This children’s Bible lesson continues the study of the Book of Acts. The lesson is about Peter explaining God’s hand in the conversion of Gentiles.  The lesson focuses on how change brought growth for the Church. Kids need to know that God can be trusted in times of change. The original setting for this lesson plan was older elementary Sunday School. Feel free to modify it for younger students and modified for Children’s Church.

Bible Story: The Early Church Grows
Scripture: Acts 11
Target Age Group: Age 9 – 11 (U.S. 3rd – 5th Grade)
Learning Context: Sunday School
Target Time Frame: 60 minutes
Printer Friendly Bible Lesson: Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. this lesson plan
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Supply List: CD player for memory verse, butcher paper with phrases of the verse on it and tape to place the phrases on different walls in classroom, Bibles, paper, pens, dress up clothes and map showing areas from passage of Scripture.

Learning Goal: Students will learn that when change occurs God can be trusted because He always brings good from it.

Learning Indicator: Students who participate in a writing assignment will be able to identify the changes they have experienced and reflect on how God is using that change for good in their life.  Students will demonstrate their understanding of the Bible lesson by answering review questions.

Learning Activity #1: For children arriving who enjoy dress up direct them to the supply of dress up clothes.  This activity is an active way for students to ‘change’ clothes.

Learning Activity #2: Create a writing activity to encourage children to reflect on changes they have faced.  As they identify the changes they have experienced they can journal how they felt about the changes.  After they journal about the way they felt have them think about how God is using (or has used) the changes in their lives.  They can end by writing a prayer to God about what they discovered and ask Him to help them to trust Him no matter what change comes in their life.

Learning Activity #3: As the students find their seats (to prepare for the Bible Lesson) and are settled in announce that you are going to make some seat changes.  Direct students to their new assigned seats.  For the students who only sit by their close friends this change may bring disappointment. That is the point of this activity. Make another change by saying today we are not going to use chairs and will sit on the floor. (If you normally sit on the floor sit in chairs)  Other ideas might be to have your lesson outside on the ground under a tree.  Most of us don’t like change and we are disappointed when things are different than we are used to.  At the end of the lesson ask the students how they felt about the ‘changes’.  Some may have enjoyed the changes while some may not.  Whether we liked the changes or not God’s Word was still taught to us this morning.  The comforts we are accustomed to may have changed but our need to hear and understand His Word did not.

Test: Review Questions

Memory Verse: Acts 11:18 “When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.”

Memory Verse Activity: Play a game like musical chairs only the students walk around the room near the phrases.  When the music stops the groups standing at each phrase say it as the verse is recited.

Bible Lesson:  Gentile conversions bring change and the Church experiences growth.

(The following is a guide to help teach the lesson.)

Give Bibles to all students who did not bring one. Pray as a class before beginning the Bible Lesson.

Many of us do not like change.  When we are used to things being a certain way we find a form of comfort from routine.  When the things we are used to suddenly change we feel insecure and sometimes fearful.

What are some changes that students your age face?  (Moving, divorce, sickness, death, different school and so on.)  As believers we can always trust God when we face whatever changes come our way.  When we put our faith in Jesus, God began the process of making us more like His Son.  (Romans 8:28-29).  As we grow in our faith and allow God to make us more like Jesus we can see that He uses change for our good.  When God changes us others are able to see Jesus more clearly in our lives and they can come to know Him as their personal Savior.

The only way we can handle the twists and turns of change that happen in our lives is to walk closely with Jesus everyday.  Reading our Bibles and spending time in prayer with God allows us to respond appropriately to the changes that sometimes disrupt our lives.

As we open our Bibles who remembers last week’s lesson about Cornelius and Peter?  We learned that God had broken the barriers between Jews and Gentiles when Cornelius and all his guests believed in Jesus and received the Holy Spirit.

This exciting event that fulfilled God’s promise to include Gentiles in His plan for all people to be saved brought change to what everyone had always thought to be God’s plan.

Today we are going to see how change affected the Church.  What is the Church?  All people who have believed in Jesus.  Up until this point the only people in the Church were Jewish believers.  Word about Cornelius the Gentile along with his guests receiving the Holy Spirit spread quickly.

Let’s turn in our Bibles to Acts 11.  Read Acts 11:1-3.  What is happening in these verses?  Allow students to summarize in their own words.

How do you feel when you are criticized?  Peter was being criticized by Jewish believers because they still held their prejudicial views about Gentiles.  They were criticizing Peter because he went into the home of a Gentile and ate with him.

Peter is filled with the Holy Spirit and gives us a good example of how to respond when we are criticized for obedience to God’s instructions.  Let’s read how he responded to the Jewish believers in Acts 11:4.  Peter didn’t get defensive and argumentative.  He simply began to explain to these believers exactly what God had done.  (If the lesson on Acts 10:23-48 was not taught to your students summarize Peter’s explanation.)

As Peter recounts the details of what happened he remembers something.  Read Acts 11:16.  Jesus told the disciples in John 14:26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My Name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.”  The Holy Spirit was reminding Peter of something that Jesus taught when He was on the earth.  By remembering Jesus’ Words it made Peter realize that what was taking place was God at work.

If we are believers we have the same Holy Spirit living in us that will teach us and remind us the thing we have learned from studying God’s Word.  Since the Holy Spirit teaches us and reminds us what we have learned, what is an important responsibility we each have to do?  (Read and study God’s Word)  If we don’t make daily reading and studying God’s Word a priority we won’t have much to remember when God wants to use us to share Jesus with others.

Read Acts 11:17.  Peter knew that he was obeying God and it was God at work in the hearts of the Gentiles.  He knew that if he tried to stop God he would have been fighting against God’s plan.

These Jewish believers had been introduced to a change in their thinking.  Remember they took God’s laws about clean and unclean further than God intended.  Just like us we don’t always understand God’s plan.  They wanted to please God and made extra rules to keep them pure and holy.  They were the ones that had made up the rule not to associate with Gentiles and considered them unclean.  Now they were faced with a major change they could either accept was from God or reject as something Peter made up.

Let’s read how they responded to change in Acts 11:18.  This is our memory verse for this lesson. What we can learn from their response is that they heard Peter, a man who was filled with the Holy Spirit explain how God saved Gentiles.  They accepted his explanation and praised God because He was allowing the Gentiles to be saved.

God’s changes always bring eternal results.  What do I mean when I say eternal results? (Allow students to use their own vocabulary to respond.  If they don’t know explain that eternal results are when people are saved and lives are changed.)  Let’s continue in the passage to see what kind of results the changes brought to the Church.

Have a map to show the areas that the believers who scattered after Stephen’s stoning.  Some believers only shared the Good News to Jews.  Let’s read Acts 11:20-21.  What eternal result happened as believers began to share the Good News with people other than the Jews?  The Lord’s hand was with them and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Although the new change to Jewish believers thinking may have been hard to accept, it was hard for anyone to deny that God’s hand of blessing was upon those sharing the Good News when more Gentiles were saved in Antioch.

We were first introduced to Barnabas in Acts 4:36 and Acts 9:27.  What do you remember about Barnabas?  He was an encourager.

News of many Gentile believers in Antioch reached the Jerusalem church. They sent Barnabas to visit the new believers.  Let’s read Acts 11:23-25.  Barnabas encouraged these believers remain faithful to the Lord with all their hearts.  Even more people were brought to the Lord.  The change that came when God allowed Gentiles to be saved was causing the Body of Christ, the Church to continue to grow.

As the church is growing Barnabas travels to Tarsus and brings back a man whom God changed in a mighty way.  Who remembers the name of the man who once persecuted followers of Jesus?  Saul met Jesus on his way to Damascus and was changed from a persecutor to a powerful preacher for Jesus.  Barnabas brought Saul back to Antioch and they both stayed at the Antioch church for a year teaching a large number of people.

What were the believers called at the Antioch church?  Acts 11:26 (Christians)

The Church was about to experience some more change.  As we finish this chapter we learn that a prophet named Agabus game from Jerusalem to Antioch.  The Holy Spirit spoke through Agabus and told the believers that a severe famine was going to spread over the entire Roman world (all the areas that Rome was ruling at the time).

Famine would definitely bring change to the lives of all who were affected.  What do you think you would feel like if you found out that there was going to be a famine?

This change that was coming gave the believers living in Antioch an opportunity to trust God and be used by Him to help other believers.  Let’ read what they did in Acts 11:29-30.

Ask the students how they felt about the ‘changes’ that were made earlier before the lesson started.  Whether we liked the changes or not God’s Word was still taught to us this morning.  The comforts we are accustomed to may have changed but our need to hear and understand His Word did not.

This chapter we studied today is filled with many good examples of how you and I should respond when change occurs in our lives.  If we are believers we can trust God to use the change for good.  We don’t have to be afraid of change but see it as an opportunity to grow deeper in our relationship with Jesus.  As we grow deeper we trust Him more and more and we don’t live in fear but live our lives to serve Jesus and please Him.

If you are not a believer the change you need to make in your life is to turn from your sins and believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, was buried and raised from the dead three days later.  When you place your faith in Jesus God changes you and makes you a new creation.  You will have the Holy Spirit living in your heart and He will enable you to follow the examples we learned about in today’s lesson.

Close in prayer.

Review Questions:

1. Who criticized Peter?  (The Jewish believers)
2. How did Peter respond? (He explained in detail what God had done)
3. How did the Jewish believers respond?  (They had no further objections and praised God)
4. What happened as the Good News was shared in Antioch?  (Many Gentiles were saved)
5. Who visited the believers in Antioch? (Barnabas)
6. Describe Barnabas. (good man, full of the Holy Spirit, and faith)
7. Where did Barnabas go to get Saul?  (Tarsus)
8. How long did Barnabas and Saul teach in Antioch (1 full year)
9. What were the disciples first called in Antioch? (Christians)
10. How did the believers respond to Agabus’ message of a coming famine?  (provided help for believers living in Judea)
11. How will you respond to changes that happen in your life this week?

Need More Ideas? Then browse all our Sunday School Lessons for children. You will also enjoy our free Bible coloring pages.

Related posts:

1. The Early Church Team: A Children’s Church Lesson
2. Seven Men are Chosen to Minister: Acts 6 Lesson
3. Lesson: Journey Through the Book of Acts
4. Share Your Tips For Sunday School Growth
5. Lesson: The Birth of the Church on Pentecost
6. Sunday School Lesson: Persecution Scatters the Church
7. Thanksgiving Lesson for Children’s Church

[ad#kids-links]I never got around to reviewing Standard’s VBS theme last year. But prompted by their mailings to my church, I decided to take a look for my VBS 2009 curriculum reviews. Here is my first look review of Studio GO VBS by Standard Publishing. My opinions in this review are based off their marketing materials, forums, friends who have used Standard, and their website.

If you’ve used Standard’s VBS materials, please leave a comment below this article.

First Impressions Of 2009 Studio GO Vacation Bible School

• Bible Content: I’m a little cautious from what I’ve seen.
• Theme Appeal: Most kids love game shows.
• Supporting Materials: Looks good.
• Music: Limited samples on their website (8/22/08), but the theme song seems in line with previous years quality.
• Overall grade: B-

Studio GO Theme

This Vacation Bible School has a game-show theme. They even have slick game-show host graphic on the starter kit box. Studio GO will appeal to churches who want a high energy theme. The concept is heavy on fun, but I normally prefer the VBS themes that are set in different world locations.

The theme verse is Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” I’d be interested to see how they use this verse, because it seemed a little out of place on a Game Show set.

You can learn more about Standard’s Studio Go them from their website and forums. If you are considering this theme, I suggest you read the VBS forums from their 2008 VBS God’s Big Backyard. This will give you some feedback from churches that actually used Standard’s vacation Bible school.

Standard’s Studio GO Bible Lessons

Standard is taking the typical approach to VBS curriculum. Each day’s Bible teaching is based on an application statement that is illustrated by a Bible character. Many publishers stick with this format, but I would like to see more focus on God’s character.

1. GO Lead: Gideon from Judge, 7:1-22
2. GO Risk: Esther from Esther 4-7
3. GO Tell: Women witness to Jesus from Matthew 27
4. GO Obey: Peter preaches under threat of prison Acts 5:17-32
5. GO Serve: Ananias helps Paul Acts 9:1-19

Service Showcase

This is a special feature of Studio GO that continues Standard’s emphasis on volunteerism. The idea is to give kids real life examples and opportunities for serving others. This replaces the lesson time about missionaries that many traditional VBS curricula include.

Concerns About Studio GO

Application Driven Lessons: My concern is that building the whole lesson around a themed application point will distract kids from the real point of these stories – God’s Glory. (See my review of Group’s Crocodile Dock for examples of God-centered lesson titles.) This is not a issue unique to Standard, many Christian publishers default to this approach. However, churches should guard against using the Bible for moral teaching while missing the Glory of God and his loving plan to save sinners.

Volunteerism Over Gospel: Of all people, Christians should be the most dedicated to loving their neighbors. But as our culture adds volunteerism as a key feature of its social religion, we should be careful not to confuse doing good things with following Jesus. The message of Christianity is God’s plan to save sinners and remake the world through Jesus Christ. We should remember that good works are the outcome of changing lives, and changing lives are the outcome of God changing people when they hear about Jesus.
[ad#bottom-post]

What Do You Think?

Please share your opinions about Studio GO VBS in the comment selection below. My comments are just one opinion, so let me know what you think.

Need More Help? You can find even more practical ideas on my Vacation Bible School resource page and my Vacation Bible School crafts page.

Related posts:

1. Hero Headquaters VBS 2010 from Standard Publishing
2. Group Publishing Drops the PandaMonium Name for VBS 2011
3. The Genesis Standard for Families: Ryan Rush
4. 2009 VBS Trends & Reflection
5. LifeWay 2009 VBS Theme Announcements
6. Answers In Genesis VBS 2009: Operation Space
7. Crocodile Dock: Group’s 2009 VBS Theme

Photo by Freeparking

Vacation Bible School curriculum options are getting better every year. With the host of excellent VBS themes comes a problem – which one is right for your church? Here are the top elements I look at when choosing a Vacation Bible School curriculum.

Theology
Vacation Bible School publishers typically downplay doctrinal distinctives. This makes sense, because they are trying to reach the largest cross section of churches. But you can’t assume that every Vacation Bible School Curriculum is theologically neutral. How can you evaluate the theological bias of a VBS program?

• Check to see if the publisher has a statement of faith.
• Dig a little deeper and see what types of churches typically use their curriculum.
• Read the sample lessons carefully and with discernment.
• If you are trying a new publisher, always check with your pastor or church board.

Quality Of The Lesson Plans
Not all Bible lessons are created equal. When I think about quality I like to see lessons with clear learning objectives. Good curriculum will balance between challenging church kids and connecting with the unchurched. This is not an easy task! I also check to see of the Bible references clearly support the lesson aim. Too often verses are jammed into lessons just fit with the daily theme. Look carefully at the Bible teaching; it’s the heart of every great Vacation Bible School Curricula.

Support
Many curriculum publishers have online forums where you can share ideas with other Vacation Bible School directors. This is a great way to get support and make new friends. Some publishers even offer regional training meetings. This is strength of using a major publisher’s Vacation Bible School Curriculum.

Ministry Setting
Think carefully about your ministry setting. Not all themes will fit well in every community. For example, some Vacation Bible School curricula might not connect with city kids the same way they connect with rural children. If you reach unchurched children, find a VBS program that leans toward evangelism. If most of your VBS learners are from other churches, select a curriculum that leans toward discipleship.

Music And Video Demonstrations
What music styles are influencing the culture in your town? I give a lot of weight to the music when choosing a Vacation Bible School curriculum. If possible, let some kids in your life sample the music off the publisher’s website. I have been surprised to find that music I thought was “cool” sounds like “pre-school music” to our kids. It’s also important to find a publisher that offers DVD music demonstrations.

Marketing
Vacation Bible School as a concept has less cultural draw than in previous generations. Most publishers offer a good selection of publicity material to help boost attendance. Be careful, the cost of these can add up quickly. I usually make flyers with the approved advertising logos that are included in the curriculum. We also place a large sign on the road by our church. This works well because of our location, but you may need to get more creative.

Easy To Use
“Easy” has become a buzzword for children’s ministry curriculum. While there is a danger in lowering expectations for your volunteers, but we all have to negotiate time in our busy lives. I try to make things easy on the preparation side, but expect a lot of energy and compassion from our workers on the scene. Finding a VBS program that makes things easy is always a plus.

Price
Many of the larger Vacation Bible School curricula have similar price points. Watch out for hidden costs such as workbooks, craft kits and extra teacher manuals. If budget is a concern, get creative with snack donations, and craft supplies. I know of several churches that work together to save costs by sharing their materials. You can also shop around online and find steep discounts on Vacation Bible school curriculum.

Related Articles

• Browse my listing of Vacation Bible School Curriculum 2008
• Preview the Amazon Expedition Vacation Bible School Curriculum
• Preview the Group Power Lab Vacation Bible School Curriculum
• Preview the Outrigger Island Vacation Bible School Curriculum
• Read my 2007 Vacation Bible School report

What do you think?

Which elements do you look at when choosing a Vacation Bible School curriculum? Leave a comment below and join the conversation.

Related posts:

1. Free Vacation Bible School Curriculum: The Armor of God
2. Vacation Bible School 2010 Curriculum & VBS Themes
3. Vacation Bible School 2009 Curriculum & Theme Previews
4. Spanish Vacation Bible School Curriculum – Escuela Bíblica de Vacaciones En Español
5. 10 Reasons To Still Do Vacation Bible School
6. Four Tasks To Do After Vacation Bible School
7. Vacation Bible School Decorations?

This Bible lesson plan for children can be used in Sunday school or kids church. You can download this children’s church lesson as a Word document from the following link — Children’s Bible Lesson Plan: Jesus Is The Bread of Life John 6:22-40.

You can also download my other Children’s Church Lesson Plans

Bible Teaching Lesson: Jesus Is The Bread Of Life

Text: John 6:22-40

Learning Objectives: After this lesson, children will demonstrate understanding of three claims Jesus makes in this passage … by restating these truths in their own words.

1. Jesus can give eternal life.

2. Jesus is the bread of life.

3. Everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.

Target Age: Kindergarten – 5^th

Teaching Setting: This lesson was first taught in our broadly graded children’s church on Sunday morning to about 35 children. Our kids begin in the sanctuary with their families and are dismissed to children’s church before the pastor’s sermon. Before the lesson the children participate in several songs and group Bible memory exercises. I aim for no longer than 15-25 minutes with each lesson plan depending on learning activities.

Items Needed:

• Marked Bible for this passage. Prepare the copy in advance by highlighting the significant points to emphasize. Underlining words or ideas that will need additional explanation. I typically make small notes in the margin.
• Clue Phrases: Write the underlined words from the statements above on single sheets of paper. Eternal life, bread, believes in Jesus
• Paper and drawing/coloring supplies. The children will have an opportunity to illustrate ideas taught in the lesson. You will need enough supplies for every child to have a piece of paper and drawing/coloring supplies. To add variety you can have the children paint or use other methods to illustrate the ideas.

Explanation: This story builds from last weeks lesson where Jesus fed the five thousand. The crowds begin to follow Jesus looking for more bread, so the Savior uses this as a teaching moment. He explains that bread alone will not satisfy their deepest need. Rather, they can have eternal life by believing in Him.

This lesson presents a good summary of the Gospel promise of eternal life. However, it is best suited for children who have a solid foundation in Bible teaching. Many of the concepts present in this story will require previous knowledge. These include: manna from heaven, eternal life, the nature of true faith and how Jesus died to purchase this salvation.

The symbolism of Jesus as “bread from heaven” may be difficult for preschool aged children. This rest of the chapter continues this theme and should be read as you prepare to teach.

Jesus Is The Bread Of Life – John 6:22-40
Sunday School Lesson For Children

One Page Teaching Plan

Hook
Ask the learners, “Have you ever gone without eating for a whole day?” Explain that your body begins to get weak if you don’t get food. Food is one of our basic needs – we all must eat to live.

Last week we learned how Jesus fed 5,000 families. He met their basic need for food. Today we are going to learn how Jesus can give us something we need more than food.

Book
Active Listening: Introduce the children to the three clue phrases you’ve written on pieces of paper. If possible display these on the wall or on a marker board. Ask the children to listen carefully for these phrases as you tell the story.

Read (and summarize) John 6:22-40. Be sure to engage the children with good story telling. Key points include:

1. Jesus can give eternal life.

2. Jesus is the bread of life.

3. Everyone who believes in Jesus will have eternal life.

Review: Remind the children of the three key phrases you’ve displayed. Read the following statements aloud. Ask for volunteers to raise their hand and match one key phrase with the right statement. Repeat for all three statements.

• Jesus can give ______________
• Jesus is the ___________ of life.
• Everyone who ______________ will have eternal life

To use this lesson for Children’s Sunday School, you will want to add additional learning activities here like a craft to complement the Bible lesson.

Look/Took:
Picture It: Divide the class into three groups. Assign each group one of the statements. Ask them to draw/color a picture that explains their key statement. After several minutes have volunteers share their illustration with the class. Write the appropriate key statement on each child’s project.

Test / Another Way To Say: Read the key statements one at a time. Ask the children to think carefully about what those key statements mean. Have volunteers suggest another way to say the same thing with different words.

Prayer: Lead the children in a time of prayer. Pray specifically that they will believe in Jesus and his promise of eternal life.

Related posts:

1. Free Children’s Church Lesson Plan From Luke 1:5-25 – The Birth of John The Baptist
2. Children’s Church Bible Lesson: Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind (John 9)
3. The Birth of Jesus Bible Storybook – The Christmas Story for Children
4. Lesson: Jesus Cleans The Temple (John 2:13-22)
5. Lesson: Jesus Transforms Saul’s Life (Paul’s Conversion)
6. Lesson: John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus (Matthew 3:1-12)
7. Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand (Children’s Church Lesson) from John 6:1-14

This Sunday I continued my series of New Testament stories in children’s church. This Bible lesson plan for children can be used in Sunday school or children’s church. You can download this lesson plan as a Word document from the following link: Children’s Bible Lesson Plan: Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand from John 6:1-14.

You can also download my other Children’s Church Lesson Plans.

Children’s Church Bible Lesson: Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand

Text: John 26:1-14
(you can also find this story in Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:32-44; Luke 9:10-17)

Learning Objectives: After this lesson, children will demonstrate knowledge of the key people and events in this passage … by retelling the story back to the teacher at the end of the session. Key points include:

1. Situation: Large crowd follows Jesus up the mountain.
2. Problem: No food for all the people.
3. Complication: Jesus tells his disciples to feed the crowd.
4. Complication: A young boy shares his lunch – but it’s not enough
5. Resolution: Jesus performs a miracle by multiplying a small boys gift.

Target Age: Kindergarten – 5^th

Items Needed:

• Marked Bible for this passage. Prepare the copy in advance by highlighting the significant points to emphasize. Underlining words or ideas that will need additional explanation. I typically make small notes in the margin.
• Snack. If you have snack in your children’s church this would be a perfect way to integrate the snack and the lesson. You could keep it basic with goldfish or go for something bigger with real bread and cooked fish.

Explanation: This story has several great themes to bring out for the children. Sometimes it has been reduced to a story about sharing, but the main focus is on Jesus supernaturally providing for his followers. There is a lesson in the fact that God chose to use the young boy’s gift, just don’t let that overshadow the main point about the divinity of Christ.

There is also the theme of compassion in this text. When Mark tells this story in Mark 6:34-44, he points out that the miracle was motivated by Jesus’ compassion for the crowd and a concern that they might faint without food returning home. There is certainly a lesson here about caring for the hungry.

This miracle is also a set-up for an upcoming lesson on Jesus as the “bread of life” in John 6:25-40. You might hint to the kids that Jesus is going to give the people something better than food next week.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand, John 6:1-14
Sunday School Lesson For Children

One Page Teaching Plan

Hook

Take out your snack and begin to eat it in front of the class. Wait for someone to ask you to share. Assure them you will share after the lesson, but ask them to think about how they would feel it there wasn’t enough food for everyone. Say, “In today’s story, we are going to learn about a time when Jesus make food for 5,000 families out of one small snack.”

Book

Active Listening: Ask the children to listen carefully for the details of the story, so that they can re-tell it to you afterward.

Read (and summarize) John 6:1-14. Be sure to engage the children with good story telling. Key points include:

1. Situation: Large crowd follows Jesus up the mountain.
2. Problem: No food for all the people and they are getting really weak.
3. Complication: Jesus tells his disciples to feed the crowd.
4. Complication: A young boy shares his lunch – but it’s not enough
5. Resolution: Jesus performs a miracle by multiplying a small boys gift.

Review: Read the following statements. Have the children stand up if this was something that happened in this story. If it didn’t happen in this story they should sit with arms crossed – even if they are true statements taught in other parts of the Bible the children should remain seated.

• Jesus turned regular water into wine to save a wedding party.
• Jesus told his disciples to feed the 5,000 families.
• A young boy offered to share his five loaves of bread and two fish.
• Satan tried to get Jesus to turn stones into bread.
• God sent down bread falling from the sky to feed the Israelites.
• Jesus told the disciples to pick up all the leftover bread.

To use this lesson for Children’s Sunday School, you will want to add additional learning activities here like a craft to complement the Bible lesson.

Look/Took:

Talk About It: Ask the children to discuss the following questions to better understand the story.

• Why do you think Jesus wanted to feed the 5,000 families?
• What do you think the little boy was feeling when he saw Jesus use his gift for the miracle?
• What does this story tell you about whom Jesus really was?

Test: Ask several volunteers to come up to the front to re-tell the story to the class. If they need help prompt them with questions like “what happened next.”

Related posts:

1. Lesson: Jesus Feeds 5,000
2. Children’s Church Bible Lesson: Jesus Heals A Man Born Blind (John 9)
3. Lesson: Jesus Cleans The Temple (John 2:13-22)
4. Lesson: John the Baptist Prepares the Way for Jesus (Matthew 3:1-12)
5. Children’s Bible Story Lesson Plan: Jesus Is The Bread Of Life from John 6:22-40
6. Free Children’s Church Lesson Plan From Luke 1:5-25 – The Birth of John The Baptist
7. The Gospel for Children: The Importance of Jesus in Every Kids Church Lesson

The weeks after Christmas are some of the toughest in your ministry year. Long winters bring discouragement and dull the passion of even the most devoted. Let me share a few ways I am preparing my heart to make it through discouragement in the ministry this winter. Feel free to comment and add to the list.

Focus on the long term vision.
Short term setbacks can really kill my morale. I get discouraged when my teaching falls flat or when I lose a busy volunteer. Ask yourself, “What am I trying to accomplish in the lives of these children 20 years from now?” Stay faithful to the vision and do the little things well. Then trust God to work things out in the long term.

Be thankful for past success.
Take the time to step back and see how much has been accomplished this year. Write down five ways that God has touched lives through your children’s ministry. Give thanks to God and trust him to continue his work next year.

Pray.
Nothing energized me for ministry like getting close to God. Very few real gains have ever come without prayer. Fight discouragement by seeking direct support from your Heavenly Father.

Remember that kids matter to Jesus.
When God was calling me to work in children’s ministry I was amazed to discover all the Bible verses that spell out God’s love for children. Always remember that his passion to reach the little ones will always exceed your own. All you have to do is get in line with his purpose.

Encourage others.
One of the best ways to get over discouragement is to become an encouragement to someone else. Look a Sunday school teacher in the eyes and say, “Your work matters to God and is making a difference.” Do this every week.

Spend more time with hurting children.
Sometimes I forget the pain that many of these children are facing in their own lives. Take time to connect with a child who is suffering from a rocky home life.

Visit unchurched families.
Few things energize me for ministry like getting into the “rough” homes of some of our kids. Remember, only the Gospel can break the cycles of sin that destroy so many families.

Love the unlovable.
Identify the child that causes you the most stress, the one that you may have written off as a trouble maker. Then make it your personal project to love that child and become the presence of Christ in their lives. If you succeed, you will never forget it.

What about you? What are some ways you rediscover your passion for children’s ministry?

May God bless you as you serve his church and his children.

Related posts:

1. This Week in Children’s Ministry for 10/28/2009
2. This Week In Children’s Ministry for 10/14/2009
3. New Facebook Page for Ministry-To-Children.com
4. Privacy Policy | Ministry-To-Children.com
5. What I’m Learning After 2 Years In Children’s Ministry
6. Poll: What challenges have you faced in children’s ministry?
7. How Important is Bible Memorization In Your Children’s Ministry?

Safety and security is one of the biggest topics in children’s ministry today. This is true for both small and large churches. Keeping kids safe should be a priority in every church. In this article, I will discuss the leading concerns about Sunday school security and offer some ways to improve safety at your church.

Security and Safety Concerns For Sunday School

Many of the articles I’ve read about children’s ministry safety do not clearly state what dangers we need to address. I believe that is a mistake. We need to be responsible when accessing threats so we can avoid extremes. Here are the dangers that churches must work to prevent:

• Accidents: Kids can always find some way to get hurt. Accidents are the most common safety danger for children in Sunday school. Often they are minor, but we should be concerned that every ministry setting is a safe place to learn and play.
• Food Allergies: This is an increasing concern, and rightly so. Many food allergies are life threatening if not treated properly. Kids love snacks, but we should always be aware of the dangers of food allergies.
• Kidnapping: This is every parent’s worst nightmare. While it may be a rare, Sunday school programs should establish safeguards to make it impossible to steal a child from any church program.
• Sexual Abuse: Few things are more devastating to a child, especially when the predator uses religious authority to accomplish their crime. Churches have not done enough to prevent the sexual abuse of children.
• Other Children: It doesn’t make the news, but the most common threat for sexual abuse is one child abusing another child. This is devastating for everyone involved. Never allow children unattended in the church facility. Even Pastor’s kids should not be set free after the church program. We have a designated game room where volunteer’s children can play until their parents are free to go.

Sunday School Safety and Security Checklist

One way to think carefully about church safety is to audit your Sunday school program according to the following categories. We are also talking about safe kid check policies in our children’s ministry forums.

Are Your Sunday School Facilities Safe and Secure?

• Classrooms should be in high traffic areas and have windows. We recently installed windows in every classroom door. Since we have a volunteer church handyman, the project cost was very reasonable.
• If your Sunday school classrooms do not have windows, keep them open unless two adults are with the class.
• Children’s ministry areas should be up to building and fire code. This would include emergency exits, smoke alarms, and fire extinguishers.
• Is the furniture safe and appropriate for children? Make sure that bookcases are secured to the wall, desks do not have splinters, and chairs are in good repair.
• Use safety plugs in all electrical outlets. This needs to be checked often, since these tend to get lost. Use safety plugs in the hallways and adult areas too.
• If there is overhead storage, on a shelf or a cabinet, make sure it is secure and items will not fall on children if they bump up against the cabinet.
• Control the access to your building. In larger churches this becomes a big concern. There should be a limited number of entrance points to your children’s ministry area.

Do You Insist On Safety For All Sunday School Activities, Snacks and Crafts?

• Scissors, glues and craft materials should be safe for children.
• Avoid object lessons that could be unsafe. We learned from experience not to burn anything inside the Sunday school classrooms!
• Some games are not safe for small rooms. If you don’t have enough floor space for a suggested Sunday school game, go outside or substitute another activity.
• Never serve a snack with nuts unless you have personally cleared it with every parent. With peanut allergies on the rise, it is better to be safe than sorry.
• Do not serve hot liquids; it’s okay if the hot chocolate is a just warm.
• Supervise children closely during snack time, even older children can choke on their food.

Have You Selected Volunteers And Teachers That Are Safe?

• Every volunteer should be screened and interviewed by the church leadership. Many churches are even purchasing criminal background checks for all church volunteers, especially those that work with children. That is a good step, but don’t forget to use common sense and judgment. Many sexual predators abuse many children before they are caught, so the criminal background check is only a limited safeguard.
• No one is every allowed to be alone with a child. Make this a rule with no exceptions.
• Even in counseling situations have another adult volunteer present.
• The best safeguard against abuse is preventing opportunity for abuse. As much as you can, make it impossible for children to be harmed at your church.

Do Your Policies And Guidelines Promote Security and Safety?

• All the best policies won’t help unless you train your teachers. So, make training Sundays school teachers about safety and security a priority in your church.
• Make 2-by-2 the rule. No child (or group of children) should even be alone with an adult volunteer.
• Ask your volunteers to get trained on CPR and first aide. We have several retired nurses in our church who are great resources for minor accidents.
• Establish a check-in and check-out procedure that gets every child back to the right parents after your program. This will help to prevent children from being unsupervised in the facility.
• Do not allow children to be unattended before or after Sunday school programs. As one reader stated, “Children stay with parents and remain the parents’ responsibility.”
• Have a definite drop-off and pick-up time. These should be clearly posted and enforced. The children of volunteers should remain with their parents or be supervised in one location. We do not allow early drop-offs.
• Ask for hall monitors or greeters to patrol the facility during and after your ministry programs.
• Do you have clear bathroom policies? This more of a concern for younger children, but

Resources For Improving Security and Safety In Your Sunday School

• Read these articles about Children’s Ministry safety from ChildrensMinistry.com
• Browse these resources for Children and Youth safety from one insurance company.
• Read my post 5 Ways Christians Can Prevent Child Abuse and Neglect
• Read the Southern Baptist Convention 2007 Resolution ON PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM ABUSE
• Read the Statement on Abuse From the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood
• If you know of a good resource, leave me a comment below.

What tips do you have to improve safety for children’s ministry and Sunday school?

Related posts:

1. Polls: Children’s Ministry Safety & Security
2. Does Security Really Matter in Your Children’s Ministry?
3. KIDO’Z Web Browser: Internet Safety For Kids
4. Children Media Safety and Kids Ministry
5. A Brief History of Sunday School
6. DiscipleLand Sunday School Curriculum
7. Mother’s Day Sunday School Ideas?

[ad#kids-links]Are you looking for a great craft idea for your children’s Sunday school class? Then check out these websites. They list many great kid’s Christmas crafts, ideas and projects. Arts and crafts are not my strong point. So I’m thankful for all the easy and free Christmas craft ideas for kids. Try these for your Sunday school lesson, children’s church, or at home with your children.

Free Christmas Craft Ideas For Kids

Christmas Time Together is the best place to find free, easy and clear craft projects for children. Your kids will love these art projects. Some craft ideas include: Advent Mural, Angel Tree Ornament, Bead Wreath & Candy Cane, Bell Ornament, Candy Basket, Cookie Cutter Ornament, Christmas Card Ornaments, Christmas Cornucopia, Christmas Cracker, Christmas Piñata, Christmas Place Mats, Clothes Pin Angel and many more. These crafts are free and easy to print off instructions.

Cullen’s Christmas Crafts are free to watch on YouTube. She always does a great job explaining the craft and making it simple to repeat.

Craft Central Station Christmas Idea page offers more great Christmas projects for kids. They offer a wide range of craft, gift, art, and card projects for children.

Danielle’s Place has dozens of free and easy Christmas crafts for children. Some crafts include:Craft Stick Christmas Star Ornament Craft for Kids, Peppermint Candy Frame, Coffee Filter Angel Craft, Ice Cream Cone Christmas Tree Craft, Poinsettia Flower Angel Craft, Picture Frame Christmas Ornament Craft, Lace Angel Craft, Angel Hershey’s Kiss Party Favor Craft, Communion Cup Reindeer, Christmas Candle with Base Craft, Gift Bags with gift tags Craft, CD Christmas Ornament Craft, Nativity Craft, Baby Jesus Envelop Craft, and many printable card crafts in her members area.

Bible Kids Fun Zone Christmas Crafts has many craft and coloring pages your can print off to use in your Christmas Sunday school lessons. This site has dozens of Nativity coloring pages, cards and crafts. Their best crafts are in the membership area, but they also offer many free children’s craft ideas.

The Christmas Zone at Kidology.org is a great place to find crafts and Sunday school lessons about Christmas. They offer many free items, but you’ll need to buy a membership to get full access. I usually look here first when I’m planning a craft for kid’s church.

Related posts:

1. Looking for Craft Ideas Besides Coloring Pages
2. Christmas Hope: A Free Christmas Play for Children
3. Free Printable Christmas Book: The 12 Symbols of Christmas
4. Christmas in Genesis? How could this be? (A Free Christmas Play for Children)
5. Kids Christmas Program: The Twases of Christmas
6. Family Ministry Ideas for Christmas
7. Kids Craft Supplies: Learn from My Mistakes

[ad#kids-links]Here are some Bible verses about Christmas. Add your favorite scripture quotes to your Christmas greeting cards. Bible verses are inspirational for many holiday occasions and a great way to personalize your gifts or crafts. These can also be used for Christmas musicals or pageants for children.

Need More Help?

Check out our free Christmas resources for kids ministry. This includes our Christmas Bible Lessons that have been used by thousands of churches.

Bible Verses About Christmas

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:35
And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God.

Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).

Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times. ”

Isaiah 9:6-7
(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.

Long Bible Passages About Christmas

Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. (19) And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. (20) But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. (21) She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” (22) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: (23) “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (24) When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, (25) but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Luke 1:26-80
[ad#float-right](26) In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, (27) to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. (28) And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” (29) But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. (30) And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. (31) And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. (32) He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, (33) and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (34) And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (35) And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy–the Son of God. (36) And behold, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son, and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. (37) For nothing will be impossible with God.” (38) And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. (39) In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, (40) and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. (41) And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, (42) and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! (43) And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? (44) For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. (45) And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” (46) And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, (47) and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (48) for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; (49) for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (50) And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. (51) He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; (52) he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; (53) he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. (54) He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, (55) as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (56) And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home. (57) Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. (58) And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her. (59) And on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they would have called him Zechariah after his father, (60) but his mother answered, “No; he shall be called John.” (61) And they said to her, “None of your relatives is called by this name.” (62) And they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called. (63) And he asked for a writing tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they all wondered. (64) And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God. (65) And fear came on all their neighbors. And all these things were talked about through all the hill country of Judea, (66) and all who heard them laid them up in their hearts, saying, “What then will this child be?” For the hand of the Lord was with him. (67) And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, (68) “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people (69) and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, (70) as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, (71) that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; (72) to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, (73) the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us (74) that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, (75) in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. (76) And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, (77) to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins, (78) because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high (79) to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” (80) And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 2:1-40
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. (2) This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. (3) And all went to be registered, each to his own town. (4) And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, (5) to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. (6) And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. (7) And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. (8) And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. (9) And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. (10) And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. (11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (12) And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” (13) And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, (14) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (15) When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” (16) And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. (17) And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. (18) And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. (19) But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. (20) And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. (21) And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. (22) And when the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord (23) (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) (24) and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” (25) Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. (26) And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. (27) And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, (28) he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, (29) “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; (30) for my eyes have seen your salvation (31) that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, (32) a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” (33) And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. (34) And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (35) (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (36) And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, (37) and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. (38) And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (39) And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. (40) And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

Matthew 2:1-23
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, (2) saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (3) When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; (4) and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. (5) They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: (6) “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (7) Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. (8) And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” (9) After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. (10) When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. (11) And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. (12) And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way. (13) Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” (14) And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt (15) and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” (16) Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. (17) Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah: (18) “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.” (19) But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, (20) saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” (21) And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. (22) But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. (23) And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled: “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

What’s your favorite Bible verse about Christmas?

Related posts:

1. Bible Verses for Father’s Day
2. Thanksgiving Bible Verses
3. Bible Verses For Mother’s Day
4. Bible Verses About Easter
5. Bible Verses About Children
6. How To Help Children Memorize Bible Verses
7. 10 Easy Bible Memory Verses for Kids