King. Before they found Jesus,

More information

Advent 3: Jesus Is Born Lesson Aim: To know Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem.

Advent 3: Jesus Is Born Lesson Aim: To know Jesus was born in a manger in Bethlehem. THE WORSHIP Who God Is: The God Who Comes Near THE WORD Bible Story: Luke 2:1-7 What He Has Done: God gave us His Son, baby Jesus. THE WAY - BIBLE MEMORY VERSE Glory to God in the highest!" Luke 2:14a

More information

Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know God sent an angel to tell the shepherds about Jesus.

Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know God sent an angel to tell the shepherds about Jesus. Teacher s Guide: Ages 4-5 God of Wonders: The Wonder of Advent Unit 10, Lesson 51 Advent 4: An Angel Visits the Shepherds Lesson Aim: To know God sent an angel to tell the shepherds about Jesus. THE WORSHIP

More information

SESSION POINT WHAT S THE MOST INTERESTING TRIP YOU VE EVER TAKEN? JESUS CAME FOR OUR SALVATION. LUKE 2:1-14 THE THE ANGELS ANNOUNCEMENT

SESSION POINT WHAT S THE MOST INTERESTING TRIP YOU VE EVER TAKEN? JESUS CAME FOR OUR SALVATION. LUKE 2:1-14 THE THE ANGELS ANNOUNCEMENT SESSION 4 WHAT S THE MOST INTERESTING TRIP YOU VE EVER TAKEN? THE ANGELS ANNOUNCEMENT THE POINT LUKE 2:1-14 1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman

More information

Getting to Know Who I Am The 7 Redemptive Gifts

Getting to Know Who I Am The 7 Redemptive Gifts Getting to Know Who I Am The 7 Redemptive Gifts 14 Lesson Introductory Series WEEK 3 - SERVANT 10 Minutes: What I Do Best Game Check box list page in binder (list includes only characteristics of the gift

More information