UNIT 1. CELEBRATE JESUS / PRESCHOOL SESSION 5 - WISE MEN VISITED JESUS BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 2:1-12 LIFE POINT: Worship Jesus and praise Him. CHRIST FOCUS: People who look for Jesus will find Him. BIBLE VERSE: The wise men worshiped Jesus. Matthew 2:11b (Paraphrase) Falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11b (HCSB) They fell down, and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (KJV) T hey bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (NIV) T hey fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (ESV) They fell down and worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11b (NKJV) Production Notes p From simple to involved, you can tailor Worship for Life to your kids and leaders: Short on supplies and leaders? For an easy prep, enlist a host, a music leader, and prepare the Connection Point game. Then show the videos for the worship songs and other segments. Do you have musicians who would like to lead worship songs? Check out the lead sheets on the DVD-ROM or substitute your songs! v This symbol denotes that the segment or song is available on video. h This symbol indicates props that will be needed for today s session. 1
Schedule and Props v This symbol indicates that a video is provided on the DVD-ROM. p This symbol indicates that the activity is host or leader-led no video for this activity. Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: Wise Men Visited Jesus Coloring Sheet (DVD-ROM), crayons or washable markers Intro v Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: clipboard, headset (doesn t have to work; hide end of cord in pocket) and Welcome v Countdown 1-5 minutes People: Host Props: none v Worship Song 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Point Game p Connection 5-10 minutes People: Host, 1 kid at a time Props: a star (could be paper or plastic ornament or stuffed star) Song v Worship 3 minutes People: Worship Leader and/or Worship Team Set-up, v Host Briana and Friends Video 2 minutes People: Host p Closing 2 minutes People: Host Props: letter on brightly colored paper (folded and showing from back pocket) Outro v Backstage 1-2 minutes People: Stage Manager Props: clipboard, pencil, headset off and around neck Ups (Optional) p Huddle People: Small Group Leaders Supplies: paper, markers Story v Bible 5-6 minutes People: Storyteller Props: magnifying glass; binoculars; 3 treasure boxes for gold, frankincense and myrrh FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 2
t TECH Video and/or audio capabilities Microphones for singers Lights (optional) Optional sound effects available (see sound effects file) m music Angel s Lullaby Born in Bethlehem Let Us Adore Him Do Do Do The Right Thing The Right Thing Listen and Obey FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 3
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) Huddle ups are for churches that have a drop-off time before the session begins. There are multiple ideas for interaction during this time, such as simple games that preschoolers can play on the floor or within whatever arrangements you gather your kids. This time can continue for a few seconds even after the stage manager addresses the crowd. (Print the following for your small group leaders.) I Spy Leader, play a traditional game of I Spy by locating objects in the room. For instance, I spy something red and give each child 3 guesses before moving to the next child to guess. Begin by making answers rather obvious. The person to guess correctly goes next. Today s lesson is all about seeking and finding, so this will be an easy application to come back to at the end. Color Wise Men Visited Jesus Coloring Sheets Tell preschoolers that today they will have the opportunity to learn about some men who looked for Jesus. Provide coloring supplies and coloring sheets to the preschoolers. Allow them to color on their pages while they wait for the session to begin. If the kids prefer to use blank paper, they can color on the back of the page. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 4
v BACKSTAGE INTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option available, Wise t Men Visited Jesus slide People: Stage Manager p (holds clipboard; wears headset) Props: clipboard, headset (doesn t h have to work; hide end of cord in pocket) (Show video or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Wise Men Visited Jesus slide.) Hey, friends! How are you today? Good! I m so glad you re here. We are (gets interrupted on headset). Oh, hold on, everybody (speak into headset) Where did he go? Well, has anyone looked for him? How are you going to find him if you don t look? OK, let me know when you find him! (addresses kids) I m so sorry about that! Apparently, our video guy is missing. Well, I mean, he s not missing like he s in danger, but he s just not at his camera. No one knows where he is! Have you ever lost something and needed to find it? (gets interrupted on headset again) Oh, great! OK! Let s check on the rest of the crew. Audio? (waits) Great! Lights? (waits) You here, too? OK! Now that we ve found everyone, we re ready to go. Are you? (waits for kids to respond) Perfect! You know what that means PLACES!! (runs offstage) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 5
v COUNTDOWN AND WELCOME c Estimated time: 1-5 minutes Tech: Countdown video, Life Point t slide, Bible Verse slide p People: Host h Props: none HOST (Play Countdown video. Host walks out at around 30 and is noticeably looking for something.) Hey boys and girls (looks around and under things; speaks distractedly, perhaps not looking at kids) You can get on your feet and let s do this countdown thing 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1! Great job. (stops searching in frustration) Man! Have you guys seen a really brightly colored envelope out here somewhere? I have lost it and don t know where I put it! Do you ever do that? Have you ever lost a toy or something really important to you? Oh, well. I m just going to have to keep looking! It s like a game of hide and seek! Our story today is about a group of men who were seeking Jesus. Seeking means looking. Can everyone put your hand up like this? (puts hands over eyes as though blocking sun and searching for someone far away) Yes! That s what seeking or looking is like. Today, we want you to know that people should worship Jesus and praise Him. (Show Life Point slide.) Let s say that again together. (Repeat with slide.) Worship Jesus and praise Him. (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred version.) Our verse today tells us what the men who were looking for Jesus did when they found Him. It s from Matthew 2:11b and it says: The wise men worshiped Jesus. Matthew 2:11b (Paraphrase) They bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (NIV) Falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11b (HCSB) They fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (ESV) They fell down, and worshipped him. Matthew 2:11b (KJV) They fell down and worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11b (NKJV) We get the chance to praise Jesus every week when we sing to Him together. Let s stand and do that right now! (Host leaves as worship team gets in place.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 6
v SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Tech: Music or lyric video, mics for t singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader and/or p Worship Team h Props: none Music: Let Us Adore Him (lead m sheet available on DVD-ROM) or download Joy to the World LEADER Our verse today says that the wise men praised Jesus. There are so many ways to praise! By praying, by singing, and so many more. I love that we can praise Jesus by singing to Him like we re going to do now. (Show the music or lyric video.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) Now, it s time for Connection Point! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 7
p CONNECTION POINT GAME c Estimated time: 5-10 minutes Tech: Connection Point slide, t Connection Point theme music p People: Host, 1 kid at a time Props: a star (could be paper or h plastic ornament or stuffed star) Game Instructions: This game is designed for one child at a time to play. The object of the game is for one player to find the star that has been hidden by the Host in the room. The child will need to keep their eyes covered with their hands (and no peeking). The other kids (and leaders) in the room will help the searching child by telling them Hot (if they are close to the star) or Cold (if they are far from the star). Host (Play Connection Point theme music and show Connection Point slide.) Today, we re hearing a story about a big star and the men who were following it. And we are going to help some of our friends find this star (shows star). I m going to hide the star somewhere in the room (or on stage) and we re going to help one of you find it. I need one volunteer! (Introduce child creatively.) So first, I m going to need (child s name) to cover your eyes so you can t see where I hide the star. Everyone else, I want you to stay very quiet and not tell where the star is, OK? (Hide the star in an easy to find place.) OK (child s name), we re going to help you find the star. Ready, everyone? Help the children direct the player to the star and celebrate when it is found. Repeat as desired with other children. Great job! Everyone let s give our players a big round of applause! You did a great job finding the star! In our story today, a star was very important! I love this time of year! This week we will hear about some people that met Jesus. Their story is really cool, and I can t wait for you to hear it. So let s all sit very quietly and listen to this true story from the Bible! (Theme music/slide to transition. Host leads into next segment.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 8
v BIBLE STORY c Estimated time: 5-6 minutes ech: Christ Focus, Life Point, and t TBible Story slides; Bible Story video p People: Storyteller Props: magnifying glass; h binoculars; 3 treasure boxes for gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Play the Bible Story video or tell the following Bible story.) STORYTELLER (Show Bible Story slide.) Hey kids! My name is and I get to come out and tell you guys such a cool Bible story. (walks over to where props are displayed) I was backstage and heard all the talk about the lost letter. Have you ever lost something? Maybe your favorite toy or your stuffed animal? We ve all lost things and looked for them, haven t we? What kinds of places do you look when you lose something? How about under the bed? How about in the couch cushions or behind the couch? Have you ever used one of these to help you look? (picks up magnifying glass) This is a magnifying glass! It helps you find small things and see things really close. You could use a magnifying glass if you lost something tiny like a piece to a toy car or a shoe for a doll. (sets magnifying glass down; picks up binoculars) I like magnifying glasses. What are these? Binoculars, right! Binoculars are for seeing things really far away. Remember when we put our hand up like this? (demonstrates hand over eyes motion from earlier) Binoculars are kind of like that! They help us see far away! The magnifying glass and the binoculars are used to look for things, right? They re used to see things that are far away and to find small things close up. Just like all these things help us when we re looking for something, today we ll find out about three men who were looking for SomeONE. One day, some wise men came to Jerusalem asking questions about Baby Jesus. They were kind of like kings from other countries. They had seen a star in the sky and were looking for Jesus. Did you know that the star that they saw in the sky led them all the way to where Jesus was? It stopped over the house where Jesus and Mary and Joseph were staying. When the wise men came into the house and saw Jesus, the Bible says that they knelt down (demonstrates) and praised Jesus. They gave Him presents (refers to treasure boxes) and the presents were gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Can you say gold? What about frankincense? And myrrh? These were the gifts that wise men brought to Jesus. The wise men went back home after they found Jesus. (Show Christ Focus Slide.) The wise men had heard that Jesus would be born. When they saw the star in the sky, they knew Jesus had come to Earth! God sent Jesus because He loves us. When we are scared or sad, we can find Bible verses about Jesus or sing songs to Him. We can pray and ask Jesus to help us. Will you pray with me? Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus! Thank You that Jesus loves us and will help us. Thank You that we can worship Him. In Jesus name, Amen. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 9
v SONG c Estimated time: 3 minutes Tech: Music or lyric video, mics for t singers, lights (optional) People: Worship Leader and/or p Worship Team h Props: none Music: Born in Bethlehem (lead m sheet available on DVD-ROM) or download How Great Is Our God LEADER (Music begins.) God s great plan to send Jesus happened just as He planned it. God s plan was perfect. He is a great God. Let s sing to Him today. (Show the music or lyric video.) (Lead kids to sit as song ends.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 10
v HOST SET-UP, BRIANA AND FRIENDS VIDEO c Estimated time: 2 minutes t Tech: Briana and Friends video p People: Host h Props: none HOST Let s review our story with Briana today. Listen carefully and remember, when she asks you a question, be sure to say your answers aloud! (Play video.) FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 11
p CLOSING c Estimated time: 2 minutes Tech: Wise Men Visited Jesus slide, t Bible Verse slide p People: Host Props: letter on brightly colored h paper (folded and showing from back pocket) HOST (Show the Wise Men Visited Jesus slide.) Well, I have looked EVERYWHERE. I do NOT know where that letter could have gone. (turns back to kids to look around, giving kids a chance to spy letter in back pocket) I just had it what? It s where? In my pocket? (reaches back; finds letter) OH!!!!! There it is! Thank you guys so much! I can t believe I didn t think to look there! Aren t you so happy when you find what you ve been looking for? Today, we ve talked a lot about looking for Jesus, haven t we? Optional Giving Segment: The wise men all brought presents to Jesus when they came to praise Him. They didn t bring the gifts because Jesus needed them, they brought them to show Him they thought He was important. We can bring our gifts to God, too, to let Him know that He s important and to thank Him for sending Jesus to save us. If you d like to give to God today, (Give your own directions for how the kids can give to God. Perhaps you have buckets in the back of the room, a chest up front, or an envelope that each small group leader passes.) (Show Bible Verse slide select preferred version.) Our verse for this week reminds us of how the wise men praised Jesus. Let s say it together: The wise men worshiped Jesus. Matthew 2:11b (Paraphrase) They bowed down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (NIV) Falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11b (HCSB) They fell down and worshiped him. Matthew 2:11b (ESV) They fell down, and worshipped him. Matthew 2:11b (KJV) They fell down and worshiped Him. Matthew 2:11b (NKJV) Remember when you look for Jesus, you will always find Him! I ll see you next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 12
v BACKSTAGE OUTRO c Estimated time: 1-2 minutes Tech: Video option available, Wise t Men Visited Jesus slide p People: Stage Manager clipboard, pencil, headset h offprops: ears and around neck (Show video or act out the following.) STAGE MANAGER (Show Wise Men Visited Jesus slide.) (check things off clipboard) Wow! I loved today. The wise men brought gifts to Jesus and worshiped Him, and we can, too. Next time I m looking for something, I m going to remember that the best person I can look for is Jesus. Thanks for being here with us today. We loved it and hope you did, too! Be sure to grab your One Conversation pages on your way out. It will help you talk with your family about what you ve learned. Don t miss next week! FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 13
p HUDDLE UPS (OPTIONAL) This time is designed for churches that have a pick-up time from a large room as parents arrive. It s a great time for follow-up conversations and questions from small group leaders about the session s content. You also can use the missions emphasis (below). (Print the following for your small group leaders.) How many wise men looked for Jesus? (three) What did the wise men follow to find Jesus? (the star) What did the wise men do when they came in the house and saw Jesus? (fell down and praised) What gifts did they bring Jesus? (gold, frankincense, myrrh) MISSIONS EMPHASIS (OPTIONAL) Guide each child to fold a piece of paper in half and draw a picture of their own home on one half of the page. On the second half, instruct kids to draw a picture of a grass hut where a kid in Suriname might live. Remind kids that God loves all people the same regardless of the type of home they live in, the clothes they wear, or the color of their skin. Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus for all people. Missions Story: Shireys in Suriname More than 300 years ago, a group of people known as the Aukans traveled down big rivers to live in the rainforest of South America. They settled in the country of Suriname. Now more than 15,000 Aukaners live there in grass huts next to the rivers. Many of them have never heard about Jesus. Charles and Brittany Shirey are missionaries. They have three kids named Ethan, Caleb, and Abigail. Their family rides on motorboats on those same rivers. They are far away from the big cities and neighborhoods. There are no roads or cars or other conveniences that you and I know. They walk on dirt paths to visit people in the villages. Their life is very different and exciting, but it also can be dangerous and frustrating. So why are the Shireys in Suriname? They believe that God wants them to live among the Aukan people and tell them about Jesus. It is not easy living there, but the people need to hear the gospel. There are dangers in being close to the river, such as poisonous snakes, fish, and spiders. But, the Shireys are used to the challenges of living in a jungle. Ethan, Caleb, and Abigail are growing up in the jungle. They love telling people about Jesus. Their dad, Charles, visits Aukaners in the villages during the day, and he leads Bible studies for them at night. The people do not know how to read, but they like hearing and telling stories. It is exciting to see the people learn about God and the truth of the Bible stories. Charles and Brittany Shirey are trusting God in their missions work in Suriname. They trust God for needs such as water to drink. They trust God to help Ethan, Caleb, and Abigail learn and grow, and they trust God with the work they do in reaching the Aukan people with the gospel of Jesus. FOR LIFE PRESCHOOL 14