CHRISTMAS

Dig In to the Bible

  • Read: Luke 2:1-20

  • In This Passage: Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for a census. There is no room in the inn, so Jesus is born in a manger. Angels proclaim the good news to a field of shepherds, who run to see the baby—God’s love in human form.

  • Bible Point: God loves you.

  • Summary Verse: “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

 

Dig Deeper

  • You’ll Be Teaching: God loves you. God’s love had never been more apparent than that first Christmas night when he sent his Son, Jesus, to earth as a baby. But the Christmas message can lose its power in the midst of all the seemingly more exciting Christmas festivities. Use this lesson to capture kids’ sense of wonder that God—Creator and ruler of the universe—came in the form of a tiny little baby because of his great love for us.

  • Think About: What aspects of Christmas fill you with wonder?

 

Dig In to Prayer

  • Ask God to get kids’ attention with his love—which is greater than any light display or giant present under the tree.

 

Quick Tip

  • Christmas is loud, busy, and full of activity. For adults, that can be stressful. For kids, it’s fun! But still, a change of pace from frenetic to quiet may be just what they need to capture their attention this week.

Christmas LESSON : Opening Music Videos!

Step # 2
Core Bible Discovery

Supplies: Bibles, paper, markers or crayons, scissors, tape (optional)

Step #3 Talk about it with your family!

Bonus FUN!

CRAFT[20 min]

Candy-Cane Mangers

Supplies

  • full-sized candy canes (1 per child)

  • Glue Dots

  • raffia or yellow paper shreds

  • wooden ice cream spoons or clothespins

  • permanent markers

  • crepe paper

  • foam star stickers

  • chenille wires

Easy Prep

  • Make a sample craft to show kids.

Make Candy-Cane Mangers

            Show kids the sample craft you made. Give each child a candy cane and a wooden ice cream spoon or clothespin. Set out the remaining supplies to share, and have kids follow these directions to make candy-cane mangers.

  • Turn the candy cane upside down so it makes a “J.”

  • Stick Glue Dots all over the curved part.

  • Cover the Glue Dots with raffia or paper shreds.

  • Wrap a clothespin or ice cream spoon in crepe paper so just a little bit of it sticks out one end.

  • Draw a baby face on the part that sticks out. (Older kids will need to do this for younger kids.)

  • Put a couple more Glue Dots on top of the raffia or paper shreds.

  • Stick the baby onto the raffia.

  • Wrap a chenille wire around the other end of the candy cane and shape it into an ornament hook. (Help younger kids as needed.)

  • Add a foam star sticker on top of the chenille wire.

 

 
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Talk About It

            • Which ornaments on your tree show Jesus or something about his birth?

            • What does this ornament show you about Jesus and his love?

             Our trees might have ornaments like snowmen and Santas, but the most important ornaments are the ones that show God’s love. God loves us, and he showed it when he sent us baby Jesus! Hang this ornament somewhere everyone will see it so they know how much God loves them.

         

 

HIGH-ENERGY GAME[10 min]

Sheep Roundup

Supplies

  • upbeat music (optional)

  • music player* (optional)

Tip

  • If you used the Music Video block, consider repeating the songs from today’s lesson during the game. You can find the downloadable album here.

 

Play Sheep-Inspired Tag

            Say: Today we’re exploring this truth: God loves you. Let’s see what a game of Sheep Roundup can show us about God’s love.

            When angels appeared to shepherds outside Bethlehem, those shepherds were afraid—and maybe the sheep were, too. The shepherds went to Bethlehem and the sheep went…where? I’m guessing they scattered. Now it’s time to round them up!

  • Gather kids in an open area of the room.

  • An older kid will be the Shepherd and the other kids will be Sheep. The Shepherd will try to tag each Sheep, which freezes the Sheep in place. The Sheep can move at will within the open area to avoid the Shepherd.

  • If you want to speed up the game, choose two Shepherds!

  • If you’d like, play upbeat music while kids play.

  • At intervals, shout “Freeze!” and all action stops until you designate a new Shepherd and the game restarts.

  • Switch Shepherds at different but frequent intervals: 15 seconds, 45 seconds, even a minute or more. That way, no Sheep remain frozen for long.

 

Talk About It

            Ask: • In what ways does a shepherd rounding up sheep show that the shepherd loves them?

            • How is Jesus like a shepherd?

            Say: God loves you—and one way God showed his love was by sending Jesus to help “round us up” and bring us into a saving friendship with God!