Curriculum
Seeking the Savior
Memory Verse:
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
People of all nations, ages, and backgrounds sought Jesus, and we can, too. Jesus came to save each of us, and He wants us to seek Him–to look for Him.
Scripture Summary
The Magi (or wise men) sought Jesus to worship Him. Scholars surmise they were from Parthia and were prompted to search for Jesus: the Messiah. God provided a bright star shining in the east to guide them to Jesus. After the wise men found Jesus, they worshiped Him and pre- sented gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh.
In contrast, Herod sought Jesus out of jealousy and wanted to kill Him. The Jewish people were anticipating the coming Messiah and were calling Jesus the King of the Jews. The chief priests quoted a prophecy in Isaiah 60:3 when asked where Jesus was born, “...Bethlehem, in the land of Judah...will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.” Herod saw Jesus and His growing popularity as direct compe- tition. King Herod claimed he wanted to worship the child himself, but had planned to kill Jesus.
John the Baptist sought Jesus as a life calling. Because Jesus is God, He was with God in the beginning. He’s always been. John, Jesus’ cousin, was called by God to share the light (Jesus) with others. While some people rejected him, John’s message of the coming Messiah was received by many people. John was an arrow pointing to Jesus.
Why Is This Important
We all can seek Jesus, and we will find Him if we seek Him with all of our hearts (Jeremiah 29:13). Our best life is when we seek Him to wor- ship Him and to follow Him all of our lives.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
Bring Yourself to Jesus
“On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, and of incense, and of myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)
The treasures, the expensive gifts given by the wise men, were cho- sen specifically because they were worthy of a future king. Gold was a precious metal given to royalty. Incense was a gift for God. Myrrh was a spice used for preparing the body of someone who had died.
Honestly, there are days I find my arms empty of anything worthy to give to Jesus. The wise men “opened their treasures and presented him with gifts…” and you know these expensive treasures weren’t wrapped in a reused gift bag from last year’s Christmas. The expensive gifts were chosen, wrapped, and carried for miles as the wise men traveled.'
In the craziness of life, in the exhaustion of details and decisions, I find myself embarrassed at my empty hands or what I’m sure looks like rags in comparison with what the wise men gave. I skip right over some- thing truly important and focus on the tangible: the gifts. I wonder if Jesus calls us to bring something entirely different to Him.
As the wise men were preparing the gifts, they were also preparing their hearts. Their journey required monumental intentionality. And did you notice the very first thing they did when they arrived at Jesus’ house? The wise men “bowed down and worshiped him.” Regardless of the gifts we bring to Jesus, the most important thing we can do is bring ourselves to Him in worship. What does worshiping Jesus look like to you in the midst of everyday joys and challenges?
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for sending Your son, Jesus. Thank You that I can seek Him, find Him, and come to Him in worship. Please help me seek You and spend time with You in the middle of life’s craziness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need:
“Wise Men Search for Jesus Dot to Dot” handout—one for each child, Crayons
“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” Matthew 2:2
Read the Bible memory verse to children and ask if they have any questions about the verse.
Then say: The wise men had to work to find Jesus. Today we’re going to work to find something in our Bible lesson.
Give each child one of the “Wise Men Search for Jesus Dot to Dot” handouts and a crayon. Have children connect the dots.
Afterward, lead children in reviewing the Bible memory verse several times. Challenge them to continue to practice the verse at home.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: “3D Star Handout” one for each child, Colorful paper Scissors, “Seeking the Savior How-to Video”
Get Ready:
- Print the “3D Star Hand-out” as actual size (not fit to window). Print the handout on colorful paper.
- Watch the how-to video to learn how to make a 3D star. Since you will create the story while you talk, it’s important that you practice this until you can do it without looking at the instructions. This would be even easier if you have another person read the Scripture, while you cut out the 3D star.
Follow the numbered instructions in parentheses as you read the Scripture for today’s Bible lesson. Make sure children see every step of the process.
Say: After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (#1: Fold and crease the paper in half with the instructions facing outward.)
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusa- lem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. (#2: Fold 2a forward and to the right to match 2b. Then crease the fold.)
“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the proph- et has written: ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” (#3: Fold 3a forward and to the left to match 3b. Then crease the fold.)
Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” (#4: Fold the #4 fold line to the left and crease.)
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. (#5: Match the 5s together and crease the fold.)
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. (Place your scis- sors along the cutline. Cut.)
Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Unfold the star.)
And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. (Refold the creas- es so that all the points crease upward and all the short folds crease downward.)
Afterward, ask:
- What did you think of our amazing star?
- What were some of the amazing things you heard about in the Bible today?
Say: God used a star to guide the wise men. Today, God uses the Bible to guide us.
Snack
Star Sandwiches
You’ll Need: Bread, Jelly, Star cookie cutters, Plastic knives, Paper plates, Napkins
Have children follow these steps to make their Star Sandwiches.
- Take two slices of bread.
- Put jelly on one slice.
- Sandwich the slices together.
- Use the star cookie cutter to cut a star from the center of the sandwich.
- Enjoy the star (and the cut pieces too).
Say: I’m so glad that God doesn’t leave us alone when we are seeking Jesus. God shows us the way just as He showed the wise men the way with the star in the sky.
Game
Hot/Cold Game
You’ll Need: Bible
Get Ready:
You’ll need an adult volunteer who can leave the room and return with children.
Have two children step into the hall with a volunteer.
While they’re gone, tell the class that when the children return, they’re going to help them find a hidden Bible. But the only way they can guide is to say “hot,” if the children are close to the object, or “cold,” if they’re far away.
Hide the Bible so everyone knows where it is. Practice saying “hot” and “cold” with the class. Then bring the other children back into the room.
Tell children that their friends are going to help them find a hidden treasure. Begin play. And play until the Bible is found or children need help finding it.
Afterward, ask:
- How easy or difficult was it to find the Bible?
- How was this the same or different from what the wise men experienced with God’s guidance?
- Why do you think trusting God to lead you is a good way to find wisdom?
Say: God doesn’t make it hard for us to find His guidance. That’s why He has given us the Bible to know what to do in life.
Craft
3D Star Craft
You’ll Need: One “3D Star Handout” per child (more if you want kids to make more than one), Colorful paper, Scissors
Get Ready:
Print the “3D Star Hand- out” as actual size (not fit to window). Print the handout on colorful paper.
Give each child a “3D Star Handout” and scissors. Then lead children through the numbered instructions to make a 3D star. Kids can make several if there’s time.
- Fold and crease the paper in half with the instructions facing outward.
- Fold 2a forward and to the right to match 2b. Then crease the fold.
- Fold 3a forward and to the left to match 3b. Then crease the fold.
- Fold the #4 fold line to the left and crease.
- Match the 5s together and crease the fold.
- Place your scissors along the cutline. Cut.
- Unfold the star.
- Refold the creases so that all the points crease upward and all the short folds crease downward.
Prayer
Why We Seek Jesus Prayer
You’ll Need: Yellow poster, board, Marker, Scissors, Glitter paint
Get Ready:
Draw and cut out a large yellow star from the posterboard.
Say: God used a star to guide the wise men to find Jesus. God uses many ways today to help us seek Jesus. We have parents and teachers who guide us. And we always have the Bible to help us find Jesus.
Let’s talk about why we want to find Jesus. I want to seek and find Jesus because (complete this sentence).
Say: Why do you want to seek and find Jesus?
Help children use the glitter paint to draw pictures on the star to show why they seek Jesus.
Allow time.
Then gather around the star with all children holding on to a side of it as you close in prayer.
Pray: Thank You, Jesus, that You don’t hide from us when we seek You. We want to know You better. In Jesus’ name, amen.
