Christmas-Symbols and Meanings
Posted by: Buffalo Dream Center
Topic: Holidays
Verse:
Props:
Candy Cane
A Christmas tree
Apple decorations
Christmas lights
A picture of Santa Claus
Bag with different presents in
Small-decorated box
Piece of Paper with Jesus written on it
Instructions:
Discussion:
leson about the meaning of candy canes
Talk:
a. What is this?
b. Does anyone know the story behind the candy cane? Who started making them? Why?
c. The person how invented the candy cane made it in the shape of a "J" for Jesus.
d. Turned the "normal" way it is in the shape of a staff - to remind us about the Shepherds who went to worship baby Jesus the night He was born.
e. The white part of the candy cane reminds us of how we are made pure (forgiven - our heart is cleaned) by the blood of Jesus.
f. The red pare of the candy cane reminds us about how Jesus died on the cross for our sins. His blood was shed so we could be forgiven.
Lesson about The Christmas Tree (Star)
Talk: About 1000 years ago Christians would cut down a tree and bring it into their house to act out Bible stories. The most famous story they would act out was in the Garden of Eden. Christians would hang apples in the tree. Then they would act out the story about when Eve picked the fruit and ate is against God's command. These plays helped portray Bible stories to people who could not read.
One year the night before Christmas in Germany a great Christian named Martin Luther was walking through the woods. He looked up and saw the stars shining through the forest onto the snow-covered trees. It was so beautiful that he cut down a tree, took it home, and put candles in the tree in his home. He told his children that it reminded him of Jesus - who is the light of the world. It reminded Him about Jesus who left Heaven to come to earth at Christmas.
At first Baby Jesus was put at the top of the tree, but eventually it changed to an angel (like the one who told the shepherds about Jesus, or a star-like the one the wise men followed to find baby Jesus)
Lesson about Santa Claus
Talk:
a. Santa Claus started with St. Nicholas.
b. St. Nicholas was a Christian who lived in the 4th century.
c. St. Nicholas was very rich. As a boy his parent taught him to help others.
d. His parents died when he was young.
e. He would gift gifts to the poor, especially children.
f. He would give his gifts in secret, sometimes in the night.
g. St. Nicholas was a Christian who was eventually killed because He believed in Jesus.
h. Through time and lots of stories St. Nicholas became Santa Claus. He went from riding a white horse to having a sleigh with reindeer.
Lesson about Christmas Gifts - The best Gift of All
Talk:
a. Who likes to get presents for Christmas?
b. Pull some of the present out of the bag
c. Talk about what the kids want for Christmas.
d. There are 2 reasons we give presents at Christmas time.
1.To remind us of the presents given to Jesus by the Wise Men
a, Remember the Wise Men followed the star for a very long time.
b. Eventually they found baby Jesus
c. They offered very nice presents to Jesus
i. Frankincense used in Jewish Worship-symbolized that Jesus was to be worshipped
ii. Gold-associated with Kings-symbolized that Jesus is the King of kings
iii. Myrrh - a perfume put on dead bodies - symbolized that Jesus would die for us.
e. The main reason we gift gifts at Christmas is to remind us about the greatest gift of all.
1.What do you think that is?
2.Jesus - God gave the world the gift of Jesus
3.Who remembers John 3:16
4.Because of Jesus our sins can be forgiven and we can have Eternal Life.
Conclusion:
In order to receive God's gift of forgiveness and Eternal life. We must decide that we are going to live for Jesus. Living for Jesus means that we are going to love Jesus with all our heart and obey what He tells us to do. Deciding to live for Jesus is the best Christmas gift you can give to God. God wants you to accept the gift of His son so bad.
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