Grandpa's History Lesson
Sunday School time was ticking away, and many of the kids were in their costumes for the Christmas pageant. Their teacher, Mrs. Lynden, had listened to them review their lines one last time before the Christmas program tonight, and everyone was excited about the play.
When practice was finished, Mrs. Lynden said, “Kids, if you have your costumes on for the play, I want you to line up here in front of the room.” Shuffling could be heard as they began to line up.
Mrs. Lynden walked past each of the characters and handed each one a note card. “I knew today would be busy with our last practice, but we still have a few minutes for a Sunday School lesson, and this group right here is going to teach us.” Eyes got wide as some of the kids in costume did a, “Who? Me?” shrug of the shoulders, or pointing at themselves in disbelief.
“If the people from the Christmas story could each give us a piece of advice or teach us a lesson, what do you think they might say?” She looked from one class member to the other, and no one seemed to have a clue.
“Well, our first lesson comes from Mary. Melody, could you step up and read for us what is on your note card?”
“My name is Mary, and God’s word calls me highly favored and blessed among women. But I called myself a very humble name, handmaid of the Lord. A handmaid was a slave girl, sometimes a very young girl, the smallest or least important position in any household. A handmaid was given small and sometimes humbling tasks to do for her master or mistress.”
“One of the most important things about my life pointed out in the Bible is that I was a virgin young lady and I had made it a priority to protect the purity of my body, as well as my heart. When God called on me to serve Him and said I would be the mother of the Savior of the world, I was surprised that He would choose an ordinary young lady like me for such an important and eternal task. In Luke chapter one, verse 38, my answer was this: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word...” My advice would be that we should be humble and willing servants to do whatever God calls us to do. Always answer God’s call on your life with, “Yes, Lord.’”
“Derek, you’re next,” said Mrs. Lynden.
Derek looked at his note card and read, “My name is Joseph, and God called on me to fulfil the job of the earthly father of Jesus, who was truly the Son of God. My advice to you would be to pause, ponder, think things through and pray about it before you act or make a decision. Mary was my betrothed, my promised bride, but before the day of our marriage arrived, gossips around our town were saying that Mary was guilty of immorality and she was expecting a baby. I knew that I had been blameless and pure in my relationship with her, and the devil and the gossips tried to make me believe that Mary had betrayed me, her promised husband, and the God that we both loved and served.”
“Matthew one says, ‘Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.’”
“Even in the hardest, most confusing or hurtful circumstances, if we will take time to think and consider and pray about it, God will give us the leadership and answers we need. Act on principle and prayer. Don’t just react according to your emotions. Take time to think and pray and don’t be in a hurry.”
"That’s great,” said Mrs. Lynden. “Now we will hear from Jaclynn and Ava.”
“Glory to God in the highest,” they said in unison, dressed in their angel wings. Jaclynn continued, “Angels were used by God as messengers to take God’s message to Mary, and to Joseph, and then to the shepherds. All of God’s people are instructed to take the Gospel message to the world. ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Don’t forget that you are God’s messenger every day.”
“Praising God is an important part of our service and worship to Him. Giving a testimony in church, singing songs that praise His name, and living in a way that glorifies the Lord are all part of your job as a Christian,” added Ava, as she straightened her hanger halo.
“Robbie, it’s your turn,” said Mrs. Lynden. Robbie took a step forward with his shepherd staff and a stuffed animal lamb tucked under his arm.
“Shepherds were the first to receive the news from angels that the Messiah, the Christ-child had been born in Bethlehem. We were so excited as we ran to see Him there in the manger. We were even more excited as we departed, taking with us the Gospel Good News that Jesus was born to be the Saviour of the World.”
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
“My advice to you is that you come to the presence of the Lord for yourself, and then go and tell everyone that Jesus is the Savior, God’s greatest Gift to the World.”
“Okay, let’s hurry now. Michael, Jon and Jackson, you’re next.” The three kings cleared their throats and Michael read his card first.
“True wisdom is found in God and His Word, and truly wise men will always be those who seek Him. Though they were far away, men who studied and sought for the truth were led by the light of God’s star in the east.”
Jon held up the long pole from which was hanging the shining star. “Jesus is the Light of the world, and each one of us are called to be lights in this world, reflecting the light of Christ.”
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ... When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
“The lesson we would like to give you is this: Remember that true wisdom always comes from God and His Word, no matter what worldly wisdom may say,” said Jackson. “It’s still true today that wise men always seek Him. Follow His Light, give your gifts and offerings to Him, and seek Him always.”
“We are almost finished, class, but first we have one more character from the Christmas story to remind us about an important truth.” Mrs. Lynden pulled the cardboard backdrop that pictured the stable in Bethlehem and positioned it behind all the Christmas characters, while Mary and Joseph knelt beside the little wooden manger.
“Class, I want you to remember that, on it’s own, the stable was just a dark and cold and lonely place. It was nothing special UNTIL...” Mrs. Lynden placed a baby doll in the manger to represent the Baby Jesus. She helped Jon to position his star over the stable, and then she turned the switch that bathed the whole scene in shining light.
“Even if your heart is a dark and cold and lonely, empty place, all you need is for this Saviour who was born in the stable in Bethlehem to come into your heart. When the Light of the world comes in, there’s nothing dark or cold or lonely about it anymore! If you have never received this Lord Jesus into your heart, then now is the time. Will you ask Jesus to come and live in your heart and forgive your sins today?”
When practice was finished, Mrs. Lynden said, “Kids, if you have your costumes on for the play, I want you to line up here in front of the room.” Shuffling could be heard as they began to line up.
Mrs. Lynden walked past each of the characters and handed each one a note card. “I knew today would be busy with our last practice, but we still have a few minutes for a Sunday School lesson, and this group right here is going to teach us.” Eyes got wide as some of the kids in costume did a, “Who? Me?” shrug of the shoulders, or pointing at themselves in disbelief.
“If the people from the Christmas story could each give us a piece of advice or teach us a lesson, what do you think they might say?” She looked from one class member to the other, and no one seemed to have a clue.
“Well, our first lesson comes from Mary. Melody, could you step up and read for us what is on your note card?”
“My name is Mary, and God’s word calls me highly favored and blessed among women. But I called myself a very humble name, handmaid of the Lord. A handmaid was a slave girl, sometimes a very young girl, the smallest or least important position in any household. A handmaid was given small and sometimes humbling tasks to do for her master or mistress.”
“One of the most important things about my life pointed out in the Bible is that I was a virgin young lady and I had made it a priority to protect the purity of my body, as well as my heart. When God called on me to serve Him and said I would be the mother of the Savior of the world, I was surprised that He would choose an ordinary young lady like me for such an important and eternal task. In Luke chapter one, verse 38, my answer was this: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word...” My advice would be that we should be humble and willing servants to do whatever God calls us to do. Always answer God’s call on your life with, “Yes, Lord.’”
“Derek, you’re next,” said Mrs. Lynden.
Derek looked at his note card and read, “My name is Joseph, and God called on me to fulfil the job of the earthly father of Jesus, who was truly the Son of God. My advice to you would be to pause, ponder, think things through and pray about it before you act or make a decision. Mary was my betrothed, my promised bride, but before the day of our marriage arrived, gossips around our town were saying that Mary was guilty of immorality and she was expecting a baby. I knew that I had been blameless and pure in my relationship with her, and the devil and the gossips tried to make me believe that Mary had betrayed me, her promised husband, and the God that we both loved and served.”
“Matthew one says, ‘Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.’”
“Even in the hardest, most confusing or hurtful circumstances, if we will take time to think and consider and pray about it, God will give us the leadership and answers we need. Act on principle and prayer. Don’t just react according to your emotions. Take time to think and pray and don’t be in a hurry.”
"That’s great,” said Mrs. Lynden. “Now we will hear from Jaclynn and Ava.”
“Glory to God in the highest,” they said in unison, dressed in their angel wings. Jaclynn continued, “Angels were used by God as messengers to take God’s message to Mary, and to Joseph, and then to the shepherds. All of God’s people are instructed to take the Gospel message to the world. ‘Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.’ Don’t forget that you are God’s messenger every day.”
“Praising God is an important part of our service and worship to Him. Giving a testimony in church, singing songs that praise His name, and living in a way that glorifies the Lord are all part of your job as a Christian,” added Ava, as she straightened her hanger halo.
“Robbie, it’s your turn,” said Mrs. Lynden. Robbie took a step forward with his shepherd staff and a stuffed animal lamb tucked under his arm.
“Shepherds were the first to receive the news from angels that the Messiah, the Christ-child had been born in Bethlehem. We were so excited as we ran to see Him there in the manger. We were even more excited as we departed, taking with us the Gospel Good News that Jesus was born to be the Saviour of the World.”
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.”
“My advice to you is that you come to the presence of the Lord for yourself, and then go and tell everyone that Jesus is the Savior, God’s greatest Gift to the World.”
“Okay, let’s hurry now. Michael, Jon and Jackson, you’re next.” The three kings cleared their throats and Michael read his card first.
“True wisdom is found in God and His Word, and truly wise men will always be those who seek Him. Though they were far away, men who studied and sought for the truth were led by the light of God’s star in the east.”
Jon held up the long pole from which was hanging the shining star. “Jesus is the Light of the world, and each one of us are called to be lights in this world, reflecting the light of Christ.”
“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. ... When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.”
“The lesson we would like to give you is this: Remember that true wisdom always comes from God and His Word, no matter what worldly wisdom may say,” said Jackson. “It’s still true today that wise men always seek Him. Follow His Light, give your gifts and offerings to Him, and seek Him always.”
“We are almost finished, class, but first we have one more character from the Christmas story to remind us about an important truth.” Mrs. Lynden pulled the cardboard backdrop that pictured the stable in Bethlehem and positioned it behind all the Christmas characters, while Mary and Joseph knelt beside the little wooden manger.
“Class, I want you to remember that, on it’s own, the stable was just a dark and cold and lonely place. It was nothing special UNTIL...” Mrs. Lynden placed a baby doll in the manger to represent the Baby Jesus. She helped Jon to position his star over the stable, and then she turned the switch that bathed the whole scene in shining light.
“Even if your heart is a dark and cold and lonely, empty place, all you need is for this Saviour who was born in the stable in Bethlehem to come into your heart. When the Light of the world comes in, there’s nothing dark or cold or lonely about it anymore! If you have never received this Lord Jesus into your heart, then now is the time. Will you ask Jesus to come and live in your heart and forgive your sins today?”
