What is the best gift you ever gave someone? Or what is a great gift you wish you could give someone special to you? What makes a gift great? The three wise men brought the best they had to give to Jesus. While gold, frankincense, and myrrh were extremely valuable gifts to give I want to focus on a different gift-giving story, the little drummer boy.
Even though the little drummer boy is not in the Bible, he embodies true gift giving. While giving gifts can show the love of Jesus to those around us, gift giving can actually be a form of worship. God has bestowed upon each of us great gifts and talents. (Yes, you have amazing talents. You may not know what they are yet, but you have them.) When we use those talents to bring God glory, then that is worship. The drummer boy gave the talent God gave him and played a song for the baby Jesus. Basically, he gave his gift back to God.
The best gift ever is the gift of Jesus. Think about how you can thank God for giving you this amazing gift. What gifts/talents has God given you that you can share with those around you – not for yourself to show your talents, but to point back to God and glorify Him? The value of the gift is not the money spent, but the heart behind the giving.
Here is a snapshot of what we will show the kids this week:
Bible Story Focus: The wise men come to see God’s Son. (The Wise Men • Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11)
Memory Verse: “God has given a son to us.” Isaiah 9:6, NCV
Key Question: How do we know God loves us?
Bottom Line: God gave us Jesus.
Bible Story & Worship
Watch the Bible Story Video with your kids so you can recap and discuss it with them in the “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. Then join your kids in worship as we sing and dance for God.
Bible Story Video – The Wise Men (link)
Worship – What Christmas Is About (link)
Worship – Oh What a Special Night (link)
Extra Worship – Little Drummer Boy (link)
Activities
Next, use the Memory Verse video to practice our monthly verse. We have practiced this verse all month long. If you can, have a fun reward you can give them when they are able to say it all by themselves during our “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. The activity sheet and coloring page are fun resources to help reinforce story and/or big idea.
Memory Verse with Hand Motions (link)
Bible Story Activity (link)
Coloring Page (link)
Bring Jesus To Their Level
Finish up your church at home by recapping the story and practicing the memory again. Then say: “Today’s Bible story was about some wise men. ‘W’ is for Wise Men! The wise men followed a special star all the way to Jesus. It wasn’t Jesus’ birthday or Christmas time, but the wise men still wanted to celebrate Jesus, worship Him, and give Him gifts. They knew Jesus is very special. They knew that [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus.
“We can celebrate Jesus every day, too, because God loves us so much that He gave us Jesus. How do we know God loves us? (Together.) [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus!
“That’s right! And the Bible verse we’re learning will help us remember that [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus. It says . . . ‘God has given a son to us,’ Isaiah 9:6. (Practice the verse once and then allow each child to say it by themselves. Give a small reward for all their hard work.)
“Since the wise men brought Jesus the best gifts they had, I want you to think about the present you would give Jesus if He had a birthday party. If you could give Jesus anything, what would you give Him? Think about it. (Encourage each family member to list something and be sure to do so yourself.)
“This is a fun list! I think Jesus would really like your gifts! And the BEST gift you could ever give Jesus is to be His friend and love Him the way He loves you. That’s why [Bottom Line] God gave us Jesus—to be our friend forever!
“Let’s pray and thank God for giving us Jesus to be our friend forever. Would anyone like to pray before I pray?” (Give each family member who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.)
Prayer: “Dear God, Jesus is the best gift EVER, because Jesus is the best friend EVER! If we could give Jesus birthday presents, we would give Him things like (read the list your family made). But we know what Jesus really wants is for us to be His friend and love Him the way He loves us. I pray every person here will do that one day. You’re the best, God, and we love You very much. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
As we wrap up, I would like to leave you with one of the kids’ favorite ‘good-bye’ songs:
Let Me See Your Alligator
Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in the discipleship of your kid(s). My prayers are with you.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6, NLT
