IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
UNIT 1
JESUS WAS BORN
6
UNIT 1
JESUS WAS BORN LIFE POINT: G od
sent
Jesus.
LEADER BIBLE STUDY
JESUS
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING Jesus was born.
BIBLE PASSAGE Luke 2:1-20
WEEKLY VERSE
Around 6 B.C., the Roman Emperor, Caesar Augustus, ordered a census to be taken of everyone in his empire. The census was to determine how much he could make in taxes. For that reason, Joseph and Mary left Nazareth to travel to his familial home in Bethlehem. While there, Mary gave birth to Jesus. Since they were not staying at a regular inn, they used a feeding trough as Jesus’ bed. The scene shifts to the Judean hills where shepherds tended their flocks. Suddenly,
Good news! Jesus was born. Luke 2:10-11
an angel appeared and terrified them. The angel comforted them and heralded the
UNIT VERSE
good news of the birth of the Messiah. Have you ever wondered why God chose to
Good news! Jesus was born. Luke 2:10-11
announce the Savior’s birth first to lowly shepherds? Why didn’t He initially inform the high priests, kings, or philosophers? Those would be the most natural audiences to address, wouldn’t they? Perhaps God told the shepherds first because of the type of king Jesus was going to become. Jesus did not come to be a political or military ruler. Possibly, because of the type of people the shepherds represented, the shepherds were the first to hear. The shepherds were common people for whom Jesus came to give His life. Shepherds were despised as morally and ritually unclean. Despite their social standing, Jesus’ birth and kingdom was not only for them but for all people. The shepherds visited Jesus after multitudes of angels announced, “Glory to God in the highest!” What does Mary’s being in Bethlehem at Jesus’ birth teach about the providence of God? ����������������������������������������������������������� What did the shepherds do after they returned from seeing Jesus? Why? ������� NOTE: Downloadable versions of items identified as CD are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle.
SUGGESTED DATE: week of December 18
16
U n i t 1, S e ss i o n 3
Additional training for Bible Studies For Life: Kids available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife
BIBLE STORY JESUS WAS BORN —Based on Luke 2:1-20 BIBLE STORY FOR 1s • Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. • Joseph found a place for Mary to rest. • Soon Baby Jesus was born. • Mary wrapped the special baby in soft cloths. • She laid Him in a manger bed. • Shepherds heard that Baby Jesus was born. • The shepherds hurried to see Him and thanked God for Jesus. BIBLE STORY FOR 2s Mary, Joseph, and many other people went to Bethlehem. The inns (hotels) were all full. But Joseph found a place where they could rest. Soon Baby Jesus was born. Mary gently wrapped Him in soft cloths to keep Him warm. She laid Jesus in a manger. A manger was a feeding bin for animals. Mary and Joseph took special care of the tiny Baby Jesus. Shepherds heard that Baby Jesus was born. They hurried to see Him. They
››
Choose a brief time for older 2s to gather together for a song or two and the Bible story.
thanked God for the special baby. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds were happy that Jesus was born. GATHER TIME FOR OLDER 2s
►Gather and sing. Invite children to join you for gather time as you play “Wave Your Hands” (track 16). Encourage children to wave their arms with the music.
►Tell the Bible story. Slip on the Bible times clothes. Open your Bible to Luke 2 and
tell the Bible story. Show the Teaching Picture. Point to Baby Jesus. Allow the children
›› ›› ›› ››
Pack Item 14: “Weekly Verses” Teaching Picture 3 CD Adult Bible times clothes
to point to Baby Jesus in the picture.
►Hear the Bible Verse and Life Point. Open your Bible to Luke 2:10-11. Display the Weekly Verse as you say it. Lead children to repeat the verse after you a few times. Say that God sent Jesus.
►Wrap it up. Thank God for sending Jesus to be born. Play “Born in Bethlehem” (track 3) to end gather time.
B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 1s & 2 s
17
BIBLE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES DRESS IN BIBLE TIMES CLOTHES
›› ››
CD
••Assist children as they put the clothes on over their clothing.
Toddler-size Bible times clothes (robes, sashes, simple slip-on dresses), baby doll
••Guide preschoolers to play out the Bible story as you read it aloud. ••Play “Jesus’ Birth Medley” (track 4). Invite children to sing along and move to the music. ••Thank God for the good news that Jesus was born.
›› ››
WALK ON A LETTER J
Pack Item 14: “Weekly Verses”
Tape sheets of construction paper on the floor in the shape of the letter J.
Construction paper, masking tape
••Open your Bible to Luke 2:10-11. Say the Bible Verse. Encourage the children to repeat the verse after you. ••Remark that Jesus’ name begins with the letter J. ••Lead toddlers to walk on the letter J starting at the top. ••Invite children to say the Bible Verse as they walk on the J. ••Pray, thanking God that Jesus was born.
›› ›› ››
FIND BABY JESUS
Pack Items 18, 19: “Book: Jesus Was Born,” “Bible Figures” (Baby Jesus)
Cut out the Baby Jesus figure. Place tape on the back of the figure. Tape the figure on a wall in the classroom.
Teaching Picture 3
••Display the Teaching Picture. Guide the children to point to Baby Jesus.
Tape, scissors
••Open and read Jesus Was Born. Comment that the picture of Baby Jesus is missing. ••Invite children to search around the room for the Baby Jesus figure. ••Attach the figure to the page. Finish reading the book to the children. ••Pray, thanking God for giving Jesus a family. Thank God for children’s families, too.
››
Pack Item 19: “Bible Figures” (Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, sheep, camel, donkey, shepherds)
››
Take-Home Cards (Bethlehem), child-safe manger set, basket, blocks, tape
PLAY WITH A MANGER SCENE Place the manger set pieces in a basket. Stand the Take-Home Card by a wall or tape to a block to stand. Tape the Bible Figures to the blocks. ••Invite a child to take a figure from the basket. ••Identify the figure. Relate the figure to the Bible story. ••Encourage children to identify the figures as they remove them from the basket. ••Point to the picture of Bethlehem. Remind children that Jesus was born in Bethlehem. ••Recall the Bible story as children play.
18
U n i t 1, S e ss i o n 3
LIFE POINT
G od
sent
Jesus.
MAKE MANGER ART Cut per child: 2 brown paper strips (2 by 6 inches), about 20 yellow strips (1/4 by 2 inches), 1 light blue long oval, 1 light brown circle. ••Invite one or two children to join you at the table to make manger art. ••Assist children in gluing the pieces to construction paper to make a manger. 1. Add glue to backs of brown strips. Cross the strips in an X to make the manger. 2. Show where to glue in the top of the X and then add the yellow strips for straw.
›› ››
Construction paper (brown, yellow, blue), scissors, glue sticks Note: Guide the children but allow them to make their own manger art. No two have to look alike.
3. Glue the backs of the long oval and circle and lay on top of the straw to make the baby shape. ••Talk about the Bible story as children make their art.
UNCOVER MISSIONS PHOTOS Tape the Missions Pictures page to a table or on a wall in the classroom. Secure a sheet of construction paper over the page so that the paper can be lifted up to reveal the page underneath.
›› ››
CD: “Missions Pictures” Construction paper, tape
••Guide toddlers to uncover the page by lifting the construction paper. ••Explain that missionaries are people who tell people the good news about Jesus. ••Talk about the Missions in Madagascar. ••Say a sentence prayer thanking God for missionaries who tell people all over the world about Jesus.
BONUS ACTIVITIES PULL FABRIC STRIPS
Teaching Picture 3
Invite children to pull the fabric strips from the container. Comment that Mary wrapped Baby Jesus in strips of cloth to keep Him warm. Display the Teaching Picture. Talk about the Bible story. Pray, thanking God for sending Jesus to be born.
Scatter the cotton balls around the containers. Lead children to pick up (gather) the cotton balls (sheep) using the provided tools. Remark that shepherds were taking care of their sheep in a field when Baby Jesus was born. Comment that the shepherds
CLEAN UP Play “Born in Bethlehem” (track 3). Compliment children as they clean the room.
Small container full of fabric strips Cotton balls, tongs, large spoons, spatulas, containers or baskets
GATHER SHEEP
went to the manger to see the special baby.
›› ›› ›› ››
Suggestion: Hide a Jesus Was Born card from the Preschool Take-Home Cards (005786493) in the room. Challenge the children to find its match and then talk about the Bible story.
B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 1s & 2 s
19
U N IT
BONU 1•SESSION S TEAC 3 H for 1s & ING HOUR 2s
JESUS WAS BORN BIBLE STORY
ROOM
SNACK
YOUR TEACHING PARTNER(S)
Place snack on tables. Pray before eating. Talk about the Bible story as children snack. Lead children to clean their places and throw away the trash.
DATE OF USE
TALK ABOUT THE BIBLE STORY
LIFE POINT
—Based on Luke 2:1-20
God sent Jesus.
UNIT VERSE
BIBLE STORY FOR 1s
Good news! Jesus was born. Luke 2:10-11
••Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem. ••Joseph found a place for Mary to rest. ••Soon Baby Jesus was born.
WEEKLY VERSE
••Mary wrapped the special baby in soft cloths.
Good news! Jesus was born. Luke 2:10-11
••She laid Him in a manger bed. ••Shepherds heard that Baby Jesus was born. ••The shepherds hurried to see Him and thanked God for Jesus. BIBLE STORY FOR 2s Mary, Joseph, and many other people went to Bethlehem. The inns (hotels) were all full. But Joseph found a place where they could rest. Soon Baby Jesus was born. Mary gently wrapped Him in soft cloths to keep Him warm. She laid Jesus in a manger. A manger was a feeding bin for animals. Mary and Joseph took special care of the tiny Baby Jesus. Shepherds heard that Baby Jesus was born. They hurried to see Him. They thanked God for the special baby. Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds were happy that Jesus was born.
B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 1s & 2 s
B T H -7
BIBLE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES SONG
TOSS BEANBAGS
Sing to the tune of “Are You Sleeping?”:
Gather: Bible, beanbags, basket
He is Jesus, He is Jesus, God’s own Son, God’s own Son. Tiny Baby Jesus, tiny Baby Jesus, He was born, He was born.
ROCK BABY DOLLS Gather: Pack Item 18: “Book: Jesus Was Born” Baby dolls, blankets Do: Wrap a baby doll in a blanket.
••Open a Bible to Luke 2. ••Say the verse: “Good news! Jesus was born.” ••Lead toddlers to toss the beanbags into a basket as they say the verse after you. ••Remark that the shepherds went to see Baby Jesus as soon as they heard the good news.
GATHER SHEEP
••Invite a child to rock a doll in her arms.
Gather: Blankets or towels, toy sheep Do: Place rolled blankets or towels on the floor to make
••Read aloud the book.
a pen or corral. Place the sheep around the room.
••Remind the child that Mary wrapped Baby Jesus in soft cloths to keep Him warm. ••Say: “Jesus was a special baby. God chose a special family for Baby Jesus.”
BUILD A MANGER BED
••Invite preschoolers to pretend they are shepherds. ••Guide them as they gather the sheep around the room and place the sheep in the pen (point). ••Remark that the shepherds hurried to see Baby Jesus when He was born.
Gather: Blocks, baby doll ••Assist boys and girls as they build a manger (feeding trough) bed with blocks.
CLEAN UP Lead children to help put toys in the correct places.
••Guide them to place a baby doll in the manger. ••Remark that Mary laid Jesus in a manger and took care of Him. ••Talk about the Bible story while children build.
DISMISS Place all the children’s personal items inside their diaper bags. Remind parents to do the activities and review the Bible story this week on the Kids
MAKE YARN ART
Activity Page.
Gather: Half sheets of paper, glue sticks, yarn, scissors ••Invite a child to swipe a glue stick across a paper. Allow him to glue yarn pieces to the paper. ••Comment that blankets, cloth, and clothes can be made with yarn. ••Talk about how Mary wrapped Jesus in special cloths to keep Him warm. ••Encourage other children to make yarn art.
8-BTH
U N I T 1•S E S S I O N 3
Tha you fonk servin r g!
© 2016 LifeWay.
JESUS WAS BORN © 2016 LifeWay
LUKE 2:1-20 • TEACHING PICTURE 3
UNIT 1. SESSION 3
Jesus Was Born
UNIT VERSE
Celebrate a Birthday
Good news! Jesus was born. — L U K E 2 : 1 0 - 11
Show your child photos of when he was an infant. Tell him how glad you are that he was born. Thank God for your child. Show the Bible story picture (reverse side). Thank God for sending Jesus to be born.
Celebrate Jesus’ Birth
Image Credit: istock, shutterstock
How does your family celebrate your child’s birthday? Celebrate Jesus’ birth in a similar way. Bake a cake and sing in celebration of Jesus’ birthday. Tell the Bible story (reverse side) to your toddler.
BABIES:
Jesus Was Born
Build Traditions Begin now building traditions that will help your sweet baby (and you) stay focused on the birth of Christ at Christmas! Set up a special area to read the Bible together. String Christmas lights under a table, in a box, or on the ceiling— anywhere you can lie under that your baby cannot reach the lights. Help your baby flip through the pages of the Bible. Point to Jesus’ name. Talk about the story of Jesus’ birth. Say that Jesus was the most special baby.
2016 LifeWay
B A B I E S | 1 s & 2 s K I D S A C T I V I T Y PA G E S
7
TM
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: Your child learned that Jesus was born. Angels announced the birth to the shepherds who then went to see the special child. They knew God had sent Jesus.
®
1s & 2s JESUS
BABIES
LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING Jesus was born.
JESUS WAS BORN —based on Luke 2:1-20 JESUS WAS BORN —based on Luke 2:1-20
►Bible VerseJesus was born. Good news! Luke 2:10-11
ies ►Bible Story foryBab went to Bethlehem. Joseph and Mar
Soon Baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Baby Jesus in soft cloths. Shepherds hurried to see Baby Jesus and thanked God for Him. Sentence Suggestions ►Key Words and is God’s Son. Jesus: Jesus
Born: Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Baby: Jesus was a special baby.
►Bible Story fory 1s went to Bethlehem.
• Joseph and Mar • Joseph found a place for Mary to rest. • Soon Baby Jesus was born. cloths. • Mary wrapped the special baby in soft . bed • She laid Him in a manger . • Shepherds heard that Baby Jesus was born ked than • T he shepherds hurried to see Him and God for Jesus. Bible Story for 2s t to Mary, Joseph, and many other people wen But full. all e Bethlehem. The inns (hotels) wer . Joseph found a place where they could rest Soon Baby Jesus was born. Mary gently warm. wrapped Him in soft cloths to keep Him a was ger man A She laid Jesus in a manger. took ph Jose feeding bin for animals. Mary and special care of the tiny Baby Jesus. . Shepherds heard that Baby Jesus was born They hurried to see Him. They thanked God for the special baby. Mary, Joseph, and the . shepherds were happy that Jesus was born
►
TAKE IT FURTHER Check out the Jesus Was Born section of the Bible Studies For Life: Kids Family App.
8
2016 LifeWay
Mary was Jesus’ mother. Matthew 1:16
Joseph did what God told him to do. Matthew 1:24
Good news! Jesus was born. Luke 2:10-11
People knew Jesus was special. Matthew 2:11
Give thanks to God for He is good. 1 Chronicles 16:34
We will obey God. Joshua 24:24
God helps me. I will not be afraid. Hebrews 13:6
Show family love to one another. Romans 12:10
I pray to God, and He hears me. Psalm 77:1
God always helps us. Psalm 46:1
Be strong and have courage. Psalm 31:24
God will teach us how to live. Micah 4:2
Always do what is right. 2 Thessalonians 3:13
14
WEEKLY VERSES Unit 1, Unit 2, Unit 3 Leader Pack, Winter 2016–17 © 2016 LifeWay
Instructions: Separate the Weekly Verses and use as directed in the Leader Guide.
Jesus is God’s Son. God planned for Jesus to be born because He loves us.
18
© 2016 LifeWay
BOOK: JESUS WAS BORN Unit 1 Leader Pack, Winter 2016–17
Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem. The inns were all full. But Joseph found a place where they could rest. Soon Baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in soft cloths and laid Him in a manger.
2 © 2016 LifeWay
7
God sent a messenger (angel) to tell Mary that she would have a baby.
Mary was surprised, but she was happy. Mary said, “I am God’s helper. I will do whatever He says.”
Mary sang a song to God.
6 © 2016 LifeWay
3
Joseph had a dream while he slept. A messenger (angel) told him good news.
“Don’t be afraid, Joseph. God wants Mary to be your wife. Mary is going to have a very special baby. When He is born, name Him Jesus. He will grow up to help people.” Joseph obeyed God.
4 © 2016 LifeWay
5
Wise Man Mary Joseph
Shepherd
Joshua
Baby Jesus
19
BIBLE FIGURES nit 1, Sessions 1, 2, 3; Unit 2, Session 2 U Leader Pack, Winter 2016–17
© 2016 LifeWay
Wise Man
Shepherd
Instructions: Cut out each figure along the dotted lines. Use the figures as noted in the Leader Guide, attach to blocks to use in the block area, or display in your classroom to start conversations.
Marching Men
MISSIONS PICTURES
UNIT 1
Missions in Madagascar Missionaries: Grant and Jodie Waller Off the coast of Africa is a large island called Madagascar. Madagascar is known for tropical jungles, beautiful beaches, and lively lemurs. The Mahafaly [mah-hah-fah-lee] people live in the dusty, hot desert of Madagascar. Many are hungry because there is not enough food to eat. Some drink out of mud puddles because there is not enough clean water. The Mahafaly people are farmers. They grow corn, rice, black-eyed peas, and cassava (a woody shrub with a root that is eaten). At the ages of 5 and 6, the children work herding the goats and sheep and planting in the fields. Grant and Jodi Waller live in Madagascar with their two children. The Wallers travel by truck to the villages when the ground is dry. They fly in a helicopter when the rains come. The Wallers teach the Mahafaly people about Jesus by telling Bible stories and leading the people to worship Him. Pray for • The Wallers • The Mahafaly people to learn about Jesus and want to worship Him • Food and clean water
Bible Studies For Life Babies, 1s, & 2s, Winter 2016–17 © 2016 LifeWay. Printed in the United States of America. This item may be reproduced.
