Unit 1, Session 5

LEADER BIBLE STUDY When a close friend or family member has a baby, you might be excited and anxious

to meet the new baby. Perhaps you’d bring a gift or drop off a meal to the family. The

birth of a baby is an exciting time for family and friends who have been awaiting his or

her arrival.

When Jesus was born, the wise men came searching for the baby. God’s Son, our

Savior, would truly be a Savior for all people, not just the Jews. God used the very

thing these wise men would be drawn to—the mysterious appearance of a star, some

unique astronomical phenomena—to tell them that the baby Jesus was unique.

Following that star, the wise men arrived with their gifts. The Bible tells us of their

great joy in finding the Christ child. These wise men, who followed the star because

of their pagan superstitions and interest in astrology, worshiped the child, God’s Son,

Jesus.

How can you keep the purpose and joy of Christmas fresh in your heart as you

enter the new year? _________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

How can you help the children in your class begin to understand the connection

between the child the wise men worshiped and the Savior who died for our sins? ___

_________________________________________________________________

Where do you have opportunities to share your faith in Jesus with people from

other religious and ethnic backgrounds? Are you praying and prepared for this? _____

_________________________________________________________________

NOTE: Downloadable versions of items identified as CD are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. Items identified as DVD are available in the Digital Video Bundle.

Additional training for Bible Studies for Life: Kids available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife.

WISE MENVISITED JESUS

LIFE POINT: PeoPle should worshiP Jesus.

SUGGESTED DATEweek of December 31

LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNINGJesus transformed people through His love.

BIBLE PASSAGEMatthew 2:1-12

JESUS

WEEKLY BIBLE VERSECome, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6

UNIT VERSEToday in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:11

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›Pack Item 26

›CD

›sticky notes—Write each New Testament book name on separate sticky notes. Post them around the room.

›DVD

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS ►Order the New Testament, “Bible Books Poster” (Pack Item 26), “Love Is Born”

(CD, track 7)

1. Play “Love Is Born” as preteens arrive.

2. Draw preteens’ attention to the sticky notes posted around the room. Remark

that the books of the New Testament are written on the notes.

3. Invite preteens to find all of the notes and put them in order on the wall.

4. Once preteens have put them in the correct order, collect them and randomly

distribute them again. Challenge preteens to see how fast they can put the books

in order a second time.

5. Remind preteens that the books of the New Testament tell the story of Jesus’ life

and the history of the church once He rose from the dead.

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY ►“I Spy” Game

1. State that preteens will be playing an “I Spy” game.

2. Appoint a volunteer to step outside the room while preteens change something

inside the room. Remark that the volunteer will then return and have three

chances to guess what has been changed in the room.

3. Suggest that preteens do something simple such as move an object, change

jackets, or switch seats.

4. Invite the volunteer to return, allowing her three guesses to determine what has

changed.

5. Continue to play the game, as time allows, giving more volunteers to be the spy.

6. Remark that today’s Bible story will teach preteens about some men who were

very good at noticing a change in their surroundings; they spied a new star in the

sky!

7. Show the “Wise Men Visited Jesus: Introduction” video for the session.

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E P R E T E E N S 33© 2017 LifeWay

›Pack Items 1, 2,7,8—Display the “star,” “Bethlehem sign” and “New Testament House” from Pack Item 7 on a focal wall. Tape together “Herod’s crown.”

›Teaching Picture 5

›Activity Pages

›DVD

›three containers that represent the wise men’s gifts, chair, metallic markers, flashlight, 2 tap lights

›yellow heavyweight paper—Cut large stars from the paper. Write each word of the verse on separate stars, using the metallic markers, and attach to the wall around the room. Option: “Luke 2:11 Stars” (CD)

›“ International Missions: Ghana” (CD)

STUDY THE BIBLE

GETTING TO THE POINT►“Celebrate Jesus’ Birth Title Banner” (Pack Item 1)

• Call attention to the title banner. Briefly review what preteens have learned.

• Share that today’s session is about those who came to worship after Jesus’ birth.

LOOK IN THE BOOK►“Matthew 2:1-12 Drama Props” (Pack Item 7)

• Explain that preteens will be taking part in a silent drama during today’s Bible

story. Guide them to turn in their Bibles to Matthew 2:1-12.

• Enlist volunteers to play the wise men, King Herod, chief priests, and scribes. Also

enlist a preteen with a strong voice to read the passage aloud.

• Explain to those acting in the drama that they will listen as each verse is read and

then act out the part however they wish.

• Give Herod the crown to wear, and guide him to sit on the throne. Draw attention

to the signs on the wall. Remind preteens that this is a silent drama.

• Instruct the reader to begin to read Matthew 2:1-12. Tell her to pause after each

verse to allow preteens to act out the story.

• Lead preteens to applaud for those who performed in the drama. Thank the

performers for helping teach the story of the wise men’s visit to see Jesus.

►“Wise Men Gift Tags” (Pack Item 8), Teaching Picture 5, “Gifts for Jesus”

(Activity Page)

• Display and direct preteens’ attention to the Teaching Picture.

• Retrieve the containers, representing the wise men’s gifts, used in the drama.

Place them on the table. Mention that although many people talk about the

three wise men, Scripture doesn’t get specific about the number of wise men

who went to see Jesus. We do know, however, that there were three gifts—gold,

frankincense, and myrrh.

• Ask: “How did the wise men feel when they finally found Jesus and were able to

worship Him and give Him gifts?” (Their joy could not be contained.)

• Guide preteens to realize that they, like the wise men, can feel overjoyed because

they can worship Jesus. Invite preteens to share some ways they can worship

Him. Emphasize that one act of worship is giving. Ask: “What are some ways to

give as an act of worship?” (Answers will vary.)

• Lead preteens to complete “Gifts for Jesus” on the Activity Page.

• Distribute the gift tags. Invite preteens to write Jesus’ name on their gift tag.

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OPTION: Memorize the Weekly Bible Verse: Psalm 95:6.

Then, lead them to write a gift they want to give to Jesus on the back of the tag.

• Challenge preteens to keep the gift tags in their Bibles as a reminder to give their

best to Jesus.

REVIEW CHALLENGE • Form two teams. Place the tap lights on opposite sides of the table.

• Lead preteens to form a circle around the prepared area. Explain the game:

-Teams will form two lines. Once the review question is read, the first team

member to tap his light will answer a question. A correct answer earns a point

for his team. Incorrect answers will deduct a point from that team.

- If someone calls out an answer, his or her team will lose a point.

- If no one answers the question correctly, allow the next two team members to

come forward and read the question again.

• After reading all the questions, declare a winner.

UNIT VERSE CHALLENGE►“Luke 2:11 Unit Verse” (Pack Item 2)

• Draw preteens’ attention to the Unit Verse poster and read it aloud together.

Challenge a volunteer to look away from the poster and say it from memory.

• Switch off the lights, and give a flashlight to a volunteer. Explain that she must

shine the flashlight on each word, in the correct order. Guide her to say the words

to the verse as she lights the words with the light.

• Allow preteens to take turns locating the verse.

MISSIONS EMPHASIS • Review the missions story or replay one of the videos.

• Remind preteens that Trey Haun chose to follow Jesus. Allow kids to share their

experiences learning about Jesus. Ask:

-Who first told you about Jesus?

-What are some things you remember learning about Jesus when you were

younger?

• Pray, asking God to continue to work in each preteen’s life.

APPLY THE BIBLE AND PRAY • Play the “Wise men Visited Jesus: Life Action” video.

• Lead preteens in prayer. Dismiss preteens to their Live It Out groups.

PeoPle should worshiP Jesus.LIFE POINT

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E P R E T E E N S 35© 2017 LifeWay

LIVE IT OUT

CHOICE 1 (GIRLS)►Wise Men Lantern, “Seek and Find” (Activity Page)

1. Remind girls that the wise men knew where to find Jesus because they followed

the light of a star.

2. Tell preteens they will be creating a bedtime lantern to remind them of the star’s

light that led the wise men to Jesus.

3. Distribute supplies. Demonstrate how to carefully apply the puff paint on the

glass “lanterns.” Instruct girls to use the toothpicks to create smaller patterns of

swirls, stars, lines, and dots on their lanterns.

4. Encourage them to think of shapes that will remind them of the Christmas story

and the wise men’s discovery of Jesus when He was a child.

5. Once girls are finished, give each one a tea light candle to add to her jar. Set all

the jars aside to dry.

6. Lead girls to work together to complete “Seek and Find” on the Activity Page.

Encourage them to discuss their answers.

7. Challenge preteens to continue to look for ways to worship Jesus by giving of

themselves, their time, and their possessions.

CHOICE 2 (BOYS)►“Seek and Find” (Activity Page)

1. Invite boys to form groups of two or three. Lead them to complete “Seek and

Find” on the Activity Page.

2. Once the groups have completed the activity, lead boys to discuss their answers.

3. Explain to boys that you have hidden one star for each boy around the room.

Invite each boy to locate a star and to come back and join the group.

4. Draw boys’ attention to their Activity Page once again. Direct them find an image

that reminds them to worship Jesus by giving to Him just as the wise men did.

(Tell preteens they may also create a picture of their own.)

5. Instruct boys to draw the image they chose on their star.

6. Invite them to share their star pictures, explain what they have drawn, and

describe how that picture reminds them to give to Jesus.

7. Comment that their stars are glow-in-the-dark stars. Share that placing them

near a window during the day will allow the star to glow at night.

8. Challenge boys to place their stars in their bedrooms as a reminder to worship

Jesus.

CHOICE 1

›Activity Pages

›small, colored glass jars; LED tea lights; toothpicks

›newspaper—Cover the table with newspaper.

›puff paint, disposable containers—Squeeze a small amount of puff paint into the containers.

CHOICE 2

›Activity Pages

›colored pencils, permanent markers

›glow-in-the-dark stars—Hide 1 star for each boy around the room. Note: Glow-in-the dark stars may be found at discount stores.

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CHOICE 3 (BOYS AND GIRLS)►“ Wise Men Wrap Notes” (Pack Item 9), “How the World Was Saved” (CD,

track 1)

1. Invite boys and girls to gather in a circle. Display the wrapped ball.

2. Tell preteens that they are going to play a game in which they will receive a

gift. Remark that before they unwrap the prize, they will unwrap a note. Inform

preteens that they must answer the question or follow the instructions on the

note before unwrapping their prize.

3. Play “How the World was Saved” while preteens play.

4. Allow a volunteer to begin the game. Give her the ball and direct her to unwrap

the ball, read the note, and follow the instructions written on the note. After

she has answered the question or completed the task on the note, tell her to

continue to unwrap the ball until she reaches a prize. Instruct her to pass the ball

to a preteen next to her.

5. Lead preteens to take turns passing the ball around the circle. Direct each one to

unwrap the ball, read the note, follow the instructions, and then unwrap a prize.

6. Continue to play until the ball is completely unwrapped and each preteen has

received a prize.

7. Ask: “Did you like getting a small gift today?” Guide preteens to realize that God is

also pleased when we give gifts to Him. Remind them to worship God by giving

Him their best.

WRAP UP • Show the “Wise Men Visited Jesus: Wrap Up” video for the session.

• Remind preteens that many people today still have not discovered or heard about

Jesus. Encourage preteens to tell others about Him.

• Close the session by praying and asking God to help preteens learn more about

Jesus as He changes and transforms their lives.

• Point out “I Will Give to Jesus” on the Activity Page. Challenge preteens to

complete that activity at home during their time alone with God this week.

• Encourage preteens to give their One Conversation™ pages to their parents.

CHOICE 3

›Pack Item 9

›CD

›plastic wrap, sticky notes, small prizes such as candy and party favors

›two or three medium-sized prizes such as a regular-size candy bar or breakfast bar, a $1 bill, or a package of gum. Note: Be aware of dietary needs of the tweens in your group.

›Wrap plastic wrap around the largest prize. Next, wrap a note, so that it will be unwrapped first, before the prize is reached. Repeat with all the prizes and instructions, making sure each preteen will unwrap instructions before a prize.

WRAP UP

›DVD Teaching Tip: Send a “Unit 2: 1 Timothy 3:16” postcard (005794524) to each preteen and guest on your roll.

LIFE POINT PeoPle should worshiP Jesus.

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E P R E T E E N S 37© 2017 LifeWay