Jesus is Born Preschool Sunday School Lesson (Free, Ages 3–6)
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “Baby Jesus, lying in the manger.”
Mary and Joseph lived in the town of Nazareth. They were going to be married. And Mary was going to have a baby.
One day the great ruler, Caesar, gave an order. Everyone must go to their family’s town, to be counted. Joseph’s family came from Bethlehem, the town of King David. So Mary and Joseph had to make a long trip.
Off they went to Bethlehem. Step, step, step. Up the hills and down the hills. It was a long, long way. Can you walk your fingers like little feet on a long trip?
While they were there, it was time for the baby to be born. But there was no room for them in the inn. An inn is a place where travelers stay for the night.
Mary had her baby boy. He was her very first baby. She wrapped him snug in strips of cloth. She laid him in a manger – a box where animals eat their hay. Baby Jesus, lying in the manger.
That night, shepherds were out in the fields nearby. Shepherds lived outside with their sheep, day and night. They kept watch over them in the dark. Baa, baa!
Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by them. God’s bright glory shone all around them. Glory is God’s shining light. The shepherds were very afraid.
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy. There is born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” A Savior is someone who saves. Christ means the King God had promised long ago. This good news was for all the people!
The angel went on, “This is the sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth.” A sign is something that shows you the way. Baby Jesus, lying in the manger.
Then many, many angels filled the sky. They were like a big army from heaven. They praised God. They said, “Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, good will toward men.” Can you lift your arms high and say, “Glory to God”?
Then the angels went away into the sky. “Let’s go to Bethlehem, now,” the shepherds said to one another. They wanted to see this thing that had happened. And they hurried off. Quick, quick! Can you tap your feet fast, like running shepherds?
They came to Bethlehem. They found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby! Baby Jesus, lying in the manger.
The shepherds told everyone about this child. They told what the angel had said. All who heard it wondered. That means they were full of wonder and surprise.
Mary kept all these things in her heart. She thought about them again and again.
The shepherds went back to their sheep. They praised God for all they had heard and seen. It was all just as the angel had told them.
God sent a Savior for all the people, just as the angel said. Baby Jesus, lying in the manger.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think the shepherds said to each other on the way to Bethlehem?
- How do you think Mary felt when she held her new baby?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace” — Luke 2:14 (Glory to God → lift both arms high; in the highest → stretch up on your tiptoes; on earth peace → bring your hands slowly down)
Dear God, thank you for sending baby Jesus. Thank you for the good news of great joy. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God loves you so much He came to be near you.
Memory verse: “For there is born to you today, in David's city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” — Luke 2:11 · WEB
The Bible story
Heaven was waiting, and one starry night God did the most wonderful thing of all — He came to earth as a tiny baby to be our Savior.
Talk about it
- In what town was Jesus born? — Bethlehem
- Who was Jesus' mother? — Mary
- Who was Mary's husband? — Joseph
- Where did baby Jesus sleep? — A manger
- Why was baby Jesus laid in a manger? — There was no room for them
- Who told the shepherds the good news? — Angels
Where is Jesus in this story?
This story IS about Jesus — God loved us so much He came to earth as a baby to be our Savior. The tiny baby in the manger is God's own Son, sent as the rescuer He had promised for hundreds of years. He was laid in a humble manger so that everyone, big or small, rich or poor, could come close to Him. God's rescue plan that began on that starry night in Bethlehem finds its happy ending at the cross, where Jesus opens the way for us to be with God forever.
What God wants to tell us
God did not stay far away up in heaven. He loved us so much that He came right down to earth as a little baby, to be close to us and to be our Savior. That means He knows exactly how you feel, and He is always near. Whenever Christmas comes, you can remember: Jesus came because God loves you more than you could ever imagine.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me so much that You sent baby Jesus to be our Savior. Thank You that He came so close to us on that first Christmas night. Help me to welcome Jesus into my heart like the shepherds did, and to share the happy news with others. Amen.
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