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Demo: Sunday School
Program: The Life of Jesus
Format: Grades 1 & 2
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
Paper StretchSupplies
- paper
- scissors (1 pair for each child, plus 1 for you)
Cut a Spiral
Hold up a sheet of paper for kids to see.
Ask: • What things can you do with a sheet of paper?
Say: I’m going to do something really amazing—and kind of impossible. I’m going to make this sheet of paper taller than any of you.
Ask: • Do you believe I can do that? Why?
Cut a spiral shape—in a single, continuous cut—from the outer edge of the paper to the center of the paper. Make the cut about ½-inch wide. (The narrower the cut, the longer the spiral will be.)
As you cut, say: God told Mary and Joseph he’d send his Son, Jesus, as a baby. To Mary and Joseph that seemed impossible. But God does the impossible! When you’re done cutting, ask a child to hold one end of the spiral to the ground while you hold the other end as high as you can.
Have children take turns jumping to see if the paper is taller than they can jump.
Let Kids Try
Hand each child a sheet of paper and a pair of scissors. Let kids cut their own spirals. As they work, talk about these questions.
Ask: • What did you think when you saw me do something impossible with the paper?
• Why do you think God does impossible things?
Say: I had a plan for this little sheet of paper. I wanted it to do something big and amazing! God has plans, too…and sometimes he has to do something impossible to make those plans happen. God did something impossible when he sent his Son, Jesus. God does the impossible.
Let kids find partners, and have one person hold one end of the spiral to the ground while the other person stretches the spiral as high as possible. Kids can also experiment with stretching the paper horizontally and seeing if anyone can jump as far as the paper stretches.
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Deeper Bible
15 min View
Deeper Bible
What Did Mary Do to Be Favored?Supplies
- Bible
- mailing labels
- pen
Make a List
Ask kids to share some characteristics that make people popular or famous. Write each characteristic on a different label as kids name them.
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.
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 to listen to some verses so they can answer this question: What do you think it means that Mary is called “favored”?
Read Luke 1:28 and 30.
Ask: • What do you think it means that Mary is called “favored”?
• How is being “favored” like being popular or famous? How is it different?
Learn About Mary and Jewish Culture
Ask kids whether Mary was a man or a woman. Explain that women were not seen as very important in that culture.
Explain that we know from other books that Jewish women at the time usually got married around age 12 or 13. Have kids name someone they know who’s about 12 or 13 years old.
Explain that we also know women at that time didn’t get to go to school or learn as much as men. Have kids share something they’ve learned in school.
Read Matthew 13:55, and ask kids to say what Joseph’s job was. Explain that research tells us that carpenters didn’t have much money.
Say: So, Mary was a very young, poor woman with little education. Does that sound like someone who’d be popular or famous? Allow responses.
Compare
Ask: • How does what you know about Mary compare with the things you said make someone popular?
• Is there anything we learned about Mary 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
Angel in the NightSupplies
- upbeat music (optional)
- music player (optional)
Tip
- You can purchase downloadable music and other items to enhance your DIG IN program here.
Recommended for 6 or more kids.
Important Messages
Say: Today we heard that an angel came to Joseph with an exciting message.
Tell about a time you had an exciting message to share, such as a new job or a surprise trip to an amusement park.
Ask: • When have you had an important message to tell someone?
• How did you share that message?
Joseph Hears the News
Say: While Joseph was sleeping, an angel came to him in a dream to tell him the amazing, impossible news that Mary was going to have a baby. The angel said the baby’s name would be Jesus! Through the angel’s message, Joseph and Mary discovered that God does the impossible. Let’s play a game to remember how God sent an angel with an important message.
Spread the News
Turn out the lights.
Have kids spread out across your room and lie down on the floor like they’re sleeping. These kids will be “Joseph.” If they want to, kids playing Joseph can pretend to snore or make other silly sleeping sounds.
Choose one child to be the “Angel.” If you have a large group, have two or three Angels at once so more children can have a turn.
Play upbeat music, and have the Angel run to a sleeping Joseph, tap him or her on the shoulder, and say, “God does the impossible!”
Have Joseph jump up and take the Angel’s hand and both of them run to share the news with another sleeping Joseph.
Have that Joseph take the hand of the previous Joseph, and so on, forming a long line led by the Angel.
Pause the music every few seconds.
Whenever the music stops, the Angel must immediately freeze in place. If the Angel freezes right away, he or she can keep playing as the Angel when you turn the music back on. If the Angel keeps moving after the music stops, that child becomes a sleeping Joseph and you’ll choose a different child to be the Angel.
Play several rounds so multiple children have the chance to be the Angel.
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Low-Energy Game
10 min View
Low-Energy Game
Trust TrekSupplies
- blindfolds (optional)
Mary Trusts God
Say: When the angel Gabriel appeared and told Mary that she was going to have a baby, Mary was confused and probably a little scared. How could she be having a baby? That seemed impossible! But Mary was also brave because she trusted that God does the impossible. Even though she didn’t understand, Mary was excited for this baby God was sending! Let’s play a game in which we’ll need to have trust like Mary did!
Walk in Trust
Have kids stand on one side of your room. Choose about a quarter of the kids to stand on the opposite side of the room, across from the rest of the group.
Explain that these kids must close their eyes (or you can use blindfolds).
Say: I’ll spin you around three times, and then you’ll try to walk across the room to join your friends. Be brave! It’s not impossible! Your friends will cheer and help guide you! You can trust their voices.
Spin kids around and have them walk toward the other children, listening to the cheers and guidance. Remind kids to use each other’s names as they guide their friends.
Make sure every child has a chance to walk across the room. Once everyone has had a turn, gather kids together.
Talk About It
Ask: • What was it like to walk with your eyes closed?
• How would you have felt if no friends had called out to help you?
Say: Sometimes we feel confused or sad about things in life, like going to a new school or when someone in our family is sick. Those problems can feel impossible! There’s a Bible verse that can help us when we feel like that.
Read Luke 1:37: “For nothing is impossible with God.” Then have children say the words with you.
Ask: • How does it make you feel to know that nothing is impossible with God?
Lead children in jumping up and cheering, “Nothing is impossible with God!”
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Craft
20 min View
Craft
Announcing AngelsSupplies
- construction paper (white and beige)
- markers
- scissors
- glue sticks
- gold or silver chenille wire
- clear tape
Easy Prep
- Use half a sheet of white construction paper and tape to make a 4-inch-tall tube for each child.
- Cut a 6-inch piece of chenille wire for each child.
- Use the instructions below to make a sample craft.
Talk About Angels
Ask: • How do we get good news today?
• What would be some fun and crazy ways to send a good message?
Share your own wild idea, such as sending a message by parakeet or spelling it out in cotton candy clouds. Then let children share creative ways they might send a message.
Say: God sent an angel to give Mary surprising news. It may seem impossible that an angel would talk to a person, but God does the impossible. The angel said that Jesus would be born.
Show children a sample craft, and tell them that today they’ll make angels to remember that God does the impossible.
Make Angels
Give each child a paper tube, a half sheet of white construction paper, about a quarter sheet of beige paper, and a 6-inch chenille wire.
Have kids set their hands on the white paper and trace around their open fingers to make outlines of their hands.
Let children cut out the hand outlines.
Tell kids to draw an angel face on the beige paper and then cut it out in a circle.
Show them how to wrap the end of the wire into a loop to make a halo.
Have kids glue the handprint “wings” to one side of the tube and then glue the face to the other side.
Let kids tape the halos in place.
Kids can use their angels to practice saying the Bible Point or retelling the story of the angel giving Mary surprising news.
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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).
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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
God Does the Impossible (Luke 1:26-38)Supplies
- Bible
- “Message Clues” handout (download here)
- 3 envelopes
Easy Prep
- Number the envelopes with a 1, 2, and 3.
- Print out a copy of the “Message Clues” handout. Cut apart the pictures. Put the picture of the angel in the envelope marked “1,” the picture of the baby in the envelope marked “2,” and the picture of the crown in the envelope marked “3.” Seal the envelopes.
Tell About the Angel
Gather children in a circle on the floor.
Hold up your Bible, and tell children that this true story is from the Bible.
Say: The Bible tells us that long ago, God promised to send a Savior to help his people. A savior is a person who rescues you from danger. Before God sent the Savior, he sent a message about the Savior.
Ask: • What are some ways we get messages today?
Hold up the envelopes, and tell kids that sometimes messages come in envelopes in the mail. Tell them that today you’ll explore God’s message with some clues.
Let a child open up the envelope marked “1” and show the picture of the angel.
Ask: • What have you heard about angels?
Say: An angel is a special messenger from God. God sent the angel named Gabriel to visit a young woman named Mary. She was engaged to a man named Joseph. Mary had never seen an angel before. She was scared.
Ask children to show you what their faces would look like if they saw an angel.
Pass Special Messages
Say: Let’s play a game to discover the special messages Gabriel had for Mary. I’m going to tell a message to the person sitting next to me. Then that person will whisper the message to the next person. We’ll pass the message around the circle.
Whisper to a child next to you: “Don’t be afraid, Mary!”
After the message goes around the circle, ask the last child to repeat the message. If they don’t quite have it right, repeat the message for everyone: “Don’t be afraid, Mary!”
Repeat the activity with the second part of the angel’s message: “You are special to God.” (You may want to pass this message around the circle in the opposite direction.) Be sure to repeat the correct message after it’s been passed around the circle.
Ask: • If you were Mary, how would you feel about that message?
Open the Messages
Say: Let’s see what else the angel said.
Let another child open the envelope marked “2” and show the picture of the baby. Ask children what they think that might mean.
Say: Gabriel’s message got pretty interesting! He said, “You’re going to have a baby. Name the baby Jesus. He is the Savior God promised to send.”
Ask: • How do you think Mary felt when she heard that message?
Lead kids in pretending to hold a baby. Talk about how small and helpless babies are.
Say: It might have seemed impossible to imagine a tiny, helpless baby becoming the Savior—someone who could save people. But God does the impossible.
Let another child open the envelope marked “3” and show the picture of the crown. Ask children what they think that might mean.
Say: The angel said, “Jesus is God’s own Son. He’s a king!” Mary’s baby would grow up to be a king. Wow!
Talk About It
Ask: • Think about what you want to be when you grow up.
Let kids take turns acting out what they want to be when they grow up, while other kids guess.
Say: It may seem impossible to think about being a [name some of the things children said] when you’re just a kid! But God does the impossible!
When Mary heard the angel’s message, she asked, “How can that be?” Gabriel answered, “Nothing is impossible with God.” God does the impossible! Mary said, “I love God. I will do what he has chosen me to do.”
Prayer
Say: God does the impossible. Nothing is too hard for God. Let’s thank God for his love and power right now.
Lead children in prayer, thanking God for his ability to do impossible, surprising things.
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Wrap-Up
5 min View
Life Application Wrap-Up
Prayer PathSupplies
- bedsheet
- ball
- rope
Easy Prep
- Put the bedsheet in one corner of the room.
- Put the ball in a different corner.
- Place a rope in the center of the room.
Hold the Rope
Say: Today we learned that God does the impossible. Hold on to this rope while we pray, to remind us that we can always hold on to God—even when things seem impossible. Have kids find a spot on the rope.
Walk the Prayer Path
Lead kids to the bedsheet.
Have kids hide under it (still holding the rope), pretending to be scared.
Ask kids to share things they’re afraid of.
Say: God is so big that he can do anything—even things that seem impossible. So we don’t have to be afraid. He’ll always take care of us.
Pray: God, help us trust you to do the impossible, even when we’re scared. Lead kids to the ball, and have them sit in a circle (still holding the rope).
Say: Sometimes we want to learn something new, like reading or playing a new game, but it seems too hard. It might even feel impossible.
Toss the ball to one child, inviting the child to tell about something new he or she wants to try. Let that child roll or toss the ball to a different child to share. Continue a few times.
Say: Nothing is impossible for God. And we can ask for his help when we want to try something new.
Pray: God, thank you that we can always ask you for help, knowing nothing is impossible for you.
Have kids squeeze the rope while you close the prayer.
Pray: God, we’ll always hold on to you. We know you love us, and you can do the impossible. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Thank kids for coming, and remind them to trust God to do the impossible this week. Tell them you look forward to seeing them next week.
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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
-
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
Need the LightTry Without Light
Say: Jesus is the light of the world, and he came to show us God’s love. Let’s have fun showing love to our friends.
Have kids scatter around the room so they’re as far apart as possible. Dim the lights, and ask children to cover or close their eyes tightly—and keep them closed!
Call out the following tasks one at a time, reminding children to keep their eyes closed or covered the whole time:
- hug a friend
- kindly pat someone on the back
- give a high-five
- find a friend and say, “Jesus is the light of the world!”
Celebrate Jesus
Let children open their eyes and form a circle on the floor.
Say: It looked like you had some trouble showing love.
Ask: • Why was showing love hard?
Say: When God sent Jesus to be born, it was like God saying, “I love you so much that I’m sending my very own Son to help you!” Jesus was like a light, shining God’s love to people who felt sad and lonely. Jesus is the light of the world.
Turn on the lights. Say: Now that we have light, let’s play our game again!
Repeat the activity, but keep the lights on and let kids keep their eyes open. Each time they show God’s love to a friend, call out “Jesus is the light of the world!”
Say: The light made a big difference! Jesus is the light of the world, and that makes a big difference in our lives every day.
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Deeper Bible
15 min View
Deeper Bible
Does God Have Favorites?Supplies
- Bible
- 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 large group, 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 the “favorites” rejoin the rest of the kids. 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 something that makes you feel 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?
Read Luke 2:10.
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?
Read Acts 10:34-36.
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
Heavenly HostSupplies
- 1 glow stick per child*
Glow Together
Say: When the angels appeared to the shepherds, there were lots of angels shining God’s light together. Let’s play a game to think about what that was like.
Hand each child a glow stick, and direct kids to scatter around the room.
Choose one child to be the Messenger Angel. He or she will hop on one foot to another child and say, “Good news! Jesus is born!”
Then the two children will join hands and hop to another child, where they’ll both share the exciting message.
Continue until you have a “host” of angels telling you the good news.
Allow children to play the game a few times. You can change the message to “Peace on earth” or “Jesus is the light!”
Talk About It
After a few rounds, gather the glow sticks and set them in a corner of the room.
Have children sit in a circle.
Ask: • What was the most fun about our game?
• Why is it fun to share good news?
Say: The angels had the fun job of letting people know that Jesus—the light of the world—had been born! The angels even had God’s special light glowing all around them for the shepherds to see. We can be like those angels, sharing with our family and friends the good news that Jesus is the light of the world.
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Low-Energy Game
10 min View
Low-Energy Game
Search for Baby JesusSupplies
- 1 glow stick per child*
- “Baby Jesus” handout (1 for every 4 kids) (download here)
- crying baby sound effect and music player or device to play the sound effect (optional)
Easy Prep
- Cut apart the pictures on the “Baby Jesus” handout. You’ll need one picture for each child.
- Hide the pictures around the room.
Tip
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Hide some of the pictures by taping them under a table or chair.
Find the Baby
Give each child a glow stick if he or she doesn’t already have one.
Say: In our Bible story, shepherds went to search for baby Jesus. Let’s look for Jesus just like the shepherds did.
Hold up a picture of baby Jesus so kids know what to look for.
Dim the lights. If the room is too dark with the lights dimmed, set a small lamp to one side of the room for safety.
Have children use their glow sticks to find the hidden pictures.
Optionally, play the sound effect of a baby crying while children search.
As each child finds a picture, have him or her sit in the middle of the room.
Once everyone has found a picture, have all the kids hold their lights high in the air and shout, “Jesus is the light of the world!”
Play a few rounds, hiding the pictures between each round. You can even choose a few children to hide the pictures.
Pray
Gather children. Say: Just as the shepherds found Jesus, you found Jesus, too. Jesus is the light of the world, and he showed God’s love to everyone.
Have kids each think about a friend or family member who would be encouraged to know God loves him or her. Let kids pray silently for those people, asking God to shine Jesus’ light into their lives.
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Craft
20 min View
Craft
Crafty CandlesSupplies
- markers
- craft sticks
- orange, yellow, and red tissue paper
- glue sticks
- plastic foam cups
- shakers of glitter
- crayons
Easy Prep
- Cut the tissue paper into easy-to-manage pieces, approximately 8½x11 inches.
Make a Light
Say: Jesus was born to show how much God loves us. Jesus is the light of the world! That means Jesus shines God’s love to us. Let’s make candles to help us remember that Jesus is the light of the world.
Have kids color their craft sticks with markers.
As kids color, ask: • When are you really glad to have a light?
Have kids tear pieces of orange, yellow, and red tissue paper to make flames. Let kids use glue sticks to glue the “flames” to the top of their craft sticks. Let children glue glitter on the flames, too.
Say: Let’s make stands so we can set out our candles to shine!
Have kids use crayons to decorate foam cups and then turn the cups upside down and stick their “candles” in the bottoms of the cups.
Let It Shine
Say: The shepherds ran and told everyone the good news that Jesus had been born.
Ask: • Who do you want to tell about Jesus?
• What will you tell about Jesus?
Say: When you go home, you can use your candle to share the good news that Jesus is the light of the world!
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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).
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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 for binding 2 glow sticks together to make a cross
- 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.
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. Sometimes, even though it’s light outside, we can feel dark or sad inside. We might feel sad, afraid, or lonely.
Have kids form small groups with a teenage or adult leader to discuss this question.
Ask: • Tell about a time you felt sad, afraid, or lonely.
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 God’s love. God sent Jesus to be born! Jesus is the light of the world who came to show God’s love!
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: I need your help celebrating this good news like the angels did.
Read aloud Luke 2:13-14.
Have kids pretend to be angels, 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, the shepherds hurried to find Jesus. And they found baby Jesus in the manger—just as the angel had said.
Motion to the manger.
Say: A manger is kind of like a big tub and is something you’d find in a barn. Animals eat out of a manger. It would be scratchy, dirty, and smelly!
Read aloud Luke 2:6-7, and then have kids make baby crying sound effects.
And the baby was in a dirty stable.
Pass around the bag of potting soil and have kids smell it.
Ask: • What would it be like to put a tiny baby in a dirty stable?
Shining God’s Light
Have children gather around the manger; then turn off the lights.
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 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.
Ask: • What do you usually do with a glow stick like this?
Say: The shepherds had the most important news in the world. They ran and told everyone about the light of the world. The shepherds wanted to tell everyone about the light of the world—Jesus.
Let kids crack their glow sticks and hold them up high.
Light Party
Tell kids to hurry and tell as many people as possible that Jesus is the light of the world before you call “Stop!”
Say: That was fun! We can tell everyone that Jesus is the light of the world. We can celebrate and share this amazing gift of God’s love for us!
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Wrap-Up
5 min View
Life Application Wrap-Up
Grip the LightSupplies
- glow sticks*
Glow
Darken the room. Have kids get out their glow sticks.
Say: You’re special to God—so special that Jesus came to the world for you. Jesus brought God’s love to the world like a light.
Thank God
Say: Hold your glow stick close to your body as we thank God for sending Jesus, the light of the world, to be with us.
Lead kids in thanking God for Jesus.
Hide the Light
Have kids each set their glow sticks on the floor in front of them and use their hands to cover the light.
Say: We have something great to share. God doesn’t want us to hide the news that Jesus is the light of the world. Let’s show our lights!
Show the Light
Say: Jesus wants us to shine his light and show love to others so they can know him, too.
Have kids name some people they would like to share Jesus’ love with.
Ask: • What things can you do to show Jesus’ love to others?
Say: Hold your glow stick out in front of you as we ask God to help us share Jesus’ light with others.
Lead kids in asking God to help them show Jesus’ love.
Shine
Lead kids in holding up their lights and calling out ways they’ll share Jesus’ love.
Say: Let’s thank God for sending Jesus because God loves us so much. Lead kids in shouting, “Thank you, God, for Jesus—the light of the world!”
Thank kids for coming, and tell them you look forward to seeing them next week.