Listen up, little ones
Especially for the littles in your household.
Listen for the word child and baby.
Reading
Luke 2:1-20 A Savior Was Born for You
Optional Reading
Matthew 1:18-25
Keys for kids
Also for the littles. Young households might choose, after Keys for Kids, to go directly to praise and prayer.
- Jesus, the long-promised Savior, was born.
- Angels announced His birth to shepherds.
- Luke 2 is a true story for every day.
Questions
(Some read the ?s before the notes/ ask them after.)
- How did Jesus come to be born in Bethlehem?
- What do we know about Joesph and Mary?
- Who first heard the news of Jesus’s birth? And how?
Catechism
(1 Q&A each week related to the preaching text)
WSC #22
How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?
Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.
(Hebrews 2:14, 16; Hebrews 10:5; Matthew 26:38; Luke 1:27, 31, 35, 42; Galatians 4:4; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 7:26)
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
When I was growing up, the story of Jesus's birth from Luke 2:1-14 was printed in the newspaper every Christmas Day. It was also recited by Linus in the famous A Charlie Brown Christmas TV special each year. Lots of people knew the story, but sadly, many people did not understand how important it really is.
The birth of Jesus is much more than a Christmas story. It is a life-changing story! Jesus the Savior was born. He is Christ the Lord, the One God sent to save His people from their sins. Because of this, we praise God whenever we hear or think about this story, not just at Christmas but all year long.
The story begins with an important ruler named Caesar. He ordered people throughout his empire to register their names. Because of this order, Mary and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem, the hometown of Joseph's family. Even though Caesar made this decision, God was still in control. Long before Jesus was born, God had promised that the Savior would be born in Bethlehem. This trip was to make that promise come true.
The first people to hear the good news were not rich or famous. They were humble shepherds watching their sheep in the fields. A great crowd of angels appeared and praised God! The angels announced the wonderful news that a Savior had been born.
This was good news for everyone. Rulers need a Savior. Parents need a Savior. Shepherds need a Savior. And we need a Savior, too.
Swedish Method questions
See the Sunday notes for meaning of the symbols.
Praise
Psalm 96a, 119v
Prayer
- Rejoice that a Savior was indeed born for you.
- Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s Word this Lord's Day.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.