Curriculum

Is Christmas Really Over?

Is Christmas Really Over? Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

Jesus, as both God and human, came to Earth to display God’s grace for all of us. And He wants an ongoing relationship with each of us.

Scripture Summary

John wrote this book to both Jews and non-Jews as an eyewitness to Jesus, His ministry, and His life. Because many of his readers had a Greek background and were familiar with mythical Greek gods, John took the approach to focus on Jesus’ supernatural aspects. Luke, on the other hand, took a more biographical approach.

Jesus was fully God and fully human at all times. He had a finite existence as a human on Earth while also having an infinite existence as God. Jesus, as God, was present at the creation of the world. Jesus, as a human, walked among people in this world.

“The Word” meant different things, depending on the context. In Hebrew Scripture, The Word was the voice of God—to create, to speak to His people, and God’s law. In Greek philosophy, The Word was high-level reasoning, absolute truth, or God Himself.

John the Baptist, a relative of Jesus, was God’s chosen messenger to announce the Messiah’s, or Jesus’, arrival. John the Baptist set the stage, preaching the good news and encouraging others to turn from sin and to turn toward God.

“The Word became flesh” means that Jesus became human. He walked on this earth, encountering everyday relationships, struggles, joys, and temptations that all humans face. This enabled Him to speak with both authority and authenticity.

Both law and grace are woven throughout the gospel and Jesus’ message. Carrying out God’s plan, Moses upheld God’s law, and Jesus taught and displayed God’s grace. God’s law and grace, through Jesus, go hand in hand.

Why Is This Important

We celebrate Jesus’ birth at Christmastime, but that’s just the beginning. Jesus came so that we would experience God’s love, grace, and freedom as we choose to follow Him.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

I used to think of the Christian life as more of a one-time transaction; I turned from my sin and turned toward God, and now I’ll just sit and wait for heaven. I’m so thankful that God intended so much more for all of us.

We celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus as a way of remembering that Jesus, and the grace He extends, is a gift. But it’s not over. Jesus desires an ongoing relationship with each of us—offering His presence in the highs and lows of life.

So why do you need Jesus today?

This may sound like a simple question with an even simpler answer, but that’s not the case. And you won’t find the answer contained in this short devotional. This is between you and God. God created you uniquely, and your circumstances are even more unique. The reason you need Jesus today isn’t the same reason your friend would mention today. Why do you need Jesus today?

Read the Scripture above slowly. What word or phrase stood out to you?

Read the verse again, out loud this time. How does that word or phrase connect with your life today?

Read it one more time. This time, listen for God’s invitation to you. How is He prompting you to rely on Jesus today?

Spend some time talking with God and thanking Him for His Son, Jesus. Share more about the needs you identified and how Jesus can meet those needs.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for being a creative God who meets my unique needs. I do need You and Your Son today. Thank You for being with me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles, “People Cutouts” handouts, Markers, Clothespins, Yarn, Heavy-duty tape

Get Ready: Make several copies of the handout and cut out the people shapes. On each cutout, write a word or phrase from the Bible memory verse. Make multiple sets if you want to have more than one team. Tape a long piece of yarn on the wall, and hide the people cutouts.

“Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

  • Read aloud John 1:12-13.
  • Explain to kids that their goal is to find all the people cutouts and then hang them on the yarn using clothespins.
  • Kids must hang the cutouts in the order of the Bible memory verse.
  • Once kids think they have the verse in order, have them compare it with what is written in the Bible.
  • When it is correct, have them read it aloud several times in their teams.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, “Who’s Who” handouts, Markers

SAY: Today we’re going to dig a little deeper into the Bible to see who is who, what is what, and where is where in our Bible passage.

Give each child a handout and some markers. Instruct kids to draw a world/ globe above the word “world” each time they see it, a cross above the word “Him” each time they see it, and a stick figure every time they see the word “children.” Allow time.

SAY: Sometimes to understand Scripture, we need to really zoom in on the who, what, and where. That’s why we drew symbols above parts of the verses. Look at where you found the word “Him.” (Invite kids to tell who “Him” is.)

SAY: Jesus is “Him” in these verses. Jesus came to those who were not His own. It is His name we are called to believe in.

SAY: Okay let’s go to the where. What is the where? (Allow kids to answer.) The world is the where. Jesus came into the world, but those in the world didn’t recognize Him.

SAY: And lastly, what is the what? Here’s a hint: Look at your stick people. (Allow kids to answer.) The what is the children of God. Not children of natural descent, but children born of God. Now that is a great what!

ASK:

  • Tell why you want to be a child of God.
  • What does this passage say has to happen for us to become God’s child?

SAY: Sometimes we get confused and think being a child of God is about what we do: going to church, being kind, and so on. But we become God’s children by believing in what Jesus has already done. Jesus came to Earth to rescue us from our sin and if we put our faith in Him, we are given the right to become children of God. That’s good news.

Snack

J Snacks

You’ll Need: Strawberry slices, Banana slices, Paper plates, Napkins

Get Ready: Have kids clean their hands.

  • Give each child a paper plate, a napkin, and a handful of strawberry and banana slices.
  • Tell kids to each make a letter J out of the fruit slices, alternating strawberry and banana.

SAY: You all did a great job making J’s. Does anyone have a guess what the J stands for? (Pause.) That’s right: Jesus. Now that was easy, but as we each eat a slice from our J’s let’s share a word that describes Jesus. (Challenge kids to not repeat any adjectives describing Jesus.) We could describe how amazing Jesus is all day. He is truly a gift that keeps on giving.

Game

Musical Gifts

You’ll Need: Small gift boxes or bags, Large, showy gift, box or bag, Chairs, Music

Get Ready: Make a circle out of the chairs.

Follow the instructions to play Musical Gifts:

  • This game is played like Musical Chairs, but the children remain seated in a circle and pass the gifts around until the music stops. They can only hold one gift at a time and cannot hold a gift for more than three seconds so the gifts keep moving.
  • When the music stops, the child holding the large gift moves to the center to cheer on the other children, and one small gift is removed.
  • The game continues until only one child is left.
  • Play several rounds as time permits.

ASK:

  • Explain what your goal was in this game and why.
  • The Bible says God sent Jesus to save the whole world. How was this game like or unlike God’s plan to save the world?

SAY: God sent Jesus because He loves everyone and wants them to be His children. Jesus is the greatest gift, above any other gift we could ever receive, because as God’s children, we live in a forever friendship with God in heaven.

Craft

Gift Box Craft

You’ll Need: Small boxes, Stickers, Markers, Ribbon, Scissors

Get Ready: You can reuse the small boxes from the game for this craft.

To make the gift boxes, follow these steps:

  • In the inside bottom of the box, instruct kids to write “Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.”
  • Then give children stickers and markers to decorate their gift boxes.
  • Encourage kids to tie their boxes with ribbon and write “Open please” on the outside of the boxes.

SAY: This gift may seem like it has nothing in it, but it includes the greatest message of all that Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.

ASK:

  • Who is someone you know who needs to hear about the gift of Jesus?
  • What will you tell that person about Jesus?

SAY: Take this gift home with you and pray about giving the box to someone who needs to hear about Jesus. Share with them how amazing He is and how if we believe in Him, He gives us the right to become children of God.

Prayer

Bow Prayers

You’ll Need: Gift bows, Butcher paper, Marker, Tape

Get Ready: Write the name “Jesus” on the butcher paper and hang the banner on the wall.

  • Give each child a gift bow.
  • Explain that in the prayer time today, kids are going to spend time praising Jesus for who He is.
  • Invite kids to hold their bows and think of one thing they want to praise Jesus for being, such as King, Savior, a great teacher, or Lord of all.
  • When kids are ready, explain that they will come up one by one and say, “Jesus, I praise you for being…” and fill in the blank.
  • When kids have finished, invite them to stick their bows on the lines of the letters in the word “Jesus” on the banner.

PRAY: Dear God, We thank You for Jesus. We praise You that He is our Savior and a gift that keeps on giving. We are so grateful that Jesus’ story doesn’t end in a manger but continues to the cross. Help us each to see our need for Jesus. In Jesus’ name, amen.