Exploring the Birth of Jesus: Engaging Bible Stories, Crafts, and Activities

Introduction to the Birth of Jesus

Greetings! Join me as we delve into today's Bible Story about the Birth of Jesus, focusing on his humble entry into the world as an infant. It is a wonderful opportunity to teach children about one of the most beautiful names ever, the name of Jesus. We will explore the Bible Story and share various craft ideas, activities, and even songs to help the children you are teaching remember and bring home what they learn. I will also be leaving you some FREE printables to help you while you teach your lesson.

Story Telling the Birth of Jesus

At that time, Augustus Caesar sent an order to all people in the countries that were under Roman rule. The order said that they must list their names in a register. This was the first registration taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone went to their own towns to be registered.

So Joseph left Nazareth, a town in Galilee. He went to the town of Bethlehem in Judea. This town was known as the town of David. Joseph went there because he was from the family of David. Joseph registered with Mary because she was engaged to marry him. (Mary was now pregnant.) While Joseph and Mary were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to have the baby. She gave birth to her first son. There were no rooms left in the inn. So she wrapped the baby with cloths and laid him in a box where animals are fed.

That night, some shepherds were in the fields nearby watching their sheep. An angel of the Lord stood before them. The glory of the Lord was shining around them, and suddenly they became very frightened. The angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, because I am bringing you some good news. It will be a joy to all the people. Today your Savior was born in David’s town. He is Christ, the Lord. This is how you will know him: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a feeding box.”

Then a very large group of angels from heaven joined the first angel. All the angels were praising God, saying:

“Give glory to God in heaven,
and on earth let there be peace to the people who please God.”

Then the angels left the shepherds and went back to heaven. The shepherds said to each other, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened. We will see this thing the Lord told us about.”

So the shepherds went quickly and found Mary and Joseph. And the shepherds saw the baby lying in a feeding box. Then they told what the angels had said about this child. Everyone was amazed when they heard what the shepherds said to them. Mary hid these things in her heart; she continued to think about them. Then the shepherds went back to their sheep, praising God and thanking him for everything that they had seen and heard. It was just as the angel had told them.

When the baby was eight days old, he was circumcised, and he was named Jesus. This name had been given by the angel before the baby began to grow inside Mary.

Luke 2:1-21

Craft Ideas to Illustrate the Story

One effective way to engage children in learning about the birth of Jesus is through crafts that depict elements of the story.

• Nativity Scene: The Nativity I used for this lesson was actually made by a member of our Church years ago out of wood and popsicle sticks. If you wanted to recreate it and you don't have popsicle sticks or wood, you could use cardboard and glue gun! I designed some printable characters that the children could use to pretend play, I will leave that FREE download for you here.

• Baby Jesus: Make manger and Baby Jesus out of construction paper and let the children assemble it onto a dark blue or black page to resemble nighttime. You can use star stickers or add glue and glitter to make a star that really shines. I also made a printable template that comes with 2 versions, you can print it pre-colored to save time, which is what I did, or you let the children color it however they want.

Key Discussion Points

• Jesus was born humbly: I asked the children if they understood what an inn was and described how it would be similar to staying in a hotel. We also talked about what a manger is and how Mary had to give birth in the same area where the animals slept. I painted a picture for them of how it might smell in a manger, relating it to the scent of a barn. I reminded them that Jesus is God's son and could have been born in a palace or a much fancier place, but instead he was born in a location where most of us wouldn't want to sleep. Jesus exemplifies what humility means.

• Jesus is God's Son: I explained to the children how Jesus came into this world as a baby so he could grow up and relate to our troubles and hardship that we face daily. God sent his son into this world for our example to follow.

• God has a plan for our life: God has a plan for each child of God and can use us no matter how young we are to bring joy and love to those around us. It doesn't matter how old you are if you are willing to serve the Lord, he can use you!

Song Ideas to Celebrate the Birth

Choosing songs to go along with your Bible lesson about the birth of Jesus helps children prepare their heart for the lesson and remember what they have learned. Singing classic carols like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Away in a Manger" allows children to form an emotional connection to the story. These songs tell the tale of the humble surroundings where Jesus was born, providing a melodic backdrop to the lesson.

For a more engaging experience, you might teach children a simple song about the Nativity, encouraging them to participate with hand gestures or basic instruments. This not only enhances their learning experience but also makes it memorable, as they associate the joy of singing with the important morals conveyed in the story.

• Shepherd and Angels: Coloring pages are a quick and easy go to when you don't have much time to prep for crafts but want something that helps the children remember what the story was about. You can also print your coloring page onto cardstock and jazz it up a bit with glitter or watercolor paints. Enjoy this FREE Coloring Page!