Production & Ministry Team James Hargrave Content Editor Andrea Hultman Production Editor Ed Maksimowicz Graphic Designer Ernie Hickman Senior Graphic Design Specialist Bill Emeott Lead Childhood Ministry Specialist Ann Edwards Jan Marler Klista Storts Childhood Ministry Specialists Timothy Pollard Editorial Project Leader Send questions/comments to Editorial Project Leader, Bible Teaching for Kids 1st and 2nd Graders Leader Guide One LifeWay Plaza Nashville, TN 37234-0172 Make comments on the Web at www.lifeway.com. Management Personnel Jerry Vogel, Director Childhood Ministry Publishing Landry Holmes and Judy Latham, Managing Directors Childhood Ministry Publishing Mary Katharine Hunt, Director Childhood Ministry David Francis, Director Sunday School Ministry Gary H. Hauk Director, Publishing LifeWay Church Resources Printed in the United States of America. Bible Teaching for Kids 1st and 2nd Graders Leader Guide (ISSN 1557-4393; Item 005075024) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. 2010 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, e-mail subscribe@lifeway.com, fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For bulk shipments mailed quarterly to one address, e-mail orderentry@lifeway.com, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address. A guide for teaching Bible truths to 1st and 2nd graders Volume 5, Issue 2 D e c e m b e r The Greatest Gift................................................... 7 December 5: God Promised to Send Jesus............................... 8 December 12: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph....................... 14 December 19: Jesus Was Born.......................................... 20 December 26: Wise Men Visited Jesus.................................. 26 J a n u a r y The Bible Tells Me................................................. 33 January 2: Love One Another........................................... 34 January 9: Do What Is Right............................................. 40 January 16: Be Brave................................................... 46 January 23: Make Good Choices........................................ 52 January 30: Learn How to Become a Christian.......................... 58 F e b r u a r y Decisions, Decisions............................................... 65 February 6: Decide to Tell the Truth..................................... 66 February 13: Decide to Help People.................................... 72 February 20: Decide to Serve........................................... 78 February 27: Decide to Become a Good Example....................... 84 Writers December: Bill Young, teaching plans January: Kathy Strawn, teaching plans February: Joan Benson, teaching plans We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. The 2000 statement of The Baptist Faith and Message is our doctrinal guideline. All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible and HCSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers. Levels of Biblical Learning and Quick Scene are trademarks of LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. W i n t e r 2 0 1 0 1 1 3
The Greatest Gift Concept Area: Jesus Week of December 5 Session Title and Scripture Memory Verse life Application God Promised to Send Jesus Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 A child will be born for us. Isaiah 9:6 I can know that God promised to send the Savior. Week of December 12 Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 You are to name Him Jesus. Matthew 1:21 I can listen when God speaks to me. Week of December 19 Jesus Was Born Luke 2:1-20 Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David. Luke 2:11 I can celebrate Jesus birth. Week of December 26 Wise Men Visited Jesus Matthew 2:1-12 For we have come to worship Him. Matthew 2:2 I can worship Jesus. William E. (Bill) Young teaches second graders at First Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. Bill has authored books, published numerous articles on ministry to children and families, and has served as adjunct professor at several seminaries. He is a retiree of LifeWay Christian Resources. Levels of Biblical Learning resources may be purchased from LifeWay Christian Resources by calling 1 (800) 458-2772, by ordering online at www.lifeway.com, or by visiting your nearest LifeWay Christian Store. Quick Scene A Child Is Born bulletin board borders (005191568) Quick Scene A Child Is Born bulletin board set (005191577) Christmas Frame Ornament craft pack (005191530) Nativity floor puzzle (005160680) Nativity Scene craft pack (005191586) Things I Do at Church stickers (005196349) D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 7
W E E K O F D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 0 God Promised to Send Jesus Bible Passages Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 Level of Biblical Learning (Jesus) Prophets in the Old Testament told that Jesus would be born. Bible Truth God promised to send the Savior. Life Application I can know that God promised to send the Savior. Memory Verse A child will be born for us. Isaiah 9:6 Option Create a bulletin board for this month s study using the Quick Scene A Child Is Born bulletin board borders (005191568) and the Quick Scene A Child Is Born bulletin board set (005191577). Isaiah spoke and wrote 700 years before the birth of Jesus. While most of the Book of Isaiah was a message of judgment for sin, it also offered the hope of salvation. Even though Isaiah 7:14 is quoted in Matthew 1:23 as a foretelling of Jesus birth, Bible students often disagree on its meaning. An interesting feature of many of the prophecies of Isaiah is that they told of both a soon-to-happen event and a distant future event at the same time. So it s possible that Isaiah 7:14 held present meaning for King Ahaz, to whom Isaiah was speaking in this chapter (see v. 3), and future meaning for all of God s people. Isaiah 9:6 is a further development of the seed planted in Isaiah 7:14. It establishes not only that a child will be born but also that the child will be a perfect ruler over God s people. Look at the descriptive names for the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, and determine which name tells us He is ~ God Himself. ~ a just and peaceful ruler. ~ timeless. ~ the One who gives the right advice. This verse additionally connects the birth of an earthly child to the personhood of God and His eternal kingdom. Some believe this makes a connection between Jesus first and second comings. In the first five verses of Isaiah 11, God revealed that the Messiah would be a descendant of David. But instead of stating it directly, the verse refers to David s father, Jesse, a man who lived in humble obscurity. By the time Jesus was born, the house of David had returned to its humble roots: neither Joseph nor Mary came from prominent homes. But from obscure beginnings, this tender new branch of Jesse s family tree would grow. Empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, this new leader would become the ultimate example of justice (vv. 3-4). He would do this, said Isaiah, by wrapping himself in two important qualities. Read verse 5 to learn what those qualities are. The fourth prophecy in today s study is found in the Book of Micah. Hundreds of years before Jesus birth, Micah accurately predicted He would be born in Bethlehem (Luke 2:4-7), appropriately known as the city of David. Bethlehem literally means the house of bread, so it s fitting that the person who is known as the Bread of life would be born there (John 6:48). Using these passages of Scripture can help you tell boys and girls that God, through the prophets Isaiah and Micah, told of His promise of the coming Savior. 8 B I B L E T E A C H I N G F O R 1 S T A N D 2 N D G R A D E R S
Session at a Glance 1) PREVIEW the Bible Study Use with children who arrive early. The children will decorate the room for Christmas. 2) POWER UP for Bible Study (5 10 minutes) Start at the time designated by your church for Sunday School to begin. The children will pass a Christmas package and begin to learn Isaiah 9:6. 3) PLUG IN to Bible Study (25 30 minutes) Study the Bible content and worship. To help them learn about God s promise to send the Savior, the children will work puzzles of the December teaching pictures, listen to the Bible story, play a review game, use their Bibles, learn Isaiah 9:6 and Luke 2:11, sing, pray, and (optional) learn about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. 4) PERSONALIZE the Bible Study (20 25 minutes) Each teacher leads a group of children to do one of the following activities. Choice 1: God s Promise Banner Choice 2: Memory Verse Christmas Wreath Choice 3: My Family s December Plans 1 2 PREVIEW the Bible Study Play Christmas (track 1). Help each child find Luke 2:11 in her Bible. Make paper chains to place around the doors, windows, and elsewhere in the room to decorate for Christmas and to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Luke 2:11 is one of the memory verses for December. We decorate for Christmas and celebrate because Jesus was born. POWER UP for Bible Study Form a circle. Ask two or three kids to shake the gift-wrapped box. Tell the kids that you promise that there is something in the box. The kids will pass the box around the circle while music plays. When the music stops, the person holding the box will peel off one layer of gift wrap while everyone else moves to a new spot in the circle. The child holding the box after the last layer of gift wrap has been removed will open it and reveal the contents. Play Christmas (track 1), and begin the game. To conclude, lead the group to say Isaiah 9:6. You promised that there was something in the box, and there was. What was in the box may or may not have been expected. Today the kids will learn about a promise God made. The people knew that God would would keep His promise. They did not know when or exactly how. CD (pack item 1), construction paper strips, markers, and tape or a stapler Teaching Tip Greet each child and call his name as he enters the room. Make eye contact as you talk. Tell each child you are glad he is present. On a card attached to a random object, print the words and reference of Isaiah 9:6. Place the card and object inside a box. Wrap the box in several layers of different gift-wrap papers. Option Plan a missions or service project for the month. Determine items to collect, such as food, clothing, or other items appropriate for your church. Plan to promote the project each week and to finalize the project as part of Personalize Choice 3 the week of December 19. W E E K O F D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 0 9
Display the title banner and memory verses (pack items 2 and 3). Picture Puzzles (pack item 5) Teaching Tips The puzzles will be used again in this session as part of Choice 1 of Personalize. Attach the puzzle pieces to stiff paper or poster board, and laminate for extended use. Code the backs of the puzzle pieces for easy identification. Teaching picture 1 3 PLUG IN to Bible Study 1 Introduce the December Bible study. Read aloud the December unit title. Briefly preview the unit by forming up to four groups. Ask each group to assemble puzzle pieces to complete a picture that shows a story the kids will hear in December. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus, God s gift for all people. Jesus is God s only Son, and He was sent to be the Savior of all people. God sent Jesus to earth because He loves us. Today the kids will learn about God s promise to send Jesus. 2 Tell the Bible story. Today s Bible story is found in the Books of Isaiah and Micah. Isaiah and Micah were prophets who lived in Old Testament times. Prophets spoke God s messages to people. Point to the teaching picture. Open your Bible to Isaiah, and tell the following story in your own words. God s Promise Through the Prophets Teaching Tip When you tell a Bible story, look at the children s faces. Doing so helps keep the boys and girls engaged in the story, and they will listen and learn better. Raising and lowering your voice and pausing at strategic points in the story will heighten the children s interest. Isaiah was a prophet who lived many years before Jesus was born. Isaiah knew that God loved everyone. Isaiah wanted the people to know and love God. Isaiah told the people about a wonderful promise God made. Isaiah told the people that God promised to send a Savior to earth. Isaiah said that God would choose a special person to be the mother of the Savior. Isaiah wrote these words on a scroll: God will send a sign. A special baby will be born. He will be called Immanuel. The name Immanuel means God with us. Isaiah told other special names that would be given to this person: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. The Savior God sent would have the power to do many wonderful things. Isaiah said that the person would be a kind and wise man. Isaiah said that this man would be fair and faithful and righteous. Isaiah said that the Savior would obey God. [Open your Bible to the Book of Micah.] Another prophet, Micah, loved and listened to God. Micah preached a special message about the Savior God would send. Micah said that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem! Isaiah and Micah were prophets. They told God s message. They told God s promise. Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2 10 Today we know that the child Isaiah told about was Jesus! We know that Jesus was born in Bethlehem just as Micah said. We know that Jesus was God s gift to all people: the greatest gift ever. B I B L E T E A C H I N G F O R 1 S T A N D 2 N D G R A D E R S
3 Review. Form two teams. Explain that a child will toss the cube. Her team will get the points shown if she or anyone on her team can answer a review question. Play as time allows. Toss Em Cube A and the review questions for session 1 (pack items 6 and 4) 4 Use Bibles, and apply the Bible truth. Tell the kids that the Book of Isaiah is found in the Old Testament. Explain that an easy way to find Isaiah is to open the Bible near the middle and then to turn toward the back of the Bible, past a few short books. Help the kids find Isaiah in their Bibles. Direct them to chapter 9, verse 6. Ask them to touch their fingers to the words A child. Lead the group to read or say the verse together. Direct the children to find Luke 2:11 in their Bibles. Read the verse to the group. Luke 2:11 also tells about God s promise to send the Savior or Messiah. One of the Christmas traditions around the world is the celebration of Advent. People celebrate Advent because they know that God promised to send the Savior. Advent is observed for the four Sundays before Christmas. The word Advent means coming. Isaiah and Micah told about the coming of God s greatest gift. We can know that God promised to send the Savior. 5 Sing, and pray. Ask the children to listen as you play Today a Savior (Luke 2:11) (track 2). Play the song again, and sing together. CD (pack item 1) Ask a teacher to lead in prayer. Thank God for prophets who told about God s gift the promised Savior. Thank God for preachers, missionaries, and others who tell about God s gift. Option: Tell about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Share information about Lottie Moon and Lottie Moon Christmas Offering from pack item 7. Additional option: Give each child a copy of the pack item. 6 Form Personalize groups. Explain the activity each teacher will lead to help girls and boys understand that God made and kept His promise to send the Savior. Guide each child to choose an activity. Lottie Moon and the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (pack item 7) W E E K O F D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 0 11
Choice 1 Large sheet of craft paper, markers or crayons, a variety of art materials, scissors, tape, glue sticks, Picture Puzzles (pack item 5), and old teaching pictures Options Decorate the door rather than making a banner. Decorate a bulletin board. 4 PERSONALIZE the Bible Study Choice 1: God s Promise Banner Children who participate in this activity will create a giant banner to show that they know that God promised to send the Savior. Learner guide pages 5 6: Complete Prophets Spoke for God, Who Was Lottie Moon? and The Gift Is Promised! Guide the group to reassemble the Picture Puzzles used earlier in the session. Ask how each one shows something about God s promise to send a Savior. Make a large banner to show what the kid s have learned about God s promise. Talk about what might be placed on the banner: the assembled puzzles, cutout pictures, old teaching pictures, drawings, or torn-paper pictures related to the Christmas story; memory verses; stars; objects like chenille craft stems shaped like a shepherd s crook; and so forth. Ask a volunteer to print God Promised a Savior! Guide the kids to complete their banner. Ask what a promise is, who makes promises to kids, and who kids make promises to. Ask what God promised. Isaiah and Micah spoke God s promises to the people. We can read God s promises about the Savior in the books of Isaiah and Micah. God kept His promise to send the Savior, when Jesus was born. * Apply the Bible truth all week. Choice 2 Large white paper plates, markers, tape, glue, lengths of yarn or ribbon, and Christmas ornament shapes (CD-ROM) Options Use ornament shapes created on a die-cut machine. Provide cookie cutter shapes for children to trace around onto construction paper. Kids can print words on the shapes and then cut out the shapes to make the wreath. Choice 2: Memory Verse Christmas Wreath Children who participate in this activity will practice the memory verse and will make wreaths to show they know that God promised to send the Savior. Learner guide pages 5 6: Complete Prophets Spoke for God, Who Was Lottie Moon? and The Gift Is Promised! Give each child a paper plate on which she will print God promised to send the Savior! or Jesus is God s Son! Guide the kids to print the memory verse words on ornament shapes and to attach the shapes around the edges of the plates. Help each child attach a yarn or ribbon hanger to the back of her wreath. Ask what a promise is, who makes promises to kids, and who kids make promises to. Ask what God promised. 12 B I B L E T E A C H I N G F O R 1 S T A N D 2 N D G R A D E R S
Isaiah and Micah spoke God s promises to the people. We can read God s promises about the Savior in the books of Isaiah and Micah. Isaiah 9:6 tells one of God s promises about the Savior. God kept His promise to send the Savior, when Jesus was born. * Apply the Bible truth all week. Choice 3: My Family s December Plans Children who participate in this activity will show they know that God promised to send the Savior, by making a calendar suggesting family activities for December. Learner guide pages 5 6: Complete Prophets Spoke for God, Who Was Lottie Moon? and The Gift Is Promised! Choice 3 Copies of My Family s December Plans (pack item 8), colored pencils, fine-point markers, and a list of December church activities Ask what a promise is, who makes promises to kids, and who kids make promises to. Ask what God promised. God kept His promise to send the Savior, when Jesus was born. Guide the kids to make a list of all the things a family might do during December to celebrate Christmas and Jesus birth. Encourage the kids to think of church activities, activities families might do at home, things they might do with other people, and so on. Provide each child with a copy of My Family s December Plans. Discuss the activities already listed on the calendar. Guide the kids to pick additional activites from the list they made and to print them to their calendars. Encourage the children to illustrate their ideas and decorate their calendars. Advent means coming. Share a list of church activities planned for December. * Apply the Bible truth all week. Option As they leave, give every child a copy of How to Make an Advent Wreath from the CD-ROM. * Apply the Bible truth all week. ask each child to tell how he will show this week that he knows God promised to send the Savior. Remind the kids that God always keeps His promises.thank God for promising to send the Savior and for sending Jesus. W E E K O F D E C E M B E R 5, 2 0 1 0 13