Materials Needed

Bible
Mason Jar, Sticker Sheet, Candle
Mary & Joseph, Donkey Stickers

Scripture

Isaiah 9:2 and 9:6-7

Devotion

Place Mary, Joseph, and the donkey stickers on your jar. "Light" the candle and place it in the jar. These represent the hope of Jesus coming to rescue us from sin.

December is a very special month because we celebrate the most important birthday ever. Everyone can come to this birthday party, but many choose not to and ignore how special this day really is. We celebrate Jesus’ birthday in December and about four weeks before Jesus’ birthday we start really celebrating. Although Jesus should be celebrated all year, this is a very special time of remembrance, called Advent. The word “advent” means “arrival”. We celebrate the arrival of the hope that was delivered when Jesus was born.   
A very long time before Jesus was born, when Adam and Eve were the only ones on the Earth, they made a bad choice that caused sin to enter the world and broke God’s heart. Right then and there, God told of His plan to make everything right and He promised a son that would crush the serpent (Satan’s) head (Genesis 3:15).
Read the verses from Isaiah. These were written almost 700 years before Jesus was born! This scripture is a prophesy of hope and a promise from God. Jesus’ birth was the fulfilling of the promise that God would send a Savior in the form of a baby, Jesus.

Discussion Questions

Do you think that God was surprised about sin entering the world?
Not at all! God knows everything and He already had a plan to defeat the enemy by sending a baby who would be fully man and fully God.
What exactly is sin? How serious is sin to God?
Anything that is against the will of God is a sin. It is very serious because God hates sin. The Bible says that the “wages for sin is death.”
Hope is a feeling of expectation and a desire for something to happen, like when you are counting down the days to your birthday. What are some things that you can do to celebrate the hope of Jesus?
Answers will vary. One idea is to plan a birthday party for Jesus.
Do you know someone that is hopeless because they do not know about or believe in Jesus?
If so, write that person’s name on a piece of paper and put it somewhere to remind you to pray for that person every day.

Pray

Dear God, thank you so much for your promise to save us from the darkness of sin. Thank you for giving us hope through Jesus. God, turn our hearts towards you as Christmas approaches. Help us to not get caught up in the busyness of the season and miss the chance to celebrate the gift of hope that you sent to us on the night Jesus was born.
Amen

Worship Songs to Consider

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Mary’s Boy Child – Toby Mac

Materials Needed

Bible
Mason Jar, Sticker sheet, Candle
Sheep & Star Sticker

Scripture

Luke 4:16-21, Matthew 24:36, John 14:1-3

Devotion

Take a minute to make sure the Mary, Joseph, and Donkey stickers from week 1 are on the jar. See if the kids can remember the story by pointing to those stickers. Read the scriptures listed above together before continuing.

Place the star and sheep stickers on your jar. Light the candle again. Let these new stickers serve as a reminder of our faith that one day Jesus will return.

The future is something that has not happened yet. At the end of the day today, you will go to bed. That is something that WILL happen later or in the future. Sometimes it is really hard to wait for something that we know will happen. That happened to us when we were waiting on you to arrive. We waited for you for a long time, we packed our bags and got a room ready for you. We could not wait for you to come. We knew it would happen, but we did not know EXACTLY when. We were so excited. Is there anything that you are really excited to have happen, but you have to wait for it? Did it seem like it took forever while you counted down the days?
The Israelites were waiting on a Messiah and they did not know when to expect the Savior to arrive. For many years they suffered many hardships. They were sinful and disobedient and very unhappy because they were separated from God. God sent prophets to give hope that a Messiah was coming. They waited many more years until the Savior arrived that first Christmas day.
After Jesus came, many people who waited on Jesus did not accept that He was the Messiah. He was not what they expected. They expected the Messiah to be a conquering king and not a tiny baby or a humble servant. Like the Israelites, we are waiting for something too and it is not just Christmas. Do you know what it is?
Jesus! We are also waiting on Jesus. We do not know when He will come again. Jesus told us that He will return and that we should watch and be ready for Him. We have faith that Jesus will return because it was God's promise and God always keeps His promises. We do not know the day or the hour, but we can have faith that Jesus will come again and take us to the house that He has prepared for us. Faith is believing in what we have not yet seen.

Discussion Questions

Many Israelites, even religious leaders, did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah because He was not what they expected. They missed the blessing of knowing Jesus here on Earth because they were waiting on their own expectations instead of God’s design. Have you ever missed one of God’s blessings because you had your own plan or were expecting something different?
Discuss the answers your children provide.
What do you think it means to have faith?
Faith is believing that God will take care of us even though we cannot see what His plan is or where He is leading us. Faith requires us to obey even though we do not know the end, and faith is trusting our God who knows everything that the future holds.
Waiting is really hard! What are some things we can do while we wait for Jesus to return?
Answers will vary, but some options include telling others about Jesus, thinking about Jesus and His love, worship, praise, and serving others.

Pray

Dear God, as we spend time in this waiting place, help us to look to the future with great joy to the celebration of Jesus’ birth and to the day when He comes again. Amen.

Worship Songs to Consider

O Holy Night
It Is Well
Waiting Here for You – Chris Tomlin

Materials Needed

Bible
Mason Jar, Sticker sheet, Candle
Shepherd & Angel Stickers

Scripture

Luke 1:39-47, Luke 2:10, Matthew 2:10, John 16:16-24, Philippians 4:4

Devotion

Take a minute or two to review the stickers already on the jar. See if your kids can remember what the previous stickers represent. Read the scriptures listed above before continuing.

Place the shepherd and angel stickers on your jar. Light the candle. Not only do these stickers represent the joy the shepherds heard from the angel, they represent the joy of His birth, resurrection, and waiting on His return.

Christmas is such a joyful time of the year! It is a festive time where we spend more time with family, eat special treats, and give and receive gifts. What are the things that bring you joy at Christmas?
Joy is a main theme throughout the accounts of Jesus’ birth in the Bible. When Mary visited Elizabeth and shared the good news about being pregnant with Jesus, the baby in Elizabeth’s womb jumped for joy. Even an unborn baby was excited about the news of a coming Savior.
When Jesus was born, the shepherds were told of the good news. The angels said they were bringing good news that would bring great joy to all people. When the wisemen saw the star that would take them to Jesus they were filled with great joy.
Jesus’ birth was certainly something joyful! When we celebrate, we should be filled with joy over God sending His son to be fully present with us on Earth. It was a miracle. Though it was a miracle, the greatest joy ever was still to come. In Jesus’ own words, joy would come after grief and mourning. Jesus was talking about the grief that His death on the cross would bring and the JOY that His resurrection would bring.
We can be filled with joy while we celebrate His birth. We can be filled with joy of the hope that Jesus brought when He defeated the grave. Death could not hold Him, and sin no longer has a hold on us. We can be filled with joy while we wait for His return and the promise of eternity with Him.

Discussion Questions

Are joy and happiness the same thing?
No. Happiness usually depends on how we are feeling or what is happening to us. It is based on our circumstances. For example, if you win a competition you may be happy, but if you lose you may feel sad or angry.
Having joy is different. Joy comes from knowing the truth about God and His promises for us. Our joy comes from the forgiveness we have through Jesus and from knowing where we will spend eternity. When things are not going our way, we can remember that our joy comes from the Lord. We can have joy, even when we are not happy.
Philippians 4:4 says “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” What do you think it means to rejoice always?
Rejoicing is a way of telling people to be joyful in the Lord. We can always choose to rejoice and praise the Lord for all the good things He has and will do. Even in the hard times and even in the waiting we can find joy in His promises. When you know Jesus and have chosen to follow Christ, you should be bubbling over with joy.
What are some ways that Jesus brings joy to your life?
Answers will vary.
What are some ways that you and your family can help spread joy?
Discuss ideas with your family and choose at least one to put into action this holiday season.

Pray

Dear God, thank you for filling the world with joy when Jesus was born. Thank you, Jesus, for your death on the cross and for the joy you brought when you rose from the grave. Help us to be filled with joy at the promise of your return and let us bring joy to people by sharing the good news of eternity with you. Amen.

Worship Songs to Consider

O Come All Ye Faithful
Joy to the World
Jump for Joy – Promiseland
You’re Here – Francesca Battistelli

Materials Needed

Bible
Mason Jar, Sticker sheet, Candle

Scripture

Isaiah 9:6-7, John 14:27, Colossians 3:15, 2 Thessalonians 3:16, John 14:27, John 16:33

Devotion

Make sure your family is current on all the stickers. Did you miss any? The challenge really begins here. See if your kids can remember the story to this point by pointing to the stickers. So far, we have talked about Hope, Faith, and Joy. Read the scriptures listed above before continuing. Once finished, light the candle and read on! 

Have you ever thought about what it would be like to live during the same time as Jesus? Wouldn’t it have been awesome to see Him lying in that manger right after He was born? Or watching Him do all those miracles? How about going to see the empty tomb? It would have been so cool! However, during the time that Jesus was born, the world was full of sin and there was very little peace in Israel. Israel was ruled by an evil king named Herod. He was so awful, he tried to kill Jesus! When Jesus came to Earth, it was a scary time. On top of an evil king, Israel was being ruled by Rome who had another king, Caesar Augustus. Rome had fought and won a war against Israel and was ruling over them. The people in Israel did not like being ruled by another country.
They were excited when Jesus was born because the scripture that told of His coming said that He would reign on David’s throne with justice and righteousness forever and ever. It said that He would be the Prince of Peace. None of that happened the way they thought when they looked to that scripture. Jesus died and we still have wars today. Was the prophesy wrong? No way!
Jesus sits on the highest throne at the right-hand of our God. Jesus is indeed the Prince of Peace. What exactly is peace? The dictionary describes peace as a state of tranquility or quiet such as a freedom from war. The word “shalom” in Hebrew means “peace”. Jehovah-shalom is God of Peace. Peace from God is different from the world’s definition. Peace from God is perfect peace.
Does anything ever worry you? Everybody worries some of the time. Bad things happen. People hurt each other, there are wars, and people get sick. All these things have the same root cause, the world is broken because of sin. The world could certainly make us afraid with all its problems. But God gives us peace through the Holy Spirit when we trust Jesus. We can have peace that God has a plan for the world, a plan to restore it to perfect peace. That plan started with Jesus’ death and resurrection and will be finished when Jesus returns and makes everything right. While we wait, we can pray for peace in every situation. We do not need to be afraid because we know that Jesus has overcome the world.

Discussion Questions

When you do not feel peace, what can you do?
Pray for God’s peace and know that He will be with you no matter what the outcome is. Tell others about how you are feeling and ask them to pray for you. Memorize Bible verses about peace.
Is it still important for us to pray for peace in the world too?
Yes, because Jesus still desires for us to live in harmony with one another, especially those of us who trust in Jesus.

Pray

Dear God, thank you that we can have perfect peace in you. Thank you that you sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit to bring your peace to our hearts. Help us to handle any situations that try to steal our peace. Help us to not be anxious but to trust completely the plan you have for our lives.
Amen.

Worship Songs to Consider

Away in a Manger
Let There Be Peace on Earth
Silent Night
I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day – Casting Crowns

Materials Needed

Bible
Mason Jar, Sticker sheet, Candle
Wisemen and choice of Animal Stickers

Scripture

Read Luke 1:26-2:20, Genesis 1:27, 1 Corinthians 13:4-13, John 3:16, John 13:34-35

Devotion

Take as much time as needed to have your kids tell you the story by pointing to the stickers on the jar. Add the Wisemen and your choice of animal sticker, then light the candle. These represent why we celebrate Jesus’ birthday and God’s greatest gift of Love to us in sending His only Son Jesus to Earth. Read the scripture verses listed above before continuing.

Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday to Jesus! During the season of Advent, we have learned how Jesus’ birth, death, resurrection and one day His return brings us hope, faith, joy, and peace. These are the things that Jesus gives us when we trust in Him. Today we are going to talk about why God would send His only Son to Earth as a baby and let Him die on a cross. Can anyone tell me why in one word, God would do this?
Love. God created us in His image and God is Love. Every single one of us was made in love and for love. Sadly, sin entered the world, and it prevents every one of us from being who we were created to be, it separates us from God. Sin makes us impatient and unkind, jealous, and envious, boastful, and rude. Sin causes division in our families and robs us of peace in the world. None of this was what God intended for the beautiful world and people He created. Sin greatly grieved the heart of God, but God had a plan. Luke 2:10 tells us, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” John3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He sent His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Love, that is the answer to why. Love is why we celebrate Jesus’ birthday because it was the start of fulfilling God’s greatest gift to us.
As in previous weeks, we talked about what Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection brought to the world. We also talked about what to do while we are waiting for His return. Just like Christ loved us, we are to love others, in fact, Jesus commanded us to love others. We are to share His love for us so that everyone has a chance to know Jesus and live with Him for eternity. As we say farewell to 2023 and usher in 2024 may we keep the love story of Christmas in our hearts all year, not just at Christmas.

Discussion Questions

Advent is a season of waiting. In Biblical times, they were waiting on the Savior to arrive. Just like them, we are waiting for Christ’s return. How can you keep God’s love first on your mind all year long?
Remember to thank God everyday for His love and the gift of His son. Make a point of sharing the hope, faith, joy, peace, and love of Jesus all the time. Make a list of people that you think need to hear about and see Christ’s love and put it somewhere you will see it. Pray for them everyday and make a plan to show them Jesus.
We use the word love a lot in our world. We say we love ice cream, pizza, or presents. There are tons of movies about love. Love in our culture is something to be felt. The love of the Bible is different. In 1 Corinthians 13, every description of love is a verb, it is an action. What are some ways that your family can put love into action every day, not just at Christmas?
Make a list of things that your children suggest and then put them into action. Some ideas are helping people who are in need, serving at church and in the community, showing random acts of kindness, and looking for ways to make your community better.

Pray

Dear God, there are not enough words of thanks for the love you have shown for us. Thank you for creating us in your image. God, help us to reflect Christ’s love for us in everything that we do. Help us to turn away from sin and to instead find ways to put love into action, not just at Christmas time, but in everything we do while we wait for Jesus to come back. Thank you for the greatest gift of love, Jesus. We love you God.
Amen.

Worship Songs to Consider 

O Come O Come Emmanuel
O Come Let Us Adore Him
Happy Birthday Jesus – Promiseland
How Many Kings – Downhere
Christmas Offering – Casting Crowns
He Shall Reign Forevermore – Chris Tomlin