Curriculum
The Gifts that Jesus Brings
Memory Verse:
“Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear and see: The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with harmful skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the Good News is told to the poor,” Matthew 11:4-5
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
The Bible is full of truth. Prophets, those who God allowed to see im- portant things that will happen in the future, told of a Messiah who was coming. Jesus is that Messiah–God’s gift to us.
Scripture Summary
The Jewish people studied the Old Testament, and they knew it well. The Old Testament contains hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah and even prophecies of John the Baptist preparing the way (Malachi 3:1). Knowing these prophecies and seeing them specifically fulfilled helped the Jewish people accept Jesus as the Messiah.
Herod and his wife, Herodias, had imprisoned John the Baptist because he confronted Herod about his sin. As John the Baptist was sitting in prison, he began to have doubts. If Jesus was really the Messiah and had come, why was John the Baptist in prison? Wouldn’t it be better if John the Baptist was still preaching and preparing the way for Jesus the Messiah?
Through a messenger, Jesus answered all of John the Baptist’s questions and gave specific accounts of what had recently transpired because of Him. Miracles of healing and the good news being preached were proof of the Messiah’s presence. Herod would later have John the Baptist killed.
It was true. Everyone could breathe a sigh of relief and great anticiption. The long-awaited Messiah was here, really here! Jesus is God’s gift to us all.
Why Is This Important
Everything God had said was coming true. The Jewish people could see it with their own eyes. God had promised a Messiah to deliver them from their sins. God loved each of them (and each of us) so much that He sent His Son to save us. That’s a huge gift!
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Nearing the holidays, social media is flooded with people posting pic- tures of items they purchased for themselves and wrapped up to place under the Christmas tree. During this season, people want to ensure their loved ones receive the gifts they want. They might even be help- ing family members with their shopping.
Think of a super-special gift you’ve received from someone else. It could be a coupon for a night off, a gourmet cookie, or even a frivolous item that was outside of your budget. Was it a surprise or for a special occasion? What made that gift special? How would that gift compare with something you had purchased for yourself?
Today’s culture supports the fact that “if you want something done, you have to do it yourself.” While that might be true for a young mom wanting a bathroom cleaned (really cleaned) or an executive desiring a culture shift in the business, that isn’t true about the gift of Jesus. God’s gift of Jesus is a gift you can’t give yourself.
To receive Jesus and His saving grace, there’s nothing to do but accept and unwrap the gift. Accepting His gift includes repenting and turning from your old ways to His good ways. It brings Him such joy to see the look of wonder in your eyes as you embrace His gift of salvation and presence throughout your years.
Prayer
Dear loving God, thank You for Your gift of Jesus. Thank You for saving me and being with me. Help me remember that nothing I can do can make You love me more or less. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Paper towel rolls, 1 per child, Scissors, Tape or rubber bands
Get Ready:
Cut each paper towel in half so each child has two rolls
“Jesus answered, ‘Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear and see: The blind can see. The crippled can walk. People with harmful skin diseases are healed. The deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life. And the Good News is told to the poor.’” Matthew 11:4-5
Help children learn today’s Bible memory verse with these actions in parentheses.
SAY: Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear (hands to ears) and see (hands above eyes).
The blind (hands over eyes) can see (take hands off eyes).
The crippled (sit down) can walk (stand up).
People with harmful skin diseases (scratch your arms) are healed
(stop scratching).
The deaf (put hands over ears to close hearing) can hear (remove hands).
The dead (pretend to be asleep) are raised to life (wake up).
And the Good News (clap) is told to the poor (place hands around mouth like shouting).
Matthew 11:4-5
Continue saying the verse so children can learn it. Encourage children to show their families the motions as they say the verse at home.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Finished “God Provides” handouts from above, Pens, Bibles
SAY: Jesus is God’s gift to us. John the Baptist knew that, but John wanted to know if Jesus was really the Son of God. I need you to help me with our Bible lesson today so we can learn what Jesus said.
Read this paraphrase of Matthew 11:2-6. Stop along the way to lead the children in the motions in parentheses.
SAY: John the Baptist was in prison (arms crossed over face).
John had heard all the amazing things that Jesus did (hands to ears).
John sent his followers to Jesus (finger pointing in distance).
They asked Jesus (scratch chin thoughtfully), “Are You God’s Son?”
Jesus answered, “Go back to John and tell him about the things you hear (hands to ears) and see (hands above eyes).
The blind (hands over eyes) can see (take hands off eyes).
The crippled (sit down) can walk (stand up).
People with harmful skin diseases (scratch your arms) are healed (stop scratching).
The deaf (put hands over ears to close hearing) can hear (remove hands).
The dead (pretend to be asleep) are raised to life (wake up).
And the Good News (clap) is told to the poor (place hands around mouth like shouting).
Lead children in practicing their memory verse actions again.
ASK: What amazing things did Jesus do?
SAY: Jesus is God’s gift to us. Only God’s Son could do the amazing things that Jesus did. Jesus did wonderful works and Jesus is still at work in our lives today. As you go about your week, remember to look for ways that Jesus is working in your life every day.
Snack
Eye-Popping Snack
You’ll Need: Watch “The Gifts that Jesus Brings Us How-to Video”, 2 large marshmallows per child, 4 M&M candies per child, 2 Candy Corn candies per child, White cake frosting, Graham crackers, Plastic knives, Paper plates, Napkins, Pint-size Ziplock bags
Get Ready:
Cut each marshmallow in half by laying the marshmallow on its side with the round sides at the ends. Use a sharp knife to cut right down the middle of each marshmallow.
Note: You’ll use half the ingredients for the snack and half for the craft.
Say: John wanted to know if Jesus was the Son of God so he sent his friends to ask Him. What Jesus said was basically “just look around you to see all the great things that I’m doing.” We’re go- ing to make a snack that looks like eyes so we remember to look around and see all the great things Jesus is still doing.
Help children make two snacks by following these steps for each one:
- Lay both marshmallow halves on the graham cracker.
- Place a dot of frosting in the center of each marshmallow.
- Add an M&M candy to each dot of frosting.
- Place a dot of frosting between the two eyes.
- Set a Candy Corn candy on that dot to serve as the nose.
- Put one snack in a Ziplock bag and set it aside for the Gift Bags Craft.
- Enjoy the snack!
Remind children as they are eating to keep their eyes open to see all the gifts that Jesus gives us.
Game
“Jesus Says” Game
You’ll Need: Flour tortillas (one per child), Honey, Sugar, Cinnamon, Plastic knives (one per child), Paper plates
Tell children that they’re going to play a fun game of Jesus Says. Every time you say, “Jesus says,” kids should do what you say. If you don’t say, “Jesus says,” kids should not do what you say.
As you give instructions, play this game like Simon Says by sometimes saying, “Jesus says,” and sometimes not saying it. Encourage the chil- dren to listen well for what Jesus says.
Use the following instructions for your game (you can repeat instruc- tions):
- Close your eyes.
- Open your eyes.
- Shout loud.
- Whisper quietly.
- Sit down.
- Stand up.
- Scratch your head.
- Stop scratching.
Afterward, ASK:
- What would it be like to not be able to see? To not be able to hear? To not be able to walk?
- Do you have anything that you need Jesus to heal today?
SAY: We had fun with our game but there are people who are blind or deaf or can’t use their hands. They have real challenges. It’s amazing to know that Jesus healed people so we could know that He is God’s gift to us.
Craft
Gift Bags Craft
You’ll Need: “Gifts That Jesus Brings” gift tags, White or brown paper lunch bags, Christmas bow for each child, Clear tape, Christmas stickers, Extra snack in a Ziplock bag from “Eye-Popping Snacks”
Get Ready:
Print the “Gifts That Jesus Brings” gift tags. Cut apart the tags so each child has one. Also, watch the Gifts That Jesus Brings How-to Video to understand how to make the gift bags.
SAY: Jesus is God’s gift to us. And Jesus is God’s gift to others. I would like for you to think of someone you know who needs to be encouraged. Maybe this person is sick or alone. Maybe this person is sad or discouraged. Maybe this person has a disability.
Have children tell who their person is.
Say: We’re going to make special gift bags today for these people. You’ll put your extra “Eye-Popping Snack” in the gift bag.
Help children follow these steps to make their gift bags.
- Decorate your bag with the stickers.
- Place your “Eye-Popping Snack” in the bag.
- Close your bag.
- Fold 2 inches of the top toward the bottom of the bag.
- Close with clear tape.
- Attach a “Gifts That Jesus Brings” gift tag.
- Tape a bow to the bag.
Say: This week deliver this encouraging gift to someone who needs to know that Jesus is God’s gift to us.
Prayer
Christmas Prayer
You’ll Need:
Poster board or chalkboard, Something to write with
Get Ready:
Write Christmas down the left-hand side of the poster board.
Say: Jesus is God’s gift to us. What gifts can we give to Jesus?
Have children give ideas. Then lead them in praying and naming the things they want to give to Jesus. Have each child finish this prayer starter: “Jesus, this Christmas I want to give You _____”
