The Unmerciful Servant s12

Bridge Kids Early Childhood Lesson 3- through 5-year-olds, December, Week 1

December 3, 2017

Bible Story Focus: God told us He would give us Jesus. The Angel and Mary • Luke 1:26-33, 38, 46-49 Memory Verse: “God has given a son to us.” Isaiah 9:6, NCV Key Question: How do we know God loves us? Bottom Line: God gave us Jesus. Basic Truth: God loves me. Contents Game Station: activities done in K5 room...... 1 Bible Story Station: Done in the 3s / 4s room...... 6 Craft and Journal: Activities done in both rooms (K5 and 3/4 ) in last minutes of service...... 9

Game Station: activities done in K5 room

1. Praise/Worship with Christmas Songs The new DVD is in each room, reday to practice for the December 10 Musical!

2. Snow Angels What You Need: A large bag of packing peanuts and a flat sheet or plastic tablecloth

What You Do: Before the Activity: Lay the sheet or tablecloth out flat on the floor in an open area of the room. Pour the packing peanuts onto the sheet or tablecloth.

During the Activity: Line up the children at the end of the tablecloth or sheet. Let them take turns lying on their backs on the sheet and moving their arms and legs simultaneously to create a “snow” angel from the packing peanuts. Encourage each child to stand up and admire his/her work, then quickly fluff the packing peanuts back into a pile for the next friend. Allow each child to have a turn and repeat as long as time and interest allow.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “Have you ever made a snow angel, or have you ever seen a picture of a snow angel? (Pause.) To make a snow angel, you lie on the ground on your back in the snow and move your arms up and down and your legs in and out. (Demonstrate.) We don’t have real snow in here, but these packing peanuts will work! (Point.) Let’s line up here (point) and take turns making our own snow angels.”

1 Bridge Kids Early Childhood Lesson 3- through 5-year-olds, December, Week 1

After the Activity: “That was super fun! In our Bible story today, we’ll hear about a real angel that came to give a very important message. Let’s go find out what the angel had to say!”

3. Stack the Gifts What You Need: 12 empty, square, stackable boxes; red, green, gold, and silver wrapping paper; clear tape; and scissors

What You Do: Before the Activity: Wrap four boxes in each color of wrapping paper. Place all of the wrapped boxes in a pile in the activity area.

During the Activity: Ask one child to give you a red box. When the child gives you a red box, place it on the floor. Ask another child to give you a green box. Place the green box on top of the red box. Continue the activity by stacking all of the boxes. Be sure each child has a turn to give you a box.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “WOW! Look at all of these gifts! (Point.) They are all different colors. I see (point) red, green, gold, and silver gifts.”

During the Activity: (Ask one child) “Can you please GIVE me a red box?” (Place the box on the floor.) Thank you! (Ask another child) Can you please GIVE me a green box? (Place the green box on top of the red box.) Great job! Let’s keep stacking!” (Continue the activity by asking other children to give you a certain color box until they have all been stacked.)

After the Activity: “Great job giving me gifts to stack! We stacked ALL the gifts. It is so much fun to give gifts. In our Bible story today, we will hear about a VERY special gift.”

Transition: Move to Worship and Story by asking the children to pretend to carry a gift to the story area.

4. Post Office Playtime What You Need: Several envelopes of different sizes, and a DIY mailbox OR a play or metal mailbox

What You Do: Before the Activity: Create your own mailbox or place a purchased one in an open area of your room.

During the Activity: Point out the mailbox to the children. Select a few children to be postal workers. Encourage the postal workers to place the envelopes one at a time into the mailbox and say, “Special delivery!” as they place each envelope inside. Then call out the names of the remaining children to walk to the mailbox and pull out a letter as you say, ‘[Child’s name], I think you have a special delivery! Go find out what it is!” Let the children continue delivering and receiving the mail as long as time and interest allow.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “Raise your hand if you ever go with your mom or dad to get the mail from the mail box. (Pause.) Can someone raise your hand and tell me who brings the mail to your house? (Pause.) Yes, that’s right! A postal worker delivers the mail.”

During the Activity: “Do you see my mailbox here? (Point.) And what are these? (Hold up the letters.) That’s right, letters. So first, I need some of you to be my postal workers to deliver these letters. (Select two or three children.) Each time you place a letter in the mailbox, you should say, ‘Special delivery!’ Then I will call out your name if the letter is for you. So be sure and listen for your name to receive your letter!”

After the Activity: “It’s fun to receive letters in the mail, isn’t it? In our Bible story today, we’ll hear about a very special delivery, but this delivery was for everyone! I can’t wait for you to hear it. Let’s go!”

5. The Angel and Mary Talk About God | Bible Story Review Made to Create: An activity that allows preschoolers to review the Bible story, Bottom Line, or memory verse by creating a craft

What You Need: “Angel and Mary” Activity Page, white cardstock, and crayons or markers

What You Do: Before the Activity: Copy the “Angel and Mary” Activity Page onto cardstock. Provide one page per child. Place the markers/crayons in the center of the table.

During the Activity: Pass out the “Angel and Mary” Activity Pages to the children. Encourage the children to color the page and to trace the line from the angel to Mary.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “Who appeared to Mary with a special message? (Pause.) Yes, the angel!”

During the Activity: “Do you see the dotted line on your page? (Point.) It starts at the angel and runs all the way to Mary! Let’s color the pictures and trace that line from the angel to Mary.”

After the Activity: “God sent the angel to Mary with BIG news! Can anyone tell me what the news was? (Pause.) Mary would have a baby and his name would be what? (Pause.) Yes! Jesus! God told us He would give us Jesus. What a special gift. How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus.”

6. Special Delivery Live for God | Application Activity Made to Think: An advanced activity specifically designed for older preschoolers

What You Need: “Postcards” Activity Page, white cardstock, crayons, stickers, parent addresses, permanent marker, and postcard stamps

What You Do: Before the Activity: Copy the Activity Page onto the cardstock and cut apart.

During the Activity: Give each child a postcard. Allow the children to use the crayons and stickers to decorate the postcards. Write the child’s name under the printed word “Love,” on the front of the card. Write the child’s parents’ address on the other side of the card. Place a stamp on in the top right-hand corner.

After the Activity: Mail the postcards to the children’s parents.

(NOTE: If you are not able to mail the postcards, you may simply send them home with the children after church.)

What You Say: Before the Activity: “We should tell everyone that God gave us Jesus!’

During the Activity: “We are going to make a postcard for our families to tell them that God gave us Jesus!” (Do activity.)

After the Activity: “WOW! Your postcards look amazing! I cannot wait to mail them to your families. They will be so surprised to receive them in the mail. It is so much fun to give things to people we love. And God loved us so much that he gave us JESUS! How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus!”

7. Pass the Gift

Live for God | Application Activity Made to Move: An activity that uses a preschooler’s natural desire to move to help them learn

What You Need: A Christmas gift box or bag

What You Do: During the Activity: Line up the children shoulder-to-shoulder in an open area of the room. Instruct the children to pass the gift box or bag from one friend to the next as they each say this month’s Bottom Line. Repeat as long as time and interest allow.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “What is this I’m holding? (Hold gift box/bag.) That’s right, a gift. Today in our Bible story God told us He would give us the best gift ever: Jesus! Let’s take turns passing this gift while we say the Bottom Line.”

After the Activity: “As you passed this gift, you said something super important. You said that [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. God told us that He would give us the most awesome gift ever, and He did! God sent Jesus to us because He loves us. How do we know God loves us? Because [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus.”

Bible Story Station: Done in the 3s / 4s room 1. Memory Verse Review 2. Bible Story (with snack)

1. Memory Verse Review Hear from God | Memory Verse Review Made to Move: An activity that uses a preschooler’s natural desire to move to help them learn

What You Do: Before the Activity: Say the memory verse and do the following motions in front of the children:

God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you’re holding a baby) to us. (point your thumbs to your chest) Isaiah 9:6 (hold hands open like a book)

During the Activity: Say the verse again with the motions and invite the children to do it with you. Repeat several times.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “I am going to say our new memory verse today! Everyone watch me! God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you’re holding a baby) to us (point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6.” (Hold hands open like a book.)

During the Activity: “Now let's do it all together! Are you ready? God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you’re holding a baby) to us (point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6.” (Hold hands open like a book.)

After the Activity: “Great job! I love our new memory verse. It tells us that God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus! How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus!”

2. Bible Story What You Need: Bible, snack, carpet squares for sitting

LEADER: “Hello, friends! Can you believe it’s December? And you know that means? It’s Christmas! I LOVE Christmastime, don’t you? Christmas is really about how God

gave all of us a present. Raise your hand if you like presents. (Pause.) Me too! You can put your hands down.

“I love presents! Maybe this year you’re hoping for a new toy. Or maybe you want a new bike or a new paint set. Or maybe you asked for a new book or a giant LEGO® set.

“On the count of three, everyone tell me what they want for Christmas. Ready? One, two, three! (Pause as children respond.) Wow, those are great ideas.

“Now tell me this: Why does a person give another person a gift? Is it because we want to make them sad? (Pause as children respond.) No! Is it because we want to make them mad? (Pause as children respond.) No! Do we give a gift to someone because we love them? (Pause as children respond.) Yes! That’s right.

“So when God decided to give a gift to us on Christmas, He did it because he LOVES us.

“The Bible (hold up Bible) tells us that the first person God told about this special gift was a young girl named Mary. Mary loved God, and one day God sent an angel to see her.

“Mary was scared! She’d never seen an angel before. But the angel said (hold up the megaphone), ‘Do not be afraid, Mary! I have a message for you from God. You are going to have a BABY. God is giving you His Son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be a gift for everyone!

“And Mary said, ‘I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said.’

“So there you have it. God’s gift to us is who? (Pause.) That’s right, it’s Jesus! And why did He give us Jesus? (Pause.) Because God LOVES us. God gave us His Son, Jesus.

“And that gift is better than any gift you could get in the mail or find under the tree. How do we know God loves us? Because [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. How do we know God loves us?”

CHILDREN and LEADER: [Bottom Line] “God gave us Jesus.”

LEADER: “Yes! God loves us and so He gave us Jesus. What an amazing gift. Let’s pray and thank God for sending Jesus to us.”

Prayer

LEADER: “Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us SO much that You sent the most amazing, wonderful gift—your SON, Jesus—to us. We know that You gave us Jesus because You love us. We love You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Craft and Journal: Activities done in both rooms (K5 and 3/4 ) in last minutes of service

1. Gift for Postal Worker What You Need: “Gift Tag” Activity Page, red cardstock, scissors, Christmas stickers, red or green ribbon, hole punch, medium-sized Styrofoam cups, hot chocolate packets, plastic spoons, mini individually wrapped candy canes, and white lunch bags

What You Do: Before the Activity: Copy the Activity Page onto the cardstock. Cut along the dotted lines to make individual cards. Each child will need one card. Use the hole punch to punch a hole in the top left corner. Cut the ribbon into 10-inch strips.

During the Activity: Help the children place a hot chocolate packet into the cup and place a candy cane on top of the packet. Help the children place the cup inside a bag and then place a spoon inside the bag. Give each child a card and some stickers. Allow the children to decorate the card with the stickers.

After the Activity: Push one end of the ribbon through the hole in the card, so that the card is hanging from the ribbon. Tie the ribbon around the top of the bag and finish with a bow. Send the bags home with the children to place in the mailbox for the postal worker.

What You Say: Before the Activity: “It is so much fun to give gifts. God gave us the most precious gift of all when He gave us Jesus. We can give gifts too!”

During the Activity: “We are going to make a gift for someone who helps us every day. Do you know who? (Pause.) Our postal worker! That’s the person who brings us our mail. We are going to make a gift for him or her. We are going to give them what they need to make hot chocolate! (Do activity.) Great job! Now we have to finish by making the card to go with our gift.” (Finish activity.)

After the Activity: “Your gifts look amazing! Your postal worker is going to LOVE this gift. God loves us so much that He gave us the best gift of all: JESUS! How do we know God loves us? [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus!”

2. Journal Pray to God | Prayer Activity Made to Reflect: An activity that encourages personal application and prayer

What You Need: “Memory Verse Card” paper clipped in your Bible at Isaiah 9:6, journal, and fun-shaped pen

SMALL GROUP LEADER (SGL): “It’s small group time! Since our Bible story today had an angel in it, let’s fly to our special spot like an angel. Follow me!”

(Lead children to your small group spot.)

“Good job! Now let’s sit down so we can talk about our story today. One, two, three, sit down with me.

“In our story today, an angel delivered a very special message to Mary about a very special baby. Do you remember what the angel’s special message was?

(Pause for response.)

“Yes! The angel told Mary she was going to have a baby named Jesus and Jesus would be God’s Son! Jesus was the special delivery from God! [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus because He loves us. So when I ask you, ‘How do we know God loves us?’ I want you to say, [Bottom Line] ‘God gave us Jesus!’ Let’s try it! How do we know God loves us?”

CHILDREN and SGL: [Bottom Line] “God gave us Jesus!”

SGL: “Again! How do we know God loves us?”

SGL: “Perfect! And that is what Christmas is all about. Christmas is celebrating that [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. Our new Bible verse will help us remember that.

(Open Bible to verse.)

“Our new Bible verse says: God has given a son to us, Isaiah 9:6.

(Close Bible and lay it down.)

“And who did the angel say the Son is? (Pause.) You got it! Jesus is God’s Son! Let’s stand up and say that verse together with the motions. Just say what I say and do what I do.”

CHILDREN and SGL: “God (point arms straight up) has given (cup both hands in front of you like you are giving something) a son (rock your arms like you’re holding a baby)

to us (point your thumbs to your chest), Isaiah 9:6.” (Hold hands open like a book.) (Repeat several times.)

SGL: “You sound so good! If we keep practicing, we will know that verse by Christmas day and we can tell it to our family! What a great Christmas gift!

“Now it’s time to write in our journal and pray. Let’s sit down.

(Hold journal and fun-shaped pen.)

“Since gifts are a big deal at Christmas, today we’re going to make a list of gifts we want for Christmas. When I say your name, tell me one gift you want for Christmas.

(Write each child’s name and what they say beside their name. Remember to print the words they say so the children can recognize their names and the letters.)

“This is a great list. Thank you for doing that. Do you know that even though all of these gifts would be super cool to get, Jesus is the most special gift anyone will ever give us? It’s true! [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus to be our friend forever, because God loves us. How do we know God loves us?”

SGL: “You got it! So no matter what gifts you get for Christmas, God has already given you the BEST gift. God gave YOU Jesus!

“Let’s close our eyes and put our hands together so we can pray. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?”

(Give each child who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.)

Prayer SGL: “Dear God, this time of year is so fun! We love getting and giving gifts. Thank You for things like (read the list the children made). But God, we know the very best, most special gift we will ever get comes from You, and that gift is your Son, Jesus. Thank You for loving us so much that You gave us Jesus to be our friend forever. You are so awesome, God, and we love You! In Jesus’ name, amen.”