We’ve had such great feedback for our word-for-word scripture search puzzles that we decided to make a Christmas edition. So please enjoy – click below to download in NIV or visit the Sunday School Store to pick KJV or ESV versions. “10 Free Christmas Bible Word Search Puzzles” are also available in ESV and KJV from the Sunday School Store. Don’t miss the original Word-for-Word Bible Seek and Find Puzzles, which is also free from the Sunday
The holiday season is upon us, and what better way to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ than with an engaging, family-friendly event that combines fun, faith, and festivity? Introducing Gingerbread Bash, a gospel-centered Christmas experience that promises to be the highlight of your holiday season. Here’s why your church or family should consider participating in this unique event. Click here to learn more! What is Gingerbread Bash? Gingerbread Bash is a 60-90 minute program designed for
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new children’s ministry curriculum for the upcoming Christmas season: “Heroes of the Nativity“. This 5-lesson series is designed to help children aged 6-12 years old experience the joy of faith in God through the stories of the heroes of the Nativity. Download the 1st week’s lesson as a free sample below. Life can sometimes be a little scary and uncertain, can’t it? Even in the Bible, people faced
Christmas is a joyful, blessed, marvelous time and day to celebrate. It can be easy, though, to get wrapped up in holiday hubbub and forget where our focus should be. As we anticipate and rejoice in the birth of Jesus, we should also think about the blessing of why He came and what it means for us. These fun crafts are great for anytime around Christmas, offering unique takes on the story of the Nativity. A “Star
Angels are remarkable to consider, and are an integral part of the Nativity narrative. God’s messengers might not have been as “white and fluffy” as we typically imagine them, but whatever they looked like, they spread hope and good news of blessing to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. Celebrate the Christmas story with a couple of fun angel crafts. An “angel in a pail” uses creative supplies on hand to put together an unusual angel. An “Angel
The only story we seem to get in the Bible describing the childhood life of Jesus is an interesting one. It would seem that Mary and Joseph “lost” their son, but Jesus was right where He knew He should be. In this passage, we note how Jesus knew that He was God’s Son, although He was growing as a human, as well. This might be tough to understand—it was for Joseph and Mary, too! Children can take
Who was and is Jesus? That might seem like a simple and straight forward Gospel question, but it’s an important one to address frequently with kids. This message focuses on the story of Jesus in the temple as a 12-year-old boy. The story reminds us that Jesus was aware of His identity as the Son of God, but also obeyed His parents and was responsible to them as a human. Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was lost,
Praise God! Craft Ideas for Elizabeth, Mary, and the Magnificat How do we express praise? There are a lot of ways to show enthusiasm: we can jump for joy, sing and dance, giggle with glee, and more! The story of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth reminds us that there are many methods of glorifying God, and that He delights in our praise. Even John the Baptist praised, before being born! These crafts celebrate Elizabeth, Mary, and more. A
How do we praise the Lord? Sometimes, we forget the meaning or importance of glorifying God. We think of songs or prayers, but true praise can occur in a variety of ways, and should come from a place of genuine enthusiasm and gratitude. As Christians, our natural reaction to salvation should be to rejoice with praise and thanksgiving. In this passage, we see John the Baptist praise God in the womb, and we see Mary praise God
“Praise God!” There are many ways that we can glorify God in all that we do and with all of who we are. Children should be encouraged that worship is more than just songs in church. Our Heavenly Father blesses us with various gifts, and we can use all of them to love and serve Him. Whatever we do, we recognize and thank God for good things in our lives, honoring His love and faithfulness. Lesson focus:
“They shall now we are Christians by our love”… It’s one thing to attend church and call ourselves Christians. Truly following Christ, though, means living as He did and demonstrating to others what it means to honor and serve God. John the Baptist (and Jesus!) emphasized that genuine Christians live out their faith in action as well as word. We are saved by grace alone, but out of gratitude to God, we should also be showing evidence
How can we demonstrate our faith? As Christians, it’s important to live out who we say we are through love and service to others. When we genuinely share and care for those around us, it shows the fruit of the Holy Spirit at work within us. Saying we love the Lord doesn’t mean much if we don’t shine His light. These crafts remind students of the importance of authentic Christianity. A “let your light shine lantern” serves
As Christians, it’s essential to live in a way that shows others who we are. We want to not only call ourselves Christians, but act like it by demonstrating love and sharing with others. John the Baptist admonished people to share their faith authentically, and the same message speaks to us. While we are saved by faith alone, we should act in a manner that reflects the Holy Spirit within us. This message uses a disappointedly empty
As the Advent season progresses, we look to the example of John the Baptist, who prepared the hearts and minds of people and proclaimed the coming of the Messiah. John called people to repent and turn from their sins. He pointed to and announced Christ. In the same way, we should tell others about Jesus, how He came and will come again. We prepare for His return by making our hearts ready and by proclaiming the good
This message reminds students of the importance of giving Jesus the priority in our hearts. It can be easy, especially during the holidays, to get busy with preparations of various kinds. The most important thing we can prepare for is Jesus! How do we do that, and why should we? Preparing our hearts means that we pray, give thanks, and read God’s Word to understand who He is and give thanks for His presence now and always.
The season of Advent is a time of joyful anticipation and hope. How do we celebrate what Jesus has done, and what He has yet to do? These crafts encourage children to serve God and to wait, hope, and pray as we rejoice in His birth and await His Second coming. A “Look to the Clouds” mobile hanger serves as a decoration and reminder to wait for Christ. A “Serving Acts Stocking” uses a traditional Christmas decoration
Christmas is coming—get these beautiful devotional books out to your families to share the story of Jesus Birth together. This will make a wonderful gift for each child in your ministry. Use these books as a gift to the children in your ministry. View all the Christmas resources at the Sunday School Store. Kids love Christmastime! The stable full of friendly animals. The wise men and their gifts. The Baby in the manger. For spiritual “quality time”
For many people, the Christmas carols turn up and the decorations come out as soon as the Thanksgiving turkey is put away (or perhaps a few weeks before that). Stockings are hung, trees decked out with ornaments, cookies baked, and gifts wrapped. Cars drive slowly down neighborhood streets as kids and adults alike admire bright lights and inflatable lawn characters. It is definitely a joyous and festive season. Why do we practice all of these traditions, though?
Imagine what it might be like to be called “favored” in the eyes of God. It certainly sounds like a remarkable honor! Those were words that Mary heard, coming from an angel of God. What an incredible privilege to carry and raise the Messiah. At the same time, of course, this meant a lot of challenge, hardship, and even ridicule for the young mother-to-be. Still, the notable feature of the Annunciation is that Mary was gladly willing
There are many marvelous variations possible when considering crafts that relate to angels. We might not know exactly what angels look like, but the traditional notion of white winged creatures lend themselves to fun creative creations. We most notably associate the celestial messengers with Christmas, due to the proclamation of Christ’s birth. In this Gospel lesson, an angel visits Mary to announce to her that she will be the chosen mother of Jesus. These crafts celebrate that
Christmas looks and feels a little different this year. Traditions have been altered. Parties have been canceled. Gatherings have been smaller. But there are still so many ways to celebrate! Go Curriculum shares these five simple ways you can encourage your families to remember the good news of Jesus this Christmas. COLLECT CANNED FOODS FOR A FOOD PANTRY Jesus – the King of the Universe – stepped down from His throne to serve us. Isn’t that incredible?
These crafts remind us that Jesus is the light of the world, and we want to direct others to Him! The seasonal crafts focus on Christmas-themed elements, particularly Christmas lights and candles. A few variations are given to allow flexibility and offer multiple types of similar creations. Jesus is the Light of the World” Bible Crafts from John 1:6-8, 19-28 about the how Jesus is the light. Christmas is a wonderful time of festivities, decorations, and celebrations. Of
This seasonal message features the deeper meaning behind the holiday decoration of Christmas lights. The message also uses the character of John the Baptist as a reminder that we are to “proclaim the light” that is Jesus. When we see lights, we recall that Jesus is the light of the world, and that gives us hope at Christmas and always. And along with John, we prepare the way for Christ and share the good news of His
With the ongoing health concerns of Covid-19, many churches will skip their annual Christmas programs for children. That leaves a big gap in the ministry calendar since many congregations plan their pageants for months during the Advent season. The church Christmas play is a time when families come together (grandparents, aunts, uncles, and more) to celebrate the birth of Christ. Go Curriculum (makers of BOLT VBS) just announced a fun new program called “Dough Holy Night” that
