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⦁ Question of the Day: Where is the farthest place you’ve ever traveled for Christmas?
Host enters. This Engage uses the Crowd Control Game “Jingle Box.” (www.crowdcontrolgames.com) It can be purchased online and played on any computer. If you don’t have access to the game or would like to play it without a computer, simply prepare three wrapped boxes, without the bottom side. For each round, place one of them over a Christmas item and move all the boxes around a table multiple times to mix up the order. Have the kids guess which box the item is under.
Host
Are you getting ready for Christmas?!
Optional, play Home for the Holidays. You can play any Christmas song you’d like. This song is not included in the curriculum.
Co-Host enters, wearing an ugly Christmas sweater.
Co-Host
I am! Ready for that family picture? Say, “Cheese!”
Co-Host leans in and takes a picture on his/her phone (with the flash on.)
Co-Host
You’re the best, Mom. Are you going to make your famous Christmas snickerdoodle cookies again this year?
Host
Did you just call me “Mom?” What is going on? Ugly Christmas sweater, pictures, snickerdoodles?
Co-Host
I’m just missing my family this Christmas. I love being around them, but I don’t always get to see them during the holidays.
Host
That can be a bummer for sure. Does anyone else live so far from your family that you don’t get to see them at Christmas?
Co-Host
Does that make you feel a little sad? Me, too. Now I’m thinking I should have brought you a sweater, too. We could have matched.
Host
That’s totally not necessary. I get that not being around all your family can be disappointing, but there is some really good news found in the Christmas story that will help you when you feel a little alone. It’s like a surprise that most people didn’t see coming when Jesus arrived at Christmas.
Co-Host
That sounds exciting. Speaking of surprises, let’s a play a fun Christmas game called “Jingle Box.” In this game, you’ll see three boxes on screen. One of them is hiding the jingle bell, and after they’re mixed up, you get to guess which one has it.
Play several rounds of the game. Allow all the kids to respond by holding up 1, 2, or 3 fingers to show which one they think has the jingle bell.
Host
I’m so thankful that Christmas is a season of good news for all of us. That really gives us a reason to celebrate. Right now it's time to see what our friends are up to in the lab. First, turn to someone and tell that person your favorite Christmas movie to watch with your family.
Host and Co-Host enter. Prior to the Engage, fold the paper multiple times and draw a simple person shape on the first page. Cut out that shape and keep the paper person chain together, to be revealed at the end. This is the classic paper chain of people, but if you have a larger room, use a roll of craft or butcher paper to create a giant-sized chain.
Host
Have you ever been guilty of sneaking around in search of Christmas presents like Sophia? I’m sure there’s a good reason she didn’t find one with her name on it.
Co-Host
But Skip has her believing that it’s because Herman doesn’t want her around. Hopefully she will talk to him and clear up the confusion.
Host
When I have questions, the Bible helps me clear up my mixed-up thinking. Let’s check out our Big Point and see what God has to say.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Co-Host
After we count down from three, we need you to read the Big Point.
Co-Host
Let’s all say it together, God Wants Me In His Family! Did you know that God has a family? It’s made up of everyone who believes in and follows Jesus. That means God’s family must be huge. That’s a big Christmas list.
Host
It is huge because God keeps adding to His family every day. God doesn’t want a small family. He invites everyone to be part of it. God made that possible by sending Jesus at Christmas.
Co-Host
That’s why we are never really alone. Not only is God with us as our Heavenly Father, but He’s also given us this incredible family of people who love Jesus.
Host
Jesus wasn’t alone at Christmas. God gave Him a family, Mary and Joseph. Jesus came to make sure that we would never feel alone again. The next time you feel lonely (Show the folded paper chain), remember that with God, you’re never alone.
The Host and Co-Host reveal the paper chain of people. You may need some additional volunteers to help support the middle portions of the chain.
Co-Host
That’s a big family.
Host
It’s just another reason why Christmas is good news. Let’s hope that Sophia learns she’s part of a family, too.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Co-Host
Let’s repeat the Big Point,
Co-Host
God Wants Me In His Family! That’s something Sophia just doesn’t believe about Herman and the crew.
Host
It doesn’t help that she’s listening to Skip McDougall. He’s not known for telling the truth. If she’d look around, Sophia would realize that she has a big family at the Lab and with God.
Co-Host
If she needs some truth, then we should go to the Bible and see what God says. Let’s choose an assistant to help us reveal the Big Verse.
Host and Co-Host choose a kid to volunteer.
Host
After we count down from three, we need you to read the verse.
Co-Host
John 1:12 (NIrV), “He gave them the right to become children of God.” This is what God did for everyone who believes in Jesus and accepts Him as their leader.
Host
There’s a difference in how you act at home with your family and how you act when you’re at a stranger’s house. That’s because at your house you know that you belong there. You know that the people there love you. You know you are part of a family or team.
Co-Host
Let’s look at some things around the house, and let’s talk about the difference between how you treat them at home versus being at a strange place.
⦁ Picture of a Refrigerator
⦁ Question: Do you dig in and just take things from a stranger’s refrigerator? Why not? What about the one at your house? Why?
⦁ Picture of a TV
⦁ Question: Do you sit down, pick up the remote, and start changing the channel on a TV at a restaurant? Why not? Do you feel comfortable doing it at home? Why?
⦁ Picture of a Bed
⦁ Question: Would you hop into a bed at the furniture store and take a nap? Why not? Do you feel comfortable hopping in your parent’s bed to take a nap? Why?
⦁ Picture of People Hugging
⦁ Question: Would you walk up and hug someone you’ve never met before at school? Why not? Do you like to give your mom or dad hugs? Why?
Host
There’s a difference when you’re part of the family. Because of Jesus, we’ve been given the right to join God’s family. Because we’re part of the family, we have a special connection with God, just like you have with your family. We can trust that God loves us and wants the best for us. We will always be there for us, and He loves to help us. We can confidently go to God with whatever is on our mind.
Co-Host
The best part is that we’re never alone because of God’s big family. Let’s stand and take a moment to worship God along with the family of God who are here with us in this room.
Christmas is a time to celebrate, but sometimes it also can be a little sad. Whether you’re happy or sad, feel like celebrating or not, I have good news. This big family you’re a part of when you say, “Yes” to Jesus includes all of us and all these wonderful adult volunteers. They would love to pray with you, thank God with you, give you a hug, or ask God to help you this Christmas. If you’d like to pray with one of our volunteers, come to the front, and we can pray together.
Host and Co-Host enter.
Host
Christmas is a great time to celebrate the family that God has given you, and it’s an even better time to celebrate God’s big family that we get to be part of when we follow Jesus.
Co-Host
God made sure that Jesus had a loving family that first Christmas, and it was a great reminder that with Jesus we’re never alone. Let’s say our Big Point again,
Co-Host
God Wants Me In His Family!
Host
Let’s check out this week’s Big Do, so we can learn how to talk with our family about the Big Point.
Co-Host
Today’s Big Do is to create a poster or flag that represents your family at Christmas. Draw the traditions, foods, and activities that represent your family during the holidays.
Host
One tradition that I love is singing Christmas songs. Let’s play a game. For this one, you have to finish the Christmas song. We’ll play part of the song, and you say what lines come next.
Optional, play game music. Play the game. You can sing the lyrics or play the song. The song files are not included with the curriculum.
Host
It was fun to sing songs together. Let’s gather in our Small Groups and discuss today’s lesson.
Gather the kids into Small Groups and discuss the following.
What’s the difference between being a guest at someone’s house and being part of the family? A guest doesn’t have access to everything in the house.
Why is it “good news” to know that we are a part of God’s big family? It’s good news because it means we have access to all the blessings God has for us and we have many Christian brothers and sisters.
How does it make you feel to know that God chose you to be in His family? How can that good news help you when you’re feeling sad or lonely?
Share some ways that you can spread the good news about being in God’s family with others this Christmas.
Choose two kids from the audience to come on stage and answer the question.
Our Big Point says, God Wants Me In His______!
a. Friend group
b. Family
If you follow Jesus, then God is your heavenly ______.
a. Father
b. Neighbor
Jesus came to earth to do what?
a. He wanted to connect us to God
b. He was bored
John 1:12 (NIrV), “He gave them the right to become ________ of God.”
a. Children
b. Cousins
Jesus’ earthly parents were named Mary and Joseph.
a. True
b. False
When they arrived in Bethlehem, Mary and Joseph found _______.
a. The town was quiet
b. There were not guest rooms available
Jesus was born surrounded by what group?
a. Kings and leaders
b. Animals
Emmanuel means ________.
a. God is with us
b. God is a baby
What is one thing you could you do to help someone who feels lonely this Christmas?
What is this week’s Big Do?
Make a family flag or poster
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