This Weekend’s lesson focused on the Christmas account of the shepherds. On the night Jesus was born an angel of the Lord appeared to a group of shepherds who were watching their flocks in a nearby field. The angel told the shepherds the Messiah had been born in Bethlehem, the city of David. In Biblical times, shepherds were considered lowly and dirty. Yet when God decided to announce the birth of His Son to the world, He chose to send angels to the shepherds first. Perhaps God did this for many of the same reasons we examined last week regarding the humble birth of Jesus. By telling the shepherds first God was showing us that the good news about Jesus is a gift for everyone, even those that society looked upon as the lowliest.

In this lesson we challenged the kids to think more about the meaning of the angels’ message to the shepherds. The kids were encouraged to work together to unlock phrases like “Glory to God in the highest” and to think of modern day examples when we can show peace to one another.

When the shepherds heard the good news, they ran from the fields leaving their flock behind, to find Jesus. Once they found the baby they told everyone they met about Him. We also encouraged the kids to do the same.

“He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote” Matthew 2:5.

The birth of Christ is one of the pivotal moments in our faith. The images of the manger with the animals might be a child’s first experience with Jesus. Can you imagine wrapping a child in bands of cloth and then laying him or her in a manger or feeding trough?! The Savior of the world had such humble beginnings, and that is the lesson we taught the kids this week. The conditions in the stable were not ideal, and yet the glory of God shines in this moment!

With Christmas Day nearly here, the children might be consumed with thoughts of presents and maybe even Santa, and forget about the real reason for Christmas. Help them (and yourself if you need to) to pause among the decorations and Christmas carols, and enjoy the quiet manger where a mother cradled her newborn son.

Jesus changed the course of history, but on the night he was born, he was just another baby crying in the night. Jesus had great possibility on that night, but it would take years before it was all realized. We are like that too. As parents help your children realize that they are children of possibility, loved and cherished by God, and that Jesus was born to save them from their sins.

From all of us here at Kidz Alive to you and your families, “Merry Christmas” and may the Lord continue to bless you.

“He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote”. Matthew 2:5

Hey guys Just to remind you that tomorrow Thursday December 18, is the Kidz Christmas Program. So come on out and support the kids as they sing praises and worship to our Lord. They have practiced hard and now is time to enjoy. There will also be a time of fellowship and desserts after the performance. We hope to see you there. It all starts at 7 pm in the main Sanctuary.

This week we focused on the journey of Mary and Joseph from their home in Nazareth to Bethlehem. By journeying to Bethlehem for the census, Joseph and Mary were returning to the hometown of their mutual ancestor, King David. As we studied in the text from Micah last week, Bethlehem, King David’s hometown, was the place where the promised Messiah was to be born.

The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was not an easy one. The distance between the two towns was more than seventy miles, a four to five day journey over rough terrain for a man in good health. Considering that Mary was nine months pregnant and that the couple probably walked most of the way, it may have taken them more than a week to travel to Bethlehem. In spite of the hardships, this week’s Bible account ends with the promise of a great joy. Mary was soon to have a baby. So we see that the anticipation of the arrival of Jesus, God’s promised Messiah, is what sets the tone of this great journey.

So this week as you talk to your children about Mary and Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem, remember the joy of the story and the joy we celebrate. Talk to your children about what it means that God sent Jesus as a baby to show us that God’s love for you and all the world has no limits and no end.

“He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote” Matthew 2:5.

Luke 2:8-20 describes the experience of the shepherds when Jesus was born. Think about that for a moment. Out of the whole of Jerusalem society, God picked a band of shepherds to hear the news of Jesus’ birth. That’s intriguing because shepherds were among the lowest and most despised social groups.

The very nature of shepherds’ work kept them from entering into the mainstream of Israel’s society. They couldn’t maintain the ceremonial washings and observe all the religious festivals and feasts, yet these shepherds, just a few miles from Jerusalem, were undoubtedly caring for sheep that someday would be used as sacrifices in the temple. How fitting it is that they were the first to know of the Lamb of God!

More significant, they came to see Him the night he was born. No one else did. Though the shepherds went back and told everyone what they had seen and heard, and though “all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds” (v. 18), not one other person came to see firsthand.

Scripture doesn’t describe how the shepherds’ search for the baby Jesus actually unfolded, but it’s not unreasonable to assume that they entered Bethlehem and asked questions: “Does anybody know about a baby being born here in town tonight?”

The shepherds might have knocked on several doors and seen other newborn babies before they found the special Child lying in the feeding trough. At that moment, those humble men knew for certain that the angels’ announcement was a word from God. After their encounter with Joseph and Mary and Jesus, the shepherds couldn’t help but tell others about what the angels had told them. They became, in effect, the first New Testament evangelists.

The shepherd’s story is a good illustration of the Christian life. You first hear the revelation of the gospel and believe it (Romans 10:9-10). Then you pursue and embrace Christ. And having become a witness to your glorious conversion, you begin to tell others about it (Luke 2:17).

May God grant you the life-changing spiritual experiences and the ongoing attitude of enthusiasm and responsiveness that causes you to tell others that you, too, have seen Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:7 sets the scene: “[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

That verse is explicitly concerned with a lonely birth. There were no midwives, no assistance to Mary at all. The Bible doesn’t even mention that Joseph was present. Perhaps he was, but if he was typical of first-time fathers, he would have been of little help to Mary. She was basically on her own.

Mary brought forth the child; she wrapped Him in swaddling cloths; and she laid Him in a manger. Where usually a midwife would clean the baby and wrap Him, there was no one. Mary did it herself. And where usually there would have been a cradle or basket for the baby, there was none. Mary had to put Him in an animal’s feeding trough.

When Christ entered the world, He came to a place that had some of the smelliest, filthiest, and most uncomfortable conditions. But that is part of the wonder of divine grace, isn’t it? When the Son of God came down from heaven, He came all the way down. He did not hang on to His equality with God; rather, He set it aside for a time and completely humbled Himself (Philippians 2:5-8).

by John MacArthur

The story of the first Christmas is so beloved that singers and storytellers across the centuries have embellished and elaborated and mythologized the story in celebration. However, most people now don’t know which details are biblical and which are fabricated. People usually imagine the manger scene with snow, singing angels, many worshipers, and a little drummer boy. None of that is found in the biblical account.

Christmas has become the product of an odd mixture of pagan ideas, superstition, fanciful legends, and plain ignorance. Add to that the commercialization of Christmas by marketers and the politicization of Christmas in the culture wars, and you’re left with one big mess. Let’s try to sort it out. The place to begin is in God’s Word, the Bible. Here we find not only the source of the original account of Christmas, but also God’s commentary on it.

We can’t know Jesus if we don’t understand He is real. The story of His birth is no allegory. We dare not romanticize it or settle for a fanciful legend that renders the whole story meaningless. Mary and Joseph were real people. Their dilemma on finding no room at the inn surely was as frightening for them as it would be for you or me. The manger in which Mary laid Jesus must have reeked of animal smells. So did the shepherds, in all probability. That first Christmas was anything but picturesque.

But that makes it all the more wondrous. That baby in the manger is God! Immanuel!

That’s the heart and soul of the Christmas message. There weren’t many worshipers around the original manger-only a handful of shepherds. But one day every knee will bow before Him, and every tongue will confess He is Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). Those who doubt Him, those who are His enemies, those who merely ignore Him-all will one day bow, too, even if it be in judgment.

How much better to honor Him now with the worship He deserves! That’s what Christmas ought to inspire.

The Kidz Christmas Choir will have their last practice before their concert this Saturday, December 13. The practice will start at 10 am and go till 12 noon. If you have a child signed up to perform this is a mandatory practice as we will be issuing their costumes for the performance. The performance will be on Thursday December 18, at 7 pm in the main sanctuary. We hope to see you there.

P.S. If you don’t have kids signed up but want to help us with the logistics of the practice and on the night of the concert come by this Saturday and let us know.

This past Friday and Saturday we had our anual Spiritual Warrior Campout. This is an event that the kids look forward to the whole year. This year’s theme was the helmet of salvation. Every teaching revolved around that theme. There were around 60 kids in attendance and 11 gave their lives to the Lord, praise God!. The event was a total success thanks to the volunteers and the parents that helped. This event could not run so smooth without their help. Once again thank you guys you are the greatest. We took a whole bunch of pictures and video, we hope to post here in the near future.

As we get into the month of December we are getting the kids to understand that the Christmas account is not only from the New Testament but that it runs through the whole Bible. Therefore, in this weekend’s lesson we helped the kids understand that Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy and one who brings peace. The kids were taught about the prophet Micah and his prophecy about Jesus. When Micah shared his message, it was a message of hope. We helped the kids realize that the big news would take place in a small town. This important message from long ago speaks to us now, as it did to people in Jesus’ time and to those who heard it first.

Micah also made this prophecy seven hundred years before Jesus came! Many generations had waited for the King that Micah promised. We compared with the kids how waiting four weeks waiting for Christmas differs from waiting seven hundred years for the birth of Jesus.

As you go through the week with your children spend some time thinking about how this news would have made you feel had you heard it thousands of years ago. What anticipation would you be feeling? That is the same anticipation that Advent and the birth of Jesus should bring every day of our lives.

This month’s memory verse is: “He will be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet wrote” Matthew 2:5.