Children's Church Lesson: Angels Visit (The Annunciation)

Story

Say: Hello everyone!  Are you taller today?  You look like you’ve been growing.  We all start life as little babies, then grow and grow into big kids.  Someone in our story started small like us: Jesus!  Jesus was born as a little baby to his mother Mary and her husband Joseph.  Do you know who told them Jesus was coming to them? (Angels)

There are two angels in this story.  I wonder what angels look like, do you? Listen closely to the story.  Each time I read the word angel, flap your arms like wings.  Angels are polite and patient, so after I’ve said the word angel and then keep reading hold still and be patient until you hear  the word again. 

Read “Angels Visit” (Annunciation) in any children's bible.  Exaggerate the word angel in your reading, allowing “flying time” for the children.   

Lesson

Say: What did Mary and Joseph do when they saw the angels? (They were afraid, but they listened and believed)  What did the angels tell Mary and Joseph? (Do not be afraid. You will have a son; he will be God’s son, name him Jesus) Why was Jesus’ coming such a big deal? (He is the son of God; he came to save us all)

That’s right, Jesus’ coming was so special because he is the son of God and he came to save the world!  God sent his son as a new born baby, just like all of us!  The bible tells us that this new born baby has been with God since the beginning of time.  Jesus helped God create the world! 

Memory Verse

Nothing is impossible with God. – Luke 1:37

Big Idea

God send His son Jesus and he was born a baby just like we were born. 

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests of joys.  Say short prayer thanking God for loving us and sending us his son.     

Craft

Children will make angles using cotton balls and muffin cups. 

Advent Youth Lesson One (of three): The Word Became Flesh

Game Idea:  Four Square – see rules at: http://www.thatyouththing.com/resources/crowdbreakers.htm

Bible Verse 1: John 1:1-14

Video: 8 lb 6 oz Baby Jesus: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6AlEYreD6k.

 Make sure to stop right at 2:20 (to avoid language).  If you can’t project a computer you can play 

this segment from the movie Talladega Nights.  

Discussion

1)      When we think of Jesus at Christmas what do we think of? (Baby, human, etc)

2)      How does this compare with Ricky Bobby’s Jesus? (Similar in a lot of ways)

3)      What does John 1 have to say about Jesus? (Existed from the beginning of time, had a hand in creation)

4)      Why is it important to remember what John has to say about Jesus during the Christmas season? (Jesus is not just a baby, He is our savior and He is the son of God.)

5)      How does the way we think of Jesus affect our personal relationship with Him?

Wrap Up

Say: The season of Advent (or Christmas – if students aren't familiar with Advent) is all about trust.  If we trust that Jesus is our Messiah/Savior than we trust that baby Jesus was also the Son of God and the co-creator of the universe.

Prayer

Give the students time to share prayer requests AND praises (strongly encourage students to contemplate their blessings).  Close by thanking God for sending His son (in all his glory and power) to earth as a helpless baby to save us all.  If Jesus was just another baby than He cannot be the messiah.  

Anger Management: Cain and Abel

Story

Raise your hand if you ever get Angry.  Is it ok to be angry? (Yes) Do you make good choices or bad choices when you are angry? (Bad)  Is it ok to make bad choices when you are angry? (No)

Today we are going to read a bible story about two brothers and a very bad decision that was made because of anger.

Read “Cain and Abel” in any children's story bible (or Genesis 4).  

Lesson

Why did Cain get angry? (God like Abel’s offering better)  What bad choice did Cain make (Killed Abel).  I doubt that any of us would hurt someone that badly.  What are some bad choices you make when you are angry? (Mean words, hit, etc., let the children share) 

The bible tells us not let our anger make us sin.  What are some ways that we can keep from sinning when we are angry? (Use our words to tell the person they are making us angry, ask a grown up for help, as God to help us – take time for children’s answers).  These are all great answers!

One way we can keep form making a bad choice when we are angry is using our words to tell the person that they are making us angry.  That way they can stop doing the thing that makes us angry and sometimes just telling someone we are angry makes us less mad.

Another good choice to make when we are angry is to ask for help form an adult.  This is really important is using our words has not helped the situation.

Sometimes using our words and getting help from a grown up is not enough.  If we are still really angry after all of that we need to pray to God and ask him to take away our anger. 

Memory Verse

“In your anger, do not sin.” Ephesians 4:26 

Big Idea

Its ok to be Angry but it is not ok to sin in our Anger.   We need to tell people when they make us made and ask God for help.  

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Say a prayer asking God to help us make good choices when we are angry.  

Craft

Children will draw a picture of what makes them angry and a picture of what they can do when they are angry to keep from sinning. 

Youth Group Discussion: Anger- Work it Out

Bible Verse 1: Matt 5: 21-24

         

Video: The Skinny on Truth and Grace: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thpqXF04IkY

Bible Verse: Matt 18: 15-18

Five Questions:

1.     Help me understand what the Bible passages say about anger. (Reread them) Tell me what the Bible says in your own words.

2.     Have you ever been really angry with a friend or parent?  Does that feel different than being angry with an enemy or someone you barely know?

3.     The Bible passage says that becoming angry with someone is like murder.  How does make you feel?

4.     Jesus gives specific ways to deal with people who makes us angry or who have wronged us.  What are they?

5.     Jesus and the Skit Guys say that if you become angry with someone you should try to show them “Grace”.  What does that mean? ……….We’ll talk more about Grace next week.

Close in prayer and ask for prayer requests.

Children's lesson: Work it Out (Matthew 18:15-20)

Scripture Reading

Say: Have you ever done something that was not so nice? 

It's hard to admit, but I bet we can all think of times that we haven't been as kind as we could have been. And I bet you can also think of times that others have been unkind to you. 

So here's a question: What should we do about it? 

That's a pretty easy question when we're the ones who are wrong, isn't it? What's the right thing to do when we've been unkind in some way? (Apologize - and change our behaviors.) But what about when others are unkind to us? 

What's the best way to solve that problem? (Solicit children's answers)  Sounds like you have some very good problem solving skills!

Jesus says that when others have sinned against us - and done something unkind - that the first thing to do is have a talk with them. Most of the time when you have a problem talking it over can get things fixed, can't it?

If that doesn't work, maybe we need to some help? Sometimes asking a friend or two can really make things better.

And when none of that works, sometimes we just need to take a break - don't we? 
Sounds like your ideas are a lot like Jesus' when it comes to solving problems. Keep those good ideas in mind this week, ok?

In tonight's Gospel Jesus teaches a lesson about problem solving in our relationships with others - and what he suggests sounds similar to some of your ideas.   Let’s see what Jesus has to say

Read Matthew 18:15-20  from The Message

¹⁵ "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. ¹⁶ If he won't listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. ¹⁷ If he still won't listen, tell the church. If he won't listen to the church, you'll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God's forgiving love. ¹⁸ "Take this most seriously: A yes on earth is yes in heaven; a no on earth is no in heaven. What you say to one another is eternal. I mean this.  ¹⁹ When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. ²⁰ And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there."

Lesson

Today our Gospel story Jesus tells us how to work things out with other people.

Jesus says that when others have sinned against us - and done something unkind - that the first thing to do is have a talk with them. Most of the time when you have a problem talking it over can get things fixed, can't it?

If that doesn't work, maybe we need to some help? Sometimes asking a friend or two can really make things better.

And when none of that works, sometimes we just need to take a break - don't we? 
Sounds like your ideas are a lot like Jesus' when it comes to solving problems. Keep those good ideas in mind this week, ok?

Jesus asks us to work things out and to remember that the other person is a loved child of God just like we are--and Jesus promises to be with us even when we are angry or in a fight with someone else. You can take anytime in your life and Jesus promises to be there with you and with the other person. 

Memory Verse

¹⁵ "If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him - work it out between the two of you. If he listens, you've made a friend. – Matthew 18:15

Big Idea

Jesus asks us to work things out and to remember that the other person is a loved child of God just like we are.

Prayer- Ask for Joys and Requests

Say a prayer thanking God for his love, and for sending his son, Jesus, so that we can live forever with Jesus.  Ask God to help us be forgive others. 

Craft

Forgiving Heart Craft: Download free PDF: http://www.truthforkids.com/forgiving-others/#.UnpgVfnktqU