God Sent Jesus
God loved us so much He sent the greatest gift of all — Jesus!
📖 Luke 2:10–11
Memory Verse
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son.”
— John 3:16
🎬 Videos
🎵 Intro Theme
🎵 Worship Song 1
🎵 Worship Song 2
📖 Bible Story
🎵 Closing Song
📥 Downloads
💬 Conversation
- ✦
God gave the most special gift in the whole world — Jesus! What makes a gift really special? (It's given with love, and it's exactly what someone needs.)
- ✦
The angels said 'Do not be afraid — I bring you good news of great joy!' What is the good news? (Jesus is born — God is with us!)
- ✦
Why do you think God sent Jesus as a baby? (So He could grow up just like us, understand us, and show us God's love.)
📚 Session Resources
Everything you need to run this session. Expand each section below.
📋Leader GuideStep-by-step
Room Setup
- ✓Set up soft play mat or rug in the centre for circle time
- ✓Queue HTK YouTube videos — Light of the World and Jesus Is the Way — on projector or tablet before children arrive
- ✓Central prop: a beautifully wrapped gift placed in the centre of the circle — inside, put a small card or paper star with the word 'Jesus' written on it
- ✓Optional: a gold or silver star cutout hung above the gathering space, or fairy lights to create warmth and wonder
- ✓Optional: simple stable scene image displayed (can be projected or printed) — a manger, star, animals
- ✓Print activity sheets — one per child
- ✓Set out crayons at the table
- ✓Set up welcome area — name badges, sign-in sheet, parent handouts printed
- ✓Leader note: This session is about wonder. Your tone sets everything. Speak slowly. Let the story breathe. Christmas is not just a story — it is the moment God kept His greatest promise.
Session Steps
Make this welcome feel special from the moment children arrive. If you have fairy lights or a star display, let children notice and react. Greet each child by name with warmth. Soft HTK music playing. Gather to the circle when most have arrived.
Play Light of the World followed by Jesus Is the Way. These two songs frame the entire session beautifully — light arriving in the world, and Jesus as the only way. Sing with full energy and joy. This is a celebration.
Use the story script below. The wrapped gift is your central prop — place it in the middle of the circle from the start so children are already curious. Do not open it until the climactic beat. End with the core truth — 3 times, with arms wide open.
Use the prayer script below. Invite children to hold their hands out open — like receiving a gift — as you begin. This is a celebratory, grateful prayer. Keep the energy joyful.
CORE: Give each child their activity sheet and crayons. GAME: Play 'Pass the Star' (see below). PLUS: Christmas Star craft if you have materials.
Give each family the parent handout. As each child leaves, say to them: '[Name] — God loves you. Jesus came for YOU. Happy Christmas!' Send every child out with a blessing by name.
Safeguarding
- • No child leaves without their registered adult
- • Two volunteers present at all times
- • Any concerns → follow your church's safeguarding procedure
📖Bible MomentSlides
👉 Leader
Gather children on the mat. The wrapped gift is in the centre of the circle where everyone can see it. Speak with growing wonder — start quietly, build to joy. This is the story of all stories.
🙏Prayer Guide3–5 min
Say: 'We are going to say a thank You prayer to God. I want you to hold out your hands — like this — like you are receiving a gift. Because that is what this prayer is. We are saying thank You for the greatest gift ever.' Begin when hands are ready.
LEADER SAYS — CHILDREN REPEAT:
“Dear God...”
“Thank You for Christmas.”
“Thank You for keeping Your promise.”
“Thank You for sending Jesus.”
“Jesus is the best gift ever.”
“We love You, God.”
“And we love Jesus.”
AMEN! [Big, joyful, celebratory Amen — let the children make it as loud as they want.] Tip: If time allows, invite 1–2 children to say one thing they want to thank God for at Christmas. Keep it light and warm.
🎨ActivitiesCore · Game · Plus
Colouring Sheets — Christmas Special
Print A4, black and white. One sheet per child. Christmas Special — consider putting completed sheets into a simple Christmas envelope or card for children to take home as a keepsake. These mark a special session.
Sheet 1 — The Greatest Gift (All three friends)
Teaches: God sent Jesus — the greatest gift the world has ever received.
What's on the sheet
Tobi, Finn, and Lily stand together under a giant bright star, arms raised in celebration. A beautifully wrapped gift sits in the centre with a bow. Words: 'God Sent Jesus!' Bold, joyful, celebratory. A star radiates light across the whole scene.
How to use it
Give each child the sheet. Say: 'This is our Christmas sheet! God sent Jesus — the greatest gift ever. Can you colour the star as bright and golden as you can? And colour the gift with all your favourite colours!'
Sheet 2 — The Shepherds' Night (Finn)
Teaches: God sent Jesus — the greatest gift the world has ever received.
What's on the sheet
Finn is dressed as a shepherd, looking up at the night sky with wide eyes and wonder — one hand shielding his face from the bright light of the angel above. Words: 'Good News of Great Joy!' Simple, dramatic lighting contrast between the dark sky and the bright angel glow.
How to use it
Give each child the sheet. Say: 'Finn is a shepherd! He heard the most amazing news ever — Jesus was born! Can you colour the angel as bright and glowing as possible? And colour Finn's face — he is SO happy!'
Pass the Star
Teaches: The good news of Jesus is for everyone — it travels to every single person.
How to play
- ›Children sit in a circle. The gold star is passed around the circle while music plays.
- ›When the music stops, the child holding the star stands up.
- ›The leader asks: 'What is God's greatest gift?'
- ›The child (with help if needed) says: 'JESUS!' — and everyone cheers.
- ›The star is passed on and the music starts again.
- ›Play until every child has held the star at least once.
- ›Final round: leader holds the star up high at the end and says: 'The star led the way to Jesus. God's gift is for EVERYONE — including YOU!'
Leader tip
Make the cheer as loud and joyful as possible every single time. The repetition is the theology — the good news travels, it reaches everyone, and the response is always celebration. Never let the cheer feel routine.
The star led the shepherds and the wise men to Jesus. In this game, the star travels to every child — embodying the truth that God's gift is not for some people, but for everyone. The cheering response mirrors the angels singing: this news is worth celebrating.
Craft — Christmas Star Craft
Teaches: The star pointed the way to Jesus — and we can carry that light home.
Materials
- ·Pre-cut star shapes in gold card (one per child — approx 15cm across)
- ·Crayons, markers, or glitter glue
- ·Star stickers, sequins, or foil pieces
- ·A hole punch and ribbon or string (approx 30cm per child)
- ·Marker for the leader to write on the back
Instructions
Give each child a gold star shape to decorate — colours, stickers, glitter glue. While they work, write on the back: '[Child's name]'s Star — God Sent Jesus — Christmas [Year]'. Punch a hole and thread the ribbon for hanging. Say: 'This star is for your home. Every time you see it, remember: God loved you SO much He sent Jesus. That is what Christmas means.' Send home with the family.
🏠Parent HandoutPrint or share
Today in Sparklers we celebrated Christmas with the full Nativity story — the night the angels appeared to the shepherds, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem. We helped children understand that Christmas is not just a holiday — it is the moment God kept His greatest promise. He sent His Son, Jesus, as a gift of love for every person on earth. Using a wrapped gift as our central prop, children saw that the greatest thing inside any Christmas gift is Jesus himself.
Core Truth
“God sent Jesus — He is God's greatest gift!”
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. — John 3:16
Talk About It at Home
When your child opens Christmas presents
Ask: 'Which gift do you think is the best gift ANYONE has ever been given?' Let them answer, then say: 'God gave the whole world a gift — His Son, Jesus. That is what Christmas is really about. Not just presents — but the greatest present ever.'
On Christmas Eve
Read Luke 2:1–20 together before bed. Say: 'Tonight we remember the night God kept His promise. Jesus came — for us. For you.' Then ask your child to tell you one thing they love about Jesus. Let the answer be anything. Celebrate it.
Prayer for parents
Dear God, thank You for Christmas. Thank You for sending Jesus — the most wonderful, most perfect, most unexpected gift. Help [child's name] know that You love them so much You sent Your own Son. This Christmas, may Jesus be the centre of everything in our home. Amen.