BONUS. The Christmas Advent and Nativity. Bible Passage: Matthew 1:21 23, Luke 2:9 11 (Celebrating the Advent of Jesus) Schedule

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1 date: Bible Passage: Matthew 1:21 23, Luke 2:9 11 (Celebrating the Advent of Jesus) 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 The Christmas Advent and Nativity Schedule Anticipate 5 10 minutes Celebrate & Respond Large Group minutes Respond & Bless Small Group minutes Environment: P1_Nested Enviro P1-Body noindent. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.

2 Equip The word advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means coming or arrival. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas Eve. Though it is not clear exactly when this tradition began (there are many references to Advent-type festivals throughout history), the church introduced the Advent season to prepare for the coming of the Messiah. Further Resources For additional information about Advent, consider this website: devotionals/advent. Advent is a time when believers celebrate the first Advent of Jesus, as well as look forward in longing and anticipation to His second advent a time when He will come again as King, vanquish evil, and rule with righteousness over all. For those who take part in Advent, their focus during the Christmas season is shared between the joy of the first Advent, Christ s incarnation, and the longing for the second advent, the day when God will come to set the world right. During the Advent season, many churches use purple decorations in their sanctuaries the color of fasting, penitence, and of royalty (to welcome the coming of the King). Because purple is also used in Lent services (Lent is the season of fasting before Easter), the color shows an important connection between the two seasons: the purpose of Jesus coming as a man was to reveal God s grace through His death and resurrection. Though many protestant, evangelical churches do not take part in Advent, many incorporate Advent traditions in various ways. In the midst of a season that is often marked by excess, Advent provides a way for believers to reorient themselves to the purpose of Christmas. It provides a reminder of the mystery of the incarnation of Jesus and also an invitation to wait patiently for the second advent of God s Son a time when God will redeem all creation, and reign as the victorious King of all. 3

3 SMALL Group SECTION Anticipate// 5 10 min. Small Group Leaders An energizing time for parents and kids to start engaging with the material that will be presented in the lesson. It is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and cultivate a sense of awe and wonder about God. Encourage parents to participate in this time with their kids. Jesse Tree and Christmas Traditions Lead kids through an Anticipate in which they experience Christmas traditions in a new way by either decorating the Jesse Tree with the cutouts (creating their own versions of members of Jesus real or faith family), reading the explanations of Christmas traditions, and maybe enjoying some Christmas music. SUPPLIES green construction paper tape, scissors cutouts (Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Jesse, David, Solomon, Joseph, and Mary; see Resource Folder) Jesse Tree (made of sticks, real leaves, felt, ornaments, etc.), example images (see Resource Folder) images and descriptions of Christmas traditions (see Resource Folder) optional: Christmas carols SET UP Create a Jesse Tree on a wall in your small group room by using green construction paper. Look at the example images in the Resource Folder, and be as creative as you want in making your tree. Print and cut out the figures in the Resource Folder, and hang them on the Jesse Tree (or allow the kids to hang them when they arrive). Print, cut (to separate them from each other), and hang the descriptions and images of Christmas traditions so the kids can see them. Optional: Play Christmas carols such as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Joy to the World, etc. ENGAGE Explain to the children why churches decorate a Jesse Tree (see leader talk below) and either help them decorate the tree or encourage them to create decorations of their own representing people in Jesus family tree or faith family. (Remind them of some of the people you ve read about in The Big God Story, and refer to the cutouts in timeline order to help the kids remember the lineage [bloodline and faith family] of Christ.) Also, encourage them to read the descriptions of common Christmas season symbols. During the Christmas season, many churches decorate a Jesse Tree with ornaments, illustrations, figurines, or other items to represent Jesus ancestors either His real family, through His bloodline, or His faith family. It s called a Jesse Tree because Jesse was the name of King David s father. 7

4 LARGE Group SECTION Celebrate//20 35 min. Host/Storyteller Kids get to be a part of the faith community of God s family. Welcome and Traditions After everyone is gathered together as a large group, open with Traditions. During Traditions, you are helping the kids work toward a common goal and giving them mementos to celebrate things like memorizing the Remember Verse, inviting a friend, or bringing their Bibles. They participate in traditions and share them with newcomers, connect through fun and interaction, and experience The Big God Story through storytelling. Christmas Cookies A Christmas Tradition Every year, during the Christmas season, invite parents to participate in a Christmas tradition of cookie baking and decorating. Have parents bring in sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies, as well as supplies for decorating them, such as sprinkles, frosting, and candy. Line up the cookies and decorating supplies, and have the kids create their own unique cookies. If you want, divvy up responsibilities so that one parent brings the cookies, one brings the candy, one brings the frosting, etc. REMEMBER VERSE This is a good time to introduce kids to the Remember Verse. As they arrive, open a Bible and read it together if time allows. Remember Verse cards, slide, and animations can be found in the Resource Folder. 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 Mementos can be anything, such as rocks, marbles, gum balls, or connecting blocks. Once the kids have been awarded their mementos, direct them to put the mementos into a container or to add them to a building effort. When the common-goal tradition is complete, have a celebration! Connect Connect is a time to laugh, play, and enjoy each other s company. Engaging questions, energizing games, and creative activities encourage the community to get to know each other. Invite kids to ask each other the following question or one of your own. Encourage them to ask someone they might not know yet. After a minute or two, ask several kids to tell the group their friends answers. (See the Connect Question slide in the Resource Folder.) Question What is your favorite part of Christmas? 8

5 Connect Activity: Christmas Memory Game SUPPLIES a tray and sheet, or blanket and basket small Christmas objects (ornament, a bell, a star, a candy cane, a manger, a baby, a stocking, a wrapped present, a gingerbread cookie, a Christmas bow, an angel, etc.) SET UP AND ENGAGE Place all of the objects on a tray or in a basket. Show the kids all of the items. Without them seeing you, remove a couple of the items. Then, show the kids the items again and have them shout out which items they think are missing. Or show the kids all of the items, hide the items, then see how many items they can remember. They can shout out their answers or write them down. Prayer of Release At the end of Connect, pray a Prayer of Release. This is a time for kids and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. If you would like, encourage kids to hold their hands out in front of them in a spirit of releasing their worries and distractions in order to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them. Encourage kids to quiet their voices and take a seat. Then ask them to pray with you. 9

6 The Big God Story Storyteller During The Big God Story, kids will learn about Advent and the nativity. Though this part of The Big God Story can be delivered verbatim, read it before the lesson, so you can personally interact with the material. Share stories from your life, and speak with your own style by varying your intonation and gestures. Tip Before sharing about the nativity, point out that what they are about to hear is true and is recorded in the Bible. Open your Bible to the passage and leave it open and visible throughout The Big God Story. Establish a consistent place to keep this Bible every week. Invite the kids to open their Bibles to Matthew 1:21 23 and Luke 2:9 11, and follow along as you storytell. Encourage adult volunteers to keep an eye out for kids who need help finding the Scripture passage, and allow enough time for each child to locate the passage. You may even want to project the reference on a screen or write it in large print on a poster board or whiteboard. The Christmas Advent and Nativity SUPPLIES Bible Timeline slide and animation, images #1, manger; #2, shepherds and angels; #3, Jesus during His ministry; #4, cross (see Resource Folder) props: wreath, 5 candles (real or fake), 5 candleholders SET UP Place the wreath, candles, and candleholders up front, where the kids can see them. Cue the Timeline slide, animation, and other images. Today we are going to hear about the miraculous and long-awaited birth of the promised Savior Jesus. I am going to use this wreath (show prop wreath) to tell this amazing part of The Big God Story. Many churches decorate wreaths often called an Advent wreath to tell about God sending His Son, Jesus, to earth so that He could be with us and save us from our sins. The wreath is a symbol for many important parts in this amazing storyline. First of all, the wreath is circular, so its shape symbolizes that God, His love, and His 10

7 The Big God Story mercy last forever. It s green color symbolizes the new life we can have in Christ. Also, it holds these four candles, which symbolize that Jesus is the Light of the World. The four candles also represent God s people waiting 400 years from the last prophecies about Christ coming, and His actual birth. So, let s begin with the first part of Jesus birth by lighting the first candle. (Light the first candle.) At the beginning of The Big God Story, God s people lived perfectly with Him in a beautiful garden. But, sadly, they disobeyed God and broke this perfect relationship. Because of this, they had to leave the garden and be separated from God. But God did not leave them. He promised to send a Redeemer His Son to forgive them of their sins and bring them into a relationship with Him. For many hundreds of years, God reminded His people, through the prophets, of the Redeemer. Remember, prophets are messengers of God who speak His Word to His people. So, over time, God s people, the Israelites (later called the Jews) began to think of the Redeemer as the Messiah who would free them from all the pains and struggles they suffered from being mistreated by cruel kings and foreign nations. (Light the second candle.) Then the time came, and God sent an angel to a young woman named Mary. He told her that, even though she wasn t married yet, she would give birth to God s Son. Wow! God also told her husband-to-be, Joseph, this same news, saying his wife would give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means, God with us (Matthew 1:21 23). Wow! When it was time for baby Jesus to be born, Mary and Joseph were in a small town named Bethlehem. Amazingly, God s Son was born in this small town and laid in a manger which is a food trough for animals (show image #1, manger)! God was showing, even through His Son s birth, that He would be a Messiah and Redeemer, but not in the way anyone had thought. (Light the third candle.) Although God s Son had been born in a stable, that didn t mean no one heard about it! That night (show image #2, shepherds and angels), lots of angels appeared to a group of shepherds in a field, praising God, and one of the angels said to them, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:9 11). Afterward, the shepherds ran from their field to go see the baby Jesus, and they spread the angel s good news to everyone they met along the way. (Light the fourth candle.) Mary and Joseph raised Jesus, God s Son, in a town named Galilee. As He grew, He spent much of His time talking with His Father, God. Jesus was perfect, having never sinned, not even once! Then, when He was 30 11

8 The Big God Story years old, Jesus began His ministry healing people, forgiving people of their sins, and telling everyone about the kingdom of God, and that He is the Redeemer the Messiah they had waited for (show image #3, Jesus during His ministry). But many people didn t believe Him. They thought the Messiah would be a strong and mighty king. So, many people called for Jesus death on a cross (show image #4, cross). And three days after His death, Jesus rose and proved He is God, the Messiah, the Redeemer the One who Saves! (Light the center candle.) This is such a beautiful part of the Bible and the best part is that it s true! But it s not over yet. Still today, we wait for Jesus to return, and when He returns, He will be King of Kings over the whole world. He will defeat sin and death, renew the world to the way it was in the beginning, and live with those who believe in Him forever! So, this Christmas, as we celebrate that God came to live with us, we can also wait with expectant hope! We can praise God for fulfilling His promise by sending us the long-awaited Redeemer Immanuel, God with us. And we can trust Him to fulfill His promise to come again as King! 12

9 LARGE Group SECTION Respond// min. Host/Worship Leader This is a time for kids to worship through silence, prayer, singing, giving, sharing, thanksgiving, and many other ways. 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. IT S OKAY IF Help kids understand that God speaks to us in many ways mostly through His Word, prayer, and others. Encourage them to ask God for the ability to hear His voice, but also give them the freedom to know that it s okay if they do not always experience Him in the ways that other people do. Remembering and Celebrating Jesus! SUPPLIES Christmas foods and drinks (gingerbread, turkey and stuffing, apple cider, pudding, eggnog, etc.) plates, utensils optional: Christmas carols ( Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Silent Night, O Holy Night, Joy to the World, etc.) SET UP Being careful of food allergies, pass out the plates, utensils, and Christmas snacks. Optional: Play Christmas carols. ENGAGE Since the beginning of The Big God Story, God promised to send a Redeemer. Now, we know the Redeemer is Jesus the One who came as a man, lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, then rose from the grave! God s people had waited for Jesus birth with expectant hope of God s promised Savior their Messiah. Today, we wait with hope for the day when Christ will return as the King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15). Let s remember the real reason we celebrate Christmas because of Jesus. Together with our faith community, let s feast while we celebrate the fact that Jesus is Immanuel, God with us, and that He is coming again. Have the kids get into small groups with a leader (or have an older child lead a group of younger kids.) As you feast together, discuss these questions with your group. Go through them as quickly or as slowly as you like, be sensitive to kids who have not entered into a relationship with Jesus or perhaps have not yet heard about Jesus death and resurrection. Questions Who is the Redeemer? Why did God send His Son? (John 3:16) Why do you think Jesus was born in a small town and laid in a manger? What did the shepherds do after they heard the angel s good news? (Luke 2:8 20) What does Immanuel mean? How can we know that God is with us today? How do you want to worship and celebrate Jesus this Christmas? 13

10 SMALL Group SECTION Respond// min. Small Group Leaders A time to engage in relationship, reflect on the lesson with spiritual conversation, and/or create a meaningful project or piece of art. Engage: Christmas Jeopardy! SUPPLIES Jeopardy board instructions, slide show, and sound effects (see Resource Folder) paper and pens, or poster board, ruler, and marker SET UP Cue the slide show and sound effects. Assign a volunteer to tally the points. Or create a Jeopardy poster board for each small group. ENGAGE We just heard that God promised to send a Redeemer throughout The Big God Story, and fulfilled His promise by sending His Son, Jesus! We heard how Jesus not only lived a perfect life, but also died for our sins, and rose again so that we can have a new life with Him! We celebrate Christmas by telling about His birth and participating in traditions because He came to live among us and opened up a way for relationship with God forever. Today, we are going to play a fun game to remember even more of what we know about Jesus birth and the events, people, and places surrounding that wonderful part of The Big God Story! In a small or large group, play this fun game of Christmas Jeopardy with the kids! First, split the kids into 2 4 groups. Open up the Jeopardy slide show and play the Jeopardy sound effects, or show the kids the Jeopardy board. Next, explain to the kids that, to play Jeopardy, they choose a category and a point total. Underneath each point total is a question related to the category. The questions underneath the lower point totals are easier than the questions underneath the higher point totals. Once a group chooses a category and point total, you will read the question. Questions are all Christmas related, though they might not all have been answered during The Big God Story telling. Kids will need prior knowledge to answer some of the questions. If the whole team can collectively answer the question correctly, they get the points. Play until all the questions have been asked. The team with the most points wins! For fun, remind them that, when they answer the question, they must answer in Who is, What is, Where is, When is, format. Example question: In what town was Jesus born? Answer: Where is Bethlehem? 14

11 Jeopardy Questions Category: Animals 100 pt: A small horse-like animal Mary rode to Bethlehem. (ANSWER: What is a donkey?) 200 pt: Shepherds watched over these when the angels appeared to them the night of Jesus birth. (ANSWER: What are sheep?) 300 pt: The baby Jesus lay in this. (ANSWER: What is a manger?) 400 pt: A humped animal that carried the wise men to Bethlehem. (ANSWER: What is a camel?) 500 pt: Hundreds of years before His birth, it was prophesied that Jesus would be the good. (Hint: This type of person takes care of animals.) (ANSWER: Who is Shepherd?) Category: Cities, Towns, and Countries 100 pt: The town in the Middle East where Jesus was born. (ANSWER: Where is Bethlehem?) 200 pt: This is the town where Jesus grew up. (ANSWER: Where is Galilee?) 300 pt: To this country Joseph, Mary, and Jesus fled from King Herod. (ANSWER: Where is Egypt?) 400 pt: The city where King Herod lived. (ANSWER: Where is Jerusalem?) 500 pt: In this part of the world, the three kings (wise men) came to visit Jesus. (ANSWER: Where is the Middle East?) Category: Christmas Traditions and Symbols 100 pt: Christmas lights symbolize this person. (ANSWER: Who is Jesus?) 200 pt: The green color of the Christmas tree represents this part of being born again. (ANSWER: What is new life in Christ?) 300 pt: The circle shape of the advent wreath represents this. (ANSWER: What is the eternity of God or the eternity of God s love?) 400 pt: The red part of Christmas holly represents this. (ANSWER: What is Christ s blood shed for our sins?) 500 pt: The bird in the pear tree represents this. (ANSWER: Who is Christ as the partridge mother taking care of her new chicks?) 15

12 Category: Names, Titles, and Expressions 100 pt: The Savior God promised to send to the world in the beginning of The Big God Story. (ANSWER: Who is the Messiah or the Redeemer?) 200 pt: This means, merry Christmas, in Spanish. (ANSWER: What is Feliz Navidad? ) 300 pt: The meaning of the name Immanuel. (ANSWER: What is God with us? ) 400 pt: The meaning of the name Jesus. (ANSWER: What is God saves? ) 500 pt: DAILY DOUBLE: Christmas in French. (ANSWER: What is Noel? ) Category: Kings and Rulers 100 pt: This King of kings will return again someday. (ANSWER: Who is Jesus?) 200 pt: This king who ruled when Jesus was born. (ANSWER: Who was Herod?) 300 pt: These men were considered wise, but often go by another name? (ANSWER: Who are the Magi?) 400 pt: This government ruled during Jesus lifetime. (ANSWER: What is the Roman Empire?) 500 pt: The king, known for being a man after God s own heart, was related to Jesus. (ANSWER: Who is King David?) 16

13 SMALL Group SECTION Bless// 5 min. Small Group Leaders A blessing can be a prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement or guidance. A blessing can be offered in order to ask God s Spirit to overflow from the child s life to bless others or prayed over a child for the purpose of declaring God s protection, joy, or wisdom. Leader Tip Every lesson ends with a blessing. This is a time for parents and leaders to speak Truth over children s lives. The idea of the blessing is to transition the child from being blessed to being a blessing. The blessing can be done in many ways, but the more intentional you are about it, the more powerful it will be. Depending on whether parents are able to join in at this time, you may want them to put their hands on their child s head or kneel and look him in the eye as they bless him. Leaders, be sure to model how you envision the blessing working in your church so your volunteers and parents become comfortable with it. As kids are blessed, tell them they have the opportunity to also be a blessing to others. Encourage them to freely share with others the joy and love they have received from God. Encourage the kids to hold their hands in front of them, palms up. This posture is meant to symbolize a willingness of heart to respond to God s Holy Spirit and receive what God has for them. Invite them to remain in this posture as you bless them. Encourage parents to come early in order to read the blessing over their child. Open your Bible and read Isaiah 9:6 7a: 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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. This Christmas, may you experience the peace of knowing Jesus as your Savior. May you spend this season in a spirit of joy and anticipation of Jesus return because God came to live among us and bring you into relationship with Him. HomeFront Weekly: Be sure to send home the HomeFront Weekly for next week s lesson! This preteaching tool for parents encourages families to spend time in God s Word together before children arrive at church. HomeFront Monthly: Every four weeks we highlight one of the 10 environments. For each new environment, parents should receive HomeFront Monthly. This resource gives families ideas for how to create fun, spiritually forming times in their homes setting aside a sacred space for family in the midst of their active, everyday lives! 17