Wildside 12.22.19

Wildside December 22, 2019

Jesus Was Born

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Jesus was born to be God’s promised Savior.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

Small Group opening

(10–15 minutes)

Large Group Bible study

(25–30 minutes)

Small Group activities

(25–30 minutes)

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem—the very place the Messiah was prophesied to be born? () God is in control of all things, which He showed by using a pagan emperor to bring about His plan.

After Jesus was born, Mary laid Him in a manger. A king in a manger! It was so unlikely. But Jesus was no ordinary baby. He was God’s Son, sent in the most humble of positions, “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” ().

Imagine the shepherds’ surprise when an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared. The Bible says that they were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” ().

What a relief! This angel had come to bring good news. First, he proclaimed a Savior. The people of Israel were well aware of their need for a Savior. They made sacrifices daily to atone for their sin. Finally, a Savior had come who would be the perfect sacrifice for sin, once and for all.

Jesus was also Messiah the Lord. The word Messiah means “anointed one,” especially a king. The Deliverer and Redeemer would be King over His people. And this was all happening in Bethlehem, the city of David—just as the prophet Micah said.

This is the best news ever! An army of angels appeared, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors” (). The purpose of Jesus’ birth was twofold: to bring glory to God and to make peace between God and those who trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The BIBLE Story

Jesus Was Born

During the time Mary was pregnant with Baby Jesus, the Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, announced that everyone needed to be registered for a census. Every person traveled to the town where his family was from. Since Joseph was a descendant of King David, he and Mary left their home in Nazareth and traveled to Bethlehem, the city of David.

While they were there, the time came for Mary to have her baby. Mary and Joseph looked for a safe place for Mary to have her baby, but every place was full because of all the people who were in town to be counted.

So Mary and Joseph found a place where animals were kept, and that is where Mary had her baby. She wrapped Baby Jesus snugly in cloth, and she laid Him in a feeding trough.

In the same region, some shepherds were staying out in the fields and watching their sheep to protect them from thieves and predators. All of a sudden, an angel of the Lord stood before them. A bright light shone around the shepherds, and they were terrified!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I have very good news for you: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.”

Then the angel said, “You will find a baby wrapped snugly in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.” A king in a feeding trough? That was no place for a king!

All of a sudden, many angels appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”

So the shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to find Baby Jesus. They found Mary and Joseph, and the baby who was lying in the feeding trough. The shepherds went and told others about the baby Jesus.

Everyone who heard about Jesus was surprised and amazed. Mary thought about everything that was happening and tried to understand it.

The shepherds returned to their fields, praising God because everything had happened just as the angel had said.

Christ Connection: The birth of Jesus was good news! Jesus was not an ordinary baby. He was God’s Son, sent to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be their King.

Small Group Opening

Session Title: Jesus Was Born

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Jesus was born to be God’s promised Savior.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

Welcome time

Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to connect to your group and make sure each student is checked in.

Say • At Christmas, we celebrate how God provided His Son, Jesus, at just the right time. Who can tell me about a time that God provided for you or your family at a time when you needed Him to provide?

Table Wars

Transition to large group

Large Group LEADER

Session Title: Jesus Was Born

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Jesus was born to be God’s promised Savior.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

Name your favorite super hero. (Call on a few students.) Can any of you tell me where your favorite super hero was born?

Today we get to see where the hero of our story was born. And although you know the details of most of this story…I think you will learn something new today.

Can anyone remember whom the people of God were waiting for all these years? [Pause for responses.] (the promised Messiah, or Savior) In last week’s Bible story, what good news did the angel bring? [Choose a volunteer to answer.] (God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus.)

The people of God had been waiting for so long for this Rescuer to come, but they were on the lookout for someone who looked like a king! They were hoping for someone who would be powerful enough to rescue them from the Roman rulers—from high taxes and hard lives. But God chose Mary and Joseph, ordinary people in a small town called Nazareth, to be the parents of His Son. No one was expecting that!

Big picture question

Leader • But you and I know that there is something bigger than taxes and unfair rulers that we needed to be rescued from. What do we need to be rescued from? [Listen for kids’ replies.] Sin. So, why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

Tell the Bible story

Open your Bible to . Now let’s watch the Bible story video “Jesus Was Born.”

Leader • Wow. Jesus was born to parents we would never have expected, in a place we never would have thought of. Did you hear the excitement in the voice of the angel who declared this news to the shepherds? This was no ordinary baby!

The angel called this baby the Savior, the Messiah. Those are words that are similar to Rescuer. The shepherds probably heard about how God had promised through the prophets to send someone to save them.

And what did the shepherds do when they heard that this Messiah—this Savior, this Rescuer—was finally here? They dropped everything and hurried off to find the baby.

Ask the following review questions:

Why did Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem? (Caesar Augustus had ordered a census, )

What is a census? (A census is a count of all the people who live in a certain place.)

Which Old Testament king was Joseph’s ancestor? (King David, )

What did Mary use as a bed for Baby Jesus? (a manger, a feeding trough; )

What is a manger? (A manger is like a wide bucket or box which held animals’ food.)

Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

What group of people first heard the message that God’s Son was born? (Shepherds who were out in the fields with their flocks, )

What message did the angel give the shepherds? (“Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David”; )

What did the shepherds do when the angels left? (They hurried to find Jesus, )

Key passage

Show the key passage. Lead the boys and girls to read together .

Leader • We needed a Rescuer to save us from our sins. At just the right time, God sent His Son into the world. Jesus was the Rescuer God had promised to send.

Discussion starter video

Show the “Unit 5, Session 2” discussion starter video.

Leader • Why is it so hard for us to wait for things? What can happen sometimes when something is promised but we don’t see it for a while? Why do you think God waited to send Jesus?

Emphasize that we may not always know or understand God’s plan, but we can trust He is good and in control.

Pray

Invite kids to pray before dismissing to small groups.

Leader • Who can tell me the answer to our big picture question? Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

Let’s pray. Father, we thank You that You knew we could never defeat sin our own. We thank You that because we couldn’t save ourselves, You planned to send Jesus to rescue us from sin. Please change our hearts to trust in Him as Lord and Savior.

Dismiss to small groups

Small Group LEADER

Session Title: Jesus Was Born

Bible Passage:

Main Point: Jesus was born to be God’s promised Savior.

Key Passage:

Big Picture Question: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin.

Key passage activity

Have everyone look up the key passage. Recite the key passage together two times as a large group.

Review the hand motions from last week to help kids memorize the first part of the key passage. Then demonstrate motions for key phrases included in the last part of the passage. Consider these suggestions:

born under the law—Crouch down and lift your arms as though carrying a heavy load on your back.

to redeem those under the law—Throw off the heavy burden on your back and stand up straight.

so that we might receive—Extend both arms with palms up and bring them in (like you are catching a football) to show you are “receiving.”

adoption as sons—Hold out both hands with palms facedown and close them into fists as though you are grabbing hold of something.

Bible story review

Direct kids to form groups of two or three. Guide kids to take turns sharing within their group the story of Jesus’ birth, beginning with the angel’s visit to Mary. What happened first? Then what happened?

When the kids finish, guide them to form one large circle. Instruct kids to begin telling the story of Jesus’ birth by sharing one detail from the story at a time. (Possible starting details: “The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary” or “The angel told Mary she would have a baby.”)

After each detail, gently correct any misinterpretation or ask kids if they have anything to add. Then call on a volunteer to share the next detail. When finished, she will call on the next volunteer to continue the story. Repeat this pattern until kids tell the whole story of Jesus’ birth.

Consider emphasizing these key details:

The Roman emperor announced everyone needed to be registered for a census.

Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem.

Mary gave birth to Jesus.

Mary wrapped Jesus snugly in cloth and laid Him in a feeding trough.

An angel told some shepherds about Jesus and where to find Him.

The shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to find Baby Jesus.

The shepherds returned to their fields, praising God because everything had happened just as the angel had said.

prayer

Give each kid her prayer card and a pencil. Remind kids that Jesus was born to be God’s promised Savior.

Say • Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us from sin. Before God even created the world, He planned for Jesus to be the Savior we needed. God knew all the ways that we would sin, or disobey Him. He knew we would not love Him or other people like we should.

Prompt kids to list a couple ways that they have sinned against God or against others. If kids struggle to think of experiences, ask them if they have recently acted out of anger or jealousy toward a sibling, talked back to a parent, or lied to a friend.

Encourage boys and girls to write a prayer to God, confessing and repenting of their sin and thanking Him for sending Jesus to rescue them from sin.