(10 minutes, easy set-up)
Students will create a modern-day version of Luke 2:1-20 describing the love of God being put on display through the humble birth of Jesus.
Create a slide with these phrases: a humble place for the birth, and humble people to hear God’s news.
Learning Goal: Learners will reflect on one aspect of God’s love that was present at Jesus’ birth.
Call on a student to summarize the birth narrative that was discussed this morning. After the summary, divide students into groups of three or four and provide each group a sheet of paper and a pen. Explain that students will create a modern version of the birth narrative. Display the slide you created with the phrases a humble place for the birth, and humble people to hear God’s news on it. Encourage students to think about what God would have chosen to use if Jesus were born today.
Instruct students to work within their groups to brainstorm ideas about characters, location, and other story details, and to write an account using some of these ideas. Then, as time allows, call for groups to read their accounts. Emphasize that God didn’t have to allow Jesus to be born the way He was, but God chose for it to happen just the way it did. Say: God had a big plan to use humble circumstances to make much of Jesus’ birth! Encourage the students to try to place themselves in this story by sharing responses to these questions in their groups: If you were in the Christmas story, what role would you fill? How would God use you? Explain that God still works in humble circumstances and He wants us to live humble lives. Encourage groups to close by praying for each other to recognize God’s love in their lives at all times and how God revealed His love through the birth of Jesus.