Looking Forward to the Nativity (Hardback)

Chapter One

december 1

The Seed of the Christmas Story

It was the beginning of all time, the start of human history. There was a garden called Eden. Within that garden, God planted the seed of the Christmas story.

As Adam and Eve walked around the Garden of Eden, God told them they could eat any of its fruit, except the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

But one day, history was forever changed. Adam and Eve ate some fruit from the tree God had told them not to eat from. The devil, in the form of a serpent, had tempted them to demand their own way. Because Adam and Eve disobeyed God, he threw them out of the garden.

Although God was angry, he promised that someday a Savior, one of Adam and Eve's own seed, or offspring, would come to overthrow all evil and the devil as represented by the serpent in this story. Adam and Eve looked forward to that day. That day of course is Christmas, the birthday of Jesus-Eve's Seed and our Savior.

Bible Promise

The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, you are cursed more than all animals, domestic and wild. You will crawl on your belly, groveling in the dust as long as you live. And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." -Genesis 3:14-15

Prayer

Dear Jesus, during this Christmas season we're reminded of the sacrifice you made in coming to earth as a baby. We, like Adam and Eve, know we aren't perfect. We need a Savior. Thank you for coming to save us. Amen.

Family Activity

Sing a verse of "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" with your children. Throughout the ages, this hymn has been sung during the first week of Advent. Explain to your children that Emmanuel is another name for Jesus and means "God with us."

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Chapter Two

december 2

A Brave Journey

Abram (or Abraham, as God named him later) lived in a land called Ur. One day, God told him to leave his friends and family and travel to a faraway land. God promised Abraham many rewards if he would obey this command. One reward was that Abraham's family would grow into a great and mighty nation. The most important reward though was that through Abraham's family God would bless all nations.

But there was one problem. Abraham and his wife Sarai (later named Sarah) had no son, no one to inherit these wonderful promises. It seemed impossible that they would ever have a baby, for both of them were so old. Abraham had no idea how God's promises could come true. Yet he believed and bravely set out to that distant land. He looked forward to the day when all the world would be blessed through his family. That day was Christmas, the day when Jesus-both an offspring of Abraham and the very Son of God-was born. Through Jesus, all people would be blessed-a fulfillment of a promise made long before to a man named Abraham.

Bible Promise

"I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you." -Genesis 12:2-3

Prayer

God, help us to depend on your leading in our lives. Sometimes we're afraid to try something new. But you're a God of fresh beginnings, as you proved in the story of Abraham. Thank you for blessing us through Abraham's family line, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Family Activity

Show your children a map or a globe. Ask them how they would feel about going to a faraway land. Would they be excited? Would they be afraid? Ask them what they would do if they could never return home. Would they refuse to go? Point to the places where your relatives live. Show your children places they themselves have visited. Point to faraway places such as China, India, or Africa. If you know some missionaries, show your children where missionaries live. Discuss how Abraham must have felt when he left his home for a distant, unknown land.

Chapter Three

december 3

The Ultimate Test

Just as God had promised, Sarah gave birth to a baby boy. The young Isaac was truly a miracle child, and he brought much joy to Abraham and Sarah.

Then one day, God told Abraham to take Isaac to a mountain far away. It wasn't a happy journey, for God had asked Abraham to give up Isaac, his only son. Abraham didn't know how he could live without his son-the boy in whom he had placed his hopes. Yet God had spoken, so Abraham obeyed.

When Abraham reached the mountain, an angel of the Lord called out, "Abraham! Abraham! Don't hurt your son. The Lord knows now that you trust him so much you won't withhold your only son. You have passed God's test. Because of this, your family will grow into a nation through which the Savior will come."

From then on Abraham treasured his son all the more. Isaac was a gift from the Lord. Through Isaac's family would come a Savior-Jesus Christ our Lord.

Bible Promise

"Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed-all because you have obeyed me." -Genesis 22:16

Prayer

Lord, like Abraham, you didn't withhold your only Son. Instead, you sent him to earth to save us from our sins. Thank you for your great gift! Help us to be more like you-wholehearted in our giving to you and to others. Amen.

Family Activity

Have your children bring their favorite toy to you. Discuss with them what it means to give away something they love and cherish. Would they give away their favorite toy? their favorite pet? Explain to them that God gave his only Son to save us. Help your children think of one thing they can give back to God as a thank-you for giving them his Son.

Chapter Four

december 4

Jacob's Restless Night

Bright stars filled the night sky as Jacob sat alone on a rock. This youngest son of Isaac had been traveling all day. He was dusty and tired. He needed to rest, but he didn't have a pillow or a tent. All he could do was roll a small rock closer and use it as a pillow for his sleepy head.

Jacob fell sound asleep and dreamed of a stairway that reached far into heaven. Angels-more than he could count-were going up and down this heavenly staircase. At the top stood God himself! His voice thundered throughout the earth. "I am the God of your grandfather Abraham, and your father, Isaac. I promise that your family will own this land. Your family will grow into a nation that will, in turn, bless all peoples and all nations."

Suddenly, Jacob woke up. "Surely this is the house of the living God," he said to himself. "God has given me a place in his great plan." So Jacob, like his grandfather Abraham, and his father, Isaac, before him, believed God's promise. Through their family, God would bless all nations.

Bible Promise

At the top of the stairway stood the LORD, and he said, "I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions-to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants. What's more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go." -Genesis 28:13-15

Prayer

Father God, thank you for keeping the promises you made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Thank you for sending your Son, Jesus, to save and bless us. Help us to be as loyal to you as you are to your promises. Amen.

Family Activity

If you live in an area where snow has fallen, consider bundling up and going outside to make "snow angels." (Have your children lie on their backs in the snow and move their arms to make "wings.") If you prefer to stay inside, draw outlines of angels on white construction paper and have your children cut them out. Cut out a ladder as well. Discuss with your children how the angels reminded Jacob of God's promises.

Chapter Five

december 5

A Passover Lamb

After many years, the number of Abraham's children and grandchildren increased. They were called Hebrews, and they lived in Egypt, where Egypt's evil king had made them slaves. Their life was very difficult, so they cried out to the Lord their God.

God heard their cries and sent Moses to order the Egyptians to let the Hebrews go. But the king refused to let them go. Instead, he made them work even harder.

Finally, God had enough of this stubborn king. He would free his people, even if it meant taking away every one of Egypt's firstborn sons.

God wanted the Hebrews to always remember his power and might, so he commanded Moses and Aaron to tell them to sacrifice a Passover lamb that very night. The Hebrews were to paint the lamb's blood on the doorposts of their homes. This would save their own firstborn sons, and it would represent God's love for them. It would also point to Jesus-God's only Son-who would one day show his Father's love to everyone.

Bible Promise

Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us. So let us celebrate the festival, not with the old bread of wickedness and evil, but with the new bread of sincerity and truth. -1 Corinthians 5:7-8

Prayer

Reader: Dear Jesus, reading about the Passover reminds us of your purpose in coming to this earth. You are our Passover Lamb. You gave up your own life for our sins.

Children: Thank you, Jesus, our Passover Lamb.

Reader: In this season of joyful giving, may we not forget how much you gave up for us.

Children: Thank you, Jesus, our Passover Lamb.

All: Amen.

Family Activity

Place a lamb ornament on your tree to represent the Passover Lamb and to remind you of Jesus, the person who saved you through his own death on the cross. If you don't have a lamb ornament, you can make one out of construction paper. Use cotton balls to add "wool" to your lamb.

(Continues...)