Dear Parents, We hope the following summary of the Sunday School lesson will help you in discussing the lesson with your children and in working through this booklet together. SCRIPTURE PASSAGES: Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7
Jesus The Savior of the World
BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: At the perfect time, God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. God spoke to Joseph to tell him what to do, and He worked through the actions of a world ruler to bring about His purposes. Jesus was born in Bethlehem as Joseph and Mary trusted and obeyed God. LESSON FOCUS: God has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world. Jesus has the right to rule in my life as King of kings. WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD: God humbled Himself and became a person like us to rescue us from sin. LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT WE’VE LEARNED: Why was it important for Jesus to be born in Bethlehem? How did it come about that the birth occurred there? The birth of the Savior in Bethlehem fulfilled prophecy given by God hundreds of years earlier. Roman ruler Caesar Augustus called for a census. This required Mary and Joseph to travel from their hometown of Nazareth to their ancestral home, Bethlehem. It occurred at the time Jesus was about to be born, and so the birth took place as foretold. As the King of kings who came to earth, did Jesus experience a royal birth? No. Mary and Joseph made the difficult journey over mountainous roads to Bethlehem and then had nowhere to stay when they arrived. They were sheltered in a stable. The newborn Jesus was wrapped in strips of cloth and laid in a makeshift bed—a manger, a feeding trough for animals. What did it cost Jesus to become a human being? Why did He do it? He set aside the riches of heaven in order to be the Savior of the world – to die for our sins.
God Became a Man
The Birth of Jesus This Week’s Memory Verse
Will you believe that Jesus became poor so that you could become rich? Will you allow Jesus to be the King of your life? How will you celebrate the birth of the Savior this Christmas?
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
See you on Sunday!
Copyright 2007 Berean Baptist Church 309 E. Co. Rd. 42 Burnsville, MN 55306 952-432-7168
December 8, 2013
MONDAY – THE ANGEL VISITS JOSEPH Read Matthew 1:18 to 25. How did God speak to Joseph about the birth of Jesus? (Verse 20) By phone In a letter An angel in a dream Did Joseph need to think up a name to give the baby? Yes No Why did the angel say to name the child Jesus? (Verse 21) “He will ______________ His people from their _______________.” The name Jesus means savior. Last week we talked about the wall of sin that stands in the way of knowing God. Jesus came to knock down the wall of sin and give us eternal life. What would you do if an angel of the Lord talked to you in a dream? Go back to sleep Talk about it to my parents, my Sunday School teacher, or my pastor Do whatever the angel told me to do Wait for God to give me another dream to make sure it was true Something else __________________________________________ When did Joseph do what the angel told him to do? (Verse 24)
When he W___________ U_______.
Today, God talks to us through His Word, the Bible. Read through our memory verse at least two times today. Say the lines out loud.
SATURDAY – THIS WEEK’S PUZZLE The Birth of Jesus Can you find the nine words listed from our lesson and circle them in the word-find? (They can go forward, backward, across, up and down, or diagonally.) ANGEL BETHLEHEM DREAM
J O S E P H U B J
A U T M A N G E L
INN JESUS JOSEPH
M M A R Y J S T O
D X B I T U Z H C
R B L Z S M I L P
E L E Y O H K E G
MANGER MARY STABLE
A N V E T N S H A
M H Q M A N G E R
N E D B W I B M J
FRIDAY – TOO BUSY FOR JESUS
TUESDAY – JESUS IS BORN!
The people in Bethlehem had known for hundreds of years that the Savior of the whole world would be born in their little town. Yet, Mary and Joseph were the only ones in town who knew that Jesus had been born.
Read Luke 2:1 to 5. Where did Mary and Joseph live? (Verse 4) N __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Why do you think the people in Bethlehem weren’t watching for Jesus? They didn’t believe God would keep His promise. They were too busy with counting people for the census. They had forgotten God’s promise in Micah 5:2. They were too busy to look for Jesus to come. All of the above.
What event did God use to bring Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem? (Verse 1) A parade A census – time to count all the people A big game
What are some special things your family does at Christmastime? Put up a Christmas tree
Buy or make presents
Bake cookies
Put up lights outside
Other things _______________________________ What do you like the best about Christmas? _____________________________________
Where did God say Jesus would be born? (Micah 5:2) B __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __
Mary and Joseph had to travel through the mountains over bumpy roads for at least three days. Do you think the trip was hard or easy for them? Easy Kind of hard
Very hard
After a long time of traveling, what do you like to do? Take a walk Sleep Go swimming Find a playground Watch TV Eat
Read Psalm 100. Name one thing you can do to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. _______________________
God knew just how He would bring about His plan. What did Mary and Joseph have to do? Figure out how the baby could be born in Bethlehem Think of a name for the baby Trust God to bring about His plans Find a doctor to deliver the baby
Name one thing you will do so that you won’t be too busy and forget about Jesus.
How do you think it felt to be able to trust God? _____________________________
Christmas is a very special time to enjoy. But, sometimes we can get so busy with Christmas, we forget whose birthday it is!
______________________________________ Can you say our whole memory verse without peeking? Practice saying it with someone in your family.
Will you trust God to bring about His plan in your life? Yes I’m not sure No, I can do it my own way Will you ask God to help you trust in Him?
WEDNESDAY – BORN IN A STABLE
THURSDAY – FROM RICH TO POOR
Ask your family about how they got ready for you when you were born. What kinds of things did they make sure to have ready? Crib
Baby clothes
Blankets
Stroller
Toys
Car seat
What else did they do to get ready for you, their new baby? _____________________________________________________________________ Read Luke 2:6 to 7. What do you think it would have been like to stay in a stable, a place for animals? What would it sound like?
___________________
____________________
What would it smell like?
___________________
____________________
What would it feel like?
___________________
____________________
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Mary wrapped Baby Jesus in strips of cloth. They had a nice hotel room. Baby Jesus slept in a manger, a box for animal food. The Bible tells us that before Jesus came to earth as a baby, He was in Heaven with God the Father. (John 1:2)
____________________________________________________________________ Read 2 Corinthians 8:9. (Our memory verse) Fill in the missing words:
2
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was _________________,
This was a very special night – God had come down to earth.
yet for your sakes He became _________________, so that you through His ___________________ might become _________________.
Mary and Joseph watched as God did just what His angels had promised. They named the baby Jesus. Don’t forget to practice saying our memory verse lines.
Mary had lots of nice baby clothes for Jesus.
What do you think Heaven is like?
How many people were there when Jesus was born? 40
Read Luke 2:6 to 7. Draw a line around what is true about when Jesus was born. Cross out the other things.
Mark the following lines with a T if they are true or with an F if they are false. _____ Jesus left all the beautiful riches of heaven so that we could know God. _____ The way to be happy is to be rich and own a lot of stuff. Finish this picture – Draw a stable for Baby Jesus. Where will you draw Mary and Joseph? What kinds of animals will you put in the stable?
_____ The richest people on earth are the ones who will someday be in heaven with God. Will you thank Jesus for coming to earth for you?