PRETEEN MINISTRY LESSON ON CHRISTMAS
During the Christmas season, there are signs everywhere.
Advertisements and holiday greetings are posted within our line of sight no matter where we look.
For hundreds of years, there were signs that predicted the good news of the coming Messiah.
Some chose to ignore the signs, while others awaited His arrival.
Use this lesson to show preteens that the good news of Christmas is Jesus.
– Nick Diliberto, Preteen Ministry
PRETEEN MINISTRY LESSON ON CHRISTMAS
DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON
Written by Rob Quinn
Bible: Luke 2:10-12
Bottom Line: The good news of Christmas is Jesus.
OPENING GAME: LOOKING FOR A SIGN
SUPPLIES
- Print PDF of road signs (included with lesson download)
- A different colored flag for each team (bandanas would work well)
- Masking tape
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
Use the masking tape to create a “start” line and a “finish” line at the opposite ends of the room.
Divide your students into teams of 4-5 people.
Have each team stand in a single file line with their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them.
The first person on each team will stand on the starting line, with the rest of their team right behind them.
When everyone is in place, the game will begin.
One at a time, the leader will display pictures of different road signs.
If a team can identify the sign, they will raise their flag.
The first team to raise their flag will have the opportunity to guess.
If they answer correctly, their team will take one step forward.
If they get it wrong, their team will take one step backward.
The first team to cross the finish line – wins!
TEACH
Say: Most of you are still a few years away from getting your driver’s license, but that game might have been a sign for some of you to start studying right now!
Many of those signs were obvious, like the “no bicycles” sign.
But, some of them were a little harder to understand unless you’ve learned what they stand for.
So, what do road signs have to do with the story of Christmas? Any guesses?
Allow a few responses from students.
Many things come to mind when we think of the story of Christmas.
And most of us have our own ideas of what’s important during this time of year – presents, time with family and friends, traditions…
But, we can all agree that the biggest and best thing about Christmas is that we are celebrating the birth of Jesus.
As we start this lesson, let’s take a moment and talk about the Bible.
The Bible is made up of two different sections, the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Can someone tell us some of the differences between those two sections of the Bible?
Allow a few responses from students.
The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible and gives an account of events that happened before Jesus was born.
It represents the old way God wanted us to have a relationship with Him.
The New Testament is the second part of the Bible and begins with the birth of Jesus.
It shares the new way God has provided for us to have a relationship with Him – Jesus.
In the Old Testament, God gave the people so many different signs of what was to come, but over and over we read that the people chose not to be aware of those signs.
The New Testament begins with four different “books.”
Does anyone know what these books are called?
They are called “the Gospels” – Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
Each book shares the story of Jesus in a way that is different, but yet the same.
The word “Gospel” means “good news,” and the good news is Jesus.
This good news started with a sign.
Let’s look at where we see this in the Book of Luke.
Read Luke 2:10-12.
“…but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Let me set the stage here… there were a bunch of shepherds hanging out in the fields with their sheep.
Out of nowhere, an angel came to declare the good news of Jesus’ birth.
But what else did he make a point to tell them?
He told them there would be a sign – “You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
Right from the beginning of this account, they have been told about the good news and there is a sign they need to look for.
The Old Testament is filled with people who were known as prophets.
Prophets are people God has chosen to speak on His behalf concerning future events, warnings about sin, and instructions about His commandments.
We are talking about prophets because much of what they said in the Old Testament was about Jesus – His life, His role, and how He would actually come to this world.
They were foretelling about the good news long before Jesus ever came to earth.
Isaiah was a prophet who actually has an entire book of the Bible in the Old Testament.
Many of His teachings were about the coming of a messiah and king.
Read Isaiah 9:1-7.
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali will be humbled, but there will be a time in the future when Galilee of the Gentiles, which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory.
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine.
You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice. They will rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest and like warriors dividing the plunder.
For you will break the yoke of their slavery and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders. You will break the oppressor’s rod, just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
The boots of the warrior and the uniforms bloodstained by war will all be burned. They will be fuel for the fire.
For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity. The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies will make this happen!
Let’s look closely at one of these verses and see how Isaiah was telling us about the good news that was coming.
Verse 6 tells us that “a child will be born to us, a son is given to us.”
Isaiah didn’t beat around the bush with this one.
He very specifically says that a child will be born.
Governments will rest on His shoulders; He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
All of these are good news about a baby that will be the Messiah.
And so, it means something when the angel came to the shepherds in the field.
Who remembers what sign he told them to look for?
“You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
The prophecy of Isaiah came true when the angel spoke to the shepherds.
People, including the shepherds, knew of this prophecy so they knew to take this seriously.
The shepherds then left to find Him.
So what does this mean?
It’s pretty simple and this is our bottom line: The good news of Christmas is Jesus.
We can get all wrapped up in the craziness of the holiday season, but let’s not forget to look for Jesus in the season.
There are signs of Him everywhere
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- What is the first thing you think of when you hear “Christmas”?
- What are some common signs of Christmas?
- What are some signs of Christmas that maybe you don’t see unless you take the time to notice?
- What do you think of when you hear “The Good News”?
- What is the Good News?
- What does that mean to you?
- What signs of Jesus do you see in your life?
- Are these signs the same signs of Christmas? Explain the difference?
- What do you need to do this week to start seeing Jesus’ good news during this Christmas season?
- How do you point others to God by the way you live your life?
DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON
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PRETEEN MINISTRY CHRISTMAS LESSON – PROMISE OF JESUS FULFILLED
About Rob Quinn, the Writer of this Lesson
Rob has nearly 10 years of experience in preteen ministry. He is married to an amazing woman Jodi, who just so happens to be the Children’s Ministry Director at his church. They have one beautiful daughter Sydni, and an 8-pound attack dog named Lilly.