YEA Lesson Library
Celebrating a King
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches the importance of Jesus’ birth, as part of God’s plan, to provide a Savior for the world.
Scriptures
Isaiah 9:1-7
Luke 1:55-80
Luke 2:1-39
Luke 2:11
John 19:14
1Timothy 6:15-16
Revelation 11:15
Revelation 17:14
The Lesson
Do you feel a little left out at Christmas when your friends are celebrating and you are not? Do you feel left out because they are celebrating the birth of Christ, or is it just because they are celebrating?
Even though the Bible does not command us to celebrate Christ’s birth, there is nothing wrong in doing it. The birth of Christ was celebrated with magnificent heavenly signs and angels singing praises to God. The problem today is that the world celebrates Christ’s birth at the wrong time and with the wrong symbols. Your Holy Day Supplement will have a lesson on that.
In the autumn of the year, the time came for Mary to give birth to her child. She and Joseph had traveled about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem by donkey and on foot. The trip was exhausting for Mary in her condition. When they arrived, all she wanted was to find a little privacy where she could lie down. She knew her time was very near.
Joseph went from inn to inn, but he discovered there were no vacancies. People had gathered in Bethlehem, as Mary and Joseph had, to register for the census. The Roman emperor, Caesar Augustus, had decreed that everyone return to his ancestral home for this registration. Since the entire nation was required to register, Bethlehem was very crowded. Every room was occupied.
Finally, a kindly innkeeper noticed Mary’s 13 condition and offered his stable as shelter. It was not fancy, but there was clean hay and Mary could rest her weary body. They would be away from the noisy crowds of people. Only the animals would welcome the birth of Mary’s baby. The Scripture was fulfilled, “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger. . .”
That same night, while some shepherds were tending their flock, an angel suddenly appeared to them with a “vast host of others, the armies of heaven, praising God.” The entire landscape was lit up with the glory of God. This was quite a celebration!
You’ve probably seen Fourth of July celebrations with lots of fireworks. They are breathtakingly beautiful. But this must have exceeded any fireworks display you have ever seen. The lights in the sky must have been awesome. The Bible says the shepherds were badly frightened by these events.
“Don’t be afraid!” the angel said, “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior, yes, the Messiah, the Lord, has been born tonight in Bethlehem.” The event is certainly worth celebrating by everyone. The long-awaited Messiah was born.
This was such wonderful news that the shepherds ran to the village to find the newborn King. But when they found Him, He was not surrounded by nurses and attendants. His birth was witnessed by animals in a stable. He was not lying in a fancy crib or cradle. He was lying in a cattle feeder on some hay.
Why was this an event worthy of celebration? Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world!
“There is no other name under heaven whereby we must be saved, there is salvation in no other” (Acts 4:12). The promised Messiah had to come, live a perfect life, and die in our place for us to have eternal life. If He had not been born as a human baby, we would be hopeless with no future but death. Yes, that is worth celebrating daily in our hearts, our prayers, and in our lives. Your friends may celebrate the birth of Christ in the wrong way at the wrong time, but you can celebrate every day in your heart and life that Jesus came to be your Savior.
Student Prayer
Dear Father in heaven,
Thank you for giving me the promised Messiah. Help me always to be grateful that He was born as a human, lived a sinless life, and died for my sins. Please help me not to feel sorry for myself when my friends celebrate Christmas, but help me to celebrate your Son’s birth in my heart and life each day.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Luke 1:55-80
Monday: Luke 2:1-24
Tuesday: Luke 2:25-39
Wednesday: Isaiah 9:1-7
Thursday: John 19:14
Friday: Revelation 17:14; 11:15
Saturday: 1 Timothy 6:15-16
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that Jesus’ birth was an enormous celebration by the angels and the hosts of heaven, the shepherds and everyone who heard about it.
2. Explain the events surrounding the nativity.
3. State that we too can celebrate that Jesus was born to be our Savior everyday of our lives.
Topics & Themes
Angels
Bethlehem
Caesar Augustus
Census
Christmas
Donkey
God’s Glory
Holidays, Christmas
Jesus, Birth of
Jesus, Messiah
Jesus, Savior
Mary and Joseph
Nazareth
Rome, Roman
Shepherd(s)
Stable
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, paper, construction paper, basket, pencils, CD/cassette tape and player and songbook
How to Teach This Lesson
By sequentially following the questions laid out below, you will be well equipped to stay on track, complete every section, and meet the objectives of this lesson.
Christmas decorations and paraphernalia show up in stores earlier and earlier every year – even before Halloween. Do you think this is because the world loves Jesus Christ so much that they want to celebrate His birth as their King and their Savior? What makes you think that way?
What do Santa Claus, reindeer and decorated trees have to do with the birth of Jesus? Nothing, they come from customs and traditions with pagan origins.
Why do store managers decorate their store, make them smell like rich spices and put all of those pretty things on their shelves? Because these things create a nostalgia in people which will make them want to buy, and in turn adds to their profits.
What does this have to do with celebrating the birth of Christ? Nothing – it’s all for profit.
Does it have everything to do with how much money the store makes during this holiday season? Have people fallen prey to a commercialization ploy? Yes!
How do we know that Jesus wasn’t born on December 25th? It would have been too late in the year for shepherds to still be watching their flocks at night on the hills around Bethlehem. “The traditional date for the Nativity was set, long after the event, to coincide with a pagan festival, thus demonstrating that the ‘Sol Invictus’, the ‘unconquerable Sun,’ had indeed been conquered” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary).
Do you know of anyone or any religion who celebrates the birth of Christ on another day? The Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates it on January sixth. What does that tell us? Not everyone celebrates the birth of Christ on December 25th. Some authorities, such as Dr. Bullinger, say that Jesus was born in the autumn.
Do you know of any scriptures that might indicate the He could have been born during the Feast of Tabernacles? Ask one of the students to read John 1:14 aloud. Explain that “dwelt among us,” means “lived or “to pitch a tent,” “to dwell temporarily”, according to The Expositor’s Bible Commentary.
What time of the year does the Bible tell us to pitch a tent or to live in temporary dwellings? At the Feast of Tabernacles. Explain that this is not conclusive.
Was the birth of Christ so ordinary that there was no celebrating? Describe the events that took place on the night Christ was born, as found in Luke 2:7-15.
What made Jesus’ birth worthy of such a fantastic celebration? He is our long awaited Messiah, our Savior and our King.
What impact does that have on your life? Do you believe He is your Savior? How does it change what you do each day?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Before class, make copies of the crown above on construction paper and cut them out. Write one of the questions below on each crown. Put the crowns in a basket. Divide the students into groups of two or three. Let each group draw one or more crowns from the basket depending on the size of the class. Tell the students that we all need to polish our crowns and that includes the leaders of the church. Ask them to brainstorm each question as a group and write their answers down. Then go around the room and let each group read one question and give their answer. Allow time for input and discussion. Repeat this until all of the questions have been answered. Collect the student’s papers to help your church evaluate your youth programs.
1. If you were guaranteed that church leaders would listen, what would you tell them?
2. What keeps you committed to coming to Sabbath School?
3. What one thing would you like most to change about Sabbath School?
4. Why do you think teenagers drop out of church and stop coming?
5. How do your parents and friends impact your commitment to Sabbath School and church?
6. How would you rate your church, on a scale of one to ten (ten being the best) for doing a good job teaching the basics of faith to teenagers?
7. Is your church a good place to invite friends? Why or why not?
Now ask the students to share their ideas that they wrote under “Plan-It” in their YEA books.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight:
Find the meaning and significance of the name “Savior.” Find and explain at least two Scriptures that speak of, and reveal the Savior.
Where in the World?
Today, hospitals and homes are the places of choice to deliver babies. Doctors or midwives attend the birth and watch over both the mother and the baby. Family and friends may be there to celebrate and welcome the baby into the world. Can you visualize the place where Mary and Joseph delivered their newborn son? Read the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ birth. Where were you born? Who was there? Who was the doctor or midwife at your birth? Who witnessed Jesus’ birth? Finally, why would the Savior’s birth be in such a place as a stable? Share and discuss.
They Did What Back Then?
Why did Caesar Augustus decree that everyone should return to their ancestral home for registration? What was his motive? Research about how many people were affected by this decree.
Making It Mine
Have you ever seen anyone drive through a yellow light that turned red when they were halfway through the intersection? Our family joke was, “That light was orange!” But the light wasn’t really orange; there’s no such thing as an orange light because you can’t mix the yellow and the red. In the same way, you cannot mix the things of God with customs that are pagan—not if you want to remain pleasing to God. Make a list of things that the world tries to include in the birth of Christ that don’t belong there. For example, we know Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger; however, not on December 25th. In another list, write the things which are pagan trappings of Christmas; i.e., December 25th or the Christmas tree.
Look at your two lists. Keep the things of God, but put them where they belong—around the time of the Feast of Tabernacles. And then get rid of the things that are pagan customs. Don’t use them to try to worship God. It is not pleasing to Him.
Worldview Collision (see introductory information for an explanation)
A biblical worldview says God sets the standard for right and wrong. That includes how He wants to be worshiped. A false biblical worldview says that we can take things that were once pagan and use them to worship our God. Read Exodus 32 (specifically 4-5). When Aaron made the golden calf, he told the people that the idol was God, the One who had brought them out of Egypt. Do you know what God’s reaction to the people’s behavior was? Read Exodus 32:9-10 and Deuteronomy 12:3.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
“Emmanuel” is on page 63 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask one of the students to lead in prayer.
Printable Pages
