Advent Bible Reading with Kids- WEEK 2 - PROPHECY
Week two of Christmas Advent Reading! This week we are looking at the element of prophecy surrounding Jesus’ birth. Each week we are reading the Scriptures about Jesus’ birth by focusing on a specific element. Each element we will go through is important in demonstrating that Jesus was the Messiah. Last week we looked at all the accounts of the angel visits. This week we are looking at prophecy. It will help us understand the connection between Old an New Testament. Looking at prophecy will also show us that God had a plan all along. A God with a plan is a God that we can trust because He has it all worked out!!!
Each week there is a main element that is taught. Scripture passages that go with it. And some activities or ideas you can do afterwards, including a short hymn study. I hope it is helpful and you enjoy!
WEEK TWO: PROPHECY
Ask the kids: What is a prophecy?
A word from God about His plan. It usually includes a warning, and a judgement for not following His plan, and His future plan of restoration.
“We are going to read stories each day about the prophecies of Jesus’ birth.”
Young ones: show young ones a clock or calendar, or advent calendar to help them visualize the idea of time and plans.
DAY 1: Micah 5:2, Luke 2:1-7, I Samuel 16:1-13 - The Place
Explain: (Show young kids a bag or suitcase because you are talking about a trip today). God planned the place that Jesus would be born. He told the prophet Micah 750 years before where it would be. (Read Micah and Luke passages). Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem because that is where their ancestors were from. Explain what a census is. Read I Samuel passage with older kids.
Ask questions: What was the prophecy? Was it fulfilled? Where was Jesus born? Where did Jesus grow up? Do you think this might have caused confusion with people when Jesus claimed He was the Messiah but He was not from Bethlehem?
Activity: Look up the distance from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Look at it on a map.
DAY 2: Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:31-34, Matthew 1:18- The Virgin
Explain: Isaiah lived 750 years before Jesus. He was a contemporary of Micah. God told Isaiah to tell His people that the Messiah would be born of a virgin. A virgin is not able to have a baby. (Older kids you can explain more). To have a baby would have been a miracle. The miracle was that this baby was going to be all God’s and all Mary’s.
Ask questions: What was the prophecy? Was it fulfilled? Jesus was the son of a lady who had been found to be pregnant before she was married. Do you think this might have caused trouble for Jesus?
DAY 3: Genesis 12:2-3, Luke 2:10-14- The Messiah’s Role
Explain: Explain to younger ones that Jesus had a job to do.
Abraham lived 2000 years before Jesus. God gave him a promise, a covenant, that through him all nations would be blessed. The angels gave this message of good news to the shepherds 2000 years later.
Ask questions: What was the prophecy? What specifically was the message the angels gave to the shepherds? What was the good news? What was God going to get from this Savior? What would men get from this Savior? Was the prophecy/promise fulfilled? How were all nations blessed?
DAY 4: 2 Samuel 7: 8-17, Matthew 1:1-16- Jesus’ Kingly line
Explain: Explain to young ones that Jesus was the king and He had to be born a little human. (Let them do a baby Jesus craft while they listen.)
David lived 1000 years before Jesus was born. God promised him that his sons (house) would sit on the throne of Israel forever. Read Samuel passage first. Matthew gives a list of the ancestors of Jesus through his adopted father, Joseph, the genealogy. Jesus had the right to the throne legally through His adopted father.
Ask questions: What was the prophecy? Why did God include this list of names in the Bible? Why is it important? Was the prophecy/promise fulfilled? How?
Activity: Listening to all the names can be hard. If you have several kids break up the list and write it all the names down in list form to see the genealogy.
DAY 5: Jeremiah 23:5-6, Luke 3:23-38- Jesus’ Kingly line
Explain: Explain to young ones that Jesus was the king and He had to be born a little human. (Let them do a baby Jesus craft while they listen.)
Jeremiah lived 600 years before Jesus. He tells about Jesus’ role as King and ruler. Luke lists the genealogy of Jesus through Mary. Jesus had the right to the throne through the bloodline of Mary.
Ask questions: What was the prophecy? How does Jeremiah describe the Messiah? List the words and roles He will fulfill. Why did God include another list of names? Why is it important? Was the prophecy/promise fulfilled? How?
Activity: Listening to all the names can be hard. If you have several kids break up the list and write it all the names down in list form to see the genealogy.
EXTRA ACTIVITIES:
1. Learn the hymn, O Come, O Come, Emmanuel . Sing it every day. Talk about the mood of it. What does it sound like? What does it make you feel? How do you feel when you have to wait? Review the timelines of Jeremiah 600 years, Isaiah 750 years, Micah 750 years, David 1000 years, and Abraham 2000 years. People were waiting for Jesus a long time.
Older kids can look up vocabulary words:
Ransom
Mourns
Exile
Captive
Emmanuel
Story about the composer: The Hymn was written in the 12th century. It was written during the middle ages when music was written and sung in Latin. Can you imagine singing a song you do not understand the words to? Here is the first verse in English and Latin. Try signing it in Latin and learning the words!
O COME, O COME EMMANUEL
O come, o come Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice, rejoice Emmanuel
Shall come to Thee Oh Israel
LATIN
Veni, veni, Emmanuel
Captivum solve Israel
Qui gemit in exilio
Privatus Dei Filio
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Israel
For the full text of the Hymn you can go here:
https://hymnary.org/text/o_come_o_come_emmanuel_and_ransom
For a history of the Hymn:
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-o-come-o-come-emmanuel
2. Make baby Jesus crafts (Emmanuel- God with us)- This site has a bunch of ideas.
https://feltmagnet.com/crafts/baby-jesus-crafts
May You Have Abundant Days for His Glory and Your Good,
Kristin Overman
