What Will Jesus Get This Christmas?

By Timothy Brown

Teaching Objective: What gift will you give to Jesus this Christmas?
Object:  An empty box wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper
Scripture: Luke 2:11
Lesson: 
  1. How many of you like to get gifts for Christmas? (Share about a special gift you’ve received and what made it so special.)
  2. When a gift is wrapped up like this, it adds excitement to the gift giving process. You don’t know what’s in it. I like to shake it and move it around some before opening it to see if I can figure out what’s inside. 
  3. Isn’t it exciting when you get just the gift you wanted? It’s a happy day when that happens.
  4. What about the times when you get a gift that you really didn’t want? Maybe you were expecting a cool toy, but you got a pair of socks instead.
  5. Or maybe you really, really wanted a certain gift, but after opening all your gifts, it wasn’t there. If that’s happened to you, did it ruin Christmas for you? 
  6. Giving and receiving gifts is a big part of Christmas, but that’s not what Christmas is all about. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus. If he hadn’t of been born, he wouldn’t have been able to die on the cross for us and we’d all be in big trouble.  
  7. You’re probably wondering what’s inside this present. Let’s open it and take a look. (Open the present and show that it’s empty.) There’s nothing inside of this gift. How would you like it if every gift you opened up on Christmas had nothing inside of it? That’d really mess up Christmas wouldn’t it? 
  8. You know what would be just as bad? If it was your birthday and someone threw a big party for you with lots of gifts. Then when it came time to open them, they were given to all the guests and you didn’t get a single one. How would you feel? 
  9. I sometimes wonder how Jesus feels on Christmas day. After all, it’s his birthday we’re celebrating, but in a lot of homes everyone gets a gift except Jesus. Luke 2:11 says that unto us is born this day a Savior. Christmas is all about Jesus. Too many people get so caught up in all the stuff that goes on at Christmas time that they forget all about the Lord Jesus.  
  10. Today, I’d like to challenge you to think about what you can give to Jesus this Christmas. To help you out, let’s see if together we can make a list of ideas. (Have the children give you ideas and write them on a chalk board, dry erase board, or piece of paper. Then challenge the children to choose at least one to give to Jesus this year.)