Abraham… David… Joseph… JESUS!
Matthew 1:1 This is the family history of Jesus Christ. He came from the family of David. David came from the family of Abraham.
ENTRANCE TO CLASSROOM: THE FAMILY OF JESUS
Read and clap each word. Repeat.
WORKTABLE: worksheet PDF
Printing: THE FAMILY OF JESUS
Craft: AN EVERGREEN TREE (Christmas Tree / Family Tree) / advanced preparation / directions to students
CIRCLE SONGS:
- Transition to circle: Criss Cross Applesauce
- Call to worship: I Hear the Blowing of the Shofar Calling me to Worship God!
CHRISTMAS THEME SONGS: pick one
- Over The River and Through the Woods to Grandfather’s House We Go! (just for fun)
- Joseph and Mary Had a Baby Boy (Instrument: Jingle Bells) / songsheet pdf
- God Sent a Savior for the World / songsheet pdf
- Jesus is Emmanuel… God With Us! (Tune: “This is the way we brush our teeth”)
BIBLE LESSON:
- We will be celebrating Christmas soon. What is the most important thing to remember about Christmas as we prepare? (discussion with children) ANSWER: THE BIRTH OF JESUS!
- Use cubes to represent each patriarch in the lineage of Abraham to Jesus. (Matthew 1:1-17) Explain how Jesus had a dad on earth… his name was Joseph. Jesus had a grandfather… his name was Jacob. Jesus had a great-grandfather… his name was Matthew. We can keep going down the line in the family tree until we get to David. Jesus belonged to the family of King David. Keep going… all the way back to Abraham. Do you remember Abraham? God promised to give Abraham a son and when he was 100 years old, his son Isaac was born. Abraham was father to all these generations. The Bible says if we believe in Jesus, we belong to Abraham’s family, too! (Galatians 3:7-9)
- Read from a favorite Christmas Story Book but stop at the part where Mary and Joseph are traveling to Bethlehem (City of David / Joseph’s family home). Encourage the children to come back next for the second part of the story!
PRAYER SUGGESTIONS (PICK ONE OR CREATE YOUR OWN):
- THANKSGIVING: Ask the children what name they use for their grandparents. The labels vary according to family ethnicity and complexity (Spanish: Titanic, Tito / Japanese: Obaasan, Ojisan / East African: Bibi, Babu / Yiddish: Bubbe, Wayde / German or Dutch: Oma, Opa / Swedish: Farmor, Farfar / Indian: Dida, Dadu…etc)
- Lead the class in a prayer of thanksgiving for their grandparents and their FAMILY TREE: for family members to know Jesus, enjoy good health, stay safe, be blessed, find joy and peace…
PLAY CENTERS:
- KITCHEN: each child fills a small baggie with a choice of trail mix ingredients with the help of an adult (tell them it is a take-home snack for the long journey to Bethlehem)
- TRAIN TABLE: Special feature: TRAIN STATION. Assessors: white felt surface, snowflakes, evergreen trees. Set-up sample.
- EASEL / PAINTS: Christmas Tree with Star of David PDF
- 1:1 CRAFT: Add decorations to worktable tree (MODGE PODGE, snowy glitter, snowflake stickers)
- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: Jingle Bells
- PLAY DOUGH: Christmas Cookie Cutters
- DRY TABLE: Hay, Nativity Set
- BOOK NOOK: Christmas Books