MONTHLY ARCHIVES: December 2015

Conversation Starters: The Savior’s Birth

Posted by Karah

IMG_0054THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: People look to a variety of religious figures or leaders to give their lives meaning. Some of these religions offer a god—or gods—who is so beyond us that he is unreachable. Other religions have human leaders, yet their humanity makes them little different from us. But in Jesus, the all-powerful, transcendent God came to us. He came to earth and became one of us. That is what makes Jesus unique. He is fully God, who became fully human.

Concept: The Savior’s Birth

Preschool

Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-20

LIFE POINT: An angel visited Mary and said, “You will have a baby and name Him Jesus. He will be the Son of God.” Mary was surprised but said, “I will do what God says.” Mary went to visit Elizabeth, her cousin. Elizabeth was happy to see Mary. Elizabeth was going to have a baby also. Her baby jumped when she heard Mary’s greetings. Elizabeth told Mary she has received a good gift from God. Mary was so happy she sang a song of praise to God. Joseph learned Mary was to have a baby. One night an angel spoke to him in a dream. “Mary’s baby is the Son of God. You will name Him Jesus.” Joseph did what the angel told him to do. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem to be counted. The baby was born just as the angels said. They named Him Jesus. He was the most special baby ever born!

LIVE IT OUT: Print Jesus’ name on a sheet of paper. Encourage your child to decorate the name with markers or stickers. Display the sign in your child’s room to remind her of the special name of Jesus.

Kids

Matthew 1:18-24; Luke 1:26-56; Luke 2:1-20

LIFE POINT: The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would have God’s special Son and she was to name Him Jesus. Mary was surprised. Then Gabriel told Mary that her cousin Elizabeth was pregnant. Elizabeth was old, so this was surprising. The angel told her: Nothing is impossible with God. Mary said, “Your will be done.” She was willing to do the impossible if it would bring God glory. Mary went to see Elizabeth. When Mary greeted Elizabeth, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped. Mary began to praise God. She stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Joseph was also visited by an angel. Joseph heard Mary was pregnant and decided to cancel their engagement. But the angel told Joseph to take Mary as his wife. He confirmed that Mary’s child would be a son and Joseph was to name the child Jesus.

LIVE IT OUT: Help your child memorize Matthew 16:16. This verse tells who Jesus really is. His name is Jesus, but He was the Son of God.

Students

Luke 1:26-35

THE POINT: Jesus is fully God and fully human. How do you usually react when God calls you to do something you don’t feel able to do? Tell your student about a time when you stepped out in faith. Discuss the following quote:

“The mystery of the humanity of Christ, that He hath sunk Himself into our flesh, is beyond all human understanding.”1 —Martin Luther

LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:

If he or she plans to complete Chosen:
•Help your student think of a situation when God equipped him or her to do what seemed impossible.
•Memorize Mary’s reply in Luke 1:38 with your student.

If he or she plans to complete Mission Possible:
•Spend time searching the Scriptures with your student for passages about God using unlikely people.
•Talk to your student about ways that God has done what seemed impossible in situations in your family.

1. Martin Luther, The Familiar Discourses of Dr. Martin Luther, trans. Henry Bell, (London: Sussex Press, 1818), 100.


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Conversation Starters: God’s Plan

Posted by Karah

FG7A8015THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: We can be resistant when someone else’s plans collide with ours, disrupting our own plans. But changes can also be welcome, especially if they come from God. Joseph had a plan for his life with Mary, but God stepped in and changed that plan. All of us benefit from the plan God gave to Joseph.

Concept: God’s Plan

Preschool

Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; Micah 5:2

LIFE POINT: Prophets were people who told others messages from God. Long before Jesus was born, God told prophets to tell people that Jesus would be born. One of those prophets was Isaiah. The prophet wrote, “This is a sign from God. A woman will have a Son. His name will be Immanuel. Immanuel means ‘God with us.’ He will be born for us. He will rule over us in love. He will be called the Prince of Peace.” Another prophet named Micah also wrote about Jesus. “God’s Son will be born in Bethlehem,” Micah wrote. The words written by the prophets are in our Bible today.

LIVE IT OUT: Print the name JESUS in the center of a sheet of paper. Give your child some markers and simple circle stickers to decorate Jesus’ name. Remind him that God
told people to write about Jesus before He was born.

Kids

Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2

LIFE POINT: One of the messages God gave Isaiah was that God would send Someone very special. Isaiah announced that God would give the people a sign: A virgin would have a son and call Him Immanuel. Isaiah continued telling God’s messages. He proclaimed that a child would be born. He told what the child would be called. The names told the people what God’s promised Messiah would be like. Isaiah explained that the child would come from the family of Jesse, the father of King David. Isaiah told how the Messiah would have wisdom, understanding, and strength. He noted that He would judge all people fairly and righteously. The prophet Micah also preached about one of God’s promises. He told where the special One would be born! Bethlehem was a small town, but God’s Son would be born there.

LIVE IT OUT: With your child, look up Isaiah 9:6 in the Bible. Write down the names of the Savior that Isaiah used. If you have a commentary or Bible dictionary, research those names and talk about how each one relates to Jesus as Savior.

Students

Matthew 1:18-25

THE POINT: Following God’s plan for Christmas will change your life. Discuss with your student a time when your plans were disrupted. Discuss the following quote:

“Put simply, if we get the Christmas story wrong, we get the Gospel wrong.”1 —Al Mohler

LIVE IT OUT: Your student has been encouraged to do one or both Live It Out activities. Here are some suggested ways to help your student:

If your student plans to complete The Christmas Story:
• Read the two Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke with your family.

If your student plans to complete Gifted to Serve:
• Encourage your student to serve with his/her gifts during the Christmas season. Help him come up with possible service ideas.
• Use your gifts and serve

1. Al Mohler, “Where Does the Story of Christmas Begin?” AlbertMohler.com, 21 December 2009, [cited 5 May 2014]. Available from the Internet: http://www.albertmohler.com.


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