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Advent Week 5: December 31, 2023
Here are even more activities your family can do together this week!
Create Help your child make a diorama of what they imagine heaven will be like. Explain that the only information we know for sure about heaven is found in the Bible. God’s Word describes a beautiful place where Christians will be united with Him in a perfect relationship. Read Revelation 21:21-23 together before starting the project.
Find it in the Bible: This week’s story comes from the book of Revelation. Jesus inspired Revelation and shared its contents with John, who wrote down what was shared with him. This book talks about the last days of the earth, God’s judgment of sin and the believer’s final destination — heaven. Help your child find the book of Revelation. Is this book in the Old or New Testament? How many chapters are there?
Pray: Dear Lord, Christmas is over, but I want to celebrate Jesus all year long! Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. Thank You, Jesus, for dying on the cross for my sins, rising again and going to heaven to prepare a place for me. I can’t wait to be with You in heaven when my time on Earth is complete. You are good. Amen.
Read: Let’s learn more about what heaven will be like! Find a spot outside (or near a window if it’s too cold) to read. In heaven, we will be with God forever. Read Revelation 21:9-27. What gives the future city of Jerusalem light?
Celebrate: Christmas may be over, but just like a new year is ahead, Christians look forward to a new life with God in heaven. Plan a small party with some close friends or family to celebrate God’s goodness, thank Him for being with us and pray for the new year ahead!
OT-NT Connection: Ezekiel is a prophet who spoke in the Old Testament hundreds of years before Jesus was born. In chapter 37 of the book of Ezekiel, God says something similar to this week’s memory verse. Read Ezekiel 37:27. What phrase from Ezekiel 37:27 is repeated in Revelation 21:3? Why is it special that God desires a relationship with us?
Remember: We remember that God sent Jesus to Earth to be with us during Christmastime, but God sent the Holy Spirit to stay with believers every day of our life here on Earth! Read the following verses which share how the Holy Spirit helps Christians. John 14:26, Romans 8:26, Galatians 5:22-23
Advent Week 4: December 24, 2023
Here are even more activities your family can do together this week!
Craft: Help your child make a manger for baby Jesus. You will need paper, yellow yarn, a clothespin, a permanent marker, glue, and a white cloth or a paper towel. Look up instructions online (or find a book) that teaches you how to fold paper into a small box. Use yellow yarn for hay. Make baby Jesus from a clothespin wrapped in white cloth or a paper towel. Use a permanent marker to draw a face on the clothespin.
Pray: Dear Lord, Christmas is such a fun time of year. Thank You for sending us Jesus to be with us. Thank You for giving us prophecies and details that let us know the baby born to Mary was the Messiah. This week we celebrate Christ’s birth! Amen.
Share: Tell your children about the first time you heard the true story of Christmas. How old were you and who told you about Jesus’ birth story? Read The book of Matthew gives a much shorter account of Jesus’ birth. Read Matthew 1:24-25. What is something new you learned about the birth of Jesus this year?
Act: Gather some friends (or your family) and act out the nativity story! Assign parts and consider using stuffed animals to represent the barn animals.
OT–NT Connection: Did you know the Old Testament book of Micah talks about Bethlehem? Read Micah 5:2. What does this verse say about Bethlehem? Why was it important that Jesus was born in Bethlehem?
Praise: Gather your family and do what the angels and shepherds did during the birth of Jesus — praise God! Sing songs from this week’s playlist as a family and thank God for sending Jesus to be with us.
Advent Week 3: December 17, 2023
Here are even more activities your family can do together this week!
Visit: The angel’s visit to Joseph to share the good news of a coming Savior is a reminder that we can share the good news of Jesus with the people around us. Think of someone elderly in your church who can’t leave their house. See if you and your child can go visit them and share the love of Jesus with them this Christmas season. If you can’t visit, send a piece of homemade art in the mail and remind them God is with them!
Journal: Put together a newspaper page that talks about the Angel’s visit to Joseph! Try to include an article and two pictures. You can draw the pictures or take photos. You can write about the angel’s surprise visit, what the angel said Joseph should call Mary’s baby or how Jesus’ birth would fulfill Isaiah’s prophecy. For example, a headline could be, “Angel Tells Joseph Isaiah’s Prophecy Will Be Fulfilled!”
Craft: Make angels with your child! You will need printable Christmas sheet music, glue, tape, a wooden bead, pipe cleaners, a permanent marker and glitter. Wrap one piece of sheet music into a cone to make a skirt. Tape it in place. Next, glue the wooden bead over the point of the cone. Once dry, form a halo from one of the pipe cleaners and glue it onto the wooden bead. Fold two more pipe cleaners into wings and glue them onto the back of the angel. Help your child drizzle glue on the skirt. Sprinkle glitter over those spots. Finally, draw a face on the bead using the permanent marker.
Find it in the Bible: This week’s story comes from the book of Matthew. Matthew is the first of four books known as the Gospels. The author of this book is likely the tax collector named Matthew, who became a follower of Jesus. The book of Matthew gives readers a perspective on the life of Jesus and confirms Him as the Messiah. Help your child find the book of Matthew. Is this book in the Old or New Testament? How many chapters are there?
Pray: Dear Lord, Thank You for not only sending Jesus to be with us, but for sending Him to save us. Without Jesus we are lost in sin. Thank You for giving us a Christmas miracle. Amen.
OT-NT Connection: Jesus’ coming was prophesied to king Ahaz many years ago in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah. Read Isaiah 7:14. Why is it important that Jesus’ birth fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy? Who can you share the angel’s news about Jesus with?
Advent Week 2: December 10, 2023
Here are even more activities your family can do together this week!
Bake: Ask your child to share what their favorite Christmas dessert is. Find a recipe and invite them to bake it with you. After it’s finished, ask your child to choose a friend to share the dessert with, and encourage your child to invite their friend to a Christmas service.
Journal: Make an address book for Jesus’ family members! Pick three people from Jesus’ lineage in Matthew 1. Ask an adult to help you do a search in the Bible and online to find out where they came from and what their jobs were. For example, one entry could be about David: David – Shepherd and king, born in Bethlehem.
Learn: Help your child pick one person from Jesus’ family tree and learn more about that person. (Hint: Help them choose someone you can learn more about through the Bible. A concordance can be a helpful tool.)
Find it in the Bible: Today’s story comes from the book of John. The Gospel of John is in the New Testament and records Jesus’ life on Earth from birth to death and resurrection. John was one of Jesus’ 12 disciples, and his book was written so people would believe that Jesus is the Son of God and through believing would have eternal life.
Pray: Dear Lord, thank You for sending Your Son to save sinners. I’m so glad You sent Jesus to be with us. Thank You that I can be part of Your family by trusting Jesus as my Savior. Amen.
OT-NT Connection: God was with His people before Jesus came, but Jesus did change how God dwells with us. Read Exodus 40:34-38. How did God dwell with His people in the Old Testament? How does God dwell with us today?
Advent Week 1: December 3, 2023
Here are even more activities your family can do together this week!
Bake: Bake sugar cookies with your child! On half of the cookies, use icing to help your child write the letter J. On the other half, use icing to help them write the letter I. Explain that Isaiah prophesied Immanuel was coming. Immanuel is Jesus, God with us!
Journal: Ask an adult to help you look up the word “Immanuel” in Hebrew. Many of the Israelites in the Old Testament communicated through the Hebrew language. Copy the Hebrew spelling of Immanuel into your journal. Remember, if you have trusted Christ as your Savior, He is with you.
Search: Mary and Joseph had to travel to reach the city of Bethlehem. Hide Mary and Joseph figurines in your house once a week and invite your child to search for them. On Christmas Day, hide a baby Jesus figurine with them for your child to find as a surprise.
Find it in the Bible: This week’s story comes from the book of Isaiah. Isaiah is called a prophetic book. This book was written by the prophet Isaiah. God spoke to Isaiah, and Isaiah told God’s people what He said. This book includes prophecies that were fulfilled when Jesus came to Earth, and even prophecies about things yet to come when God restores all things! Help your child find the book of Isaiah. Is this book in the Old or New Testament? How many chapters are there?
Pray: Dear Lord, Thank You for sending Your Son, Immanuel, to us. Thank You that Your promises always come true. I will remember this season is about celebrating You. Amen.
OT-NT Connection: Did you know the prophecy from Isaiah appears again in the New Testament? Read Matthew 1:18-25. Who did the angel share the news of Jesus with in this verse?
