During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
The angels left and went into heaven. Then the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem. Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
Luke 2:15
Everyone who heard about the birth of our Lord and Saviour was excited! The shepherds told everyone they saw about His birth! Take a moment to imagine what it would have been like to see the baby Jesus. What did He look like? How did it feel to be near Him? We know that babies are cute and fragile, but they also let us know what they need. What do you imagine Jesus was like as a baby?
It is interesting to think that God sent His Only Son to us the same way all sons come—as a tiny, helpless baby. The most important king who would ever live, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, began His life as fragile and vulnerable as everyone else. God loves you so much that He sent His Only Son to live as a human. This included the process of growing from a baby into a man. Take a moment to thank God for the very special gift He gave as you prepare to tell your children about the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas!
Be sure the families are aware this week is a Christmas lesson and the children will learn about when Jesus was born. Jesus was a baby, just like everyone was a baby at one time. Encourage families to worship the newborn King!
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Welcome the children as they come to class. Ask them if they have ever held a baby. Divide the children into 4 groups, and have each group stand in a straight line.
I am so glad you are here today! Today, you will learn about a very special baby who was born a long time ago. When babies are first born, they are very fragile. That means that you must be very careful with them. Every one of you came into this world as a baby. So did I! The day you were born is called your birthday.
Pause for a response. If no one knows the answer, tell the children it is Jesus’ birthday.
You are right! We celebrate that Jesus was born as a baby at Christmas. We celebrate His birthday. Raise your hand if you have a younger brother, sister, or cousin. If someone in your family is younger than you, think for a moment about what this person was like as a baby.
Answers may include: Babies cry. They sleep a lot. They do not move much.
Answers may include: They need milk, sleep, and blankets to keep them warm.
Because new babies are fragile, you must be very gentle so they do not get hurt. New babies are so weak they cannot hold their heads up. When you hold a new baby, you must support the tiny baby’s neck and head with your hand or arm so the baby is not hurt. You want to keep the baby safe.
Hold up one of the pretend babies you made before class.
Let’s pretend this is a baby. I will give the first person in each line a baby to hold. Be sure you are gentle and hold the neck and head so the baby does not get hurt.
Model for the children what it looks like to safely hold a baby in your arms. Each child will hold his group’s baby for a few seconds. Have the first child in each line hold a baby while you explain the next activity.
Babies cry to let you know they need something. They may cry because they are hungry or need a diaper change or because they are cold. Babies cry for many different reasons. When I say, “Oh no, the baby is crying,” everyone will start crying softly like a newborn baby. The person with the baby will gently pass the baby to the next person in line. Then I will say, “The baby stopped crying!” Everyone will give a quiet cheer and become quiet. The game will continue until everyone has a turn to hold the baby.
Use as many of these examples as you need to allow all of the children to hold their group’s baby.
Remain standing with the children when you finish this activity. Take the pretend babies and lay them out of the way for the rest of the lesson.
Great job! You took very good care of the baby! Babies are fragile. They cannot walk, talk, or even feed themselves. They need someone to take care of them. When you were a baby, someone took care of you. You may help take care of a baby in your family.
Did you know that Jesus was also a baby? He needed someone to take care of Him too! At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Let’s learn more about His birthday!
Jesus came into the world as the King, but some things about His birth may surprise you. In this true story from the Bible, we learn about Jesus’ birth. Mary was Jesus’ mother and Joseph was Jesus’ earthly father.
Mary was pregnant with Jesus. It was almost time to have the baby when the government made everyone go to their hometowns to be counted. Mary and Joseph walked from Nazareth to the town of Bethlehem. If you were to walk this far it would take you about 5 days because the towns are about 150 kilometers apart!
Let’s pretend to walk this long way. I know I get tired when I travel for a long time. I imagine Mary and Joseph were quite tired after their long journey. Let’s sit down to rest.
Sit with the children.
When they arrived in Bethlehem, there was no guest room available for them. In those days, animals were often brought into the house at night. So Mary and Joseph stayed nearby where the animals were. While they were there, Jesus was born! The Bible says Mary wrapped Jesus in large strips of cloth. She placed Him in a manger. A manager is an open box that the animals eat from. This manger was where Jesus slept.
Show The Action Bible image of baby Jesus if possible.
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
A manger in a stable probably was not very clean or comfortable for a baby. Sleeping in a box that animals eat from does not sound special at all. Even though His birth was special, Jesus was not born in a fancy place.
The night when Jesus was born, another special thing happened. There were some nearby shepherds who were watching over their sheep. Shepherds were not very highly thought of. They were considered to be not very valuable people.
Show The Action Bible image of the angels announcing the birth if possible.
Suddenly an angel appeared in the sky! The shepherds were frightened! The angel told them that the Saviour had been born in Bethlehem! Let’s listen to what the Bible says:
Read the verse directly from your Bible.
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the baby. The baby was lying in the manger.
Luke 2:16
Allow 2–3 children to respond. Then share: God cares for everyone. He sent His Son as a tiny baby to show that He knew what it was like to be human.
God led the shepherds right to baby Jesus! The shepherds were so excited they told everyone they saw about Jesus. They were not the only people who were excited to see baby Jesus.
Several days later, Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple in Jerusalem. An old man named Simeon was in the temple. God had promised Simeon that he would live to see God’s promised Saviour—the King. When Simeon saw baby Jesus he held Him and said:
Lord, you are the King overall. Now let me, your servant, go in peace. That is what you promised. My eyes have seen your salvation.
Luke 2:29–30
Mary and Joseph were amazed! Simeon knew that Jesus was small and fragile, but he also knew that Jesus was God’s promised Saviour! Simeon knew Jesus was the King of Kings. Jesus was not an ordinary baby! He was and is the living God!
Let’s think about all the things that happened around the time Jesus was born. An angel told shepherds the good news that Jesus, the Saviour, was born. A large group of angels praised God. The shepherds came to see baby Jesus. An old man in the temple knew Jesus was the Saviour God had promised. The Bible tells us all these things happened when Jesus was born. God wanted us to know that baby Jesus would grow up to be the King of Kings.
Optional: If you are using Student Pages, allow 3 minutes for children to draw and color pictures of those who visited baby Jesus.
Jesus was born in a stable, and His bed was a manger.
Allow 2–3 children to respond.
Yes, a manager is an open box that animals eat from. It is important to remember that although Jesus was a tiny baby, He was and still is the King of Kings. Let’s all say that together: “Jesus was a tiny baby. He is the King!”
We are going to make a manager for Jesus.
Give the children some sticks, stones, and leaves. Allow about 5 minutes for the children to build a manager at the front of your space.
You made a great manager! Let’s all say together again “Jesus was a tiny baby. He is the King!”
Let’s imagine what happened the night Jesus was born. We will remember all of the surprising things that happened when Jesus was born. After each statement I say about Jesus’ birth, everyone will repeat, “Jesus was a tiny baby. He is the King!”
Jesus was born in a stable.
Children repeat, “Jesus was a tiny baby. He is the King!”
There was no comfortable bed for baby Jesus to sleep in. He slept in a manger.
Children repeat, “Jesus was a tiny baby. He is the King!”
The angel spoke to the shepherds, who most people did not think were important. They went quickly to the stable to see the baby who is King. Then they told everyone they saw about the wonderful news of His birth!
Children repeat, “Jesus was a tiny baby. He is the King!”
Optional: If possible, play some Christmas music celebrating Jesus our King. Play it softly during the worship response time. You may also choose to sing a Christmas song with the children.
Now, let’s pretend we are visiting the baby Jesus to worship Him as the King of Kings. Think about Jesus coming to earth as both a baby and a King. He wants you to know how much He loves you. He wants you to be part of God’s family. If you want to worship Him now, quietly go up and kneel before the manger. Quietly thank Jesus for coming as a baby and King. When you are done, you can return to your seat.
Allow the children a few minutes to respond. End the class by saying this blessing, based on Luke 2:29–30, over the children.
Blessing: May you know that Jesus was born as a baby, and He is the King of Kings. May this truth bring you joy and peace in your hearts.
Lead the children in singing this quarter’s song if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
