Jesus

Advent-Day 20-Daniel

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Hi again!

This month we are learning about God, God’s son Jesus, and Jesus’ earthly family.

The next person we will learn about is Daniel. This story can be found in the Bible in Daniel chapter 6, and our complete lesson can be found here.

Daniel was living in Babylon and working for the king there. The king liked Daniel very much and that made his other helpers jealous. They didn’t like that Daniel was the favorite. So they thought up a way to get rid of Daniel. They decided that everyone should worship only the king and anyone who worshipped or prayed to anyone or anything else would be thrown in lion’s den to be eaten.

Well, the king like the idea of everyone worshipping only him, so he agreed and made it a law.

But Daniel loved God and knew he could only pray to God. So he kept on praying, and of course the bad guys saw him and caught him. They told the king, “We found someone praying to another God, not you! We will throw him in the lion’s den!”

When the king found out it was Daniel, he was very very sad, because he liked Daniel, but the rule was the rule, so Daniel had to go in. The king hoped Daniel’s God would save him! He worried all night and as soon as it was morning, he went to check on Daniel.

“Did you God keep you safe?” he called.

“He did!” Daniel answered back. “He sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths! They didn’t even hurt me!”

Then the king knew that Daniel’s God was the One True God and he said from then on, everyone should worship Daniel’s God, the one Real God.

 

The Bible tells us that the angels help God. He is in charge of all the angels. There are LOTS of angels, and they have different kinds of jobs they do. (Is 6:1-3, Hebrews 1). Some stand before God and worship Him. (Rev 5)

It’s no surprise that when Jesus was born, angels appeared and sang “Glory to God!” We can’t always see angels, or what God may be having them do, but they showed up that night! To the shepherds in the fields, they announced the new Messiah was here!

 

Bible story: Daniel in the lions’ den

Attribute of God: God of the angel Armies

Jesus birth story: the angels declare “Glory!”

Craft:

Side one of our ornament today is a lion. We cut out a yellow circle (looks sort of green in the photo below). Then we cut up some scrap ribbon and glued in around to be the mane and drew on a face.

Our text reads: Daniel in the lions’ den. Daniel 6

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Side two of our ornament is some angels, made from cutting out angel shapes, then gluing on glitter and ribbons.

Our text reads: The angels “Glory to God!” Is. 6:1-3, Luke 2

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Thanks again for joining us. Love to you all!

Advent-Day 19-Esther

~ hebidsthemcome ~ Leave a comment

Hi all!

This month we are learning about God, God’s son Jesus, and Jesus’ earthly family.

The next story from the Israelites found in the old testament before Jesus was born, is a story about a girl name Esther. There is a book in the Bible called Esther where you can read her story and our complete lesson on Esther can be found here. (Below is a condensed version of the story).

Esther was an Israelite, but all the Israelites had been moved and some were living in Persia. The King of Persia was not happy with the queen so he kicked her out and decided he would pick a new queen.

His guards picked up all the young ladies who were not yet married and brought them to the palace. They had to each meet with the king and the king would pick which one he liked best.

Esther wasn’t too sure about this, but her cousin Mordecai watched out for her but he made her promise not to tell anyone she was an Israelite. The Persians did NOT like the Israelites…especially, Haman, the king’s best helper. He HATED the Israelites, especially Mordecai, because Mordecai would not bow down to him.

So Haman decided he wanted all the Israelites killed and he kind of tricked the king into signing a law that said all the Israelites would be killed.

Well, the king picked Esther to be his new queen and when Mordecai heard that all the Israelites were to be killed, he asked Esther to help.

“You have to talk to the king for us! Ask him not to kill your whole family, all the Israelites!”

“I can’t go to the king without him asking me first. Anyone who goes before the king could be killed!”

“You have to try,” said Mordecai. “We will all pray for you.”

So Mordecai and the Israelites prayed and Esther prayed too. She got her strength from God and went to the king. He could have had her killed for coming to see him without being invited…but instead, he held out his royal scepter (like a very fancy stick) and that meant it was ok!

He asked what he could do her, and Esther got nervous and invited him to dinner. The king agreed and at dinner asked again, “What do you really want?”

Again, Esther asked that the king and Haman come to dinner the next night.

At dinner that night the king asked again. “What can I really do for you? You can have anything!”

Esther answered, “Someone is trying to kill my whole family! All my people!”

“Who would DO such a thing?!” asked the king.

“Haman, your majesty. I am an Israelite. And Haman had you sign the paper that said we could all die!”

The king was so unhappy that he had Haman killed instead and the Israelites were able to go free.

 

Numbers 24:17 says, ““I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.”

This was a sign that Jesus would come and bring victory over His enemies. He would be like a star. Rev 22:16 says, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”

And He would be like a scepter, royal, like a king, and giving us access to the Real King. When Jesus came, it was like God holding out His scepter us, saying, “It’s ok, come to me!”

When Jesus was born, there was a BIG, BRIGHT star over the barn in Bethlehem. It showed the shepherds and the wise men where to go to find Jesus. (Matthew 2)

God is a great King, but He loves us so much, He wants to know us and be with us. He will always lead us to Him, and will welcome us. (Matt 7:7)

Bible story: Esther

Attribute of God: Scepter

Jesus’ birth story: The Star

Craft:

Side one of our ornament today is a scepter. We cut out a stick with a ball on the end and then decorated it. (Today the kids chose glitter, you could decorate it any way you want, of course.)

Our text reads: Esther led God’s people-the king held out his scepter. Esther, Numbers 24:17

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Side two of our ornament is a star, made from cut out construction paper, then glue around the edges and glitter on top.

Our text reads: The star showed the way to the Messiah.

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Our current tree front and back:

Thanks for joining us. Love to you all!

Advent-Day 18-Jonah

~ hebidsthemcome ~ Leave a comment

Hi all.

This month we are learning about God, God’s son Jesus and Jesus’ earthly family.

Today’s story is about a prophet named Jonah. You can read about him in the Bible in the book called Jonah and our complete lesson can be found here. Below is a shortened account.

Jonah was a prophet (that means he talked to God and told the people what God wanted them to know.)

One day God asked Jonah to go tell the people of Ninevah to STOP IT! They made a lot of bad choices and if they didn’t stop, God would destroy the whole city.

But Jonah didn’t want to go there…he was too scared because those people were BAD.

SO instead, he got on a boat going the other way. But you can’t hide from God and Jonah ended up getting swallowed by a big fish. He lived in the fish’s belly for 3 days where he prayed to God and asked God to forgive him for disobeying. Jonah promised if God would get him out of the fish, that he WOULD go to Ninevah and take the people God’s message.

So the fish spit  Jonah up onto the beach and Jonah went to Ninevah. He told the people to stop making bad choices and you know what?! THEY DID! They started being nice and they followed God…so everyone should have been happy!

But Jonah wasn’t. He wanted God to destroy the city! But God said, “I forgave you! Why should I forgive them?” You see, God loves ALL people…not just the Israelites, and He wants to forgive all people. We all sin and make bad choices sometimes and that keeps us apart from God. But God wants to live in PEACE with us. That means together, not fighting. Jonah couldn’t understand why God would forgive such awful people…but he forgot that we ALL need God’s forgiveness and peace.

God is peace. (Judges 6:24, Is 9:6) He wants all of us to obey Him and live in peace with Him. But God won’t make anybody obey Him. We have to choose whether we will follow God or not. Our sin keeps us away from God, but God wants us to be WITH Him…so He sent His son Jesus to come to earth, not to punish us, but to die FOR us because He loves us. (John 3:16).

When the angels came to the shepherds in the field, they said “Glory to God in the highest, peace on earth, goodwill to men.” God did not send Jesus to punish us, but to bring peace…to bring us back to God.

Bible story: Jonah

Attribute of God: Peace

Jesus’ birth story: The angels announce peace

Craft:

Side one of our ornament today is a big fish.

Our text reads: Jonah learned about God’s forgiveness and peace. Jonah

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Side two of our ornament is a dove with white feathers glued on.

Our text reads: Jesus brought peace to all men. Judges 6:24, Luke 2

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Thanks for joining us! Love to you all!

Advent-Day 14-Samuel

~ hebidsthemcome ~ Leave a comment

Welcome again!

This month we are learning about God, God’s son Jesus and Jesus’ earthly family tree.

The next person we will learn about is Samuel. (This will be an abbreviated story). Our full lessons can be found here, here and here. Or you can read about Samuel in the first 10 chapters of the book called 1 Samuel in the Bible.

Hannah was a woman who really REALLY wanted to be a mommy. She prayed and prayed and asked God to let her be a mommy. She promised if she had a baby, she would give him back to God to love God and serve Him. One day, when Hannah and her husband were visiting the temple (church), the High Priest Eli saw Hannah praying. She was praying and crying so much that he thought she was crazy! He asked her what was going on and she said, “I’m not crazy, sir, and I haven’t done anything wrong, I’m just REALLY REALLY praying that God will let me have a baby!”  (She was afraid she might be in trouble!)

God told Eli to tell the woman that she would be given what she had asked for. And she DID have a baby, named Samuel. When he was big enough, she brought him back to the temple to learn about God and to serve God.

Samuel grew up to be a judge over the people and help make important decisions. The Bible tells us that the High Priest would talk to God for the people. He would ask God to forgive them or to help them. Samuel talked to God a lot too, and God even told him who Israel’s first king would be!

 

In Hebrews 3-4, the Bible says that Jesus is our High Priest. He leads us, teaches us about God, and intercedes (that means talks to God) for us. He is a good and nice leader and we can talk to him about anything. We don’t have to be scared to talk to God. Hannah might have been worried to tell Eli what was wrong, but we don’t have to worry about telling God anything. Jesus talks to God about us too! And He asks God to forgive us and love us and take care of us.

 

Now, when we remember about Jesus being born…remember Mary and Joseph were sleeping the barn?! And do you know what happened in that stinky barn? Baby Jesus was born!!! Our Lord, God, the best in the whole world, our High Priest…was born in a stinky barn. (But you can be sure God has a reason for that!!) Baby Jesus was here!!

 

Bible story: Samuel

Attribute of God: High Priest

Jesus’ birth story: Jesus is born!

Craft:

Side one of our ornament today is an ephod (the fancy apron the High Priest wore). We cut out and glued on some fabric in an apron shape and then added some shiny jewels.

Our text reads: Baby Samuel was a gift from God. Jesus is our High Priest. 1 Sam 2-3, Heb 4

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Side two of our ornament is baby Jesus! We used the same fabric from side one and made His blanket then gave Him a happy face.

Our text reads: Baby Jesus is born! Luke 2

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Our current tree front and back:

 

Thanks for joining us. Love to you all!

Advent-Day 8-Joseph’s Provider

~ hebidsthemcome ~ Leave a comment

Welcome all.

This month we are learning about God, His son Jesus and Jesus’ earthly family tree.

The next person in Jesus’ family is named Joseph. (complete lesson found here and here. The Bible story can be found in Genesis 37-45.) Today will instead be a VERY a brief overview of Joseph.

Jacob (who we learned about yesterday) had a lot of sons. But he had a special place in his heart for one son, Joseph. One day he gave Joseph a very pretty, colorful coat and it made his brothers Jealous (angry because THEY wanted it). Joseph’s brothers decided to get rid of him. First they put him in a well, then they changed their minds and sold him to work in Egypt!

While in Egypt, Joseph was a good hard worker and began working for the king. The king was very impressed with Joseph. One day, Joseph told the king that God said a drought (a time of no water) would come to the land and then there would be a famine (a time of no food. If there’s no water, then the food can’t grow). Joseph told the king he though they should save up some food for the famine. The king thought this was a very good idea so he put Joseph in charge of saving the food. And sure enough, the famine came and everyone was HUNGRY! But the people of Egypt had enough to eat because God provided for them, and Joseph had listened to God.

Well, Joseph’s brothers came looking for food and when they did, Joseph was NICE to them! He wasn’t angry or mean, even though they had been mean to him. He said, “God has been so good to me! You meant to do bad things to me, but God made it into something GOOD!” God provided safety, a job, favor with the king, wisdom and power in Egypt for Joseph.

God provides for us too. He gives us food and water. A mom and dad who love us. What else has God given you? And most importantly God has provided His son Jesus for us; to love us, die for us and help us. (Psalm 111, 1 Tim 6:17)

When Mary found out baby Jesus was in her tummy, she sang a song of thankfulness to God. (Luke 1) She said, “God has thought of me and provided for me. He has done AMAZING things, and He has kept His promise to send a savior to us!”

Bible Story: Joseph

Attribute of God: Provider

Jesus’ birth story: Mary’s song

Craft:

Side one of our ornament today is a big circe with a cut-out coat glued on and then we made the coat look fancy.

Our text reads: God provided for Joseph. Gen 37-49, Psalm 111, 1 Tim 6:17

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Side two we made music notes using do-a-dot paint markers and then we drew the music note stems.

Our text reads: Mary’s song of thankfulness. Luke 1

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Our current line up of ornaments front and back:

 

Thanks for joining us. Love to you all!

 

Advent-Day 6-Sacrificial Lamb

~ hebidsthemcome ~ Leave a comment

Welcome all.

This month we are learning about God, His son Jesus and Jesus’ earthly family tree.

Yesterday we learned that Abram followed when God told him to GO! Well Abram obeyed and after he and his wife were very very old, finally God gave them a baby boy. (Found in the Bible in Genesis 22, and our complete lesson can be found here). One day, God asked Abram (now called Abraham) to give his son back to God. It made Abraham very sad to have to give his boy back to God, but he obeyed. When it was time, an angel came and said, “No! God has provided another way! Look!” And there was a ram (a daddy sheep). People used to give sacrifices (big gifts) to God like sheep. This time God had asked for Abraham’s son, but after Abraham obeyed, God provided a ram instead. “You did not keep your only son from me, and for that you will be blessed.” God provided another way.

The Bible tells us Jesus is like that ram. He is OUR sacrificial lamb. God sent HIS only son Jesus to come to earth to die for our sins (our bad choices that disobey God). Jesus would die for us, like a sheep, and God would then forgive us for all the bad things we do, so we don’t have to apart from God forever for our sins. (John 3:16, John 1:29, Rev 5:12)

When God put the baby in Mary’s tummy, an angel told her that she would have a baby boy and his name would be Jesus (which means “God saves.”) The very name of Jesus tells us He came to save us, to come in our place, and be the sheep of sacrifice, just like God gave a sheep in place of Abraham’s son. (Luke 1)

Bible story: Abraham’s sacrifice

Attribute of God: Sacrificial lamb

Jesus’ birth story: Jesus is given His name

Craft: for side one of our ornament today, I sketched a sheep shape and the kids glued pom pons on and gave him a face.

Our text reads: God provided a ram, like Jesus is our sacrificial lamb. Gen 22:1-19, John 1:29

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Side two I outlined the name and let the kids color in Jesus’ name.

Our text reads: His name will be Jesus, Son of the Most High, the lamb who takes away the sins of the world. Luke 1, Rev 5:12

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We taped a string in the middle and glued the two sides together and then hung it on our “tree.”

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Thanks for joining us again. Love to you all!

Go!

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Go and make disciples!

Matthew 28

After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to His disciples (His followers) and others for 40 days. Then, it was time for Him to go home. Where is home for Jesus? In heaven, with God.

He gathered the disciples and told them He was going back to heaven, to help God prepare a place for us…so that when we die, if we love God and believe Jesus died for us, then we can live in heaven forever.

Next, He told the disciples that they had an important job to do. They were to Go! to the whole world and tell them about Jesus and His love for us.

Then He rose up up up into the clouds and went back to heaven.

Activity: For our craft, we made a world. Now…my kids are 3, so their worlds look nothing like the actual earth :0) Then, we cut out pictures of people from magazines and glued them on the earth and wrote the verse for the week. “Go and make disciples of all nations.”

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You could use a map or trace the countries for your child to cut out if you want your world to look more precise. (Our kids had fun just ripping and cutting the green pieces of earth.) And yes…my son added mickey and minnie to his “all the nations”

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This is the last story of Jesus’ life. I will have a few posts next week about our favorite toddler/preschool Bible verses and tips for studying the Bible with young kids. Then, in May, we’ll be studying the Bible stories AFTER Jesus’ life.

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

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Jesus Appears to the Disciples

Luke 24; John 20

After Jesus arose, some women went to the tomb and the angel told them Jesus was not there. He was alive! The angel told the women to go back and tell the disciples. They did…but the disciples did not believe. One of the disciples, Peter, ran to the tomb and was confused when he saw Jesus wasn’t there.

That night, the disciples were together, hiding from the leaders who had had Jesus killed. Then, Jesus appeared and the disciples were scared!

Jesus said…”why did you not believe the women? Why are you scared? It’s ME!” He let the disciples look at the holes in his hands and his side from when the people had hurt Him. Then the disciples believed.

Jesus said “You have seen Me and believed…but blessed are the people who haven’t seen Me and still believe!”

Discussion: How did the disciples first react when hearing Jesus was alive?

They didn’t understand that Jesus was going to live again…so it was a big surprise to them!

Discuss what Jesus’ words in the last sentence mean. It is important for us to believe God’s word…not just because we see Him do amazing things, but because we trust Him and His word.

Activities: Trace your child’s hands on a piece of paper and have them cut out holes (or draw) to symbolize Jesus’ hurt hands. Remember that it makes God happy when we believe in Him and believe that He died for us.

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(Sidenote: we’ll be taking a “spring break” for about a week…then we’ll finish learning about Jesus’ life on earth and i have a few extra posts that i’ll fit into April, before we begin May ‘s series about life in the new testament after Jesus’ ascension. Thanks all!