Lesson Learned: We’ll be acting out the Christmas Story.
Materials Needed: any of a variety of items that you might have on hand to act out the Christmas Story with your kids (eg: sheets to wear over your heads like shepherds, yard stick or play horse to “ride” to Bethlehem, blankets for hay and the manger, babydoll)
Bible Verse:
Retell the Bible Story in our own words (it is below from Matthew’s gospel for reference); make the story come alive by acting the story out with your child)
(My daughter started “playing” the Christmas Story on her own and will pretend to be Mary riding on her stick horse and feeling so tired. Then, she’ll stand on our ottoman and pretend to be an angel, shouting, “do not be a afraid, Jesus is born in Bethlehem.” We have played this so many times I’ve lost count. I thought it would make a great devotional!)
Matthew 1:18-25 or Luke 2:1-20
18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel”(which means “God with us”).
24 When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25 But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Talking Points: Tell the child important truths as you tell the story, such as Jesus was God’s Son. God had promised that His Son would come down from Heaven to save the world a long time before He was born. Mary and Joseph trusted God. Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Angels announced His birth. Jesus was born in Bethlehem.
Questions: Ask the child questions like “do you think it was cold in the stable?”, “what kind of animals do you think were there?”, “what would you do if you saw an angel telling you about Jesus’ birth?”
Activity: see above
Prayer: Heavenly Father, we are so excited to be celebrating Your Son’s birthday and all the wonderful things He did when He came down from Heaven to live with us here. Thank You for the gift of Your Son! Amen!