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Demo: Sunday School
Program: The Life of Jesus
Format: Large Group + Age-Graded Small Groups
Quarter: Quarter One
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Music Video
10 min View
Music Video
What Child Is This?Supplies
- “What Child Is This?” (watch or download here)
- “Angels We Have Heard on High” (watch or download here)
- “God Is Always With Us” (watch or download here)
Tip
- Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can choose your own worship songs from our Best Of Dig In Music DVD here.
Sing Songs to God
Sing the three songs in any order.
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Core Bible at Home
20 min View -
Talk-About Video
10 min View
Talk-About Video
Al Risket, StuntmanSupplies
- “Al Risket, Stuntman” teaching video (watch or download here)
Tip
- Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or purchase DVDs here.
Discuss and Watch "Al Risket, Stuntman"
Have kids form pairs. Say: Talk to your partner about a time you did something difficult. What made you decide to try to do that thing, and what happened? I’ll go first. Share your own story about a time you did something difficult. Take about a minute to share to model the type of sharing you’d like kids to do. Then invite kids to share their own stories with their partners.
Allow about two minutes for kids to share with their partners, and then continue.
Ask: • What’s something that would be impossible for you to do? Allow two minutes for kids to share with their partners, and then invite a few kids to share their answers with the whole group.
Say: Let’s watch a video about someone who likes to try to do the impossible.
Watch “Al Risket, Stuntman.”
Ask: • What did you think was the funniest impossible trick that Al Risket tried? Invite several kids to share with the entire group.
Say: Al tried some funny things and some dangerous things—but even he admitted that there were things that were impossible for him or other humans to do; things that are only possible for God.
As we are looking at the Bible today, we’ve been learning that an angel came to Mary and told her that she was going to have a baby—and that he would be king over Israel and everyone! That seemed impossible to Mary, but she trusted God to do something that seemed impossible to her.
Ask: • What are impossible things that you believe God can do?
• Mary trusted God even though what he said was going to happen seemed impossible. When have you trusted God with something that seemed impossible? I’ll tell you something from my own life first. Share about a time you trusted God with a situation that seemed impossible. Then invite kids to share with their partners. Allow about two minutes for sharing.
Say: Only God can do what seems impossible to us. He did the impossible—and something wonderful—when he brought Jesus to earth for us.
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Preschool Puppet
10 min View
Preschool Puppet Skit
Preschool Puppet SkitNot available for this age level.
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Object Lesson
10 min View
Object Lesson
Believe ItSupplies
- 20 flathead thumbtacks for every 4 small groups
- one 3x5 index card for every 4 small groups
- clear tape
- table
- uninflated balloons
Easy Prep
- For every four small groups, push 20 thumbtacks through an index card in a filled-in rectangular pattern with all the points facing the same direction and the heads of the tacks touching each other. Put tape over the heads of the tacks to keep them in place.
Experiment With Balloons
Say: God told Mary and Joseph that Mary would give birth to God’s Son, Jesus. To them, that seemed impossible. But God does the impossible! Let’s see what it’s like to experience something that seems impossible.
Have each small group combine with three other small groups. Direct groups to gather around a prepared index card with the thumbtack points facing up.Give kids each a balloon to inflate to about medium size. Have the older children help the younger ones inflate and tie the balloons closed.
Once the balloons are inflated and tied, ask: • Who believes you could push your balloon onto these tacks without it popping? Have a few kids explain whether or not they think it’s possible.
Let each child set his or her balloon on the tacks and push down on it. (You can push a balloon fairly hard onto the tacks and it won’t pop.)
If there are kids who are afraid to push on their balloons, let them set a balloon on the tacks while a leader pushes down on it for them.
Warning: Have leaders watch for kids trying to push so hard on the balloons that their hands might hit the tacks if the balloon pops or slips. Eventually if you press hard enough, the balloon can no longer withstand the pressure.
Talk About It
Ask: • What surprised you about this experiment? Discuss in small groups.
Give kids an example of a time someone told you something that seemed impossible. For example, perhaps you thought it would be impossible for a friend to be healed from cancer or for you to get a job you really wanted.
• When has someone told you something that seemed impossible but it was true? Allow a few moments for kids to share in their small groups. Then have a few kids share with the large group.
Say: What God told Mary and Joseph seemed impossible. But God does the impossible. We can trust God to do the impossible in our lives, too. Have kids pop their balloons by stomping on them and shouting, “God does the impossible!”
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Deeper Bible
15 min View
Deeper Bible
What Did Mary Do to Be Favored?Supplies
- Bibles
- mailing labels
- pens
- “Mary’s Biography” handout (1 per child) (download here)
Make a List
In their small groups, have kids write characteristics that make people popular. Each characteristic should be on a different label. Small-group leaders can help with writing if needed.
Have kids divide the labels evenly and stick them on each other’s backs.
Get Popular
Kids will try to be the most popular by accumulating the most labels. Kids can gather labels by taking them off each other’s backs. When they take labels, kids can stick them to the fronts of their shirts where they can’t be stolen.
End the game when there are no labels on anyone’s back. Count labels and see who’s the most popular. Read some of the labels on that person’s shirt.
Ask: • What are some things that famous or popular people do that seem impossible for you to do?
Read
Say: In the Bible, God chose Mary—a young woman who wasn’t famous or popular—to have his Son, Jesus. Let’s dig in to the Bible to find out more about Mary.
Tell kids they’ll read some verses so they can answer this question: What do you think it means that Mary is called “favored”?
In their small groups, have kids read Luke 1:28 and 30 and then discuss the following questions.
Ask: • What do you think it means that Mary is called “favored”?
• How is being “favored” like being popular? How is it different?
Learn About Mary and Jewish Culture
Have small groups read Luke 1:27 and fill out the “gender” and “married or not” sections of their “Mary’s Biography” handouts. Explain that women were not seen as very important in that culture.
Explain that we know from other books that Jewish women usually got married around age 12 or 13. Have kids fill out the “age” section.
Explain that we also know women at that time didn’t get to go to school or learn as much as men. Have them fill out the “education” section.
Have kids read Matthew 13:55 to find out what Joseph’s job was. Explain that research tells us that carpenters didn’t have much money. Have kids fill out the “money” section.
Compare
Ask: • How does this list about Mary compare with the things you said make someone popular?
• Based on what you know about Mary, do you think she’d be popular in your school? Explain.
• Is there anything on your list that shows you why God would favor Mary? If so, what?
• Does Mary seem like a good candidate to do something impossible? Explain.
Say: Mary seems like a surprising choice to do God’s impossible work. But we don’t have to be popular or famous for God to do impossible things in our lives. God does the impossible!
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High-Energy Game
10 min View
High-Energy Game
Blind WalkWalk With Eyes Closed
Say: God told Mary and Joseph that Mary would give birth to God’s Son. For Mary and Joseph, that seemed impossible! They had to trust that God does the impossible—even when they didn’t know what would happen. Let’s see what that might have been like.
Have kids stand around the perimeter of the room.
Direct kids to close their eyes tightly—no peeking!
Say: Your goal is to walk to the opposite side of the room and return to where you started with your eyes closed the whole time. You can take only baby steps, and you can’t touch the walls.
Have kids spin around two times and then start walking.
To prevent injuries, keep an eye out for kids who might collide.
Play for several minutes or until kids think they’ve returned to where they started.
Talk About It
Let kids open their eyes, and have them sit with their small groups and discuss the following questions.
Ask: • What thoughts or words were going through your mind as you played this game?
Say: Now think about Mary and Joseph. An angel told them that something impossible was going to happen! Talk about this with your small group:
Ask: • Compare how you felt during this game to the way Joseph and Mary might have felt when they heard the angel’s message.
Give groups about a minute to talk. Then take a few responses from the groups.
Say: When we’re faced with something impossible, we can’t see what’s going to happen next, but God knows! We have to trust that God does the impossible and he’ll guide and care for us along the way.
Lead kids in celebrating that God does the impossible by giving each other high-fives.
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Low-Energy Game
10 min View
Low-Energy Game
Ping-Pong PickupSupplies
- small paper cups (1 per child)
- water
- unsharpened wood pencils (2 per child)
- ping-pong balls (1 per child)
- large bowls (1 or 2 per small group)
Easy Prep
- Fill one paper cup per child about half-full with water.
- Place the bowls on the floor, and spread ping-pong balls around them. If there are more than six children in a small group, have them form two groups around their own bowls.
Pick Up Ping-Pong Balls
Say: When Joseph found out Mary was pregnant, it seemed like an impossible situation. He came up with his own plan to take control. But God sent an angel to tell Joseph that things would be okay and that he could trust God to take care of this impossible thing. God does the impossible. Let’s play a game to see how good it feels to give God the things that seem impossible in our lives.
Have children sit around the ping-pong balls and bowl.
Give each child a cup of water and two pencils.
Instruct children to hold the cup of water in one hand. Then have them use the same hand—while still holding the cup—to work the pencils like chopsticks and move the ping-pong balls from the floor to the bowl without spilling any water.
Play the game a few times.
Talk About It
In their small groups, have kids discuss the following questions.
Ask: • What was the hardest thing about this game?
• What’s something hard or impossible you’re facing?
Say: We all face things that seem impossible at times. When that happens, we can let go of those things and give them to God because God does the impossible. We can trust him to take care of those things for us.
Remove the ping-pong balls from the bowl.
Have kids pour the water from their cups into the bowls as a way of giving God the hard or impossible things they’re facing.
Have kids set their cups beside the bowls and play the game one more time, without holding the cups of water. The water can be left in the bowls since the ping-pong balls will float.
As kids play, have small groups discuss the difference it makes to play without holding the cups and how that’s similar to when we let go of our hard or impossible things.
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Craft
20 min View
Craft
Flying CupsSupplies
- 3 ounce paper cups
- “Flying Cups” handout (1 copy for every 3 kids) (download here)
- construction paper
- pencils
- scissors
- markers
- standard metal paper clips (1 per child)
Easy Prep
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Make a sample craft to show kids.
Tips
- Depending on the weight of your cup, you may find that regular paper works better than construction paper. You may also need to use a jumbo paper clip or two standard-sized paper clips instead of just one. The cup works when the weight is balanced, so experiment with paper type and clip size to find what works best with your cups.
- For best results, adjust the propeller as needed so it sits straight up before dropping the cup.
Drop Cups
Have small-group leaders give each child a paper cup.
Say: I think it’s possible to drop this cup from above your head so that it lands upside down every time. Do you think it’s possible? Give it a try!
Have kids drop their cups. If a cup does happen to land upside down instead of on its side, challenge kids to repeat that five times in a row. No one should be able to do it.
Take out your sample craft and drop it from above your head. It will twirl down and land so the cup is upside down every time.
Make Wings
Say: In today’s Bible story, we’re learning that God does the impossible. And he sent an angel to tell Mary about the impossible thing he was going to do.
Let’s make a craft that will allow our cups to land upside down every time to remind us that God does the impossible.
Have kids each cut out a shape from the “Flying Cups” handout, and have them trace the shape onto construction paper, including the markings for folding and cutting.
Next, have kids cut out the shape from the construction paper, making sure they cut the center line exactly where it was on the template.
Finally, have kids fold the “wings” where the solid line was on the template, folding the wings in opposite directions.
If they’d like to, kids can also add fun patterns to their wings.
Make Them Fall
Have kids carefully cut a slit in the bottom of their cups and stick the narrower part of the wings through the slit. Kids will need to reach inside the cup and attach a paper clip to the bottom of the construction paper.
Allow time for kids to decorate their cups. Then let kids try dropping them from above their heads. The cups will fall gracefully and will always land upside down.
Talk About It
Have small groups discuss these questions.
Ask: • Before your cup had wings, how did you feel when you were trying to drop it so it would land upside down?
• How does your craft remind you that God does the impossible?
Say: God does the impossible. He sent his Son to be born as a baby human! When things feel impossible in our lives, we can remember that with God, all things are possible.
Have kids take their crafts home and show their friends and families the flying cups by first taking out the wings and challenging them to do the impossible before showing them the trick.
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Take-Home
0 min View
Take-Home
Dig In @ HomeSupplies
- this week’s “Dig In @ Home” handout (1 per child) (download here)
Easy Prep
- Add your church announcements to the “Dig In @ Home” handout.
Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.
Lesson 1: An Angel Announces Jesus’ Birth (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25)
Summary Verse: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14).
Large Group
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Opening
5 min View
Opening
WelcomeSupplies
- Bible
Welcome
Thank kids for coming.
Just for fun, have kids shake hands with four friends using the back of their hands.
Make announcements.
Introduce new kids.
Celebrate birthdays by singing a birthday song off-key.
Collect the offering.
Introduce the Lesson
Say: God does the impossible. Today we’ll learn that an angel told Mary and Joseph that God would do something impossible in their lives—he'd give them his Son for a baby.
Share
Say: The angel told Mary and Joseph to name the baby Jesus.
Tell kids something about your name, such as where it came from or what it means.
Have kids form pairs and share with their partners something about their names.
Summarize
Open a Bible, and say: Today we’ll explore how God does the impossible and what that means to us. We’ll dig in to the Bible to find out. The Bible isn’t an ordinary book; it’s God’s special book. The Bible is one way God talks to us. God is here right now, ready to talk to you.
Pray, thanking God that he does the impossible.
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Core Bible
20 min View
Core Bible Discovery
Amazing Angel Announcements (Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-25)Supplies
- Bible
Share Surprising News
Say: I’m looking forward to digging in to today’s Bible story, but before we do let’s relax a little, okay? Have kids form two groups, and have groups sit on the floor at opposite ends of the room.
Just sit back and talk quietly in your group about your week, what you’ve been doing at school, something funny that happened—you know, the normal stuff of your life. Go ahead and talk.
As kids are talking, go up to one group with your back to the other group. Bend down and huddle everyone together. Whisper excitedly: I have big news for you! Very soon, you’ll wake up and your skin will be green! Bright green! It’s true! Now you can go back to your conversation.
Don’t explain, even if kids have questions. Go to the other group and repeat the process, whispering excitedly: I have big news for you! Very soon, you’ll wake up and your skin will be purple. Bright purple! And that’s not all—you’ll also be taller than anyone else on earth! Now you can go back to your conversation.
Pause for about a minute, letting kids wonder about your statements.
Talk About It
Have kids each find a partner from the other group to sit with.
Say: Tell your partner what news you just received and what you think about it. Give pairs time to talk. I’m curious to hear your thoughts. Call out your answers to these questions.
Ask: • What did you think and feel when you heard your news?
• Do you think it’s possible that your news will come true? Why or why not?
Say: Hmm…you don’t seem sure that your news is possible. You know, this sort of reminds me of today’s Bible story. I’ll show you what I mean.
Share a Message
Hold up a Bible opened to Luke 1:26.
Say: The Bible tells us about a guy named Joseph and a girl named Mary, and they both loved God. Joseph was a carpenter, and Mary was probably a teenager, and they were engaged to be married. Back then, girls married younger than they do today.
Mary and Joseph each received a surprising message. Today, people receive messages in all kinds of ways. Hop up and face your partner.
Have partners stand facing each other.
Let’s pretend you have an important message for someone. Think about how you’d deliver it.
Maybe you’d talk directly to the person. Cup your hands around your mouth. Maybe you’d call the person on a phone. Pretend to hold a cellphone to your ear. Maybe you’d text. Pretend to text with your thumbs. Or maybe you’d email. Pretend to type. When I count to three, strike a pose to show how you’d deliver an important message. 1…2…3! Pause, and then have kids sit.
See? There are lots of ways to deliver news! But the way Joseph and Mary received their news was impossible—at least for humans. But God does the impossible! Here’s what happened.
Angelic Messages
Say: God sent an angel named Gabriel to give Mary some news. Did you know there are only a few angels actually named in the Bible? Gabriel is one of them. Gabriel told Mary she was going to have a baby boy and that she should name him Jesus. And this baby would be the Son of God! Whoa! Son of God! Amazing!
But Mary was confused. She asked Gabriel, “How can this happen?” After all, she wasn’t married yet. Gabriel said that the power of the Holy Spirit would come upon her.
Then an angel spoke to Joseph, too, telling him that Mary was pregnant through the Holy Spirit, and the baby would be the Son of God.
Ask: • How do you think Mary and Joseph reacted to the angel’s news?
• How similar do you think their feelings were to yours when I gave you some surprising news earlier? Talk with your partner.
Give kids time to talk, and then ask a few willing kids to share their thoughts.
When you heard my news, you were confused. You knew that it wasn’t physically possible. Mary and Joseph knew their news wasn’t physically possible, either! But God does the impossible! Mary and Joseph loved God, so they trusted this miracle and did what the angel said.
Hidden in the Heart
Say: In a few weeks, you’ll hear more about Mary and what some people said about Jesus. The Bible says that Mary listened and hid these things in her heart. Today, I have something I want you to hide in your heart. Listen.
Mary and Joseph were regular people. Not rich, not famous, nothing out of the ordinary. But they loved God, and God did the impossible through them. I want you to remember that even though you may not feel very special, and even though you’re young, God can do impossible things in your life, too!
Small Group
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Wrap-Up
5 min View
Life Application Wrap-Up
Angel HandsTalk About God’s Promises
Say: Today we learned about a promise God made that might’ve seemed impossible.
An angel came to Mary to give her a message from God about Jesus. The angel said that God would do the impossible. Hold one hand out, palm up. Hold out one hand like this and talk to God about something that seems impossible in your life. Pause for about 30 seconds of silence.
Say: Mary knew she was in God’s hands, and she trusted that God does the impossible.
God came to Joseph in a dream to give him the promise of Jesus. God promised that Jesus would be Immanuel, which means “God with us.” Hold your other hand out, palm up. Hold out your other hand like this, and thank Jesus for being with you when things seem impossible. Pause for about 30 seconds of silence.
Say: Joseph knew he was in God’s hands and trusted that God does the impossible.
Make Angels
Have kids turn their hands so their palms are facing out and join their thumbs so their hands form angel wings.
Say: Mary and Joseph trusted that God does the impossible. You can trust God to do the impossible, too. You’re in God’s hands.
Invite kids to pray silently, asking God to help them trust him when things seem impossible. Allow for a few seconds of silent prayer, and then close the prayer.
Thank kids for coming, and encourage them to trust God to do impossible things this week! Tell kids you look forward to seeing them next time.
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Music Video
10 min View
Music Video
Go, Tell It on the MountainSupplies
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“Go, Tell It on the Mountain” (watch or download here)
- “He Is the Light” (watch or download here)
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“Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” (watch or download here)
Tip
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Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can choose your own worship songs from our Best Of Dig In Music DVD here.
Sing Songs to God
Sing the three songs in any order.
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Core Bible at Home
20 min View -
Talk-About Video
10 min View
Talk-About Video
Karl, Light of the WorldSupplies
- “Karl, Light of the World” teaching video (watch or download here)
Tip
- Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or purchase DVDs here.
Discuss and Watch "Karl, Light of the World"
Have kids get into groups of three. Say: Today we’re going to watch a video about a guy who got confused about something that was said at church. In your group, tell about a time you got confused about something someone said—it can be something you heard at church or someplace else. I’ll go first. Share your own story about a time you were confused about what someone said. Take about a minute to share so you model the type of sharing you’d like kids to do. Then invite children to share their own stories with their groups.
Allow three minutes for sharing, and then have kids return their attention to you.
Say: Let’s watch our video and see what happens.
Watch “Karl, Light of the World.”
Say: Karl was confused about what the pastor at his church said. He thought the pastor said that Karl should be the light of the world, and Karl thought that meant wearing a funny sunshine costume.
Ask: • What did Karl get wrong when he thought he was the light of the world? Allow another three minutes for kids to share in their groups, and then invite a few kids to share their answers with the larger group.
Ask: • We know that Jesus is the light of the world, not us. But how can we show Jesus’ light in the world?
Say: Jesus is the light of the world! We have the great opportunity to reflect the light and love of Jesus to others so they can experience that light and love, too.
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Preschool Puppet
10 min View
Preschool Puppet Skit
Preschool Puppet SkitNot available for this age level.
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Object Lesson
10 min View
Object Lesson
The Word RevealedSupplies
- Bible
- “Glory to God” handout (I per child) (download here)
- glow sticks* (If you made the lantern crafts, use these instead of glow sticks.)
Reveal a Message
Darken the room.
Set a handout facedown in front of each child.
Say: There’s a message on your paper. Without picking up your paper, see if you can read the message in the dark.
Have kids crack the glow sticks to make them glow. (You can have groups of two or three kids share if you don’t have one glow stick per child.) Then have them use their glow sticks or lanterns to try to read the message while the papers are still facedown on the floor.
Have kids pick up the papers and hold the glow sticks or lanterns behind the papers to reveal the message.
Talk About It
Ask: • How did the light make a difference in this experience?
• Jesus is the light of the world. Does Jesus make a difference in your life? Tell me about that.
Say: Let’s look at what the Bible says about Jesus, the light of the world. When these verses talk about “the Word,” they’re referring to Jesus.
Read John 1:4-5. Remind kids that Jesus is the light of the world. Read the passage, substituting the word “Jesus” for the words “the light.”
Ask: • What does this passage tell you about Jesus?
• What would our world be like without Jesus?
Say: Jesus is the light of the world. He came to show people God’s love and power. The Bible tells us that nothing is more powerful than Jesus! I am so thankful that Jesus came to shine God’s love to each of you.
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Deeper Bible
15 min View
Deeper Bible
Does God Have Favorites?Supplies
- Bibles
- candy or other treat for each child
Wonder
Read aloud Luke 2:13-14. Repeat the end where it says “with whom God is pleased.”
Say: This verse makes it sound like God is going to give peace to only those people he likes. Does God have favorites? Let’s dig in to that.
Favorite Kids
Choose a few of the kids as your “favorites.” If you have a lot of kids, stop when you reach 20. Have your “favorites” come to you and get candy or another treat.
Let your “favorites” eat their candy up front, and ask the other kids: • What’s this activity like for you?
Ask the “favorite” kids: • What was this activity like for you?
Ask everyone: • Do you think this is the way God treats people? Explain.
Have kids rejoin their small groups. Give everyone candy.
Peace on Earth
Say: Some of you probably didn’t have a very peaceful feeling about that experience.
Tell the kids about a time you felt God’s peace.
Ask: • Turn to a partner and share about a time you felt peaceful.
Say: That peaceful feeling is like God’s love filling your heart. True peace can only come from God. Jesus came to show God’s love—and to give us true peace—because Jesus is the light of the world.
Look at Verse Context
Tell kids to listen to a Bible verse so they can answer this question: According to this verse, who is God’s good news for?
Have an older child or the group leader read Luke 2:10 to their small group.
Ask: • According to this verse, who is God’s good news for?
Look at Other Verses
Tell kids to listen to a Bible verse so they can answer this question: What do these verses show you about favorites?
Have an older child or the group leader read Acts 10:34-36 to their small group.
Ask: • What do these verses show you about favorites?
• Based on these verses, who can receive God’s peace?
Summarize
Say: Everyone is special to God, and peace is available for everyone. Jesus is the light of the world, not just parts of it! What this verse is really saying is: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace and good will toward all people on earth.”
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High-Energy Game
10 min View
High-Energy Game
Light of the World TagSupplies
- flashlights (1 per small group)
- small lamp (optional)
Easy Prep
- If your room doesn’t have any windows, consider turning on a small lamp to one side of the room for safety.
Set Up the Game
Choose a child in each small group to be “Darkness.”
Choose another child in each group to be “The Light of the World,” and have him or her stand to one side of the group, holding a flashlight. Tell him or her to be careful not to shine the light directly into anyone’s face.
Have the rest of the children in each group spread out around “Darkness.”
Play the Game
Have kids move around the room using only baby steps.
When children are tagged by Darkness, they must freeze and crouch down on the floor, waiting for The Light of the World to shine the flashlight on them. When the light shines on them, they’re free to stand and can continue playing.
The Light of the World can’t be tagged by Darkness.
The game starts when the lights go off and ends when the lights come back on.
Stop the game after a few minutes of play.
Repeat the game with different children being Darkness and The Light of the World.
Talk About It
Have kids sit in a circle with their small groups and discuss the following questions.
Ask: • What would the game have been like without The Light of the World?
• What would our world be like without Jesus—the true light of the world?
Say: Jesus is the light of the world. Without him, we would live in darkness. But Jesus is more powerful than the darkness. His light can never be stopped.
Have kids each think about a friend or family member who would be encouraged by Jesus’ power over darkness. Let kids pray silently for those people, asking God to shine Jesus’ light into their lives.
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Low-Energy Game
10 min View
Low-Energy Game
Share Jesus’ LightSupplies
- “Share Jesus’ Light Cards” handout (1 per small group) (download here)
- paper bags (1 per small group)
Easy Prep
- Cut apart the “Share Jesus’ Light Cards” from the handouts.
- Put a set of cards in each paper bag, and mix up the cards.
Mime Sharing the Light
Say: Jesus is the light of the world. He came to show people how much God loves them. That’s great news that everyone should know! Let’s play a game to think about ways we can spread Jesus’ light—and share God’s love—with our friends and family members.
Let each child take one of the “Share Jesus’ Light Cards” from a bag without looking.
Tell children not to show their cards to anyone else.
Say: Each of your cards has a different way you can share Jesus’ light. When it’s your turn, act out what’s on your card. The rest of your group will try to guess what it is.
Have small group leaders choose a child to start the game, and have each child act out what’s on his or her card while others guess what that child is acting out.
If kids can’t guess after about 30 seconds, have the child reveal the answer, and let the next child have his or her turn.
If you have more than 10 people in a small group, have them form two or more groups to play simultaneously.
Continue until everyone has had an opportunity to act out what’s on a card.
Talk About It
In their small groups, have kids discuss the following questions.
Ask: • What makes it hard to do these things in real life?
• How would your world—your school, home, sports teams—be different if you did share God’s love?
Say: Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus is the light of [name of your community]. We get the awesome job of sharing Jesus, and showing God’s love, to the people around us!
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Craft
20 min View
Craft
Light of the World LanternsSupplies
- 1 empty water bottle per child
- 1 glow stick per child*
- heavy-duty aluminum foil
- pencils
- Glue Dots
- chenille wire
Creative Extras
- stickers
- permanent markers
Easy Prep
- Cut a piece of aluminum foil for each child so that it fits around the full height of the water bottle.
Decorate
Give each child a water bottle, a sheet of foil, and a pencil.
Have kids decorate their foil by poking holes in it with a pencil to make the letters in their names or initials or other creative decorations. Kids can also engrave shapes into the foil with a pencil, draw on it with permanent marker, or decorate the foil with stickers.
Assemble the Lantern
Have kids use Glue Dots to secure their foil tightly around their water bottles.
Kids can wrap chenille wire around the neck of the bottle and then twist it at the top to make a handle.
Direct kids to place their lighted glow sticks in their water bottles.
Talk About It
Darken the room.
Read aloud Luke 2:8-11.
In their small groups, have kids discuss these questions.
Ask: • What do you think it was like for the shepherds to see all that radiant light in a dark, quiet pasture?
• How is that like the way Jesus brought light to the world?
Say: Jesus came to bring God’s awesomeness to people on earth so we could know about God’s love and power. That’s why we say that Jesus is the light of the world. He came to shine God’s love, power, and glory to people.
Encourage kids to take home their Light of the World Lanterns as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.
Say: The light in your lantern will eventually stop glowing, but Jesus is always the light of the world! When your lantern stops glowing, you can put it on a windowsill or near a lamp and still watch the light shine through.
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Take-Home
0 min View
Take-Home
Dig In @ HomeSupplies
- this week’s “Dig In @ Home” handout (1 per child) (download here)
Easy Prep
- Add your church announcements to the “Dig In @ Home” handout.
Distribute a copy of the “Dig In @ Home” handout to kids as they leave, or email it to parents during the week.
Lesson 2: Jesus, the Light of the World, Is Born (Luke 2:1-20)
Summary Verse: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased” (Luke 2:14).
Large Group
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Opening
5 min View
Opening
WelcomeSupplies
- Bible
Welcome
Thank kids for coming.
Just for fun, have kids high-five three of their friends.
Make announcements.
Introduce new kids.
Celebrate birthdays by whispering the “Happy Birthday” song.
Collect the offering.
Introduce the Lesson
Say: Jesus is the light of the world. Today we’ll learn about the night Jesus was born.
Share
Tell a story about when you were a baby.
Have kids get in pairs and tell stories about when they were babies or about babies they know.
Summarize
Open a Bible, and say: Today we’ll explore how Jesus is the light of the world and what that means to us. We’ll dig in to the Bible to find out. The Bible isn’t an ordinary book; it’s God’s special book. The Bible is one way God talks to us. God is here right now, ready to talk to you.
Pray, thanking Jesus for being the light of the world.
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Core Bible
20 min View
Core Bible Discovery
The Night Jesus Was Born (Luke 2:1-20)Supplies
- Bible
- music player
- CD or MP3 of quiet music
- small box or basket
- thick blanket
- 1 glow stick per child, plus 2 extras
- rubber bands to make a cross from glow sticks
- small bag of potting soil
Easy Prep
- Darken the room as much as possible.
- Set up a box or basket as a manger. Crack two glow sticks, use rubber bands to bind them together in a cross shape, and set the cross in the manger. Put uncracked glow sticks around the cross. Cover the cross with a thick blanket to obscure the light. If you have more than 50 kids, set up multiple baskets.
Tip
- For safety reasons, it's better to use thicker glow sticks, as the thinner, bracelet glow sticks can break.
A Dark Night
Turn off all the lights and darken the room as much as possible.
Say: It’s dark in our room, just like the night Jesus was born. Did you know there’s another kind of darkness we can have in our lives? When we feel afraid, sad, confused, lonely, or far from God, it’s like being in the dark.
In their small groups, have kids talk about this question.
Ask: • Tell about a time you experienced darkness by being afraid, lost, confused, or all alone.
Before kids share, give your own example of a dark time, such as losing a job, moving away from friends or family, or facing an illness.
Play music quietly while kids talk together. (This fills some of the background silence and makes it more comfortable for kids to share.)
Say: When we go through dark times like the ones we’ve talked about, we need Jesus, the light of the world.
Angels Visit Shepherds
Say: The Bible tells us that shepherds were out in a field that night, protecting their sheep from wild animals. Have kids imagine they are the shepherds in the dark field as you read aloud Luke 2:8-12, with expression. Turn on the lights.
Say: Wow! There’s a bright light! I need your help celebrating this good news of Jesus, the light of the world. The angels did it with style, so let’s do what they did.
Read aloud Luke 2:13-14.
Have kids pretend to be angels as they crouch and whisper “Glory to God” when your hand is low. Practice that. Have kids jump and shout “Glory to God” when your hand is high. Practice that.
Say: There was one angel (hand low)
And then more (hand medium)
And then all the angels in heaven. (hand high)
Do this again.
Heading to the Manger
Say: After the angels returned to heaven (turn off the lights), the shepherds hurried to find Jesus. And they found Jesus lying in the manger—just as the angel had said. Listen to this!
Read aloud Luke 2:6-7, and then have kids make baby crying sound effects. Say: Jesus—God’s Son—had left heaven to come to earth.
Ask: • Call out words that describe what you imagine heaven is like.
Say: Jesus left that perfect place to come to earth. And the first thing he experienced was a dirty stable.
Pass around the bag of potting soil and have kids smell it.
Ask: • What would it be like to put a newborn baby in a dirty stable?
Shining God’s Light
Have children gather around the manger.
Say: Jesus was no ordinary baby—Jesus is God! Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus came to show God’s love to a world that was dark and smelly with sadness, fear, and sin.
Pull back the blanket to show the glow cross. Let kids take turns looking inside the manger.
Give children each a glow stick, but tell them not to crack it.
Have kids go back to their small groups.
Ask: • What do you want to do with the glow stick?
Say: The shepherds wanted to share the news that Jesus is the light of the world! That’s the most important news in the world! They ran and told everyone about Jesus, the light of the world. Let’s do that now!
Let kids crack their glow sticks and hold them up high.
Light Party
Tell kids to be the shepherds. They have 30 seconds to tell as many people as possible that Jesus is the light of the world.
Ask: • What just happened here?
Say: That was exciting! That’s what happens when we share that Jesus is the light of the world. We can celebrate and share this amazing gift of God’s love!
Small Group
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Wrap-Up
5 min View
Life Application Wrap-Up
Light PrayersSupplies
- glow cross*
- glow sticks*
- markers
- sticky notes
Listen to God
Darken the room, and set the glow cross in the middle of the room.
Say: Jesus is the light of the world. That means he came to show God’s love to everyone. Now that you’ve heard about Jesus’ light, you can shine it to people around you. Take a moment to silently ask God about what he might want you to do to show his love to people around you. Listen to hear what God might say to you.
Allow about one minute for kids to sit in the dark, quiet room and silently listen to God.
Light Prayers
Explain that sometimes we hear God’s voice, and sometimes we get a feeling in our hearts. Sometimes God brings a picture or name or word to our minds. Have children each write or draw on a sticky note what they just heard from God. Let kids know that it’s okay if they don’t hear from God. If they didn’t they can write a prayer to God instead.
After they’re done, have children each stick their notes around the cross so that the light of the cross shines on their notes. Ask kids to return to their seats, and then have them silently pray for the courage to show God’s love and share about Jesus, the light of the world.
Say: Thank you for being here today. This week you can be like the shepherds who shared about Jesus. Hold your glow stick up high. Pause. You can share God’s love and light with the people around you.
Thank kids for coming, and tell them you look forward to seeing them next week.