The Star of the Nativity Scene… Children’s Message on the Christmas Story
Lesson Objective: Who’s the star of the show? This is a question that might come up frequently in our lives. When it comes to the holidays, we easily let things distract us and take over our attention, neglecting the whole focus of Christmas. Even in something like a Christmas musical program or pageant, kids can jostle for “lead roles” and wonder who the star is. However, the star of a Christmas program isn’t any of the bedsheet-clad children…In fact, it’s usually not reenacted by a person at all. Rather, it is (or SHOULD be) Jesus! This message reminds children that Jesus needs to be the star of our lives, too. He should be the central figure of all that we are and all that we do, on Christmas Day and every day!
Download our complete 20-page Luke 2:1-20 Sunday School lesson that features these crafts. You can also preview the Bible Craft Ideas on the Nativity of Jesus.
Law/Gospel Theme: So often we want to be the main feature: the hero of sports, the star of programs, the top student, the boss at a workplace…In Christ we see a suffering servant. In order to be lifted high, He was brought low. He came to Earth not as a conquering king, but as an infant. His birth is the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises, given throughout the Old Testament. In Jesus, we see our hope and salvation, now and always!
Optional Materials: Items that might go with a Christmas play or Nativity set, or an actual small Nativity Set.
Bible Passage: Luke 2:1-20
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.
Greet children, and discuss the excitement of Christmas…
Christmas Children’s Sermon on the Birth of Jesus Christ
Hello, children of God!
Well, it’s Christmas! Are you excited? What do you like about Christmas? What are some things you do at this time of year? There are many fun and wonderful holiday traditions we might follow. One thing I enjoy doing, actually, is participating in a Christmas play or Nativity program. I’ve done quite a few of those over the years, and they can be a lot of fun. Have you ever been in a Christmas musical or program? What kind of part did you have?
Who do you think if the most important part in a program like that? Who is really the star of the show? As you discuss roles, hold up items that might accompany them, such as a shepherd’s staff, animal, star, or other items. Is it Mary? Or the shepherds? How about the actual star itself? Who has the key lead role? Well, hopefully you can guess, but the most critical part of the whole Christmas story is none of those…the star of the Nativity is, of course, our Savior, Jesus! That’s the whole reason for celebrating Christmas!
Sometimes, even if know this, it can be easy to forget. We can get caught up and distracted by all of the excitement that comes this time of year. We have parties, programs, lights, presents, and all sorts of other things that sort of make us neglect or drift away from the most important thing of all. We have Christmas because we remember that God gave us the greatest gift ever: Jesus reminds us that the Lord fulfilled His promises to redeem the world. God had planned it that way from the very beginning, and at Christmas He sent us His Son to rescue us from sin and death.
Christmas isn’t the only time we can tend to get distracted. There are a lot of moments in our lives when we might get too busy or too focused on things other than the most significant and central thing: our faith. It’s important to constantly come back to that. At Christmas, we come back to the birth of Jesus and how He came to us, and will come again. At Easter, we celebrate His sacrificial death and resurrection. But any day, and in many ways, we rejoice that He saves us and is present with us. Jesus should be the star of our lives! Let Him rule in your hearts and shine brightly in all that you do.
Let’s say a prayer to thank God for His Son, and ask for help in keeping Him the star of our lives…
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for the joy of Christmas
And for sending your Son to us
Please help us to focus on Him
And keep Christ the star of our lives.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference: Luke 2:1-20
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. -Luke 2:1-20