THE GOOd News Band. Key Concept Jesus is extraordinary news worth telling others about!

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1 Supplies small group: grade 2-3 Week 2 THE GOOd News Band The following items will be provided for you to use with your kids during the Small Group segments: Blank sheet of paper to roll up as a megaphone Bethlehem Star Gazette front page Index cards (one per child) Pencils (one per child) Blank sheets of paper (one per child) Take-home sheets (one per child) Note: During Small Group Sharing, your kids will be creating their own text messages. Some examples are listed in the lesson, but if you would like to see more, take a look at the following Web site: Key Concept Jesus is extraordinary news worth telling others about! Bible Summary Luke 2:1-20 Joseph and Mary traveled to Nazareth to be counted in the census. While they were there, Mary gave birth to Jesus and laid Him in a manger in the stable, since there was no room in the inn. Angels appeared to shepherds in the fields nearby and told them about the birth of Jesus. The shepherds ran to see Jesus and share the extraordinary news of His birth with everyone they met. Bible Verse Mark 16:15 (NLT) And then He told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. leader Preparation Thanks for choosing to serve with us. The supplies listed above are provided for you, but there are some important things you can do in advance. Prior to the lesson, prepare your mind by reviewing the material and prepare your heart by praying for the children God will place in your Small Group. 1 Week Two The Stars of Christmas / 2008 Willow Creek Association & The Chapel / Grade 2-3 Small Group

2 Small Group connection This short connection time happens right after the Welcome and Introduction. When instructed, turn to your Small Group and engage them in conversation. The goal is to make sure everyone feels comfortable and welcome. You will pass around the paper megaphone to help control which child talks. Be sure everyone gets a chance to share. Keep an eye on the countdown video, which will signal when it s time to refocus on the Teacher. Don t waste any time moving your Small Group; simply stay seated in the Large Group area. LEADER: I am so glad you are all here! Today, we are learning about good news. What is the best news you ve ever heard? I m going to pass around this paper megaphone [roll up a piece of paper and show kids how to use it like a megaphone], and I want you to share your best news with the rest of the group. Today we are going to hear a true story about some shepherds who heard some extraordinary news and told it to everyone! Small Group Sharing This sharing time happens right after the Teacher s Personal Application Story. When instructed, turn again to your Small Group. This time, ask your kids to share some good news in a unique way, as a text message. Keep an eye on the countdown video, which will signal when it s time to refocus on the Teacher. LEADER: Today we re learning about good news! I m going to write the best news I ve ever heard on this card. [Show index card.] But I m going to pretend I m sending you a text message. Try and figure out what my good news is. [Write: JC S d tru (*) of cmas ] Can anyone guess what my good news is? [Allow kids to guess.] It says Jesus is the true Star of Christmas. I ll give you a card and a pencil so you can trying writing some good news you want to share with the group. Try to write it like a text message, and we ll try to guess what your good news is! 2 Week Two The Stars of Christmas / 2008 Willow Creek Association & The Chapel / Grade 2-3 Small Group

3 [Encourage kids to write and share their own text messages. If this proves to be too difficult, have them decode the following messages.] Itz my bday sn Im gona gt a pup DY wnt2go sled W me? Im havn a prt 2nite! Im :-) dat ther iz n skul til jan = It s my birthday soon. = I m going to get a puppy. = Do you want to go sledding with me? = I m having a party tonight! = I m happy that there is NO school until January. That was great! You have a lot of good news. Today in Large Group, we will hear a true story about a bunch of guys who spread some really extraordinary news! Let s check it out. Small Group activity This activity time happens at the end of the Large Group teaching. If your Small Group has a designated seating area somewhere else in the room, move them now. If not, simply stay seated together in the Large Group area. The following activities will engage your group for minutes. It s okay if you don t complete every activity; the priority is helping your kids process and apply what they learned today. Parents will pick up their children from your group at the end of the class. >> news story LEADER: Today we heard the true story of the Shepherds and the Good News! What was your favorite part of the story? [Kids respond.] Let s remember what we learned by reading this news story. [Show Bethlehem Star Gazette page. Assign each of the children one of the following roles to act out as you read the story: Mary, Joseph, Innkeeper, Angel, Group of Angels, Shepherds, Sheep.] Great job! The Shepherds told everyone about the extraordinary Good News of Jesus birth. Let s practice saying our Bible verse together. [Repeat the verse aloud with the kids several times.] And then He told them, Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 (NLT) 3 Week Two The Stars of Christmas / 2008 Willow Creek Association & The Chapel / Grade 2-3 Small Group

4 >> good news airplane LEADER: That verse tells us we can be like the Shepherds we can tell everyone the Good News of Jesus birth! What does the Good News of Jesus birth mean to you? [Kids respond.] We can tell everyone the Good News that Jesus has been born and that He loves everyone. Who would you like to share the Good News with? [Kids respond.] I am going to give each of you a paper and pencil. I want you to write down that person s name and some reasons why Jesus is Good News for them. When we are done writing, we are going to fold our paper into a paper airplane. The next time you see this person, you can fly this Good News their way! [Give kids time to write down names and reasons. Then encourage them to share ways to fold paper airplanes, or show them how to do it. If you need ideas, visit the following Web site: closing prayer End your time by praying for the children in your Small Group. You can simply pray the prayer below or ask the children for specific prayer requests. LEADER: Dear God, thank You for giving the Shepherds the strength to do something extraordinary! We are thankful for the Christmas story and that You sent Your Son, Jesus. Please help us share the Good News with everyone. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen. Give each child a take-home sheet and continue to engage them in conversation until their parents arrive. 4 Week Two The Stars of Christmas / 2008 Willow Creek Association & The Chapel / Grade 2-3 Small Group

5 If you ve reviewed the detailed lesson and are comfortable with what you will say and do, simply take this Quick Script with you as a reminder for each segment small group: grade 2-3 Week 2 The Good news Band Quick Script Small Group Connection Pass a paper megaphone and encourage each child to share the best news he or she has ever received. Small Group Sharing Give each child an index card and a pencil and show them how to write text messages to share their good news. If this proves difficult, help them decode these messages: Itz my bday sn = It s my birthday soon. Im gona gt a pup = I m going to get a puppy. DY wnt2go sled W me? = Do you want to go sledding with me? Im havn a prt 2nite! = I m having a party tonight! Im :-) dat ther iz n skul til jan = I m happy that there is NO school until January. Small Group Activity: News Story / Good News Airplane Read aloud the Bethlehem Star Gazette news story. Assign the kids roles to act out as you read. Then give each child a sheet of paper and a pencil. Instruct them to write the name of someone they d like to share the Good News of Jesus with and the reasons why Jesus is Good News for that person. Fold the papers into airplanes. Closing Pray for the kids and give each one a takehome sheet. 5 Week Two The Stars of Christmas / 2008 Willow Creek Association & The Chapel / Grade 2-3 Small Group