DECEMBER 2024
CHRISTMAS: CELEBRATING JESUS, GOD’S GREATEST GIFT
Have you ever stopped to listen to a group of carolers and then joined them to go spread some more Christmas cheer with others? Music is such a big part of Christmas, but it’s not the main reason we celebrate. It’s easy to get distracted with all the lights, presents, and traditions that sometimes we forget it’s not about the things we do, but Who we do it for and why we do it.
That’s why this December, we’re singing loudly as we jam out to our Christmas Playlist to celebrate Jesus, God’s greatest gift! The best gift God ever gave was Jesus. Because of Jesus, it’s possible for us to have a relationship with God that will last forever. As we get in the mix this Christmas season, let’s take time to remember the reason we celebrate in the first place: Jesus, the greatest gift the world has ever known.
THIS MONTH
CHRISTMAS - Celebrating Jesus, God’s greatest gift.
Memory Verse - “[Mary] is going to have a son. You must give him the name Jesus. That’s because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21, NIrV
12/1 - God always had a plan to send Jesus. (In the Beginning Was the Word - John 1:1-5, 14)
12/8 - Celebrate because God is with you. (An Angel Appears to Mary and Joseph - Luke 1:26-38, Matthew 1:18-25)
12/15 - Celebrate because God sent a Savior. (Jesus Is Born - Luke 2:1-7)
12/22 - Celebrate Jesus with others. (Shepherds and Angels - Luke 2:8-20)
12/29 - Never stop celebrating Jesus. (Wise Men - Matthew 2:1-12)
SUNDAY NIGHTS
Our goal is for every elementary-aged kid to be a part of a 2:52 Group and connected to an adult small group leader that is helping them discover who God is and understand how His virtues apply to their life. During the school year on Sunday evenings from 6-7pm for all elementary, it's a great and fun time for kids to connect and build relationships with each other, focus on memorizing scripture, pray together, and take the Bible lesson they learned in the morning to a deeper level.
GOD TIMES
These are excellent resources to help your children have some time with God each week and begin forming the habit of regular Bible study. There are four different devotions on each GodTime sheet. Each devotion is designed to be done on a different day. At 2:52 Groups on Sunday nights, we do the first God Time with your child, leaving them just 3 more to do during the week.
Each day’s devotion includes:
1. a verse(s) to read
2. a devotion paragraph that teaches something about God and an explanation of today’s verse(s)
3. an activity that makes real-life application of the day’s devotion
4. a suggested prayer.
K-3rd GRADERS
Even though kids in early elementary (Kindergarten through 3rd grade) are beginning to read things on their own, most are not mature enough to have a God time by themselves. We encourage you to do this with your children.
4th-5th GRADERS
Encourage kids to choose four different days during the week to do these devotions. Most 4th and 5th graders are capable of having a “quiet time” on their own, once they’ve been taught how to do it, but they still need an adult to prompt them and/or follow up on it.
GOD TIMES for each week can be picked up in the KidsWorld hallway.