Birth of Jesus

 

We talked last week about the angel from God named Gabriel. He told Zacharias about John, and Gabriel also told Mary she would have a baby. Our scripture today is in Luke 1:26-39; 2:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25.

Gabriel the angel was sent from God to Nazareth of Galilee. Mary was engaged to Joseph. Gabriel told Mary to "Rejoice, the Lord is with you! You are blessed among women!" (Luke 1:28) Mary was worried about what Gabriel was saying, but Gabriel told her not to be afraid. She had found favor with God and would have a Son and He would be called Jesus. He would be great and be called the Son of the Highest! Jesus will reign over a kingdom that would never end!

Mary asked how this would happen, and Gabriel told her that with God all things are possible! (Luke 1:37) Mary told Gabriel that she was a servant of the Lord, and she would do His will!

One night, an angel of the Lord went and told Joseph that Mary is going to have a Son and they are to name Him Jesus. The angel said that Jesus would save people from their sins. Joseph took Mary as his wife. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth and Joseph was a carpenter. (Matthew 1)

The Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, made a law that everyone should pay taxes, and the Roman government ordered people to go to their tribal ancestral city, and enroll by a census. Joseph was from the Tribe of Judah, so Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem. It was 70/85 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. (Luke 2)

I had these CENSUS SHEETS printed for the students when they came in. They filled them in, and then we used them during the lesson. It really helped them understand the concept of census. (Click here to print.)

At this part of the Bible lesson, we talked about their census paper, and I wrote the results on a white board for them to see as we talked about it. (I found this idea online years ago, and do not have the original site info)

When Joseph and Mary finally arrived at Bethlehem, there were a lot of people there. And, there wasn't any room for them at the inn. (Luke 2:7)

During their time in Bethlehem, it was time for Jesus to be born. Mary wrapped Jesus in swaddling clothes, which is a blanket or fabric wrapped tight around the baby and laid him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)

That same night, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds. They were out in their fields during the night watching over their sheep. They were very afraid! But the angel said to the shepherds: “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and He will be lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:8-20)

The shepherds wanted to see baby Jesus. They went right away! After they saw Jesus, the shepherds told everyone about Him! But, Mary kept the things she had heard in her heart and thought about them. The shepherds returned to their fields, praising God for everything that they had seen and heard! (Luke 2:20)

Today's project is this cut and glue poster for the kids. I will have them cut the pictures out, and they will add the pictures in order as we have the lesson. This has been updated with a worksheet for students to write the information and the same for younger to trace the answers on their worksheet. If the student only adds glue above the dotted line, they will have a lift-the-flap and can add notes about each picture. Click here to download.

 

I had the kids cut these out before class so they could use them during the lesson. This manger is more what Mary used, and not what the world tends to show as a stable/manger. Click here to print the house in color or black & white, and I suggest printing it on cardstock.

You can see a real manger here. 

Thanks to David Padfield for permission to use his photo.

Click here to print the Birth of Jesus worksheet.
Print the Spanish worksheet here.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.

Used by permission.

 Click here to print the lesson.

If you would like a different project, there are several if you use the search bar, but you can find another Birth of Jesus lesson by clicking here.

Click here to see the Birth of Jesus for preschool with a lot of ideas and printables.