It’s All About Jesus!

The Best Gift Ever Let’s pray, Dear Jesus, Please teach us as we read this story and Your Word. Help us learn about You and how You would have us live. We pray in Your mighty name. Amen Amy addressed the last of her Christmas cards, licked the stamp and placed it on the envelope. “At least I have finished one thing on my Christmas to - do - list,” she told her brother. Tommy looked up from the model airplane he was building. “What kind of stuff do you have to do for Christmas?” he asked. “All I need is a list for Santa, then figure out what I’m going to get Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and you of course,” he added with a grin. Amy sighed. “Not only do I have to shop for the family, I also have to shop for my friends, wrap everything, bake cookies for our school party, practice for our church play and … I can’t even remember all I need to do!” Tommy shook his head. His older sister was always too busy with stuff that didn’t seem real important. All that really mattered at Christmas was deciding what he was going to ask for. He was thinking maybe a new bike and some more models to put together. “Let’s go visit Grandpa,” hollered Dad from the living room. “You two ready yet?” A few minutes later, they headed across town to Grandpa’s house. Amy and Tommy visited Grandpa Bill once a week with their parents. He has lived in the same house for forty-five years, the last five by himself, after Grandma died. While their mom and dad took care of some things around the house, Tommy and Amy visited with their grandfather. “What’s on your Christmas list, Grandpa?” asked Tommy. “Malted milk balls again?” Grandpa chuckled, then leaned back in his recliner and adjusted the tube going into his nose. The tube was hooked up to an oxygen tank propped up by his chair. The oxygen kept him from being too weak and tired. “Of course, Tommy!” Grandpa said. “A big box of malted milk balls is one of my favorites, but it doesn’t come close to being the best.” “What’s the best present?” asked Tommy. “I received the best present a long time ago,” said Grandpa. “Nothing can compare to that gift.” “I bet that was when you married Grandma,” said Amy. “Well, marrying your grandmother was pretty special, maybe the second best gift of all time. But even before I met Grandma Ann, when I was about Tommy’s age, I received the number one gift ever.” Tommy and Amy sat on the floor next to their grandfather’s chair. “What was it?” Tommy asked. “A bicycle?” “Do you remember the Bible verse John 3:16?” Grandpa brought his recliner back up, put his hands on his knees and leaned toward Amy and Tommy. “‘For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life,’ ” he recited. “Now, what better gift can you receive than living forever with God?” “Who gave you that gift?” Tommy wanted to know. Grandpa sat back in his recliner. “God did - as soon as I believed that He sent His Son to live a perfect life and die for my sins, taking my punishment on Himself, so I could be admitted to heaven one day and be with God forever.” Amy put her hand over her grandfather’s wrinkled one. “Thank you, Grandpa. Sometimes I forget what Christmas is really about.” “Me too,” agreed Tommy. “I guess living forever in Heaven with Jesus beats a new bike any day.” Discussion Questions: What is the best gift you have ever received? Read 1 John 5:11 What does eternal mean? Have you ever received a gift that is guaranteed to last forever and never break or get ruined? Who gives gifts that last forever? Read Ephesians 2:8-9 What does faith mean? What do you have to do to receive God’s gift? Let’s pray: Dear Jesus, Thank You for coming to earth to be the best gift ever. Thank You for suffering and dying so we could be forgiven for all the bad things we have done or will do. Thank You for loving us forever and ever. Help us to always be grateful for such an amazing gift. We pray this prayer in Your mighty name. Amen Memory Verse: John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Extra activities to consider: You Tube Video: The Story of Christmas / Jesus is Born / Elementary Lesson 2 Saddleback Kids Games: Pass the Present Need: 6 or more small pieces of candy, gum, or a trinket, Christmas wrapping paper, a special prize, tape, music (that can be turned on and off easily) Before the game: a parent should wrap a special prize (preferably a prize that could be shared) in 6 or more layers of wrapping paper. On each layer of paper, tape a piece of candy or small trinket. Directions: Have all the players sit in a circle. The leader starts the music. While the music is playing the present is passed from person to person. The leader randomly stops the music. The person holding the gift when the music stops unwraps the first layer. He can keep or eat the piece of candy or trinket taped to the wrapping. The music continues and the steps are repeated until someone unwraps the special prize at the end. The prize can be shared with everyone. Remind the children that while we are living on earth as Christians, we will find many things to be grateful for, but the biggest, most special prize awaits us in Heaven. The best is yet to come!