This time of year it is a tradition to send Christmas greetings with Christmas cards. Some cards feature family photos, play music or tell a funny story. Whichever Christmas card your family chooses to send the message is clear — the card is a way to express your holiday greetings. Grab a few of your favorite Christmas cards and bring them to class or buy a box of Christmas cards, one for each child. Choose cards that
This is a play about 2 scientists giving a presentation about the birth of Jesus. These scientists don’t just tell the story starting with Mary. They go all the way back to Creation and tie it all together through the story of Simeon and Anna. Click here to download Songs References in the Script 7 Days of Creation Song (sung to the tune of 12 days of Christmas) Classic Christmas Carols (CD of kids available on Amazon)
For the month of December, I have created a Bible Reading Calendar for the children in my class. I really want to get them into the habit of reading their Bible, and what better way than to have them reading the Christmas story? As you can see in the calendar, the children will be reading only a few verses each day. I did this so that it wasn’t too overwhelming for the children. Also, if they miss
Today, I was a last minute substitute for our 4th-5th grade Sunday School class. We expected class size to be down this weekend, so I decided for a non-traditional lesson plan. I gathered up all the different story Bibles from around my office and placed them out in front of the class. In case you didn’t know, I love story Bibles. They are a resource I personally buy for families in my church. Plus, I always recommend
Main idea: As we welcome a new year, we can remember the Christmas message, that GOD IS WITH US! Teacher preparation: Read Scripture references (below), Isaiah 63:7-9, Psalm 148:7-14 and Hebrews 2:10-18 Spend time in prayer. Pray for your students. Many people get the “Christmas blues” this time of year, as the family festivities come to a close. We don’t need to let go of the anticipation and joy of Christmas. We can carry his message of
In my ministry, Christmas lasts the entire month of December; it’s not a single date on the calendar. As Christians, we should always keep Christmas close to our hearts and that’s not a problem for me. (I truly am a kid at heart.) Like many of you, I like to mix in a few extra fun activities during the month like our annual pancake breakfast or our Christmas card jamboree. Still, I take my teaching responsibilities seriously,
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net The story of Christmas is a familiar one to preteens.This is especially true of kids who have grown up attending church. Knowing the story of Jesus’ birth is life changing, how do we make the Christmas message “stick” in their hearts and minds? Here are some of my ideas, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below. 1. Make It Real When sharing the Christmas message,
**This is a guest post from Nick Diliberto from PreteenMinistry.net Reaching preteens can be tough. Here’s some help. This is a great Christmas lesson that is sure to impact the preteens in your ministry. It’s fun, experiential and adaptable to any ministry setting. Preteens will dig into the true meaning of Christmas. Enjoy! IMMANUEL – GOD IS WITH US LUKE 2:1–20, 24:13–35 OPENING GROUP ACTIVITY What’s Inside? Divide everyone into 3-5 teams. Have a half dozen (or more)
Use these printable Christmas worksheets as an added activity in your Christmas Sunday School class. The file below includes 8 pages covering the whole story of Jesus birth. Topics include the Angels, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, and when Jesus was born. Christmas Worksheets PDF Printable Christian Christmas Activity Sheets These Christmas activity worksheets review four important Bible stories related to Jesus’ birth – Gabriel visits Mary, Jesus is born, the shepherds visit Jesus, and the wise
One of the things I love most about Christmas (besides the Nativity story, children and presents) is the opportunity it presents for outreach. Too often I think, we focus on bringing holiday joy to our regular group and forget about the rest. However, it is really the perfect time to meet and reach new children and families. Expand your ministry horizons and do a bit more than host a Christmas party. Try one of these Christmas outreach
Planning a Christmas play takes a lot of work and commitment but even the best-laid plans are subject to change when kids get involved. How many times have you held a month of rehearsals (or more) only to have five new kids show up the week before the big event? It has happened to me more than once. The worst-case scenario is assigning lines to a core group then having absent spaces at the play’s premiere. (Been
With the blazing summer temperatures, it may be hard to envision celebrating Christmas at this time of year. But the heart of the gospel is that God came down to be present with us each and every day. Christmas in July gives us the opportunity to talk about God’s story all over again. The unique timing of the celebration ensures that it will be a memory maker for years to come. Here are some ideas to create
This lesson was prepared for our students who are currently studying the Book of Acts. The purpose of the lesson was to tie in what the students were learning in their study as they study the birth of Christ. This was created for older students but can be adapted for your ministry needs. Bible Story: Jesus is the Light of the World Scripture: Selected passages (Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-7) Target Age Group: Age 9 – 11 (U.S.
Do you have anything that you put away for a “special” day? While unpacking my Christmas decorations, I pulled out my candles and starting putting them on the table and around the house. As I unpacked one of the candles, I noticed that it had melted because it had been in storage where it was hot. I have had some of these candles for many years and I have yet to light them. I stopped and thought
At this time of year churches are focused on the angels, Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men, and most importantly baby Jesus. As we teach the children in our churches about the story of Jesus’ birth we cannot forget to teach them the “why” of Christmas. Jesus did not just come to earth in the form of a baby to stay a baby; He came as our Savior and our redeemer. The precious baby in
Here is another lesson option for your children’s church or Sunday school leading up to Christmas. Much of this lesson plan is built around a popular storybook, but you could also teach the main points without the book simply using your Bible. You may find the Poinsettias craft & game useful as stand-alone Christmas activities. We welcome your feedback and would love to hear how you adapt this materials for your home, church, or school. Simply click
Here’s another animated clip from the Jesus Storybook Bible. It’s from the chapter titled, “Light of the Whole World.” I love the how the wonder and life come through in these videos. I’ll definitely be showing this in kids church. This is by far my favorite story Bible, I’ve probably bought and given away 50 copies! Question: When was the last time you felt the joy of the Christmas story? Can you imagine what the shepherds felt in their
Here is another coloring activity sent to us by Carlos Bautista. He’s is a Bible College student in the Philippines who has become a frequent contributor to our website. This drawing is a simple black and white picture of a Christmas Tree. It could be used in any variety of craft projects. The second picture is the decorations he made for the tree. The ideas is to have children cut out the words to hand on the
“The Big God Story” is a children’s picture book beautifully written by Dr. Michelle Anthony, and exquisitely illustrated by Cory Godbey. A great enrichment resource to “Spiritual Parenting,” or a stand alone story for children to see God at work through history. The text is very simple and focuses on the flow of the story as opposed to great detail. It is a fast-paced, descriptive narrative of God’s redemptive story and how we are a part of
At this time of year, we begin trying to find the perfect way to say “thank you” to all of the women who faithfully serve in children’s ministry all year long. I wanted something that was not a “teaching” book or a “training” book. I even wanted to steer clear of the typical teacher’s gift books. I wanted to find a special book for our special volunteers. A Door County Christmas, by Barbour Publishing is a collection
It takes months of practice and hard work to pull off a top-notch Christmas program. Arranging choreography, dealing with temperamental children (and parents) and building sets on a shoestring budget can culminate to make a challenging task. Entering the foray will be droves of new children who have heard about the play and are longing to be involved. You have been praying for an increase in your attendance so you don’t want shoo these little souls away.
This free script for a children’s Christmas play was contributed by a reader named Julie Snyder. I would recommend adding some simple Christmas Bible readings along with this excellent script. You can also browse our other suggestions for doing a Christmas program at church. >> Download the Print-Friendly Version here. Christmas Hope CAST: Mom Son Daughter Mary Joseph Angel Isaiah Jesus Shepherds/Wisemen (anyone not in scene) Staging: Area 1: Home. Living room setting with Christmas tree and
Here is another Christmas resource to share with children at your church. You can download and show this video or watch it directly from YouTube. Enjoy this video presentation of the Biblical Christmas story. This is offered free from the Christian Tools of Affirmation website. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyZ48kA-FRM Video Description 16-page full-color softcover picture book tells the traditional story surrounding Jesus’ birth with beautiful watercolor illustrations and a gentle rhyme. This warm and poetic story invites listeners and readers
First Person Christmas Story As Told by a Shepherd Boy This is the Christmas story told from a first-person perspective. This could be used as a dramatic monologue in place of a children’s sermon or in children’s church. I could imagine having a volunteer in costume share the story. You could also include it as part of your Christmas play. This story can be told to children from their perspective on the night the angels came to
