Conversation Starters: Jesus Saves
Posted by Karah
CONNECTION POINT: Jesus was born to help people know God.
THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE: The story of Christmas—the birth of Jesus—is a familiar one to so many. Familiarity may cause many people to lose sight of what God accomplished with that event and the reason Jesus came. Unfortunately many people leave Jesus in the manger, and fail to look beyond His birth to discover that God came to earth to bring us to Himself.
Concept: Jesus Saves
Preschool
Luke 2:1-20
LIFE POINT: The leader of their country decided to count all the people in the land. While waiting for Jesus to be born, Mary and Joseph went to Bethlehem, Joseph’s hometown, to be counted. Bethlehem was crowded with people. Mary and Joseph could not find a place to stay. They found a place where they could rest. That night Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger. Nearby, shepherds were watching their sheep. An angel appeared and said, “Do not be afraid. I have good news for you! A baby was born in Bethlehem. He is God’s Son. You will find Him lying in a manger.” The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. They found Baby Jesus lying in the manger, just as the angel had said. The shepherds told everyone what they had seen and heard. They thanked God for Baby Jesus.
LIVE IT OUT: Help your child focus on Jesus during the Christmas season. Read the Christmas story from Luke 2. Read from children’s books, like The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones, about Jesus’ birth. God sent Jesus to earth, and Jesus was born.
Kids
Luke 2:1-20
LIFE POINT: Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem to be counted. In Bethlehem, Baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him in soft cloths. She laid Him in a manger, a feeding trough, because there was no room for them in the inn. Nearby, shepherds watched their sheep. An angel of God appeared. They were afraid! The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I tell you good news for all people. Today a Savior has been born in Bethlehem. You will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, many angels appeared. They praised God, saying, “Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth to those He favors!” The shepherds hurried to Bethlehem. They found Mary, Joseph, and the baby. The shepherds told others about the angel’s message. Everyone who heard it was amazed!
LIVE IT OUT: Jesus was born! Christmas is the day we celebrate that God sent Jesus. Because Jesus was born, died, and rose again, we can choose to believe in Jesus and have eternal life with God. Celebrate with your family by singing your favorite Christmas carols that are about the birth of the Savior.
Students
Luke 2:8-11, 15-18
THE POINT: Jesus was born to bring us into a relationship with God.
• What would you love to add to your celebration of Christmas?
• When have you experienced God’s perfect timing?
• What do these verses teach us about the purpose of Jesus’ birth?
• What steps can we take to glorify God during the Christmas season? Discuss the following quote:
“I want no Christmas without a burden for lost souls, a message for sinners, a heart to bring in the lost sheep so dear to the Shepherd.” (1) —John R. Rice
LIVE IT OUT: Encourage your student to take practical steps to take his or her faith and Live It Out. Here are some ways you can encourage your students to live out their faith with Christ personally, in community, and in their culture:
• CHRIST: When the shepherds heard the news of Jesus, they went straight to see Him and shared the news with the world. How can your family share this same good news with the world today?
• COMMUNITY: During times of pursuing Jesus, how will you and your family share that passion with other believers?
• CULTURE: Challenge your student to consider how our Christmas celebrations should look different and how you can be lights in the darkness this season.
(1) John Rice, “36 John R. Rice Quotes,” Christian Quotes [online], [accessed 19 May 2017]. Available from the Internet: https://www.christianquotes.info/quotes-by-author/john-r-ricequotes/#axzz4hvckTNH7.
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