Lesson 10

BIRTH OF CHRIST

Objective: Review the blessed events of the birth of Christ.

Visual aid: A nativity scene

Lesson ideas:

* Start with the story of Zacharias and Elisabeth visited by an angel and being told they would have a son named John.  John is a few months older than Jesus. (Luke 1: 1-25)

* Angel comes to Mary and tells her that she is highly favoured with God and that she will conceive and bring forth a son and his name would be Jesus. (Luke 1:26-35)

* Mary sees her cousin Elisabeth.  Elisabeth tells Mary, “Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” (Luke 1:36-45)

* Joseph thought about the situation with Mary being pregnant and wondered what to do when the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream saying, “ Joseph thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.”  (Matthew 1: 20)

* Signs of his coming:  no darkness, new star, and wonders in sky. (Helaman 14: 1-6)

* Tell the story of the Birth of Christ. (Luke 2: 1-20)

* Prophets foretold of his birth:  

            1. Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14)

            2. Nephi (2 Nephi 17:14)

            3. Samuel the Lamanite. (Helaman 14:4)

* As an infant Mary and Joseph take Jesus to the temple where they see Anna and Simeon who prophesied of events to come to this child. (Luke 2: 25-39)

* Shortly after the birth of Christ, the family went to Egypt to protect Jesus (Matthew 2:13) and after the death of Herod the family came back to Nazareth of Galilee. (Matthew 2: 15) Obtain a map to see where Egypt and Nazareth are.

Scriptures:

Bible                                                                            

Luke 1: 26-35 Angel comes to Mary                          

Luke 1:36-44 Went to Elizabeth                                 

Luke 2: 1-20 Birth of Christ.                                        

Isaiah 7:14 Virgin shall conceive and bear a son      

LDS Scriptures

Helaman 14:4 Signs before Christ’s birth

2 Nephi 26: 3 Signs given to my people

Alma 7:10 he shall be born of Mary

3 Nephi 1:19 the Lord should be born

Activities:

* Have several scriptures taped to the wall with numbers 1-6 or how many scriptures you have. Like Isaiah 7:14 “A virgin shall conceive and bear a son” the second might be the Angel Gabriel coming to Mary, the third might be Mary going to see Elizabeth. Turn the lights off and hand out flashlights and find the scriptures that are hidden. Have the last clue end with Luke 2:12, and ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.  Turn the lights back on to show when Christ was born a new star was in the sky showing the light of the world had come.

* Have a puppet show or even people dress up to act out the story of the birth of Christ.

* Make a paper manger.  Tear stripes of paper for the straw, cut tan felt into the shape of a baby and add a small piece of material for the blanket.

* Pretend to be Samuel and tell the signs of Christ’s birth

* Think of a gift we can give our Savior this week or this coming year.

* Bring out your own families baby pictures.  We all started out as babies.

* When is your birthday and how do we celebrate it?

* Sing the song #249 in the Children’s Songbook,  “Once There Was a Snowman,” only say Once there was a baby, baby, baby, Once there was a baby small, small small. Through the years he grew, grew, grew through the years he grew, tall, tall, tall.

* Participate in the “ Twelve Days of Christmas” below

Twelve Days of Christmas Ideas:

     Bring out a new item for each of the 12 days.

     Day 1:  Bring out a star to represent the star that shown so brightly during the birth.

     Day 2:  Something red like an ornament; Christ shed his blood for us.

     Day 3: Green; for the fir tree that remains green all year round and the needles point heavenward.

     Day 4:  Bow; reminds us to tie ourselves together united in Christ like love.

     Day 5:  Bell; lost sheep the sound invites us to return to the fold.

     Day 6:  Candle shows thanks for the star of long ago.  Colored lights also show that.

     Day 7: Presents are given in love.  Heavenly Father gave his son to us as the greatest gift of all.

     Day 8:  Candy cane represents the shepherd’s crook.  Christ was our shepherd.

     Day 9:  Music; when Christ was born the angles sang.  We too sing Christmas carols.

     Day 10:  Wreath; represents eternal love.  Never ceases or stops or ends.

     Day 11:  An animal; Animals were with Christ when he was born.  Animals can teach us   to be obedient, kind and helpful.

     Day 12:  Nativity to remember the birth of our Savior

Songs: 

Hymns                                                                         

# 206 Away in a Manger                                           

# 212 Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plains                       

# 208 O Little Town of Bethlehem                            

Children’s Songbook

# 36 Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus

# 37 Stars Were Gleaming

# 38 When Joseph Went to Bethlehem

Treat:

Star Sugar Cookies

Background music: Handel’s Messiah - Hallelujah Chorus.