Lesson 2

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Christmas Party Lesson 2 December 8/9 1

Large Group Christmas Party Series at a Glance for Elevate About this Series: Christmas today seems the same every year. We plan when to buy gifts, when to cook the meal, and when to visit grandma and grandpas, all centered around December 25th. The first Christmas, however, no one had time to buy gifts, bake a pie, or even decorate a tree. It was totally unexpected. An unexpected trip, an unexpected baby, an unexpected place. In this series, we’ll discover the fun and wonder of following God, even when he does things we don’t expect. Key Verse: Luke 2:11- Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. Weekly Overview:

Lesson:

Topic:

Big Idea:

Lesson 1: December 1/2

An unexpected place Luke 2:4; John 1:46, 7:52; Micah 5:2.

Every part of my story is part of God’s plan.

Lesson 2: December 8/9

An unexpected invitation Luke 2:8-20; Matthew 2:1-12

God loves every person.

Lesson 3: December 15/16

An unexpected time Isaiah 11, Micah 5:2

I can trust God’s plan, even when I have to wait.

Lesson 4: Christmas Week

Christmas Party! Luke 2, John 18-21

Jesus gave his life to save mine.

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Christmas Party Series at a Glance for Elevate (continued) Lesson 1: An unexpected place Sometimes, it’s hard to know why God does something. Why did God put me in this family? Why did God make me good at some things, but make other things so difficult? This week, we’ll look at a part of Jesus’ life that could have been embarrassing and discover why every part of your story is part of God’s plan. Lesson 2: An unexpected invitation If you were sure they would show up, who would you invite to your Christmas celebration? Your friends and family? An athlete, tv star, or musician you like? Someone important or powerful? For the first Christmas, God invited some people that no one expected. We’ll find out why, this week in Elevate!

Lesson 3: An unexpected time It can be hard to wait. We wait for a lot around Christmas time, but it was probably even harder to wait for the first Christmas. The nation of Israel had been expecting God to send someone important for hundreds of years, and they were still waiting. This week, we’ll discover that we can trust God’s plan, even when it means we will have to wait.

Lesson 4: An unexpected Savior From the beginning to the end of Jesus’ story, he did a lot of unexpected things. He welcomed unexpected people, did amazing miracles, and showed that he was really God’s son. The most unexpected thing Jesus did, though, was also the most important. This week, we’ll hear how Jesus gave his life to save yours, and the life of every person on earth.

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Christmas Party Lesson Outline for Elevate Lesson 2: An Unexpected Invitation Lesson Segment

Total Running Time

Opening Song and Welcome (1:00) Team Time (14:00)

0:00 – 15:00

Media Part 1 (Video) (6:00) Group Time (15:00) Media Part 2 (Video) (9:00)

15:00 – 45:00

Application (6:00) Worship (8:00) Wrap Up (1:00)

Video Cue

45:00 - 60:00

Slide Cue

Audio Cue

Tech Notes

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Opening Song and Welcome

1:00

(Roll when directed) Elevate Opener

Welcome to Elevate! If any of you have some sweet dance moves, come on up to the front and show them off!

Know This: As the Large Group Leader, you are responsible for setting the tone. High energy, enthusiasm, and interaction with kids will increase your ability to connect with kids, and they will respond to you with the desired outcome. (Auto advance) Elevate Slide and Underscore

Welcome to Elevate! My name is ________________ and I’m excited to be here. If you are new, in a minute, you will get to know some of the kids around you, watch some videos, talk in groups, and finish by singing a few songs together. I am so glad each of you are here today.

Team Time

14:00

Series Title Slide: Christmas Party

The weeks before and after Christmas are typically filled with parties. Families, friends, and though you wouldn’t expect it, even churches have Christmas parties. If you’ve ever thrown a party at your house, or helped your grown-ups get ready for a big event, you know the planning and preparing that is needed in order to have a great party. However, the very first Christmas came at a time when no one was expecting, no one was looking for it, and no one was paying attention to where it would happen. Before we dive into the details about how unexpected Christmas was, let’s play a game with your group! Game Title Slide: Snowball Relay

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This game is called “Snowball Relay!” Your group needs to collect as many small snowballs as possible in a few short minutes. However, you cannot use your hands. Once you get to your group, your leader will put a small dab of Vaseline on your nose. You will then have to use only your nose to move a snowball from one end of the room to the other. Only one member of your group can be transferring a snowball at a time. Remember, if you drop your snowball, you must pick it up using only your nose! The group with the most snowballs collected at the end get a box of Kit-Kats to share during group time. Alright, everyone head to your group flag! Do This: Help kids find their groups, if necessary. Allow leaders time to put Vaseline on all the kids’ noses. Know This: Before you send them to their groups it may be helpful to quickly demonstrate how this works for the kids, by sticking a pom-pom to the end of your nose, and running across the stage.

Are all groups ready? On your mark, get set, go! 3 minute timer, and fun background music! (Auto-Advance) Series Title Slide: ‘Christmas Party’ and clear audio Know This: When the timer stops, ask the group leaders to count how many noses their group moved, and choose a winner!

Way to go everyone! You moved a lot of noses. Next up, everyone find a seat near your group because you’ll be talking with them about our question of the day! Question of the Day Video (Auto Advance) QOTD Slide: What is the best party you have ever been to, and why?

What is the best party you have ever been to, and why? Turn to someone next to you, find out their answer, then tell them yours! Do This: Emcee as the kids are sharing their answers. Encourage them to share with the people around them and encourage any kid whose story you hear. Feel free to share your answer as well!

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Know This: Allow kids time to interact with one another. Feel free to ask a few of them what their answer is, but you don’t have to make them share with the whole group. Make sure this time only takes a minute or two.

Parties are so much fun! Typically, we invite people who are our friends, or family to parties. When a birthday party is thrown, people are invited who have a relationship with the person whose birthday it is. However, there are people who never get invited to parties, they get left out. At the very first Christmas, people were invited to come who were not invited to many parties.

Media: Part 1

5:00

Who is someone you would invite to your birthday party? I wonder if The Source will have any unexpected visitors today? Let’s check it out! The Source: Part 1 (5:00) (Auto advance) Series Title Slide: Christmas Party

Hmm…Very interesting. I wondering what will happen next? We will find out in a few minutes, after we spend some time in our groups. Find your grade flags, where you will get to talk about what you would do!

Group Time

15:00

15:00 Group Time Countdown (Auto advance) Series Title Slide: Christmas Party Do This: Make sure each kid finds their group. Help group leaders if there is a need. Encourage kids as they work to answer the question. Know This: This is a time for kids to see how they can use the Bible to investigate and better understand life. This time is designed for kids to interact and deepen their understanding. They won’t get all the answers, but allow them to question and discover as much as possible. Be ready to support group leaders in any way needed. Christmas Party Lesson 2 December 8/9 7

Do This: Give the groups a warning about one minute before this time is up.

Media: Part 2

9:00

Alright, everyone, let’s quiet down and turn our attention to the screens to see what our friends will do next. The Source: Part 2 (9:00) (Auto advance) Series Title Slide: Christmas Party

I think it is absolutely incredible how God invited the people least expected to meet Jesus. God could have invited kings or other leaders, but instead he chose to invite shepherds, and put a star in the sky so anyone who was paying attention could notice and show up.

Application

6:00

That’s exactly what we are taking about in Elevate today. Big Idea Slide: “God loves every person.”

God loves everyone and doesn’t want anyone to miss out on his great plan for them. No one wants to feel like they are missing out on something amazing. For example, if all of your class mates were invited to a party, and you were not, you might feel pretty bad. All of us want to be included. I know I do. I especially don’t want anyone to miss out on the Christmas party we’re throwing in a couple weeks, though. Do This: Before the hour, recruit leaders to pass out a post-it note and marker to each kid. They should begin passing out as soon as you start talking.

Our Christmas party will be fantastically amazing, and we will be talking about the most important decision each of us can make. That’s why we hope that you will invite those friends of yours who do not normally come to church. They’ll hear about how much God loves them. Christmas Party Lesson 2 December 8/9 8

Think of someone you see at school every day, but don’t know them very well. Or someone you know, but don’t talk to. Remember how no one likes to feel left out? Inviting them to come to Elevate with you could make something amazing happen, both for you, and for them. You see, Elevate is a place for them. Everyone is welcome here. Whether you’ve been coming for one week or one hundred, I want to challenge you to invite a friend this Christmas. Here’s a way to get started. Each of you should have a note and a marker. If you don’t, raise your hands and someone will get one to you. Here is what to do: We want you to write the name of a person you will invite to church on the post-it note. When you get home today, you can fill out an invitation to that person with the details of when you are coming to one of our Christmas services in Elevate. The invitations might be a little fun and unexpected. Do This: Show kids the invitation, if it works for your space, you could even blow one up (they are beach balls) and fill it out.

Once you are done writing down their name, I want you to come up to one of these invitation posters and stick the post-it note to it. We will use this board as a way to pray for you, and for your friends who are coming with you to Christmas. When the music starts, you can start writing. Upbeat, instrumental background music. Do This: Allow for as much time as needed for kids to write names down and post on the boards. Encourage kids to be quiet, and to use this time to pray for all of the names being put up on the boards. Make sure there is a place for them to put their markers by the board. Know This: Once everyone has had the chance to put their name on the boards, start worship. Worship Slide

Worship

8:00

The name you just wrote down is the name of someone God loves. They may be a close friend, someone you talk to sometimes, or someone who makes fun of other kids. Whoever they are, God loves them, just like He loves you. God’s love is such a great reason to celebrate, let’s stand up and sing about the joy God gives at Christmas. Christmas Party Lesson 2 December 8/9 9

Song #1: Joy to the World

(Auto-Advance) Worship Slide

God showed the shepherds that they matter by giving them an amazing invitation to meet Jesus. Let’s sing another song about that night when the angels came to the shepherds! Song #2: Oh What a Glorious Night (Auto advance) Series Title Slide: Christmas Party

Wrap-Up

2:00

As you head out today, we want to give you a few things. Do This: Show kids the Family Connection Card.

This is our Family Connection Card. It has discussion starters, and some more information about what we’re going to talk about for the next few weeks. If you don’t have one already, be sure to pick this up. Also, make sure you get one of these awesome invitation beach balls! Do This: Show kids the invite tool.

As we just talked about, we are throwing a huge party and we want you to use this invitation and give it to your friends who have never been to Elevate. Invite them to come with you to one of our Christmas Eve services by giving them this beach ball. Alright, let’s finish by talking to God. You can talk to Him anytime and anywhere. Here, we usually close our eyes and put our hands in our laps, to help us focus on what we’re saying to God. Let’s do that now. God, thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving every person. Give us the courage to invite our friends to Elevate this Christmas. Amen. I’ve had a lot of fun hanging out with you all today, I hope to see you next week! Christmas Party Lesson 2 December 8/9 10

Elevate Slide

Start hangtime music videos

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