Leader Guide for One Room

Classroom: LCC WEB

Luke 2:1-20

04/18/2021

▲Kids sing songs of praise to God.

▲Kids watch a video and discuss what it really means to be the light of the world.

Kids experience the light Jesus brings.

Kids look at the difference between reading a message in the dark and in the light.

Kids make a glowing water bottle lantern.

▲Kids place their thoughts and prayers near a glowing cross.

▲Kids experience the light Jesus brings.

Music Video

[10 min]

You Are the Messiah

Supplies

• “You Are the Messiah” (Matthew 16:16) music video (watch or download here) 
• “He Loved Us First” music video (watch or download here)
• “Hope in the Lord” (Psalm 33:20) music video (watch or download here)

Tip 

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or just purchase this quarter’s DVD here.

Sing Songs to God

          Sing the three songs in any order. 

Talk-About Video

[10 min]

Karl, Light of the World

Supplies

• “Karl, Light of the World” teaching video (watch or download here)

Tip 

• Don’t have internet in your classroom? That’s okay! You can download the videos before class using the “download” button at the link provided, or just purchase this quarter’s DVD here.

Discuss and Watch "Karl, Light of the World"

          Have kids get into groups of three. Say: Today we’re going to watch a video about a guy who got confused about something that was said at church. In your group, tell about a time you got confused about something someone said—it can be something you heard at church or someplace else. I’ll go first. Share your own story about a time you were confused about what someone said. Take about a minute to share so you model the type of sharing you’d like kids to do. Then invite children to share their own stories with their groups.

          Allow three minutes for sharing, and then have kids return their attention to you.

          Say: Let’s watch our video and see what happens.

          Watch “Karl, Light of the World.”

          Say: Karl was confused about what the pastor at his church said. He thought the pastor said that Karl should be the light of the world, and Karl thought that meant wearing a funny sunshine costume.  

          Ask: • What did Karl get wrong when he thought he was the light of the world? Allow another three minutes for kids to share in their groups, and then invite a few kids to share their answers with the larger group.

          Ask: • We know that Jesus is the light of the world, not us. But how can we show Jesus’ light in the world?

          Say: Jesus is the light of the world! We have the great opportunity to reflect the light and love of Jesus to others so they can experience that light and love, too.

Core Bible Discovery

[20 min]

The Night Jesus Was Born (Luke 2:1-20)

Supplies

• Bible
• music player
• CD or MP3 of quiet music
• small box or basket
• thick blanket
• 1 glow stick per child, plus 2 extras
• rubber bands to make a cross from glow sticks
• small bag of potting soil

Easy Prep

• Darken the room as much as possible.
• Set up a box or basket as a manger. Crack two glow sticks, use rubber bands to bind them together in a cross shape, and set the cross in the manger. Put uncracked glow sticks around the cross. Cover the cross with a thick blanket to obscure the light. 

Tip

• For safety reasons, it's better to use thicker glow sticks, as the thinner, bracelet glow sticks can break.

A Dark Night

          Turn off all the lights and darken the room as much as possible.

          Say: It’s dark in our room, just like the night Jesus was born. Did you know there’s another kind of darkness we can have in our lives? When we feel afraid, sad, confused, lonely, or far from God, it’s like being in the dark.

          Have kids form groups of four or five to talk about this question.

          Ask: • Tell about a time you experienced darkness by being afraid, lost, confused, or all alone.

          Before kids share, give your own example of a dark time, such as losing a job, moving away from friends or family, or facing an illness.

          Play music quietly while kids talk together. (This fills some of the background silence and makes it more comfortable for kids to share.)

          Say: When we go through dark times like the ones we’ve talked about, we need Jesus, the light of the world.

Angels Visit Shepherds

          Say: The Bible tells us that shepherds were out in a field that night, protecting their sheep from wild animals. Have kids imagine they are the shepherds in the dark field as you read aloud Luke 2:8-12, with expression. Turn on the lights.

          Say: Wow! There’s a bright light! I need your help celebrating this good news of Jesus, the light of the world. The angels did it with style, so let’s do what they did.

          Read aloud Luke 2:13-14.

          Have kids pretend to be angels as they crouch and whisper “Glory to God” when your hand is low. Practice that. Have kids jump and shout “Glory to God” when your hand is high. Practice that.

          Say: There was one angel (hand low)

          And then more (hand medium)

          And then all the angels in heaven. (hand high)

          Do this again.

Heading to the Manger

          Say: After the angels returned to heaven (turn off the lights), the shepherds hurried to find Jesus. And they found Jesus lying in the manger—just as the angel had said. Listen to this!

          Read aloud Luke 2:6-7, and then have kids make baby crying sound effects. Say: Jesus—God’s Son—had left heaven to come to earth.

          Ask: • Call out words that describe what you imagine heaven is like.

          Say: Jesus left that perfect place to come to earth. And the first thing he experienced was a dirty stable.

          Pass around the bag of potting soil and have kids smell it.

          Ask: • What would it be like to put a newborn baby in a dirty stable?

Shining God’s Light

          Have children gather around the manger.

          Say: Jesus was no ordinary baby—Jesus is God! Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus came to show God’s love to a world that was dark and smelly with sadness, fear, and sin.

          Pull back the blanket to show the glow cross. Let kids take turns looking inside the manger.

          Give children each a glow stick, but tell them not to crack it.

          Have kids go back to their groups of four or five.

          Ask: • What do you want to do with the glow stick?

          Say: The shepherds wanted to share the news that Jesus is the light of the world! That’s the most important news in the world! They ran and told everyone about Jesus, the light of the world. Let’s do that now!

          Let kids crack their glow sticks and hold them up high.

Light Party

          Tell kids to be the shepherds. They have 30 seconds to tell as many people as possible that Jesus is the light of the world.

          Ask: • What just happened here?

          Say: That was exciting! That’s what happens when we share that Jesus is the light of the world. We can celebrate and share this amazing gift of God’s love!

Object Lesson

[10 min]

The Word Revealed

Supplies

• Bible
• “Glory to God” handout (1 per child) (download here)
• glow sticks* (If you made the lantern crafts, use these instead of glow sticks.) 

Reveal a Message

          Darken the room.

          Set a handout facedown in front of each child.

          Say: There’s a message on your paper. Without picking up your paper, see if you can read the message in the dark.

          Have kids crack the glow sticks to make them glow. Then have them use their glow sticks or lanterns to try to read the message while the papers are still facedown on the floor.

          Have kids pick up the papers and hold the glow sticks or lanterns behind the papers to reveal the message.

Talk About It

          Ask: • How did the light make a difference in this experience?

          • Jesus is the light of the world. Does Jesus make a difference in your life? Tell me about that.

          Say: Let’s look at what the Bible says about Jesus, the light of the world. When these verses talk about “the Word,” they’re referring to Jesus.

          Read John 1:4-5. Remind kids that Jesus is the light of the world. Read the passage, substituting the word “Jesus” for the words “the light.”

          Ask: • What does this passage tell you about Jesus?

          • What would our world be like without Jesus?

          Say: Jesus is the light of the world. He came to show people God’s love and power. The Bible tells us that nothing is more powerful than Jesus! I am so thankful that Jesus came to shine God’s love to each of you.

Craft

[20 min]

Light of the World Lanterns

Supplies

• 1 empty water bottle per child
• 1 glow stick per child*
• heavy-duty aluminum foil
• pencils
• Glue Dots
• chenille wire

Creative Extras

• stickers
• permanent markers

Easy Prep

• Cut a piece of aluminum foil for each child so that it fits around the full height of the water bottle.

Decorate

            Give each child a water bottle, a sheet of foil, and a pencil.

            Have kids decorate their foil by poking holes in it with a pencil to make the letters in their names or initials or other creative decorations. Kids can also engrave shapes into the foil with a pencil, draw on it with permanent marker, or decorate the foil with stickers.

Assemble the Lantern

            Have kids use Glue Dots to secure their foil tightly around their water bottles.

            Kids can wrap chenille wire around the neck of the bottle and then twist it at the top to make a handle. Older kids can help younger kids twist it tight.

            Direct kids to place their lighted glow sticks in their water bottles.

Talk About It

            Darken the room.

            Read aloud Luke 2:8-11.

            Ask: • What do you think it was like for the shepherds to see all that radiant light in a dark, quiet pasture?

            • How is that like the way Jesus brought light to the world?

            Say: Jesus came to bring God’s awesomeness to people on earth so we could know about God’s love and power. That’s why we say that Jesus is the light of the world. He came to shine God’s love, power, and glory to people.

            Encourage kids to take home their Light of the World Lanterns as a reminder that Jesus is the light of the world.

            Say: The light in your lantern will eventually stop glowing, but Jesus is always the light of the world! When your lantern stops glowing, you can put it on a windowsill or near a lamp and still watch the light shine through.

Life Application Wrap-Up

[5 min]

Light Prayers

Supplies

• glow cross*
• glow sticks*
• markers
• sticky notes

Listen to God

            Darken the room, and set the glow cross in the middle of the room.

            Say: Jesus is the light of the world. That means he came to show God’s love to everyone. Now that you’ve heard about Jesus’ light, you can shine it to people around you. Take a moment to silently ask God about what he might want you to do to show his love to people around you. Listen to hear what God might say to you.

            Allow about one minute for kids to sit in the dark, quiet room and silently listen to God.

Light Prayers

            Explain that sometimes we hear God’s voice, and sometimes we get a feeling in our hearts. Sometimes God brings a picture or name or word to our minds. Have children each write or draw on a sticky note what they just heard from God. Let kids know that it’s okay if they don’t hear from God. If they didn’t they can write a prayer to God instead.

            After they’re done, have children each stick their notes around the cross so that the light of the cross shines on their notes. Ask kids to return to their seats, and then have them silently pray for the courage to show God’s love and share about Jesus, the light of the world.

            Say: Thank you for being here today. This week you can be like the shepherds who shared about Jesus. Hold your glow stick up high. Pause. You can share God’s love and light with the people around you.

            Thank kids for coming, and tell them you look forward to seeing them next week.

Core Bible at Home

[20 min]

The Night Jesus Was Born (Luke 2:1-20)

Supplies

• Bible
• blanket
• flashlight (a cell phone flashlight works)
• clear glass of water

Tips

• This Bible Experience is specifically designed for video calls, pre-recorded videos, or parent-led lessons for a wide age-range of kids.
• If you’re leading this as a video, tell families to pause when you ask questions so they can discuss them. Tell families as you start the video what supplies they’ll need so they can gather them before they begin.
• For additional activities that adapt easily to an at-home setting, click “view” to preview the content of each activity block and choose only those that include a ▲ symbol in the highlighted summary description:
  • Opening
  • Music Video
  • Talk-About Video
  • Deeper Bible
  • High-Energy Game
  • Life Application Wrap-Up
  • Take-Home page (for families to do at home)

A Dark Night

           Parents will need to turn on a flashlight, then hide it under a blanket.

            Next, families will turn off all the lights and close curtains or blinds to darken the room as much as possible.

          Say: It’s dark in our room, just like the night Jesus was born. Did you know there’s another kind of darkness we can have in our lives? When we feel afraid, sad, confused, lonely, or far from God, it’s like being in the dark.

          Ask: • Tell about a time you experienced darkness by being afraid, lost, confused, or all alone. Start with your own example of a dark time, such as losing a job, moving away from friends or family, or facing an illness.

          Say: When we go through dark times like the ones we’ve talked about, we need Jesus, the light of the world.

Angels Visit Shepherds

          Say: The Bible tells us that shepherds were out in a field that night, protecting their sheep from wild animals. Have everyone imagine they are the shepherds in the dark field as you read aloud Luke 2:8-12, with expression. When you finish, parents can turn on the lights.

          Say: Wow! There’s a bright light! I need your help celebrating this good news of Jesus, the light of the world. The angels did it with style, so let’s do what they did.

          Read aloud Luke 2:13-14.

          Have everyone pretend to be angels as they crouch and whisper “Glory to God” when your hand is low. Practice that. Have everyone jump and shout “Glory to God” when your hand is high. Practice that.

          Say: There was one angel (hand low)

          And then more (hand medium)

          And then all the angels in heaven. (hand high)

          Do this again.

Heading to the Manger

          Say: The angels returned to heaven (parents will turn off the lights). Then the shepherds hurried to find Jesus. And they found Jesus lying in the manger—just as the angel had said. Listen to this!

          Read aloud Luke 2:6-7, and then have everyone make baby crying sound effects. Say: Jesus—God’s Son—had left heaven to come to earth.

          Ask: • Call out words that describe what you imagine heaven is like.

          Say: Jesus left that perfect place to come to earth. And the first thing he experienced was a dirty stable. That must have been stinky. To get a sense of what it might have smelled like…smell your feet! Pause while everyone smells their feet.

          Ask: • What would it be like to put a newborn baby in a dirty stable?

Shining God’s Light

          Have families gather around the blankets they laid out earlier.

          Say: Jesus was no ordinary baby—Jesus is God! Jesus is the light of the world. Jesus came to show God’s love to a world that was dark and smelly with sadness, fear, and sin. Imagine that your blanket is Jesus’ manger.

          Have everyone pull back the blanket to show the light.

          Ask: • What do you want to do when you find out really exciting news?

          Say: The shepherds wanted to share the news that Jesus is the light of the world! That’s the most important news in the world! They ran and told everyone about Jesus, the light of the world. Let’s do that now!

          Let family members make their flashlights project further around the room by shining them through the side of a glass of water.

Light Party

          Tell kids to be the shepherds and imagine their in a crowd of people. They have 30 seconds to say as many times as possible that Jesus is the light of the world.

          Say: That was exciting! That’s what happens when we share that Jesus is the light of the world. We can celebrate and share this amazing gift of God’s love!

The Life of Jesus, Lesson 2: Jesus, the Light of the World, Is Born, Design and base content Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc. Licensed for use with 1-20 students. Permission to reproduce granted for local church use only.