The Gift that Keeps on Giving
Group Activities

Sermon Title: "The Gift that Keeps on Giving"

Scripture Reading:John 1:12-13

GIFT GAME #1:

This game is played like musical chairs, but the children remain seated in a circle and pass the gift around until the music stops. The child with the gift is then out and one chair will be eliminated as well and the game continues. Children might enjoy playing both Gift Games with the changes made.

GIFT GAME #2:

This game is also played like musical chairs except a decorated GIFT box is placed on a chair and the music plays as children walk from chair to chair. The child who is at the chair with the gift on it when the music stops is out of the game and one chair is removed. The gift box is placed on another chair and the game continues.

GIFT EXCHANGE:

The teacher can either bring small gifts for the children to play the "White Elephant" gift exchange game, or the teacher can call the children during the week and tell them to bring a toy or something from home to exchange during Sunday School this week. Play the White Elephant game with the children and tell them that they all have "gifts that keep on giving" and that can lead into the Bible lesson today. (Basic rules for the White Elephant game are: The gifts are placed in a central location, and the children draw numbers to determine in what order they will take turns selecting a gift. The first person opens a wrapped gift and the turn ends. On subsequent turns, each person opens a new present and gets the choice to keep that present or to "steal" another person's unwrapped gift. When a person's gift is stolen, they swap gifts with the person who is stealing their gift. The game is over when the last person has taken their turn.)

GIFT WRAP:

Let children wrap an empty box and add a pretty bow or ribbons to the gift. Give each child a card to decorate and write JESUS IS THE BEST GIFT, and attach to the gift.

CANDY CANE GIFT:

Children can glue an "upside down" candy cane to be a "J" on a piece of heavy card stock. Decorate and color the card and write "J IS FOR JESUS - THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING!" on the card. Let the children enjoy eating a candy cane for themselves during class as well!

J is for JESUS ART:

Let children draw a large "J" on a large piece of paper. Spread glue inside the big letter "J" and sprinkle glitter or cereal on the J. With colored markers, write THANK YOU JESUS FOR LOVING ME SO MUCH!

JESUS CHAIN:

Give the children strips of construction paper. On each strip of paper, children can write THANK YOU JESUS, or J IS FOR JESUS, or JESUS LOVES ME, and other ideas and words from our lesson today. Children can then make a JESUS CHAIN with loops inside other loops and see how long their Christmas chain can be. Hang the chain around a window or lay it out down the middle of the table.

Song: "Jesus Loves Me"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track

Song: "The Greatest Gift of All"

Words and Music (pdf)

MP3 Accompaniment Track