Family Night #5: The Blessing of the Savior

Saturday, December 24^th 

·    2011 Christmas Memory Verse (James 1:17a)

o   Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.

           

·    Lesson Overview:  We usually make sure that  the fire and several candles are lit just to try to set a special tone for the evening.  Also, this year, we are dividing up these passages so that the kids are reading certain parts.  I did this in advance to give them time to practice and learn any words that might be difficult for them.  Until this year, however, Tom and I have done all of the reading.

·    Alternate Lesson for Preschoolers:  I don't have an alternate lesson for the little ones.  We have always read straight from the Scriptures on this final family night.  The passages are pretty short, and the Word of God is powerful.  I just love the story of the birth of Christ as found directly in Luke and Matthew. 

·    Read Luke 2:1-20.   ¹ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register. ⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the    town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them. ⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” ¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,   “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” ¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and      seen, which were just as they had been told.

·    Sing “Away in a Manager”

·    Read Matthew 2:1-12.   ¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem ² and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” ³ When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. ⁴ When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: ⁶ “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” ⁷ Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” ⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. ¹¹ On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

·    Sing "Silent Night"

·    Week Five Key Verse (Isaiah 9:6)

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given. . . And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

·    Discussion and Spiritual Gifts:  We talk about how people and God's Word are really the only things that matter in this world.  Everything else will pass away, but God's Word and people's souls will live forever.  Although it will be exciting to receive gifts over the coming days, not one of these presents or toys will bring lasting joy.  In fact, many will quickly be forgotten.  Only God, through the gift of His Son, brings eternal joy.  Then, we give each child a "spiritual" gift.  This gift is intended to help them remember the permanent nature of God's Word.  This previous post provides some additional information and ideas regarding the spiritual gifts.

·    Letters to the Children:  This year, Tom and I are also going to write a letter to each child that we will read aloud to them that evening. These letters will talk about the various characteristics that we have seen in them this Christmas season that we want to encourage and celebrate. 

·    Sing “O Come All Ye Faithful”

·    Close in Prayer