18 - The Joy of Christmas
In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, One God, Amen
Lesson No. ( 18 )
References:
Matthew 2:1-12.
Notes for Servants
i Why we are joyful and happy in Christmas? It remind us about the Gift of God to all of us. i God is with us. He came to save us and to free us from sin and give us the freedom of the sons of God.
i We are Joyful because we also remember that He will come again in his glory to take us to be with Him forever.
Objectives
General: Christmas is a time for Joy and Giving.
Specific:
The children will be able to ...
- Learn the meaning of giving as God gave us His Son.
- Know that our true happiness in making others happy.
- Understand that our joy is complete when we remember that Christ who came about 2000 years ago to save us is coming again to take us with Him.
Bible Verse
“Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10)
Teaching Aids
- Felt figure and flannel board.
- Video.
Instruction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Teacher should prepare the appropriate questions to emphasize the objectives during the lesson.
Story Time
Now that Judaea was part of the RomanEmpireMaryand Joseph had to obey the laws of Rome. "Every man and woman who lives in our lands must pay tax," went the proclamation of the Emperor Augustus. When King Herod heard this command, he ordered everyone in his kingdom to return to the place of their birth to be put on the register. Because Joseph belonged to the family of David, he had to leave Nazareth where he lived and worked, and go back to Bethlehem, which lay some 70 miles to the south. Mary had to go too, although her child was expected any day.
He knocked at the door of a house. A woman opened it a crack to look at them. "No room," she said firmly, and shut the door in their faces. They walked on until they came to an inn. Lamps burned in every window and the rooms inside were full of people eating and drinking. Horses, camels and donkeys stood munching their hay in the courtyard. Joseph knocked on the door. The landlord opened it. "No room at the inn!" he called out, and waved them away. As they moved on, the light from the door fell on Mary. "You can sleep in the stable, if you like. The straw there is fresh," the landlord called after her.
So Mary made a bed for herself in the sweet-smelling hay. And there, with the ox and the donkey beside her, she gave birth to her son. She wrapped him up well and laid him in a manger filled with hay. She called him Jesus, which means, "God Saves".
In the hills around Bethlehemshepherds were out in the fields, taking care of their flocks during the night. Suddenly an angel appeared to them, and the glory of God shone around them. The shepherds were terrified because there was so much light. "Don't be afraid," the angel said to them. "I have good news for you tonight a Saviour has been born to you in Bethlehem, the city of David. His name is Christ, the Lord."
Then the light increased so that its splendour lit up the fields as if it was day, and the sky was filled with the angels ofGod. Their voices rose like the wind and swept over the hills and valleys as they sang: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men!"
Then the light and the music gradually faded away and the shepherds said to one another:"Come, let's go to Bethlehem and see the holy thing that has happened there!"
They ran down into the town and came to the stable where Mary and Joseph were resting. They saw the baby sleeping in the manger, and kneeled down and worshipped it. Then they went out and told the people of Bethlehem what had happened, and everyone was astonished.
Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.
Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.
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