Birth of Jesus

3/21/2023

Birth of Jesus by Jennifer Tolbert

This is the story of Jesus's birth.

Key Concepts
1. Jesus's birth was the fulfillment of God's promise.
2. Jesus's birth fulfilled the Old Testament prophesies.
3. Jesus was with God, and was God, who came to us to fulfill God's plan for redemption because he loved us.

Key Verse

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

Songs

Go Tell It On the Mountain
Beautiful Star of Bethlehem
Silent Night
Away in a Manger
Be Still and Know
I Love the Lord Messiah
Said I Wasn't
Shine Jesus Shine
Stand Up and Shout It

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time

Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Nativity Sets
Gather a nativity scene and let the kids help you set it up. Discuss the different elements of the story. Ask the kids if they would keep a baby in a barn with animals?

2. Find a place to stay
Lay a number of cards face down on a table. The more cards used, the more difficult the game. Write “No” on all of the cards except one. Write “yes” on one card. For younger children, you could use colors. Red for no, green for yes. Take it in turns to pick up one card. The idea is to find somewhere to stay (The card with yes). The first person to find the card wins. Rearrange the cards on the table and play again. (Idea from TruewayKids.com)

3. Good News
Tell the children that you have some good news. Share with them something that would be good news. For example, you may share that you're going out to eat your favorite restaurant for lunch or that your flowers are finally blooming. You may share that someone special is coming to visit you. Ask them to tell what they think good news is. Introduce the word gospel, which means good news. Give each child an opportunity to share some good news they have. Our story today is the best news we could ever receive.

READ Matthew 1:18-24 and Luke 2:1-38 or tell the story of the birth of Jesus.
EMPHASIZE that: