We all enjoy receiving gifts, especially children. Elaine’s Christmas Gift reminds children about the greatest gift of all and that “it is more blessed to give than to receive.” During days of celebration in Bible times, gifts were usually given to those in need.
To make Elaine’s Christmas Gift you need Bibles, Bible concordances, blocks of Styrofoam, a knife, scissors, a ruler, cloth or regular gift wrap, white paper, a roll of sticky magnetic tape, white glue and fine tipped markers.
Before your students arrive, cut blocks of Styrofoam 2 inches across, 2 inches down and a half-inch thick. Give each student enough gift wrap to cover their project and have them gift wrap their block by gluing gift wrap onto the block.
Pass out fine tipped markers and ask the students to write “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift.” I Corinthians 9:15 on a 1-by-1-inch piece of white paper. Glue the paper in the center of the top of the gift, which should be 2-by-2 inces. Finally, glue the magnetic tape to the back of the gift. This wonderful refrigerator magnet will remind us to be thankful and to help those in need. Your young people may wish to make additional Christmas magnets to give as gifts.
For a Bible study, ask your students to use their Bibles and concordances to look up Bible passages that mention gifts. Break your class into teams and see which team can find the most references to gifts in the Bible. After the competition, turn to John 3:16 and discuss God’s gift of love to us.
Next, ask your students to turn to Matthew 2:1-12 and have volunteers each read a verse until the entire passage has been read. Discuss the gifts the Magi or Wise Men gave to Jesus when he was born. Explain that these gifts were worthy of a king. In response to God’s gift of love to us, we should give gifts worthy of a king to those in need through our house of worship or favorite charity. Our gifts don’t have to be financial in nature. We can help others through kind words and deeds or by praying for them. Most churches maintain a prayer list for those with special needs and for members of the military, and they would be happy to add your name or the name of a loved one.
Conclude your time together by allowing the children to suggest ways to give good gifts to others. You may wish to offer a small prize to anyone who memorizes I Corinthians 9:15 for the next meeting.
Rev. Doug Forbes coaches the ski and snowboard team at New Hope Christian Chapel in South Easton.