Sunday School Lesson

Update on Sunday School:

I would like to first finish up on last weeks lesson about God’s Promises:

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.  John 3:16

If we confess our sings, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness 1 John 1:9

Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go Genesis 28:15

When the box is seen in the clouds, I will remember me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh Genesis 9:14-15

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us, authority rests upon his shoulders; and his is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Pease Isaiah 9:6.

This Week:

Good News Mary

The promise of the Messiah was always foremost in the minds of God’s people.  When was the Messiah coming?  How would they know this person?  Surely every young women dreamed that she would be the mother of this child.  Perhaps Mary, too, thought about this as she was growing up.  Little did she know that she would be the one whom God chose.

Mary was engaged to Joseph, a carpenter from the village of Nazareth.  Her family had probably arranged this marriage when Mary herself was just a child.  An engagement was a legally binding as a marriage.  For Mary to be pregnant prior to the actual marriage would have been considered a sign of adultery.  When Joseph decided to quietly divorce Mary, he was actually advocating a kinder treatment than the law prescribed.  However, God had a plan for both Mary and Joseph.

The word angel means “a messenger from God”.  Throughout the Bible there are many examples of angels bringing important messages from God to men and women.  Not only did the angel bring the news of Mary’s impending child, but the angel also informed Mary and Joseph what the child would be called – Jesus.  (Jesus is a Greek interpretation of the name Joshua.  It means “the Lord is salvation.”)  In Luke’s account the reader discovers that Jesus was to be born into an ordinary family but with extraordinary circumstances.

The focus of this lesson is on the naming of Jesus-specifically as Son of God.  Names are very important for younger elementary children.  Names provide identity, particularly if the name has a special significance.  You will discover this is true if you accidently mispronounce a child’s name or call him or her by another’s name. 

Because names are so important, name calling is such a demeaning experience for children.  Discourage this whenever you witness it.  As the children learn more about Jesus, they will learn about many different names associated with him.  Each name reveals a little more about Jesus and his important role on earth.

In summary, in the Bible story today, your children will hear how Mary and Joseph heard about the news that they were going to be the parents of God’s only Son, Jesus.   Throughout Jesus’ lifetime, he is called by many names.  But the most important name by far is that of Son of God.  The children will learn that this is the reason we celebrate Christmas.  They will talk about the importance of names, including their own.  If there are reasons why your child has his or name, share that with them, so they may share it with us on Sunday.  Help them understand that names are very special.  Names tell people who we are.

Our Story today will be Good New, Mary.  This will be a bit different as I will be telling a story with the children’s participation with sign language.    The story will be told from Mary, Joseph and an angel.  We will be making an angel ornaments as well as other ornaments to bring home.  We will also do Silhouette Self if we have time. 

Bible Verse

He will be called Son of God

Luke 1:35

Bible Story

Luke 1:26-38; Isaiah 9:6; 11:1-9

Other Ideas

Bird Treats

Supplies:

Dry bread slices, cookie cutters, egg white, bird seed, yarn, toothpicks, pastry brush, plate, scissors

Use a cookie cutter to cut different shapes from the dried bread.  Punch a hole at the top of each shape with  toothpick.  Thread a piece of yarn about six to eight inches long through the hole and tie in a knot, forming a hanger.  Put the birdseed on a plate.  Paint both sides of the bread with egg white.  Press each side of the bread into the birdseed.  The seed should stick to the bread.  Allow to dry.  Hang these bird treats outside during the winter for our fine feathered friends.

By Lisa Wille