{"id":7471,"date":"2008-09-02T23:36:57","date_gmt":"2008-09-02T23:36:57","guid":{"rendered":"\/Christian-Education\/Christmas:-Birth-of-Jesus.aspx"},"modified":"2008-09-02T23:36:57","modified_gmt":"2008-09-02T23:36:57","slug":"christmas-birth-of-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/christmas-birth-of-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas: Birth of Jesus"},"content":{"rendered":"

*<\/a>LESSON<\/a>
\n* HANDOUT #1<\/a>
\n* HANDOUT #2<\/a>
\n* HANDOUT #3<\/a>
\n* CHRISTMAS GAME–MATCHING BIBLE VERSES<\/a>
\n* BIRTH OF JESUS PLAY<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* LESSON: BIRTH OF JESUS<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bible Memory Verse:
\n“…you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21
\n“…they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which means, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read Luke 1:26-38<\/strong>.
\nAn angel came to Mary, who was to be the mother of Jesus, and told her that she was to have a baby. The Father of the baby was to be the Holy Spirit.
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read Matthew 1:18-24<\/strong>.
\nJoseph, who was to become the husband of Mary, had a dream where an angel told him that the baby born to Mary would be God’s own Son: “…they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which means, ‘God with us.’” <\/strong>Matthew 1:23 
\n<\/strong>An angel  told Joseph what to name the baby: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus <\/strong>(‘the Lord saves’), because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21<\/strong><\/p>\n

\nRead Luke 2:1-7<\/strong>.
\nJoseph and Mary lived in a town called Nazareth. Remember God’s prophet Micah had said that Jesus was to be born in Bethlehem.
\nHOW COULD JESUS BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM WHEN HIS MOTHER AND JOSEPH LIVED IN NAZARETH? The government said they had to go to Bethlehem. The Roman government said that everyone had to go to the town where their ancestors were from and register. They wanted to count the number of people in Israel. Joseph and Mary were descendants of King David who was from Bethlehem. They had to go to Bethlehem even though Mary was going to have a baby.
\nWHY WAS JESUS BORN IN A STABLE WHERE ANIMALS WERE KEPT? Bethlehem was so crowded there was no room for them any other place.
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read Luke 2:8-18<\/strong>.
\nWHO TOLD THE SHEPHERDS TO FIND JESUS AND WORSHIP HIM?
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This is the story of how Jesus was born. It was one of the most exciting things that ever happened. The angel had told Joseph, “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which means ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23<\/strong> God Himself came to earth to live among men. Jesus is God. He helped God the Father and God the Holy Spirit create the earth. We know that God loved man so much that He came to earth to die and pay for all the wicked things that man has done.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

QUESTIONS:
\n1. How did the Lord tell Mary that she was going to have a baby?
\n2. How did the Lord speak to Joseph, the husband of Mary?
\n3. What does the name “Jesus” mean?
\n4. Why was Jesus born in a stable?
\n5. Who told the shepherds that Jesus was born?
\n6. What does “Immanuel” mean?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* HANDOUT #1:<\/strong><\/em> <\/a><\/p>\n

\nBIRTH OF JESUS
\n <\/p>\n

Bible Memory Verse:
\n“…give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nWords to choose from: SHEPHERDS, BETHLEHEM, JESUS, WORSHIP, STABLE, ANGEL, IMMANUEL, DAVID, ANIMALS, SINS<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. An __ __ __ __ __ told Mary she was going to have a baby.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Joseph had a dream that he was to name Mary’s baby __ __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. Jesus came to save his people from their __ __ __ __.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ means “God with us”.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Joseph and Mary went to the town of __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ where Jesus was born.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. Bethlehem was the town where King __ __ __ __ __ was born who was an ancestor of Joseph and Mary<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7. Jesus was born in a __ __ __ __ __ because there was no room for them in the inn.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ are kept in a stable.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

9. Angels told __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ where to find Jesus.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

10. The shepherds went to __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Jesus.
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* HANDOUT #2:<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

BIRTH OF JESUS<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Bible Memory Verse:
\n“The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means “God with us.” Matthew 1:23<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nCROSSWORD PUZZLE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Down
\n1. Mary was the wife of __________.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Across
\n1. Mary was the mother of __________.
\n2. The father of Jesus was the _______ ________.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    1
\n1. __ __ __ __ __ __
\n    __
\n    __
\n    __
\n    __
\n2. __ __ __ __  __ __ __ __ __ __<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

TRUE AND FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Mary had other sons and daughters.        TRUE   FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2. Jesus had a job as a farmer to take care of Mary after Joseph died. TRUE   FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3. When Jesus was on the cross, He told John to care for Mary.  TRUE   FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

4. Mary never sinned.        TRUE   FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

5. Many people have false ideas about Mary.     TRUE   FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

6. Jesus never sinned.        TRUE   FALSE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* HANDOUT #3:<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\nHOLY BIRTH<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Find the words in the word pool that are hidden in the letter box below that have to do with the birth of Jesus.<\/p>\n

\nWord Pool: STAR, WISE MEN, MANGER, BETHLEHEM, STABLE, SHEPHERDS, MARY, INN, BABE<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\nS     O     P     T     M     S     E      R     Z     M     N
\nP     O     I      L      S     T     Q     W    E      A     G
\nM    X    W    O     A     A     R     H     E      N     B
\nA     S     I      B     A     B     E      K     L      G     F
\nR     T     S     W    E      L     U     O     P       E     R
\nY     E     E     D    H      E     S      T     A      R     V
\nB     G     M    T    H      P     E      S     N      N      I
\nS     H      E     P    H      E     R     D     S       L     O
\nB     B     N     I     U      R     T     C     S       E     W
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* CHRISTMAS GAME–MATCHING BIBLE VERSES:<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1.  “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

2.  “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

3.  “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…and they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which means ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23<\/p>\n

\n4.  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old.”  Micah 5:2<\/p>\n

\n5.  “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”  Matthew 2:11<\/p>\n

\n6.  “When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…’Get up,’ he said, ‘take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.  Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.’”  Matthew 2:13<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

7.  “When Israel was a child, I loved him…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…and out of Egypt I called my son…”  Hosea 11:1<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

8.  “A voice of one calling: ‘In the desert prepare the way for the Lord…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.’”  Isaiah 40:3<\/p>\n

\n9.  “The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.’” Luke 1:35<\/p>\n

\n10. “And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…keeping watch over their flocks at night.”  Luke 2:8<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

11. “‘Glory to God in the highest…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…And on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’” Luke 2:14<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

12. “When the angels had left them and had gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another…”<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

“…‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’” Luke 2:15<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

13. “When they saw the star…”<\/p>\n

\n“…they were overjoyed.” Matthew 2:10
\n <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* BIRTH OF JESUS PLAY:<\/strong><\/em><\/a>
\n <\/p>\n

Bible Memory Verse:
\n“…they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which means, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 CHARACTERS: Jolly the Giraffe, Polly the Polar Bear, Leo the Lion, Lucy the Lamb<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(Jolly and Polly and Lucy enter)<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: Hi, kids! Meet our friend Lucy the Lamb (wait for response)<\/em> It was so nice of you to visit us today, Lucy. You’ll like all our friends at Kid’s Club.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LUCY: Hi, kids. I’m glad to meet you.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: You remind me of Christmas, Lucy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LUCY: Why is that, Polly?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: Because the shepherds were watching sheep and lambs when the angels told them Jesus was born.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LUCY: That’s a nice thing for you to say, Polly. I would have loved to have been one of those lambs that saw the angels. Wouldn’t it have been exciting to have angels light up the sky at night?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: Also, Jesus was called "Lamb of God" <\/strong>in the Bible in John 1:29<\/strong> and 36<\/strong> Jesus was killed just like sometimes lambs are killed. But don’t worry, Lucy. Jesus died for us so we don’t have to die.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: Wouldn’t it have been exciting to hear the angels say that a Savior had been born! People were waiting for a Savior to come into the world. I don’t think they understood that He would have to die to pay for their sins, though.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: (enters)<\/em>  Hi, everyone!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY, POLLY & LUCY: Hi, Leo! <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: It’s nice to have you visiting, Lucy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LUCY: I love to visit, especially at Christmas. It’s nice to see friends and family at Christmas time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: We were talking about being there when Jesus was born. I would have loved to be in the manager when Jesus was born. I wonder if they could have had polar bears there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: I’m afraid, not any more than they could have had giraffes there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO: Or lions. I guess lambs are the only one of us that were there.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: Well, that’s not so important as knowing Jesus now. Remember our memory verse, “…they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which means, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:23<\/strong> The most exciting thing is that God Himself came to earth and lived with us. And He wants to know each of us.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LUCY: That is the most exciting news! We didn’t have to be there then. We can know Jesus now!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: Yes, Jesus is in the North Pole where polar bears are and in Africa where giraffes and lions are.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

JOLLY: And He is in the hearts of those that ask Him to be.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY: I love Jesus!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

LEO, JOLLY, LUCY: Me, too!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

POLLY, LEO, JOLLY, LUCY: Good-bye kids and Merry Christmas!
\n(Puppets exit)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

*LESSON * HANDOUT #1 * HANDOUT #2 * HANDOUT #3 * CHRISTMAS GAME–MATCHING BIBLE VERSES * BIRTH OF JESUS PLAY     * LESSON: BIRTH OF JESUS   Bible Memory Verse: “…you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21 “…they will call him ‘Immanuel’–which<\/p>\n

Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[331],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-christian-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7471"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7471"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7471\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hisriches.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}