WISE MEN VISITED JESUS LIFE POINT: People should worship Jesus. JESUS LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING Jesus transformed people through His love. BIBLE PASSAGE Matthew 2:1-12 WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6 UNIT VERSE Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11 LEADER BIBLE STUDY When a close friend or family member has a baby, you might be excited and anxious to meet the new baby. Perhaps you d bring a gift or drop off a meal to the family. The birth of a baby is an exciting time for family and friends who have been awaiting his or her arrival. When Jesus was born, the wise men came searching for the baby. God s Son, our Savior, would truly be a Savior for all people, not just the Jews. God used the very thing these wise men would be drawn to the mysterious appearance of a star, some unique astronomical phenomena to tell them that the baby Jesus was unique. Following that star, the wise men arrived with their gifts. The Bible tells us of their great joy in finding the Christ child. These wise men, who followed the star because of their pagan superstitions and interest in astrology, worshiped the child, God s Son, Jesus. How can you keep the purpose and joy of Christmas fresh in your heart as you enter the new year? How can you help the children in your class begin to understand the connection between the child the wise men worshiped and the Savior who died for our sins? Where do you have opportunities to share your faith in Jesus with people from other religious and ethnic backgrounds? Are you praying and prepared for this? NOTE: Downloadable versions of items identified as CD are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. Items identified as DVD are available in the Digital Video Bundle. SUGGESTED DATE week of December 31 Additional training for Bible Studies for Life: Kids available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. 32 Unit 1, SeSSion 5
PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Order the New Testament, Bible Books Poster (Pack Item 26), Love Is Born (CD, track 7) 1. Play Love Is Born as preteens arrive. 2. Draw preteens attention to the sticky notes posted around the room. Remark that the books of the New Testament are written on the notes. 3. Invite preteens to find all of the notes and put them in order on the wall. 4. Once preteens have put them in the correct order, collect them and randomly distribute them again. Challenge preteens to see how fast they can put the books in order a second time. 5. Remind preteens that the books of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus life and the history of the church once He rose from the dead. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY I Spy Game 1. State that preteens will be playing an I Spy game. 2. Appoint a volunteer to step outside the room while preteens change something inside the room. Remark that the volunteer will then return and have three chances to guess what has been changed in the room. 3. Suggest that preteens do something simple such as move an object, change jackets, or switch seats. 4. Invite the volunteer to return, allowing her three guesses to determine what has changed. 5. Continue to play the game, as time allows, giving more volunteers to be the spy. 6. Remark that today s Bible story will teach preteens about some men who were very good at noticing a change in their surroundings; they spied a new star in the sky! 7. Show the Wise Men Visited Jesus: Introduction video for the session. Pack Item 26 CD sticky notes Write each New Testament book name on separate sticky notes. Post them around the room. DVD BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 33
STUDY THE BIBLE GETTING TO THE POINT Celebrate Jesus Birth Title Banner (Pack Item 1) Call attention to the title banner. Briefly review what preteens have learned. Share that today s session is about those who came to worship after Jesus birth. Pack Items 1, 2,7,8 Display the star, Bethlehem sign and New Testament House from Pack Item 7 on a focal wall. Tape together Herod s crown. Teaching Picture 5 Activity Pages DVD three containers that represent the wise men s gifts, chair, metallic markers, flashlight, 2 tap lights yellow heavyweight paper Cut large stars from the paper. Write each word of the verse on separate stars, using the metallic markers, and attach to the wall around the room. Option: Luke 2:11 Stars (CD) International Missions: Ghana (CD) LOOK IN THE BOOK Matthew 2:1-12 Drama Props (Pack Item 7) Explain that preteens will be taking part in a silent drama during today s Bible story. Guide them to turn in their Bibles to Matthew 2:1-12. Enlist volunteers to play the wise men, King Herod, chief priests, and scribes. Also enlist a preteen with a strong voice to read the passage aloud. Explain to those acting in the drama that they will listen as each verse is read and then act out the part however they wish. Give Herod the crown to wear, and guide him to sit on the throne. Draw attention to the signs on the wall. Remind preteens that this is a silent drama. Instruct the reader to begin to read Matthew 2:1-12. Tell her to pause after each verse to allow preteens to act out the story. Lead preteens to applaud for those who performed in the drama. Thank the performers for helping teach the story of the wise men s visit to see Jesus. Wise Men Gift Tags (Pack Item 8), Teaching Picture 5, Gifts for Jesus (Activity Page) Display and direct preteens attention to the Teaching Picture. Retrieve the containers, representing the wise men s gifts, used in the drama. Place them on the table. Mention that although many people talk about the three wise men, Scripture doesn t get specific about the number of wise men who went to see Jesus. We do know, however, that there were three gifts gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Ask: How did the wise men feel when they finally found Jesus and were able to worship Him and give Him gifts? (Their joy could not be contained.) Guide preteens to realize that they, like the wise men, can feel overjoyed because they can worship Jesus. Invite preteens to share some ways they can worship Him. Emphasize that one act of worship is giving. Ask: What are some ways to give as an act of worship? (Answers will vary.) Lead preteens to complete Gifts for Jesus on the Activity Page. Distribute the gift tags. Invite preteens to write Jesus name on their gift tag. 34 Unit 1, SeSSion 5
LIFE POINT People should worship Jesus. Then, lead them to write a gift they want to give to Jesus on the back of the tag. Challenge preteens to keep the gift tags in their Bibles as a reminder to give their best to Jesus. REVIEW CHALLENGE Form two teams. Place the tap lights on opposite sides of the table. Lead preteens to form a circle around the prepared area. Explain the game: --Teams will form two lines. Once the review question is read, the first team member to tap his light will answer a question. A correct answer earns a point for his team. Incorrect answers will deduct a point from that team. --If someone calls out an answer, his or her team will lose a point. --If no one answers the question correctly, allow the next two team members to come forward and read the question again. After reading all the questions, declare a winner. UNIT VERSE CHALLENGE Luke 2:11 Unit Verse (Pack Item 2) Draw preteens attention to the Unit Verse poster and read it aloud together. Challenge a volunteer to look away from the poster and say it from memory. Switch off the lights, and give a flashlight to a volunteer. Explain that she must shine the flashlight on each word, in the correct order. Guide her to say the words to the verse as she lights the words with the light. Allow preteens to take turns locating the verse. MISSIONS EMPHASIS Review the missions story or replay one of the videos. Remind preteens that Trey Haun chose to follow Jesus. Allow kids to share their experiences learning about Jesus. Ask: --Who first told you about Jesus? --What are some things you remember learning about Jesus when you were younger? Pray, asking God to continue to work in each preteen s life. OPTION: Memorize the Weekly Bible Verse: Psalm 95:6. APPLY THE BIBLE AND PRAY Play the Wise men Visited Jesus: Life Action video. Lead preteens in prayer. Dismiss preteens to their Live It Out groups. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 35
LIVE IT OUT CHOICE 1 Activity Pages small, colored glass jars; LED tea lights; toothpicks newspaper Cover the table with newspaper. puff paint, disposable containers Squeeze a small amount of puff paint into the containers. CHOICE 2 Activity Pages colored pencils, permanent markers glow-in-the-dark stars Hide 1 star for each boy around the room. Note: Glow-in-the dark stars may be found at discount stores. CHOICE 1 (GIRLS) Wise Men Lantern, Seek and Find (Activity Page) 1. Remind girls that the wise men knew where to find Jesus because they followed the light of a star. 2. Tell preteens they will be creating a bedtime lantern to remind them of the star s light that led the wise men to Jesus. 3. Distribute supplies. Demonstrate how to carefully apply the puff paint on the glass lanterns. Instruct girls to use the toothpicks to create smaller patterns of swirls, stars, lines, and dots on their lanterns. 4. Encourage them to think of shapes that will remind them of the Christmas story and the wise men s discovery of Jesus when He was a child. 5. Once girls are finished, give each one a tea light candle to add to her jar. Set all the jars aside to dry. 6. Lead girls to work together to complete Seek and Find on the Activity Page. Encourage them to discuss their answers. 7. Challenge preteens to continue to look for ways to worship Jesus by giving of themselves, their time, and their possessions. CHOICE 2 (BOYS) Seek and Find (Activity Page) 1. Invite boys to form groups of two or three. Lead them to complete Seek and Find on the Activity Page. 2. Once the groups have completed the activity, lead boys to discuss their answers. 3. Explain to boys that you have hidden one star for each boy around the room. Invite each boy to locate a star and to come back and join the group. 4. Draw boys attention to their Activity Page once again. Direct them find an image that reminds them to worship Jesus by giving to Him just as the wise men did. (Tell preteens they may also create a picture of their own.) 5. Instruct boys to draw the image they chose on their star. 6. Invite them to share their star pictures, explain what they have drawn, and describe how that picture reminds them to give to Jesus. 7. Comment that their stars are glow-in-the-dark stars. Share that placing them near a window during the day will allow the star to glow at night. 8. Challenge boys to place their stars in their bedrooms as a reminder to worship Jesus. 36 Unit 1, SeSSion 5
LIFE POINT People should worship Jesus. CHOICE 3 (BOYS AND GIRLS) Wise Men Wrap Notes (Pack Item 9), How the World Was Saved (CD, track 1) 1. Invite boys and girls to gather in a circle. Display the wrapped ball. 2. Tell preteens that they are going to play a game in which they will receive a gift. Remark that before they unwrap the prize, they will unwrap a note. Inform preteens that they must answer the question or follow the instructions on the note before unwrapping their prize. 3. Play How the World was Saved while preteens play. 4. Allow a volunteer to begin the game. Give her the ball and direct her to unwrap the ball, read the note, and follow the instructions written on the note. After she has answered the question or completed the task on the note, tell her to continue to unwrap the ball until she reaches a prize. Instruct her to pass the ball to a preteen next to her. 5. Lead preteens to take turns passing the ball around the circle. Direct each one to unwrap the ball, read the note, follow the instructions, and then unwrap a prize. 6. Continue to play until the ball is completely unwrapped and each preteen has received a prize. 7. Ask: Did you like getting a small gift today? Guide preteens to realize that God is also pleased when we give gifts to Him. Remind them to worship God by giving Him their best. WRAP UP Show the Wise Men Visited Jesus: Wrap Up video for the session. Remind preteens that many people today still have not discovered or heard about Jesus. Encourage preteens to tell others about Him. Close the session by praying and asking God to help preteens learn more about Jesus as He changes and transforms their lives. Point out I Will Give to Jesus on the Activity Page. Challenge preteens to complete that activity at home during their time alone with God this week. Encourage preteens to give their One Conversation pages to their parents. CHOICE 3 Pack Item 9 CD plastic wrap, sticky notes, small prizes such as candy and party favors two or three medium-sized prizes such as a regularsize candy bar or breakfast bar, a $1 bill, or a package of gum. Note: Be aware of dietary needs of the tweens in your group. Wrap plastic wrap around the largest prize. Next, wrap a note, so that it will be unwrapped first, before the prize is reached. Repeat with all the prizes and instructions, making sure each preteen will unwrap instructions before a prize. WRAP UP DVD Teaching Tip: Send a Unit 2: 1 Timothy 3:16 postcard (005794524) to each preteen and guest on your roll. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 37