eGROUP LESSON PLANWEEK 2: DECEMBER 14-15

MAIN POINT

BIBLE STORYThe Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12

MEMORY VERSE“For God (point up)

so loved the world (cross arms over chest)that he gave (extend hands forward)

his one and only son.” (hold up one finger)John 3:16a (NIV)

I(point to self)

Can Love(hug self)

Others!(point out)

2

GIVE the green, red, and yellow popsicle sticks to three different children in your group. INSTRUCT children to pass the popsicle sticks around the circle. When you CALL OUT: Christmas!, children will stop passing the popsicle sticks.

Each child holding a popsicle stick will complete an action:

GREEN = 10 Christmas Tree Jumping Jack’s (stand with your feet together and arms angled at sides like a Christmas tree. Hop your feet out and raise your arms, creating the the top of the Christmas tree)

RED = 10 Rudolph’s Nose Touches (spread your arms wide and touch your nose)

YELLOW = 10 Twinkling Stars (crouch in a ball and jump up, like a star twinkling in the sky)

EXPLAIN and DEMONSTRATE all the actions before starting the activity.

After each child has completed the actions, CONTINUE the activity, passing the popsicle sticks around the circle and CALLING OUT: Christmas!

PASS THE POPSICLE STICKENERGIZER ACTIVITY

5-10 MINUTES

SUPPLIESgreen popsicle stick, red popsicle stick, yellow popsicle stick

KID CONNECT

KID CONNECT

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CHRISTMAS PUZZLESPARTNER ACTIVITY

SUGGESTED TIME5-10 MINUTES

GIVE each pair or group of three a Christmas puzzle.

ENCOURAGE children to work with their partner to put the puzzle together.

When a pair or group correctly puts their puzzle together, have them place all the pieces in the puzzle’s bag and switch puzzles with another group.

CONTINUE as time allows.

SUPPLIESChristmas Puzzles (6 puzzles)

THE WISE MENBIBLE STORY

8 MINUTES

INTRODUCE the series using the series overview:

Today we are headed to Candy Cane Lane, the sweetest Christmas shop on the block. But there is a mystery at Candy Cane Cane Lane! We’ll need to help solve the mystery to learn what Christmas is all about.

TELL the children we can find stories about Jesus in God’s book, the Bible!

SHOW and READ the Bible story using the Bible Story Cards.

ASK and SAY the following to review the story. Give children a heart stamp when they answer!

1. What did God put in the sky when Jesus was born? (a star)2. Who followed the star to see Jesus? (the wise men)3. How many wise men followed the star? (three)4. Who did the star stop over? (the place where Mary, Joseph, and Jesus were staying)5. When the wise men saw Jesus they bowed down and worshipped him. What did they gave

him? (gifts fit for a king - gold, incense, and myrrh)

SAY: As soon as the wise men heard Jesus was born, they followed the star to see him. They showed Jesus they loved him by giving him gifts! We can love others, too! Repeat our main point after me:

I (point to self) can love (hug self) others! (point out)

5

SUPPLIESBible Story Cards (4), heart stamp

BIBLE CONNECTWHAT IS BIBLE CONNECT?Bible Connect is all about BIBLE CONNECTIONS: for kids to make connections with the Bible and learn to love the Bible! Kids will make connections to the Bible in two ways: by hearing and talking about the Bible story and practicing the memory verse. Begin Bible Connect after the Get To Know You activity.

MEMORY VERSE MISTAKEMEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY

7 MINUTES

PRACTICE the memory verse. Do the motions and say the verse together a few times.

For God (point up)so loved the world (cross arms over chest)that he gave (extend hands forward)his one and only son. (hold up one finger)John 3:16a (NIV)

USE the Memory Verse Mistake Sheet to RECITE the memory verse, making a mistake. Children will compete to be the first to raise their hand if a mistake is made.

EXPLAIN to the group that any child who recites this verse at the end of the month will receive a special Candy

Cane Lane Christmas ornament!

6

SUPPLIESmemory verse mistake sheet

BIBLE CONNECT

WHO CAN YOU LOVE?APPLICATION ACTIVITY

10 MINUTES

HOLD the Who Can You Love? cards face down in your hand.

CHOOSE one child to pick a card and read the statements on the card. When children think they know who you are talking about, have them raise their hand and call on a child to answer.

Once a child has guessed correctly, SAY: You are right! We can love our [insert person].

CONTINUE for the remaining cards.

SAY: There are lots of people we can love! The wise men showed they loved Jesus and we can show others we love them, too! Say this with me:

I (point to self) can love (hug self) others! (point out)

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SUPPLIESWho Can You Love? cards (8)

YOU CONNECTWHAT IS YOU CONNECT?You Connect is about the eGroup leader (YOU!) helping children make connections with the main point and their lives. You Connect activities reinforce the main point with fun and engaging activities. Begin You Connect after Large Group.

WE CAN LOVE MEMORYAPPLICATION ACTIVITY

10 MINUTES

LAY the We Can Love memory cards facedown in the center of the circle.

EXPLAIN children are going to play a memory game. SAY: The wise men showed Jesus they loved him by bringing him gifts! We can show we love others, too! Repeat after me: I (point to self) can love (hug self) others! (point out)

PLAY We Can Love Memory. Each child gets to turn over two memory cards and keep them if the pictures match. If a player turns over two cards which do not match, those cards are turned facedown again. It becomes the next child’s turn whether or not the pictures match.

After each match is found, say:

MATCH STATEMENT

1 We can love others by playing games with them. Who can you play games with? Give your neighbor a ‘high five’ and say ‘I can love others!’

2 We can love others by serving them! If you can serve others, stand up, clap your hands over your head and take a seat.

3 We can love our parents by making our bed. Everyone pretend to be sleeping in your bed.

4 We can love others by praying for them! Let’s pray now! Dear God, thank you for our friends and family. Help me show them love and do nice things for them. Amen!

5 If you have a brother or sister, wave your hands in the air. How can we love our brothers and sisters?

6 We can love others by obeying. If you can obey your teacher, clap your hands 10 times.

7 We can love others by sharing our things. What is something you can share?

8 When we help wash the dishes, are we showing our mom and dad love? Yes! Let’s pretend like we are washing a really big pot.

After all matches have been found, or as time allows, SAY: We can love others! God gave us lots of people and lots of ways to show love to others!

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SUPPLIESWe Can Love memory cards (8 sets)

YOU CONNECT

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT TAKE HOMECOLLECTIBLE ACTIVITY

5-7 MINUTES

ASK: Today we learned I (point to self) can love (hug self) others! (point out) What ornament did Holly want to buy for her friend, Jason Jingle? (the guitar ornament)

SAY: That’s right! I have a special guitar ornament, like the one Holly broke, for you to color and put on your own Christmas tree in your home!

GIVE each child a Christmas ornament and crayons. ALLOW children to color their ornament.

After a few minutes, SAY: Good job coloring! Everyone hold your guitar up in the air so we can see all the pretty ornaments!

SAY: Take your guitar ornament home and hang it on your Christmas tree in a place you can see it every day to help you remember what we learned in Quest. Today we learned we can love others! Let’s say our main point together:

I (point to self) can love (hug self) others! (point out)

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SUPPLIESChristmas Ornament (1 per child), crayons

YOU CONNECT