Bible Story Video (young kids)
Bible Story

This can be one of the most challenging days of Advent. The closer we get to the actual day of Christmas, the more we tend to become distracted with last minute details, the opening of gifts, or family visits. Yet, this is the day we have been waiting for! Start the day with family prayer and reading the story of Jesus’ birth .

READING THE MAP

Matthew 1:18-2:23
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 
19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 
20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 
24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 
25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 
2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 
4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 
5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 
9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 
11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 
12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 
14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 
15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men. 
17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
19 But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 
20 saying, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.” 
21 And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. 
23 And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Luke 2:1-19

1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 
3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 
4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 
6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.
7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years.
8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 
9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 
10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 
11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 
12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. 
13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 
14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 
15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 
16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, 
17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.”
18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” 
19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

CAMPFIRE TALK
1. Are you thinking about Jesus today?
2. What is a way we can remember what this day is all about?
3. In the story of Jesus’ birth who was most excited to celebrate it?
4. Who did not seem to notice Jesus’ birth? Why do you think they did not notice?
5. Why did Jesus come to earth the way He did?

ROAD TRIP SONGS
Pick some of your favorite Christmas songs and sing them together

Christmas Music Song Mix

Praise God for the gifts Jesus brought with Him to earth

STARTING THE JOURNEY 
Attend Christmas weekend service 

Collect the Advent pictures you've decorated this month and retell the story of Jesus' birth.