Jesus Is Born • Lesson 2 Bible Point
Jesus came to earth as a baby.
Bible Verse “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us” (Isaiah 9:6a).
Growing Closer to Jesus Children will n tell good and bad things about being young and realize that Jesus was young, too, n act out the story of Jesus’ birth, and n make a manger as a reminder that Jesus came as a baby.
Teacher Enrichment The Bible Basis n Jesus is born.
This chapter of Luke describes Joseph and Mary’s continuing hardships. Certainly it had been difficult for them to overhear the snickers of acquaintances who noticed that Mary had become pregnant prior to the completion of her marriage. In Jewish culture, if a woman was made pregnant by her pledged h usband prior to the wedding, the husband was rejected by his family for the dishonor. If someone else made the woman pregnant, the husband’s family rejected the woman. So Mary and Joseph faced nothing but rejection as they went to visit Joseph’s family. Yet they went willingly, following through on God’s plan for them. Now Mary and Joseph had to travel from his home in Nazareth to his ancestral home of Bethlehem, a journey of about 70 miles. Though popular renditions of this trip usually show Mary riding a donkey, she and Joseph probably weren’t wealthy enough to own one. It’s more likely that they had to walk all the way, even though Mary was close to her time to deliver. The significance of Jesus’ coming is described in Hebrews 1:1-4. With the coming of Jesus, a new era was ushered in as God revealed himself in a new way. In the past he had spoken through faithful people. Now he would speak through the life, actions, and words of his own Son.
Luke 2:1-7
Prayer • Read Hebrews 1:1-4. • What is the best Christmas gift you have ever received? • Pray: Jesus, thank you for your gift of love and compassion. Help me model your life by...
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2 25
Lesson 2
Before the Lesson n Collect items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab Supplies listed in the chart. n Make photocopies of the “Growing Together” handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your children. n Pray for your students and for God’s direction in teaching the lesson.
This Lesson at a Glance What Children Will Do
Welcome Attention Grabber
Bible Exploration & Application
Welcome!—Receive a warm
welcome from the teacher, and make name tags.
Classroom Supplies “Birthday Cake Name Tags” (p. 23), markers, scissors, tape or safety pins
It’s Great to Be a Kid!—Tell good and bad things about being young, and find out that Jesus had some of the same experiences.
Jesus Is Born—Act out the story of Jesus’ birth from Luke 2:1-7.
Bible, marker
Family Likeness—See that just
Bibles
Baby Footprints—Make a
“Jesus Came as a Baby” handouts (p. 33), scissors, crayons or markers, CD player
God’s Gift—Find out that small
Small treats
as they’re like their families, Jesus is like God; read Hebrews 1:3a; and learn how Jesus is like God.
manger craft, read Isaiah 9:6-7, and talk about why Jesus was a special baby.
Closing
gifts are sometimes the best, and enjoy small treats while they thank God for sending Jesus as a baby.
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2
Learning Lab Supplies
Jesus Is Born
Welcome SUPPLIES: “Birthday Cake Name Tags” (p. 23), scissors, markers, tape or safety pins • Greet each child individually with an enthusiastic smile. • Thank each child for coming to class today. • As children arrive, ask them about last week’s lesson and “Growing Together” discussion. Use questions such as “What ‘surprise jar’ activity did you do with your family?” “How has God surprised you lately?” and “Who did your family surprise with a telephone Christmas carol?” • Say: Today we’re going to learn that Jesus came to earth as a baby. • Hand out the name tags children made during Lesson 1, and help them attach the name tags to their clothing. If some of the name tags were damaged, or if c hildren weren’t in class previously, have them make new name tags using the photocopiable handout. • Tell children that the attention-getting signal you’ll use during this lesson is clicking the creature clicker three times. Ask children to respond to the sound by snapping their fingers three times as they stop talking and focus their attention on you. Rehearse the signal with the children, telling them to respond quickly so you’ll have plenty of time for all the fun activities planned for this lesson.
Attention Grabber n It’s Great to Be a Kid! SUPPLIES: none Have children scatter around the room. When everyone has taken ap osition, say: From this moment, your feet are frozen right where they are. You can move the rest of your body as long as your feet stay exactly where they are. Take out the jewel ball, and set it down by one of your feet. Say: Because the jewel ball is touching one of my feet, I have to tell one thing that’s hard about being a child. One thing I remember that was hard about being a child was that my parents sometimes told me to go to bed when I wanted to stay up late. Now I’m going to gently roll the jewel ball toward someone else’s feet. If it touches someone’s feet, that person has to tell what’s hard about being a child. But if it doesn’t touch anyone else’s feet, I have to tell one thing that’s good or fun about being a child. Remember, everyone’s feet are frozen. No fair moving out of the path of the jewel ball. If the ball touches a child’s foot, have that child tell one thing that’s hard about being a child. For example, it’s hard for kids to see over counters at stores, and adults don’t always listen to kids’ opinions. If the ball doesn’t touch anyone’s foot, the person who rolled it must tell one thing that’s good or fun about being a child. For example, kids don’t have to go to work, and kids seem to laugh more than adults. Then have the child s tanding closest to the ball
It’s important to say the Bible Point just as it’s written in each activity. Repeating the Bible Point over and over will help children remember it and apply it to their lives.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2 27
Lesson 2
pick it up and roll it toward another child’s feet. Repeat the process until each child has had a chance to share at least once. Then put the jewel ball away, and have the children sit down. Ask: • What is the best thing about being a child? (It’s a lot of fun; we don’t have to make big decisions; kids don’t have to worry about as much.) • What do you think would be the best thing about being an adult? (Adults can make the rules; we’d get to do whatever we want.) Say: Jesus knows exactly what it’s like to be a child because at one time he was your age. Jesus came to earth as a baby, not as a grown-up. Let’s learn more about why this is so special.
Bible Exploration & Application n Jesus Is Born SUPPLIES: Bible, marker
If you have fewer than seven children in your class, use fewer cardboard pieces. Two children will act as Mary and Joseph, so distribute the numbered cardboard pieces accordingly. Remember to collect the cardboard pieces and return them to the Learning Lab for use in later lessons.
It’s important to involve children in the telling of the story. This experiential learning will help children remember the lesson far longer than if they were to merely hear the words and listen passively. Thank you for making an impact on children!
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Before class, number the back sides of the cardboard pieces from one to five. Make the numbers large so they’ll be easy to see. Open your Bible to Luke 2:1-7, and show the passage to the children. Say: We’re going to act out a skit about this Bible story. Everyone will have a part. Listen carefully as I tell the story because I’ll tell you how to act it out. Distribute the cardboard pieces to five children. Have these children stand around the room wherever they want. It’ll be more fun if they don’t stand in numerical order. Have the other children sit together as you begin the story. Say: A long time ago, a man named Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire. Lots and lots of countries were part of the Roman Empire. Caesar Augustus wanted to know how many people were in the empire, so he sent a royal message to everyone in the land. Have all the children form trumpets with their hands and trumpet out a fanfare before you read the royal decree. Say: This is the message from Caesar Augustus: “Hear ye, hear ye! Caesar Augustus demands that all people go and be counted in their families’ hometowns.” Now there was a man named Joseph (choose a boy and have him stand), and there was a woman named Mary. (Choose a girl and have her stand.) Mary was going to have a baby any day! Joseph and Mary had to travel to a town called Bethlehem to be counted because that’s where Joseph’s family was from. Since there were no cars then, Joseph and Mary had to walk to Bethlehem. They began their journey. Have all the children with cardboard pieces hold them up with the numbers showing. Direct Mary and Joseph to begin their journey at number 1 and walk to number 2, 3, and so on. As they walk, lead the rest of the children in saying, “They walked and walked and walked and walked...” until the couple reaches the last one. Collect the cardboard pieces, and have the children who were holding them sit down. Mary and Joseph should remain standing.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2
Jesus Is Born
Say: Finally, Joseph and Mary got to Bethlehem. But so many people had traveled to Bethlehem that all the hotels were full. Mary and Joseph had to find another place to stay. Have Mary and Joseph tap each child in the room on the shoulder and ask, “Can we stay with you tonight?” Instruct all the children to say, “No!” When each child has been spoken to by either Mary or Joseph, continue with the story. Say: Finally, Mary and Joseph found a stable where they could sleep. It would be warm with all the animals close by. Have all the kids form a circle around Mary and Joseph and reach their hands toward the center of the circle to form part of the roof. Say: I wonder what kinds of animals were in the stable. Make a sound like an animal you think might have been there. Children could make the sounds of cows, pigs, donkeys, horses, or chickens. After a few seconds of animal sounds, click the creature clicker three times to get children’s attention. Wait until the children snap their fingers three times and focus their attention on you. Then have the children form the roof of the barn again as you continue with the story. Say: That night the baby was born. Mary wrapped him tightly in pieces of cloth and laid him in the manger that held the animals’ food. At last Jesus had come. Thank the kids for participating, and have them return to their seats. Ask: • What makes babies special? (They’re gifts from God; they’re tiny people; they’re brand-new.) • What made Jesus special? (He was God’s Son; he was the Messiah; he is God.) • If you had a baby, how would you treat it? (I would be careful with it; feed it; help change its diaper.) • What if it was a really special baby, like the baby of the president? How would you treat a special baby like that? (Use a gold bottle; dress it in fancy clothes; make sure it had a nice room.) • How was Jesus treated like a special baby? (Shepherds came to see him; wise men brought him expensive gifts; angels told people about him coming.) • How was Jesus not treated like a special baby? (Jesus was born in a stable with animals in it; he had to sleep in a manger.) Say: We treat babies carefully. They’re brand-new, tiny creations; and they need us to feed them, change their diapers, sing to them, and love them. Jesus is God’s Son, and Jesus came to earth as a baby, not as a grown-up. Mary and Joseph took good care of him. Because little babies are helpless, God gives them families to take care of them.
Take the children to the church nursery to see the babies. Have children wash their hands. Let the children carefully touch the babies with adult supervision. Or if one of your students has an infant brother or sister, arrange to have one of the parents bring the baby to class.
n Family Likeness SUPPLIES: Bibles Have children form pairs. Let partners choose which one of them will be the Apple and which will be the Pear. If you have an uneven number of students, let one child be your partner. Ask everyone to sit down. Say: Without saying anything out loud, think of one way you’re like someone in your family. Think of something happy and positive. For instance,
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Lesson 2
Not all families share physical characteristics. Encourage children to think of other likenesses as well for this activity.
maybe you smile like your mother, or maybe you’re a good ice skater like your uncle. When you’ve thought of a way you’re like another family member, stand up. If you can’t think of something, come and talk to me, and we’ll think of something together. When all the children are standing, say: Now I’d like all the Apples to act out the way they’re like another family member, but don’t say anything out loud yet. When your partner has guessed how you’re like your family, you may both sit down. When everyone is sitting, repeat the activity with the Pears doing the acting. When everyone is seated again, ask: • What did you discover about how your partner is like his or her f amily? (My partner’s hair is the same color as her dad’s; my partner likes to sing, and so does his mom.) • When people look at you, what can they learn about your family? (They can learn a little bit about what we look like; they can learn that we like to read; they can learn that we like sports.) Say: Sometimes when we look like each other and like the same things, we call it a “family resemblance.” That means that in some ways, we’re like others in our families. Do you know that’s one reason Jesus came to earth as a baby? Let’s find out what I mean in our Bibles. Help a volunteer find and read Hebrews 1:3a. Then ask: • What do you think this verse means? (Jesus shows us what God is like; Jesus is God.) • How is Jesus like God? (He can do anything; he forgives us.) Say: When a person looks at you and gets to know you, he or she can learn something about your family. It’s the same with God. God wanted us to know what he is like, so God sent his Son, Jesus. We can look at Jesus and learn what God is like. Ask: • Can you think of something you know about Jesus that lets us know more about God? (Jesus was kind to children, so God must like kids; Jesus helped people, so God must like to help people.) Say: Jesus came to earth as a baby. He is God’s Son. As Jesus grew up, he showed us what God, his Father, is like. We can learn more about what God is like by getting to know Jesus better.
n Baby Footprints SUPPLIES: “Jesus Came as a Baby” handouts (p. 33), scissors, crayons or markers, CD player Before class, photocopy the “Jesus Came as a Baby” handout. tracks 3 & 4 You’ll need one handout for each student. Make a sample craft from the handout to show the children by following the instructions on the handout page. Cue the CD to track 3, “Silent Night.” Say: The Bible says Jesus was a special baby. Listen to what I read from the Bible, and listen for ways Jesus was special. As you read Isaiah 9:6-7, pause 30
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2
Jesus Is Born
after every sentence, and ask children to explain in their own words what the sentence says about why Jesus was a special baby. If kids need help, you can paraphrase the verse with them, using the examples after each sentence. “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.” Jesus, God’s Son, was born for us. “The government will rest on his shoulders.” He has authority and power over everything and everyone. “And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” He has those wonderful names! “His government and its peace will never end.” He will be in power forever, and will bring peace. “He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.” He will be a fair King. “The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!” This is God’s promise to us. (Isaiah 9:6-7) We’re going to make a craft that will remind us that Jesus came to earth as a baby. Display your sample. As you work on the craft, I’m going to play some quiet music. I’d like you to work quietly. As you listen to the music and work on your project, talk quietly to a friend about what it would have been like to be one of the shepherds who saw Jesus when he was just a tiny, newborn child. Distribute the handouts, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have children follow the directions to complete the handout. Play “Silent Night” and “Away in a Manger” (tracks 3 and 4) as children work on their crafts. As children finish their crafts, have them gather and sing along with “Away in a Manger” on the CD. When everyone has completed his or her craft and the song is finished, ask: • What does looking at these tiny baby feet make you think about Jesus? (That he really came as a baby; that he was really this small once.) • Why is it special that God’s Son became a tiny baby? (Because he was big and powerful before; because he was like one of us.) Say: Take your craft home, and put it on a table or under your Christmas tree as a reminder that Jesus came to earth as a baby and that he’s our best Christmas present.
Any children who finish early can serve by helping clean up.
HANDS-ON BIBLE Give a paper plate to each child. Have children work together in groups of about three or four. Make sure there is at least one reader in each group. Have scissors, crayons or markers, yarn, index cards, and a hole punch a vailable for the activity. Say: Even though Jesus came as a baby, he was God’s Son and had all God’s qualities. In the Bible we learn that he had some special names. Open your Hands-On Bible to Isaiah 9:6, and follow the instructions to make a “Royal Mobile” to see all the qualities Jesus had. Help children find Isaiah 9:6, and assist children as they follow the instructions. Ask: • What do the names tell you about Jesus? (He is God; he is like God; he is amazing.) Say: Pray in your groups for Jesus to show you how amazing he is, and thank Jesus for coming to earth as a baby to live with us.
Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2 31
Lesson 2
Closing n God’s Gift SUPPLIES: small treats Before class, wrap a bag of small treats such as Hershey’s Kisses in the Christmas garland, and put it out of sight. Have the children form a circle, and then ask: • Why is it important to remember that Jesus came to earth as a baby? (Jesus is God’s Son; Jesus went through life like we do.) • Why do you think God sent Jesus to earth as a baby and not a grown-up? (Everyone comes as a baby; God knows best; so he could go through the same things we do.) Say: Because God’s plans are best, we know it’s a good thing that Jesus came as a tiny baby. Sometimes the best things come in small packages. Bring out the garland-wrapped treats, and ask: • What is a tiny present you’ve received that turned out to be something cool? (I got a watch; I got a twenty-dollar bill; I got a tiny puppy.) Say: Jesus was God’s special gift to us. Today I’ve brought a gift for you. Have one child unwrap the gift and show the others what it is. God gave us the baby Jesus as a precious gift. As you take a treat from the bag, pray a short, silent prayer thanking God for sending us the tiny baby Jesus. When the bag has been passed all the way around the circle, say: Let’s say a prayer of thanks before we enjoy our treat. Pray: God, thank you for sending us the wonderful gift of Jesus. We’re glad you sent Jesus as a tiny baby. Amen. Collect name tags for next week’s use, and remind children to take home any crafts they made today.
Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom. Photocopy the “Growing Together” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your children. Encourage children and parents to use the handout to plan meaningful activities on this week’s topic. Follow up the “Growing Together” activities next week by asking children what their families did together.
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Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 1 & 2
Jesus Came as a Baby
“For a child is born to us” (Isaiah 9:6a).
Jesus came as a baby.
Cut out the manger on the solid lines, and fold on the dotted lines. Cut slits where indicated. Cut out the square with the baby footprints. Slide the footprints into the slits in the manger.
Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
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Jesus’ B ir Jesus ca m
th 2:
e to ear th as a bab y.
rse Bible Vebor n to us,
“For a child is to us” a son is given (Isaiah 9:6a).
ry Bible Sto born Jesus is (Luke 2:1-7).
Today your child learned that God sent Jesus as a baby, not as a grown-up. The children discovered that because Jesus was a baby, he grew up and experienced the same things they’re experiencing. The children also talked about how precious babies are and about how much care and love they need. Use these activities this week to help your child learn to love the precious baby Jesus, who grew up to be our Savior and Lord.
Baby Jesus
Baby Care
To help your child better understand that Jesus came to earth as a baby, let him or her see what babies are like. If your family has a baby, great! Help your child care for the baby by feeding it, singing it to sleep, and changing its diapers. If you don’t have a baby in your family, visit a family who does or volunteer with your child in the church nursery. Talk about what Jesus would have been like as a baby and what was special about Jesus coming to earth as a baby instead of as a grown-up.
Put together a care package for a newborn baby. Include items such as booties, a soft blanket, a bib, and a rattle. Pray that your gifts will keep a new baby warm and comfortable. Donate your package to a clinic, a hospital, or a shelter. And pray that God will watch over the new baby and his or her family and keep them safe.
A Journey If your family will be traveling during the holidays, take the opportunity to compare your journey with Mary and Joseph’s journey. How will you pack and prepare? How do you think Mary and Joseph packed and prepared for their journey to Bethlehem? Compare your means of traveling with theirs. What would it be like to go home with the newborn baby Jesus? 34
Gifts for Jesus Together with your family, think of a gift you can give to Jesus. You might give a donation to a charity, send Bibles to another country, volunteer for a month’s work in the church nursery, or commit to praying for a m issionary family once a week for a year. Write out what your gift will be, and put it in a box. Wrap the box, and put it under your Christmas tree. Save it as the last present to be unwrapped on Christmas morning. Offer a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus for coming as a baby to save the world, and dedicate your gift to God’s kingdom.
Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Grades 1 & 2 granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
