Note to the Teacher

The theme for this week is promise. We are finally getting to hear parts of the familiar Christmas story that we know and love. The icebreaker will encourage students to understand that from the moment they were born, they were a promise from God. The discussion will help youth dig deeper into the concept of promises. The activity will allow students to recall the promises God has made and the promises the youth themselves have made.

1. Icebreaker: Say My Name (10 minutes)

Optional: If doing the photo-a-day activity with the countdown chains, share some of the photos that people have taken.

Option 1: High-Tech

Have a website about the meaning of names available (see behindthename.com. Give students name tags to write their names on. Have them look up the meaning of their names and add that to the name tag as well. For example, Melissa means “honeybee.”

Option 2: Low-Tech

Give students name tags to write on. Use a name book (for example, The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names or The Meaning of Names) to find the meaning of their names and have them add that information to the name tag.

2. Read Scripture (5 minutes)

The scripture this week focuses on Elizabeth’s arrival at Mary’s house and the celebration, excitement and anxiety that comes with the realization that a baby, Christ the Savior, is about to be born.

Read Luke 1;39-45.

3. Discussion (15 minutes)

Mary asks how it can be or why she has this honor of God’s promise of the Christ Child. When have you thought to yourself, “How can this be or why do I have this honor?”

When have you made a promise and weren’t able to follow through? How did it feel?

When did someone promise you something that they weren’t able to follow through on? How did it feel?

How did God show up for Mary and Elizabeth? How does God promise to show up in our lives?

4. Activity and Discussion (20 minutes)

Read LeBron James’s book, I Promise, to the youth. Invite students to color a pre-printed “promise” ornament as they listen to the book.

God has promised to be with us no matter what. Invite students to write a promise they will make to themselves and to God on their ornament. Hang the ornaments up in the youth room to be a reminder of the promise God has made to us and the promise we have made to God.

Close in your typical manner. Consider taking the students' joys and concerns and asking for a volunteer to close in prayer.

Total time: 50 minutes