Read Matthew 1:1 - 2:23

For younger children:

1. Who told Joseph that Mary was going to have a baby by the Holy Spirit?
2. Who visited King Herod and asked about “the child born to be king of the Jews?”
3. What did they follow on their journey?
4. What gifts did the wise men bring to Jesus?
5. Where did Joseph, Mary, and Jesus live until King Herod had died?

For teens and adults:

1. Describe how each of the following reacted to the birth of Jesus: (a) Joseph, (b) the wise men, (c) King Herod.
2. Why did the writer of Matthew’s Gospel refer to Old Testament texts in connection with Jesus’ birth? In what way do these texts point to Jesus as the Messiah sent from God?
3. What hardships do you think Joseph, Mary, and Jesus might have faced as refugees fleeing their homeland and escaping to Egypt? How might their plight compare to situations experienced by political refugees today?

Read Luke 2:1-40

For younger children:
 

1. Why did Joseph and Mary go to Bethlehem?
2. Where did Joseph and Mary stay when they arrived in Bethlehem?
3. How did the shepherds react when they saw the angel?
4. How did the angel describe the Christ Child?
5. After the group of angels left, what did the shepherds do?
6. What did Simeon do when he saw baby Jesus?
7. Where did Jesus live as a child?

For teens and adults:
 

1. Describe how each of the following reacted to the birth of Jesus: (a) the shepherds, (b) Simeon, (c) Anna.
2. What is the promise that Simeon sings about?
3. At Jesus’ birth, the angels sang “Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.” What is your reaction to that message? What role can you play in bringing peace to others?
4. What would you say is special about Jesus’ birth?