Free Christmas Lesson & Game

Here’s a fun Christmas lesson and game for your preteen ministry.

The fun game, Pass the Present, sets up a lesson to help preteens stay focused on Jesus in the middle of the craziness and busyness of Christmas.

Enjoy!

Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Preteens

Looking for a Christmas series for your preteen ministry? Check out out this one…

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS: This new 4-week Christmas series reminds preteens to focus on the gifts of Jesus, family, friends, and faith during the Christmas season.

CHRISTMAS PRETEEN YOUTH GROUP LESSON & GAME

Bible: Proverbs 27:17; Philippians 2:1-11

We can all get wrapped up into the craziness of Christmas time.

Have you ever found yourself really wanting something for Christmas and then a little disappointed you didn’t get it?

Are you someone that loves putting Christmas decorations up and maybe taking it to the Clark Griswold level?

Everyone can get caught up in the craziness of Christmas time and forget what this time of year is really about.

Think how hard it can be for preteens during this time of year.

Christmas time is such a spiritual time of the year and they are constantly getting told it is about so many other things.

So how do we help preteens navigate the craziness of Christmas time?

By using this free lesson and game we created, of course 🙂

Here is a free Christmas game and lesson to help preteens see what we truly need to focus on this time of year and that they are not alone in being distracted.

Game: Pass the Present

Supplies:

  • 10-20 wrapped presents
  • Elf Hat

Directions:

Have your preteens sit in chairs in a circle and put all the presents in the middle of the circle. Once all of your preteens are seated choose one preteen to be the elf. Give the elf the elf hat to wear and remove their seat from the circle.

Explain to the group that the elf is one of the major reason we all get presents and without the elf Santa cannot possibly deliver all the presents. This elf will begin to pass out presents, but once you get a present you cannot keep it. You must be passing the presents around the circle.

The elf will pass out more presents as we listen to some awesome Christmas music. (Feel free to sing along with the song almost like caroling)

When the music stops anyone with a present must immediately get up and switch places with someone else who has a present. But don’t get caught without a seat, the elf is trying to find a seat too.

The person left without a seat is the new elf and the game continues. Return the gifts to the middle and have the new elf put on the elf hat. Play as many rounds as you want.

Teach – Christmas Lesson 

Supplies:

  • Note Cards and Pens

Say:

I always thought elves loved to work and never stopped working. I guess this game may make elves look at taking breaks a little differently. But really, there is a point to this game and it has nothing to do with elves or Santa.

During the game, some of you were listening to the music, or maybe you were focused on if you were going to get a gift. Maybe you were the elf and trying to pass out as many gifts as you could. What ever you were doing, there was a ton of things going on!

Similar to the game being busy, during Christmas there are numerous things going on that can distract us from what the real reason for this time of year is all about. Today we are going to break this down to help you stay focused, even when it seems impossible.

Ask:

  • What is you favorite Christmas Song?
  • Who like getting presents?
  • Who likes shopping for presents?
  • Do you ever get tired of all craziness of Christmas time?
  • Why do you think this happens?

Say:

We all know that the reason for the season is what? JESUS. I want to say that there is nothing wrong with enjoying the fun stuff of Christmas time. But, we need to make that sure we don’t allow the fun stuff to be the focus of the season.

So how do we NOT let the craziness of the season distract us from the real reason for Christmas? During the game there was a lot of everyone running around looking for a seat all at the same time. Christmas time can be the same, everyone running around not able to focus on Jesus so know that you are not alone. All those who love Jesus are dealing with similar distractions. It can help to take time to be around others that love Him like you do.

Read: Proverbs 27:17

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

Being around other Christians during this time can help and reenergize us when we are feeling like the craziness of the season is getting to be too much.

Another way we can stay focused on Jesus is to try and love others as Christ did through service. Remember that Jesus came here to serve and set the example of what serving is all about. What better time of the year to serve others to show Jesus’ love?

Read: Philippians 2:1-11

Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. 3 Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God
 as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. 
When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God
 and died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
 and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Say:

The craziness of the holiday season can become overwhelming. But remember that living for Jesus was not meant to be easy. If during this time of the year we live as Christ did, as the verses we just read tell us too, the season will no longer be just the holiday season. It will be CHRISTMAS; it will be about the birth of God’s son and what he has done for everyone.

Pass out note cards and pens to each of your preteens.

On this note card I want you to write one thing down you love about Christmas.

Then write down one of the crazy things about the season you don’t like.

Finally write down one way you can serve others during this time of year.

Once everyone is done have them put their cards all in a pile and sit back down. Then pass back the cards to your preteens and make sure they do not get the card they wrote.

Once everyone has a new card, have him or her read the cards to themselves and pray over them.

Close in prayer.

[End Lesson]

Looking for a Christmas series for your preteen ministry? Check out out this one…

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS: This new 4-week Christmas series reminds preteens to focus on the gifts of Jesus, family, friends, and faith during the Christmas season.

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