Little Lamb, by Jenedy Paige

December 18–24

Christmas

“Good Tidings of Great Joy”

This lesson is an opportunity to help the children you teach celebrate the Savior’s birth, life, and mission at Christmastime. Keep this thought in mind as you prepare to teach.

Invite Sharing

Display the picture in this week’s outline in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families, and invite the children to share what they know about the Savior’s birth.

Teach the Doctrine: Younger Children

Matthew 2:1–12; Luke 2:1–14

Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby.

Children love the story of Jesus Christ’s birth. What doctrinal truths do you see in this story that you feel the children should understand?

Possible Activities

• Read Luke 2:1–14 to the children, or describe the events in these verses by referring to “Chapter 5:Jesus Christ Is Born” (in New Testament Stories, 13–15, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Invite the children to draw pictures of these events and use the pictures to tell the story themselves. Why are we happy that Jesus was born?

• Ask the children to tell you the story of the Wise Men following the star to find Jesus. If they need to be reminded of the story, see Matthew 2:1–12 or “Chapter 7: The Wise Men” (in New Testament Stories, 18, or the corresponding video on ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Hide a picture of Jesus in the room. Draw or cut out a paper star and hold it in the air. Invite the children to pretend to be wise men carrying gifts, and lead them around the room to find Jesus. Help the children think of some gifts that we can give to Jesus.

• Sing a few Christmas hymns or songs with the children (see Hymns, nos. 201–14; Children’s Songbook, 34–54). Ask them to share something each song teaches that they feel is important to know.

Gethsemane, by J. Kirk Richards

John 3:16

Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with Heavenly Father again someday.

Do the children you teach understand why Jesus Christ came to earth? Take time to ponder what the Savior has done for you personally and how you can help the children understand what He has done for them.

Possible Activities

• Bring a wrapped gift or box to class with a picture of Jesus Christ inside. Attach a tag with “John 3:16” written on it, and tell the children that this is a clue about what the gift is. Read John 3:16 with the children, and invite them to guess what the gift is and open it. Why did God send us His Son?

• Help the children finish this sentence: “Jesus Christ came to earth to .” Then show pictures related to the Savior’s atoning sacrifice, death, and Resurrection (see Gospel Art Book, nos. 56–59), and briefly tell about these events. You could also sing a song about why Jesus came to earth, such as “He Sent His Son” (Children’s Songbook, 34–35). Bear your testimony of Jesus Christ and what He has done for you.

Teach the Doctrine: Older Children

Matthew 1:18–25; 2:1–12; Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–20

Jesus Christ came to earth as a baby.

How can you help the children focus on Jesus Christ at Christmas?

Possible Activities

• Invite one of the children to read about some of the events related to the Savior’s birth (see Matthew 1:18–25; 2:1–12; Luke 1:26–38; 2:1–20). Ask the other children to take turns drawing pictures on the board of what the scriptures are describing. What do these stories teach us about Jesus Christ?

• Invite the children to write on several slips of paper things they could do to help them focus on the Savior during the Christmas season. (They could get ideas from the video “Good Tidings of Great Joy: The Birth of Jesus Christ” on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.) Invite them to share what they wrote. Encourage the children to take the slips home and do with their families the suggestions they wrote on the slips.

• Sing Christmas songs about the Savior (see Children’s Songbook, 34–54; Hymns, nos. 201–14), and invite the children to share a favorite line or phrase from the songs.

John 3:16

Jesus Christ made it possible for me to live with Heavenly Father again someday.

How can you help the children review what they have learned this year and understand why they need Jesus Christ in their lives?

Possible Activities

• Label one piece of paper Who is Jesus Christ? and another Why did He come to earth? and attach them to different walls of the classroom. Invite each child to read one of the following scriptures: Matthew 16:15–16; John 3:16; 1 Nephi 10:4; Mosiah 3:8; Alma 7:10–13; 3 Nephi 27:14–15. Ask the children to look for answers, in the scriptures they read, to the two questions on the walls. Invite them to write down their answers and attach them to the wall next to the appropriate question. How can we show our gratitude for what Jesus Christ has done for us?

• Invite the children to list on the board all of the names or titles of Jesus that they can think of (see Bible Dictionary, “Christ, names of”). What do these names teach us about Jesus Christ and His mission? Why do we need Jesus Christ in our lives? To help answer this question, show the video “Why We Need a Savior—A Christmas Message about Our Savior Jesus Christ” (ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Encourage Learning at Home

Encourage the children to find at least one way to serve someone else or come closer to Jesus Christ this Christmas.

Improving Our Teaching

Invite children to share what they are learning. Children can have a powerful influence for good in their families. Encourage the children you teach to share with their families something they learned in Primary. (See Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 30.)