New Testament Unit 4: Jesus’ Birth Lesson 1: Prophets Told About God’s ...

[Pages:11]New Testament Unit 4: Jesus' Birth Lesson 1: Prophets Told About God's Son

Bible Story: Prophets Told About God's Son (Isa. 7:14;

9:2-7; Micah 5:2) Bible Phrase: "God's Son will

be born in Bethlehem" (Micah 5:2).

Bible Truth: God's promises are true.

God's Unfolding Story

1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

Suggested Schedule:

Arrival Centers ? 25 minutes Clean-up Time ? 5 minutes Bible Story Time ? 15 minutes Craft Time ? 10 minutes Snack Time ? 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal

Hour A

Unfolding God's Story for Teachers

The joy of becoming a parent is a wonderful experience. When parents discover they are expecting, it is often hard to contain the joy. Our children worked hard to come up with lots of imaginative ideas to relay the news each time they wanted to tell us that we were expecting a new grandchild. Things such as baby toys, T-shirts and hats with messages, ultrasound images and special dinners top the list. Although we have 11 precious grandchildren, each announcement was unique and special. After each announcement, the wait and anticipation of knowing whether the baby was a boy or girl followed. When that was determined, the long process of what the child would be named occurred. It is a good thing it takes nine months for a child to be formed in the womb, because it takes that long to make all the decisions and prepare for the birth! Babies bring joy and hope. As you observe the tiny, intricately formed human being, you are humbled at the work of an almighty Creator.

Long before the birth of Immanuel, God foretold His coming. From Genesis to Malachi, God entwined His message of hope and salvation through His Son. God used prophets to announce His coming. We learn in Micah 5:2 the Messiah was expected to be of the dynasty of David and to be born in Bethlehem, the ancestral home of David. Out of the little town of Bethlehem would come an eternal King.

Isaiah 7:14 announced the child would be born to a virgin, and His name would be Immanuel. Although Isaiah initially was giving this announcement to King Ahaz as a sign from God that he would have a son, it was not just for this King. Isaiah preserved this message for his people to wait for the anointed Immanuel, a name which means "God with us" (Isa. 8:16-17). This Immanuel would come to help His people (Isa. 9:2-7). He would be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.

Just as parents wait for the day their children will be born, Israel waited for its King--only the wait was much longer: 700 years after the last words were penned in Malachi, God gave the world His precious Son--not a minute too late or too soon, but at just the right moment in history. Through this tiny baby, the world would know God so much better. Through this tiny baby, the world would be saved.

We want preschoolers to hear that God delivers what He promises. God's Word is true, and we always can believe He will fulfill His promises.

Lesson Plan

Arrival

? Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them.

? Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed.

? Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session.

? Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time.

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 1

Block Center

Center Time

Bible Learning Center

Build with Blocks

Connect the Dots

Supplies:

Supplies:

? Wooden blocks

? Copies of Activity Page "Connect-the-

What to Do: Provide a small carpet if

Dots Bible" (Reproducible)

possible. Blocks are best located in a

? Washable markers or crayons

corner of the room away from the traffic

What to Do: Ask children to connect the

flow. Encourage preschoolers to work

dots in alphabetical order to reveal the object

together to build and construct.

around the Bible phrase. Children may want to

Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or tell the Bible story.

Home Living Center

Picture Pose the Bible Story

Supplies:

color the picture of the Bible. Link to the Bible Story: Express to children that in our story today we will hear about

? Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small

the prophets who told the people God's

table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; doll items such as doll bed, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles

Son would be born.

and diapers.

? Optional: Biblical costume (see instructions below), homemade

scroll, teaching picture

What to Do: Choose a Sunday or two this month to provide biblical

costumes and props for children to picture pose different parts of the

Christmas story. A few costumes will work for multiple characters. Picture

posing is dressing up as the character(s) in the teaching picture and posing

Art Center

as they are posing. Some children will enjoy dressing up and pretending while others may not be interested. Accept each child's choice. Help

Puzzle Center

Tracing Christmas Shapes

interested children put on the costume(s) over their clothes. Show

Work Puzzles

Supplies:

the teaching picture to the children. Explain this week the

Supplies:

? Copies of "Christmas Shapes"

biblical costume represents the prophets who told the

? Offer a variety of non-fantasy

(Reproducible/Cardstock)

people that God would send His Son. Help children pose

wooden or cardboard puzzles for

? White paper, hole punch, ribbon

as the character in the picture. Use the scroll as a prop.

children to work.

? Pencils, washable markers and crayons What to Do: Print the Bible phrase at the bottom of each paper. Cut out the Christmas

Link to the Bible Story: As children pose, express that in the Old Testament prophets told people that God would send His Son.

What to Do: Invite preschoolers to work puzzles. Encourage children to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Give

Shapes. Invite preschoolers to trace around

guidance rather than doing the puzzle for

the shapes on their papers. Encourage children

the child.

to color their shapes. Some preschoolers may enjoy cutting out the shapes, punching a hole and tying a ribbon to make an ornament.

Simple Biblical Costume

Two yards of fabric are needed for each

costume. Fold one and a half yards of the fabric in

Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or briefly tell the Bible story.

Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible

half widthwise; selvages will be on each side. Cut a

phrase at the bottom of the sheet.

hole in the center on the fold large enough for a child's

Comment that our story today is about the prophets who told the people God would send His Son.

head to fit through. Cut two 2-inch strips from the half yard of fabric for a waistband and headband. The remaining fabric can be used as a head covering secured by a headband.

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time

Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area.

Bible Story Time

Supplies:

? Bible ? Teaching Picture "Prophets

Told About God's Son" (Reproducible)

? God's Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock)

Introduction

? Show the God's Unfolding Story Cube. Point to each symbol and tell God's unfolding story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage children to say the story with you. ? Comment to boys and girls today's story is from God sent Jesus to help us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.) ? Talk with preschoolers about things their parents may have known about them before

they were born. Conversation might include if they knew whether their child was a boy or girl and what their names were going to be. Suggest that sometimes parents tell friends and family members several months ahead that they are going to have a baby. Express that having a baby is a special time for a family. Mommies and daddies do lots of things to get ready for their new babies.

Each year, you celebrate the day you were born because you are special to your family. ? Comment that in a few weeks it will be Christmas. Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Jesus is God's Son. God wanted His people to know Jesus would be born. Listen to hear how God told the people about Jesus.

Bible Story

Prophets Told About God's Son A long time before Jesus' birth, God told His people He would send His Son. God used individuals, called prophets in the Old Testament, to tell people that Jesus would be born.

Prophets were similar to today's preachers. They helped people know about God and how God wanted them to live. Prophets would tell people what God told them to say. One of those prophets was a man named Isaiah. God told Isaiah, "She will give

birth to a son and will call Him Immanuel" (Isa. 7:14). He also told Isaiah that He would send His Son to help the people (Isa. 9:2-7). God used another prophet named Micah. Micah told the people that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).

For a very long time, people waited for God to send His promised Son. They waited, and they waited. Finally, at just the right moment and in just the right place, Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph. God sent His Son just as the prophets said.

Talk Time

1. Show the teaching picture for today's Bible story. Ask the following: Who did God use to tell about His Son? Did God send His Son?

2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Remind children that many years before Jesus was born, the prophets told of His birth. Jesus was born just as God planned.

3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Thank God that His Word is true and that He sent His Son.

4. Direct children to Craft Time.

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time

Make a Bible Prophet Puppet

Supplies:

? Copies of "Bible Prophet Puppet" (Reproducible) ? Crayons or washable markers ? Large craft sticks, tape What to Do: Give each child a Bible Prophet Puppet to color and cut out. Assist younger preschooler with cutting if needed. Demonstrate to preschoolers how to fringe the prophet's beard by cutting along the lines of the beard. The ends of the beard can be curled by rolling each paper strip with a pencil. Attach a craft stick with tape to the back of the puppet. Link to Bible Story: Remind preschoolers that God used men called prophets to tell people that Jesus would be born. Invite children to hold up their Bible Prophet Puppets and recite the Bible phrase: "God's Son will be born in Bethlehem" (Micah 5:2). Express to preschoolers that we also can also tell people that God's Son was born.

Snack Time

Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up.

Game Time/Dismissal

Happy Birthday Jesus

Supplies:

? No supplies needed What to Do: Arrange children in a row. Place a chair in front of the children but not facing the row. Choose a child to sit in the chair and close his or her eyes. Select another child to tip-toe behind the child in the chair and say, "Happy

Birthday, Jesus!" The child in the chair tries to guess who spoke. Give the child several opportunities to guess. After he or she guesses or gives up, the child who spoke gets to sit in the chair.

Remind children that in today's Bible story, prophets told the people that His Son would be born in Bethlehem.

Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church.

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies

New Testament Unit 4: Jesus' Birth Lesson 1: Prophets Told About God's Son

Hour A

Standard Art Supplies

(Supplies that are generally in the room)

Washable markers Crayons

Child scissors Playdough and accessories

Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils

Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers

Watercolors Paintbrushes

Yarn

Standard Equipment

(Equipment that is generally in the room)

Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles

Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks

Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic)

Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans

Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area

Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/Children's Worship CDs

Reproducibles

(Included with the lesson plan downloads)

"Christmas Shapes" (Cardstock), 1 copy of each page per class Activity Page "Connect the Dots Bible," 1 per child "Bible Prophet Puppet," 1 per child

Teaching Picture "Prophets Told About God's Son," 1 copy per class God's Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock), 1 copy per class Parent Page, 1 per child

Optional: Coloring Page "Prophets Told About God's Son"

Additional Art Materials

White paper Ribbon

Large craft sticks

Additional Home Living

Materials

Optional: Prophet Biblical costume - 2 yards of fabric Bible scroll - dowels or craft sticks, paper

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A

Christmas Shapes

Christmas Shapes Instructions: Copy Christmas Shapes pages on card stock. Cut out shapes and invite preschoolers to trace around the shapes to make an ornament.

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Center Time: Art Center

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

Christmas Shapes

Christmas Shapes Instructions: Copy Christmas Shapes pages on card stock. Cut out shapes and invite preschoolers to trace around the shapes to make an ornament.

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Center Time: Art Center

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

B A

Connect the Dots

C

F

D

E

G

H

I

God's Son will be

X

J

born in Bethlehem.

W

K

Micah 5:2

V

L

S T

R

U

Connect the Dots

Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Use a crayon or marker to connect the dots to form the picture.

Q

P

O

N

M

NT04 Lesson 1 Hour A Center Time: Bible Learning Center

God's Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright ? 2012 -

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