JESUS IS BORN - LUKE 2:1-7 (Bible lesson for Teens)

In this lesson, we will learn about Jesus’ birth in Luke 2. This lesson relates to pre-teens and teens and by the end of this lesson, they should have learnt about the following:

God is Sovereign
The importance of making room for Jesus
God is with us

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-7 and Matthew 1:18:25

MEMORY VERSE: “And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” (Luke 2:6-7)

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JESUS IS BORN pdf – preteen and teen Bible lesson

BIBLE STUDY NOTES FOR TEENS

After years of waiting and anticipation, the moment has finally arrived. Jesus is born in Bethlehem, fulfilling the prophecy that was foretold long ago. The birth of Jesus Christ is the most important event in human history. Jesus is God in human form. He came to earth to rescue us from our sin and to offer us eternal life.

KEY POINTS FROM THE PASSAGE

1.GOD IS SOVEREIGN (LUKE 2:1-3)

Caesar Augustus was the first Roman emperor. He was a skilled general and politician and his reign was marked by military, economic, and political stability. He was probably the most powerful person in the world at the time and his legacy has shaped the world ever since.

In Rome, Caesar Augustus called for a census to get an accurate count of the number of people living in the Roman Empire. This was important for keeping track of the population for tax and to determine how many people were eligible for military service.

As a result, Mary and Joseph had travelled to Bethlehem for the census. It was a long and arduous trip, made even more difficult by Mary’s pregnancy.

When Caesar Augustus came up with his plan, he wasn’t thinking about God at all. He certainly had no idea of a carpenter called Joseph or a young woman called Mary. He was only thinking about what would benefit him and his empire. However, God used his actions to fulfil the prophecy that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)

From this we can learn there is no one more sovereign than God. Sovereignty is the supreme authority within a territory or sphere of influence. This means that God has ultimate power and control over all things. He is the ultimate ruler, and everything falls under His jurisdiction.

We might question our national leaders’ decisions at times, especially when they seem to be made with no thought of God or even on time, the good of man, but we must never forget, God is ultimately in control. He can even use bad decisions for His glory and to achieve His perfect purposes. We should pray for our leaders, that God will guide them and give them wisdom in their decisions.

2. MAKE ROOM FOR JESUS (LUKE 2:7)

We read in Luke 2:7 that the new-born Jesus was laid in a manger, because there was no room for His parents at the inn. It is a reminder of the humble beginnings of our Saviour and a powerful reminder of His love for us. He came into the world as a humble baby, born in a stable. What a demonstration of love!

But this passage also acts as an importance to remember to make room for Jesus in our hearts. Don’t make your life too busy for Jesus. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life, but it’s vital to make time for your relationship with Christ. Take time to celebrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus and the wonderful gift of salvation that He brings.

It is so important to make room in your day for Jesus. By setting aside time for prayer and reflection, you can refocus on what truly matters. When you take the time to connect with God, you will find strength and peace in His love. No matter how busy your day may be, fit time in with Jesus first. You won’t regret it!

3. GOD BECAME FLESH (LUKE 2:6)

Isaiah prophesied that a child would be born who would also be a Son given. This speaks to the dual nature of Jesus Christ as both human and divine. As a human, Jesus was born like any other child. But as the Son of God, he was given to us as a gift from heaven. This unique combination is what makes Jesus so special and worthy of our worship.

The child placed in the manger was the long-awaited Messiah, come to save us from our sin and offer us eternal life.

Jesus was both fully man and fully God. He was born of a human mother in the stable. He grew up as a regular human child. He experienced human emotions like joy, love, anger, sadness, and peace. He was also tempted in every way that we are, yet he never sinned.

Although Jesus was fully human, he was also fully God. He existed before time began. He created the universe and everything in it. He is all-powerful and all-knowing. He is perfect in every way. When Jesus came to earth, he didn’t give up his divine nature. He was still fully God. But he also became fully human.

In so, it’s important to remember that Jesus was not created at Christmas. While the holiday may be a time to celebrate the birth of Christ, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus has always existed. In John 1:1-3, we read, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” This passage makes it clear that Jesus has always existed, and that He was involved in the creation of everything.

4. TWO NAMES: JESUS AND EMMANUEL (MATTHEW 1:21-23)

Matthew 1:21-23 tells us two names to be given to the baby born to Mary: Jesus and Emmanuel. Jesus is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, meaning “Yahweh is salvation.” Emmanuel is a Hebrew name meaning “God with us.”

These two names beautifully summarize who Jesus is and what He came to do. He is our salvation, our rescuer from sin and death. Jesus is our saviour and Lord. He died on the cross for our sins and was resurrected so that we may have eternal life. He is the only way to know God and to be saved from our sins. Through Him we can have a personal relationship with God. Emmanuel tells us that He is not just some regular person either. He is God with us, always with us, even amid our trials and struggles. When we understand who Jesus is, we can trust Him with our lives. No matter what life throws our way, God is always with us. He is the ever-present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1). When we are feeling alone and lost, He is there to guide us back to the path of righteousness (Proverbs 4:11). His love for us is never-ending, and He is faithful to His promises (1 Corinthians 1:9). We can always count on Him to be by our side.

YOUTH GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR JESUS IS BORN

MATCH THE WORLD LEADERS

This game is designed to help teens learn about different world leaders and the countries they represent.
Print out photos of leaders and flags or names for the countries they lead.
Teens should work to match the correct leader with the correct country.
Bonus points can be given if they can name the leader.

A RACE TO BETHELHEM

Create a giant board game by placing pieces of paper on the floor.
Number the pieces of paper.
The start will be Nazareth and the finish will be Bethlehem.
Put some chairs (places) on the behind the finish.
There should be less chairs than there are number of players.
Children roll the dice and try to get to Bethlehem while there is still space to sit.
To make the game more fun, add certain challenges to some of the paper pieces. If the child completes the challenge they say on the space, if not, they move back 5 spaces.

WHO AM I?

Write some names of people or things for the account of Jesus birth (Mary, Joseph, Angel, Shepherd, Caesar, etc)
Each child should pick one piece of paper with a character on it.
The leader should then ask some general questions, and each person must answer as the character on the paper.
For example: What does your house look like? What are your hobbies? What does your average day look like?

BABY PHOTOS

Collect a selection of photos of famous people as babies. For extra fun, include some baby photos of church leaders or family members.
Each player must try and guess who the baby is in the photo.
Reviews answers at the end.