December 20, 2020 – Luke 1 – 2

Lesson Date: December 20, 2020

Focal Scripture Passage: Luke 1:26-33; 2:1-11

AIM: To lead students to discover some prophecies fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ, and to thank God for providing His Son to be our Savior.

Before class: Write the following scripture references on index cards or small pieces of paper: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7; Jeremiah 23:5; Micah 5:2. Ask some volunteers who are comfortable reading aloud to look up the verses and be prepared to read them to the class when you call for them. Write the following letters vertically down the left side of the marker board:

V

G

S

T

B

S

Each letter represents a word or phrase that you will complete during the lesson.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask the students if they have ever hosted or attended a Christmas meal. Ask: “What kinds of preparations must you make before the big event?” (clean the house, prepare the food, wrap the gifts, pack if going out of town, travel, etc.). Tell the class we usually focus on the meal or family get-together, but a lot of preparations must be made before the meal or gathering can take place. Those preparations may not be noticed, but they are vitally important.

Ask: “Imagine someone invited you to come to their home for a meal on a certain day at a certain time. How would you feel if you arrived at their house at the appointed time and found that they had completely forgotten about the invitation and hadn’t prepared for your arrival?” (you would feel embarrassed, hurt, and unimportant). When someone invites you to dinner, you expect them to prepare for and provide the meal they promised.

Tell the class in today’s lesson we will learn about the promised birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, as well as some of the ways God prepared for the arrival of His Son.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Explain that we are departing from our study of the Old Testament book of Genesis today so we can have a lesson on the birth of the promised Savior, Jesus Christ.
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verses ( 28:15).
   • Tell them that next week we will resume our study of Genesis.
2. Jesus was Born of a Virgin.
   • Read Luke 1:26-27.
   • Ask: “What do these verses tell us about Mary?” (she lived in Nazareth, she was a virgin, and she was espoused to Joseph).
   • Explain that espousal in First Century Judaism was similar to engagement in our modern day, but much more strict. The espoused couple usually had no contact or communication during the 9-18 month espousal period. A legal divorce was required to break the espousal.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Isaiah 7:14.
   • Explain that over 700 years earlier God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, telling us that Jesus would be born of a virgin.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Luke 1:28-30.
   • Ask: “How did Mary react to the angel’s sudden appearance?” (she was troubled and afraid).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Luke 1:31.
   • Ask: “What did the angel tell Mary?” (she was going to have a son whom she was to name Jesus).
   • Explain that the name Jesus is the New Testament Greek equivalent of the Old Testament Hebrew name Joshua, which means “Jehovah saves.”
   • Ask: “What was the problem with the angel’s announcement that Mary would have a son?” (she was an unmarried virgin).
   • Read Matthew 1:18-25, especially stressing verses 18, 20, 23, and 25.
   • Tell the students the Bible clearly says that Jesus was born of a virgin. The virgin birth is vitally important because if Jesus was conceived through natural means then His blood could not save us from our sins.
   • Beside the letter “V” on the board complete the word “VIRGIN.”
   • Summarize: Jesus was born of a virgin, just as God promised.
3. Jesus was Born to be Our Great King.
   • Ask the students to listen for what the angel said about Jesus, as you read Luke 1:32-33. They should name the following:
     • He will be great
     • He is the Son of God
     • He will reign forever on the throne of David (He is David’s rightful heir to rule over all Israel)
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Isaiah 9:6-7.
   • Tell the class that those verses, written 700 years before Jesus was born, promise that Christ will be great, be the Son of God, and will reign
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Jeremiah 23:5.
   • Tell the students that prophecy, written 600 years before Jesus’ birth, says that He will be a descendant of King David.
   • Beside the letter “G” on the board complete the word “GREAT.”
   • Beside the letter “S” on the board complete the phrase “SON OF GOD.”
   • Beside the letter “T” on the board complete the phrase “THRONE OF DAVID.”
   • Summarize: Jesus is great, He is the Son of God, and He will reign forever on the throne of David, just as God promised.
4. Jesus was Born in Bethlehem.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Luke 2:1-5.
   • Ask: “Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?” (to be registered and taxed by the Romans).
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteer to read Micah 5:2.
   • Explain that more than 700 years before Caesar Augustus was born or thought of taxing the world, God announced that His Son would be born in Bethlehem.
   • Tell the students that Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth, where Jesus was to grow up; but God sovereignly used an ungodly emperor to see that Mary was in Bethlehem in time for Jesus’ birth.
   • Beside the letter “B” on the board complete the word “BETHLEHEM.”
   • Summarize: Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as God promised.
5. Jesus was Born to be Our Savior.
   • Read Luke 2:6-11.
   • Tell the class Jesus was born and laid in a manger, after which an angel announced His birth to shepherds watching their flocks.
   • Ask: “What did the angel say about Jesus in verse 11?” (He was born in Bethlehem, David’s city, and He is the Savior, Christ the Lord).
   • Beside the letter “S” on the board complete the word “SAVIOR.”
   • Summarize: Jesus was born to be our Savior, through whom we can be saved from our sins.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students that we began this lesson with the letters “VGSTBS” written on the board. Through the course of the lesson we have learned Jesus was virgin born, He is great, He is the Son of God, He inherited the throne of David, He was born in Bethlehem, and He is the Savior.

Remind the class that if a friend invited them over for a meal they would expect the friend to prepare for and provide the promised meal. Similarly, God promised to send His Son into the world, He prepared for Jesus’ birth, and He provided us a Savior.

Ask: “Why did God promise, prepare, and provide Jesus to be born into the world?” Tell the class the answer is in John 3:16. Read that familiar verse.

Ask: “How should we respond to God’s gracious gift of His Son?” (we should thank Him for loving us so much). Encourage everyone to personally thank God, as you voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Tell the students to thank God this week for providing His Son to save us from our sins. Tell them to look for opportunities to tell others that Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem was prophesied hundreds of years before it occurred.