Foreign Visitors Worship Jesus Lesson 3

Bible Point Jesus is Gods greatest

gift.
Bible Verse
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens
(James 1:17a).

Growing Closer to Jesus

Students will n learn that Jesus is Gods greatest gift,
n discover how the wise men honored God, and
n thank God for his gifts.

Teacher Enrichment
Bible Basis
n Foreign visitors worship Jesus.
Matthew Apparently it was widely thought that a great king who would usher in a period of peace
2:1-12 would soon be born in Judea. When the Magi saw the unusual star, their curiosity got the best
of them, and they set out for Jerusalem, the Judean capital, to see if the star actually signaled
the birth of this great king.
When the Magis report reached King Herod, he was disturbed at the prospect of a rival
to his throne. So when his advisers told him of the prophecy placing the birth of the Messiah
in Bethlehem, he passed that information on to the Magi on the assumption that they would report their findings
to him, as he had requested. In this way, he would be able to find the child and deal with him. Herods proclaimed
desire to worship the new king was a deception intended to reassure the Magi and encourage them to return with
the information he wanted.
The Magi followed the star to Bethlehem, where their predictions were confirmed. Indeed a miraculous birth
had taken place, and the Magi worshipped the new king joyfully and presented him with precious gifts.
God had revealed to these non-Jewish seekers of truth the one who would bring peace and salvation to all who
believe in him. It is clear from their response to Gods warning that they were more concerned about doing what was
right before God than about obeying Herod, who could have had them executed for defying him. Matthews report
of this story demonstrates that Jesus came for all people who place their trust in him.

Prayer
Read Psalm 143:8.
The Magi trusted God to guide them. In what areas of your life do you need to trust God more?
Why is it important for the children in your care to trust God?
Pray: Lord, give me guidance and help me to put my trust in you as I

Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4 31

 Lesson 3

Before the Lesson

n Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab
Supplies listed on the chart.
n Make photocopies of the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your
children.
n Pray for your students and for Gods direction as you teach the lesson.

This Lesson at a Glance

What Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies
Attention Untold ValueChoose an
Grabber item that represents a Christmas
gift, build towers from different
materials, and discuss what makes
a good gift.

Bible The Greatest GiftRead Bibles, Journey to Jesus

Exploration & Matthew 2:1-12, and search for handout (p. 40), 3x5 index card,
marker, paper bags, scissors,
Application items to create a scene to remind
kids of the wise mens journey. pens or pencils

Unusual TreasureRead Bible, bowl, water, paper towels

Matthew 2:11, and search for a
treasure in a bowl of goo.

Gift BoxRead James 1:17, and Bibles, Gift Box handout (p. 41),
create a special box to remind tape, markers, pencils, scissors,
kids that Jesus is Gods greatest slips of paper
gift.

Follow the StarFollow a star Bibles, snacks, plate,

path to a special treat, read James construction paper, newsprint,
1:17, and consider Gods greatest marker, scissors, glue stick,
gift. pencils

Closing Star BurstForm human stars, CD player

and thank God for his gifts.

32 Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4

 Foreign Visitors Worship Jesus

Welcome
As kids arrive, ask them how they put what they learned last
week into action. Ask questions such as How did it feel to trust
Gods plans last week? and What worries did you see God take
care of?
Tell kids that whenever you ring the bell, they are to stop
talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Explain that its
important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as
many fun activities as possible.

Attention Grabber
n Untold Value
SUPPLIES: none
Before this activity, use the garland to make a
circle on the floor. Inside the circle place the cedar
hearts and the $100 bills.
As kids arrive, have them sit in a circle around the If you have a large class, cut out
garland. Say: Today well be talking about gifts. paper hearts and dollar bills and
During the Christmas season, people think a lot add them to the circle.
about gifts, dont they? Without saying anything, think of the best Christmas
gift youve ever received. Then decide if that gift is better represented by
one of these $100 bills or one of these cedar hearts. For example, you might
choose a $100 bill if your best gift cost a lot of money. Or you might choose a
cedar heart if your best gift was a present of the heart, such as something
special someone did for you. Well go around the circle, and youll each
choose either a $100 bill or a cedar heart. Ready? Lets go.
Let kids take turns choosing either a $100 bill or a cedar heart. Then say: Now turn
to a partner, and tell what your best gift was and why you chose what you
did from inside the circle. Give kids a few minutes to talk with their partners, and
ask several volunteers to share their answers with the class. Then ask:
What made your favorite gift so special? (It was expensive and I really
wanted it; my mom made it herself; it made me feel loved.)
After several kids respond, have kids form two groups, with all the kids who chose
the hearts in one group and all the kids who chose the bills in the other group. Say:
Work together in your group to create the strongest tower possible from
Most kids have about a seven-
your items. If youre in the paper money group, be careful not to fold, minute attention span. That means
bend, or crumple the money. Youll have one minute. Ready? Go! you need to be ready to move on
If almost all of your children chose the money, build a tower from the hearts to the next activity before kids get
yourself. Call time after one minute, and let kids compare the towers. bored with the current one.
Ask: Which tower is higher? Why? (The hearts made a higher tower; the hearts
are sturdier; the hearts are thicker than the paper money.)
Say: In our activity, the money and hearts represented gifts.
Ask: Which do you think builds stronger relationships in real life, gifts

Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4 33

 Lesson 3
Bible Verse
Connection
Whatever is good and perfect
comes down to us from God
the Father, who created all the
lights in the heavens
(James 1:17a).
Kids are bombarded with
enticing advertisements
for new toys and games,
especially at this time of
year. Use this Bible verse to
gain equal time for Jesus,
the greatest gift of all. Teach
kids that just as theyll say
thank you for all their other
Christmas gifts, this great gift
from God deserves thanks, too.
34 Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4
that cost lots of money or gifts from the heart? Explain. (Gifts that cost
money, because they show how much someone is willing to spend on you; gifts from
the heart, because they show love.)
Say: Gifts from the heartthe kind of gifts people give when they do
something special for usoften are the best gifts of all. Expensive toys
and games can break or bore us after a while, but gifts from the heart
are special forever. The best Christmas gift ever came from Gods heart.
Jesus is Gods greatest gift. Todays Bible story is about gift-giving and
some men who found out about Gods greatest gift. Lets see who they were.
Bible Exploration & Application
n The Greatest Gift
SUPPLIES: Bibles, Journey to Jesus handout (p. 40), 3x5 index card or piece of
construction paper, paper bags, marker, scissors, pens or pencils
Before class, place the paper straw in a paper bag
marked Capn Crunch, and place the gold hoop in
a paper bag marked Cocoa Puffs. Place a 3x5 index
card or a piece of construction paper in a paper bag
marked Frosted Flakes, and place the garland in
a paper bag marked Apple Jacks. Hide these bags
around the room. Photocopy the Journey to Jesus
handout, and cut it into four sections.
Say: The Bible tells us about some men
who lived around the time Jesus was born. They were called Magi, or wise
men. Some people even think the Magi were kings. When these wise men
saw a new star in the sky, they knew that it meant something special had
happened. They followed the star to find Jesus. Their journey to see Jesus
was long and tiring, but the wise men knew that this child was a king!
Form four groups. Assign each group one of the following names: Capn Crunch,
Cocoa Puffs, Frosted Flakes, and Apple Jacks. Be sure that each group has a Bible as
well as a pen or pencil. Have groups select a Reader to read the verses and questions, a
Writer to write down the answers, a Reporter to report back to the large group, and an
Encourager to keep the ideas flowing. Smaller groups can double up on some of these
roles. Larger groups can have more than one Encourager.
Say: Have you ever searched through a box of cereal to find the prize
inside? Well, were going to search the Bible and find a prize of a story
inside! While I hand out your questions, have your Reader turn to Matthew
2:1-12.
Distribute one of the Journey to Jesus sections to each group. Give groups a few
minutes to read the Scripture passages and work through their answers. Then ring the
bell, and say: Readers, you can read your verses; then Reporters, you can tell
how your groups answered your questions. Lets start with the group that
focused on Matthew 2:1-3.
After all the groups have shared, say: We have a puzzle to solve, just as the
wise men did. Somewhere in the room, Ive hidden bags containing clues
 Foreign Visitors Worship Jesus

to the puzzle. Each bag has one groups name on it. Search for your bags,
bring them back here, and sit in a circle. Allow time for groups to find their
bags. Then have each group lay out the contents of its bag in the center of the circle.
Hmm. This is a puzzle. We have a strange assortment of items in front of
us. What do you think were going to do with them?
Have kids form pairs. Choose one pair to carry out each of the following
instructions:
Set up the paper straw in the center of the circle.
Fold the index card in half.
Place the folded card over the paper straw to form a roof.
Hold the gold hoop as another child wraps the garland around the
ring in a star pattern.
Hold the gold hoop star over the stable.
If kids cant figure out the puzzle, show them the margin illustration or
demonstrate the solution.
Say: When the Magi solved their puzzle, they found Jesusalthough
probably not in a stable, but in a house where his family lived by that time.
This little scene that weve created can remind us of the incredible gift
from God they found in Jesus.
Ask: What did the wise men do when they found Jesus? (Gave him gifts;
worshipped him.)
Why do you think they gave him gifts? (To show respect; to show honor.)
Why do we give gifts at Christmastime? (To show love; because its a
tradition.)
When you give a gift, how do you want the person who receives it to
react? (I want that person to like the gift; I want that person to be happy or feel
special.)
Say: Often when we give gifts, we get something in return that we cant
see or touch. We get a great feeling from giving. The wise men came to give
gifts to Jesus. They got something back that was more than they could see
or touch. They received the best gift of all. They met Jesus. Jesus is Gods
greatest gift.

n Unusual Treasure
SUPPLIES: Bible, bowl, water, paper towels
Several hours before class, pour all but about a teaspoon of
the grow crystals into a bowl. Add several cups of water, and let
the mixture sit for several hours. The grow crystals will absorb
water and grow to several times their original size. Just before
class, hide the gold coins in the grow crystals.
Read Matthew 2:11. Say: The Magi brought expensive gifts to Jesus, and
the gifts were described as treasures. Bring out the bowl of prepared grow
crystals. There are treasures hidden in this bowl of wet and gooey grow
crystals. Are any of you willing to stick your hands in here to find them?
Let children stick their hands into the grow crystals and squish their fingers around
in it to find the coins. Provide paper towels so that children can wipe their hands after

Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4 35

 Lesson 3
The grow crystals can be prepared
the night before your class. After
you add the water, cover the bowl
with plastic wrap or a lid, and set it
aside until morning.
For added fun, hide small
plastic toys in the gooey grow
crystals. Let children who find
them keep the trinkets.
36 Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4
squishing in the grow crystals. Use paper towels to clean the gold coins. When children
have found all the gold coins, set the gold coins and grow crystals aside.
Ask: How did you feel about putting your hands into the grow
crystals to find the treasures? (I didnt want to get all messy; I wanted to find
the treasures, so I didnt care; I thought it would be fun!)
How do you think the wise men felt going on such a long journey to
find Jesus? (They might have thought it was a fun adventure; they might have been
scared to be so far from home.)
Give each child one or two of the solid grow crystals you
set aside earlier. Let them compare the size and consistency of
the crystals that have been in water and those that have not.
Then ask:
How did water change these crystals? (It made them
mushy; it made them grow.)
How are these changes similar to the changes that
happen in our lives when we have a relationship with
Jesus? (Our hearts might be softer toward others; a relationship with Jesus
makes us grow.)
The treasures we found in the grow crystals were just plastic
toys. What treasure would you have liked to find there? (Real money;
a video game; a gift certificate.)
How is a friendship with Jesus a treasure? (Jesus is a true friend,
and thats worth more than money; Jesus loves us no matter what; we can talk
to Jesus about anything.)
Collect the grow crystals from the children, and return them to the Learning
Lab.
Say: The wise men knew that Jesus is Gods greatest gift. A
relationship with Jesus is the greatest treasure we could ever have.
Lets take time right now to thank God for Jesus.
If any of the children would like to pray, let them do so. Then pray: Dear
God, thank you for giving us the greatest gift of all, Jesus. Were
thankful for the love youve shown us through this gift. Amen.
Put the gold coins back into the Learning Lab.
n Gift Box
SUPPLIES: Bibles, Gift Box handout (p. 41), tape, markers, pencils, scissors, slips of
paper
Before class, make a photocopy of the Gift Box handout for each student. Make a
sample box before class so kids see how the folded box looks.
Help kids find James 1:17a in their Bibles. Have a volunteer read the verse aloud:
Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our Father,
who created all the lights in the heavens.
Ask: What does this verse tell us about Gods gifts? (Gods gifts are good;
perfect things come from God.)
 Foreign Visitors Worship Jesus

What is Gods greatest gift to us? (Jesus; having Jesus die on the cross.)
Have kids form two lines facing each other. Say: The person facing you is now
your partner. Tell your partner one of Jesus qualities youre especially
thankful for.
After kids have shared, indicate one line and say: Everyone in this line move
one position to the left. Everyone tell your new partner one way you can
thank God for his gift of Jesus. Maybe you could tell someone else about
Jesus, or you could do something nice for someone as a way of showing
them Jesus love. If youre at the left end of this line (indicate the line that Its important to say the Bible Point
moved), go around to the other end to find your new partner. just as its written in each activity.
Give kids a few moments to talk. Then say: Good thinking! Now lets make a Repeating the Bible Point over and
over will help kids remember it and
gift box to remind us of Gods greatest gift.
apply it to their lives.
Set out the photocopies of the Gift Box handout, scissors, slips of paper, pencils,
tape, and markers.
Say: This is a pattern for a gift box. Heres what a finished gift box looks
like. Hold up the sample box you made. Think of one person youd like to tell
about Gods greatest gift this week. On a slip of paper, write that persons
name. When you finish writing, decorate your box any way youd like to.
Then follow the instructions on the handout to cut, fold, and tape your box.
Then put your paper slip inside the box.
Give kids up to five minutes to finish their boxes. Then ring the bell, wait for kids
to respond, and have kids help you clean up.
Say: Youve done a great job making these boxes! Remember to tell the
person you thought of that Jesus is Gods greatest gift. Then you can use
your box to store things that remind you of Gods gifts. For example, you
could keep a special Bible verse inside the box or a picture of your family
or best friend.

HANDSON BIBLE
Say: The wise men worshipped Jesus and gave him
gifts. Worship itself is a gift we can give God. Lets open our
Hands-On Bibles to 1 Peter 3:15 and read what it says.
Read the verse together, and then have children find the Have a Be creative in your use of
Plan activity near 1 Peter 3. Have them form pairs, and provide paper so they can classroom space. Move your table
brainstorm ideas about sharing their faith. When children have discussed their aside so kids can move around
ideas, let pairs share ways to tell others about Jesus. freely and work in groups. Have
chairs available, but be willing to
Ask: How is telling others about Jesus a gift to others? (It lets them sit on the floor as well. Chairs can
know about the friendship they can have with Jesus; it shows them love.) be a distraction, and moving them
How is this a gift to Jesus? (It spreads Jesus love; it brings others to a around slows down your lesson.
relationship with Jesus.)
Encourage children to take their Hands-On Bibles home and follow through
with one way to tell others about Jesus.

Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4 37

 Lesson 3
If the path to your snack is heavily
traveled, tape the paper squares to
the wall just above the floor line. If
you tape squares to the wall, make
sure to have extra paper squares
available back in your classroom.
Any treat will work for this activity,
but its fun to have a star-shaped
treat. You can use a star-shaped
cookie cutter to turn sandwiches,
cheese slices, or gelatin into a fun,
starry snack.
38 Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4
n Follow the Star
SUPPLIES: Bibles, snacks, plate, construction paper, newsprint, marker, scissors, glue
stick, pencils
Before class, draw a star on a large sheet of newsprint. Place the star over a covered
plate of snacks in a low-traffic area outside your room. Cut a number of 3x3-inch
squares from different-colored construction paper. Scatter the squares so they form a
path kids can follow from the classroom to the star and snack.
Say: The wise men traveled a long way following a star. Were going to
do some traveling, too. When you came to class, you probably noticed some
colorful papers leading away from the room. Lets follow the path and find
a gift.
Choose a volunteer to lead the group. Ask kids to walk quietly so they wont
disturb other classes. When the kids find the star, let them uncover the snack. Have
two students carry the star and the snack back to the classroom while the rest of the
students pick up the construction paper squares on the way. Save the squares for later.
When you reach your classroom, have kids form a circle on the floor. Place the star
in the center of the circle, and pass the plate of snacks so kids can help themselves. Also
distribute Bibles and pencils.
Ask: What did you think youd find at the end of the path? (Food;
something good; a treat.)
Say: I said wed follow a star to find a gift, so you were probably
expecting something good. But do you know who all good gifts really come
from? Lets look at James 1:17 to find out.
Help kids find James 1:17 in their Bibles. Have a volunteer read the verse aloud
as the kids follow along. Then ask:
How would you put this verse in your own words? (Good things come from
God; God doesnt change; God is the Father of light.)
What are some of the good gifts God gives us? (Jesus; food; families; love;
homes.)
Say: Because God created the sun, moon, stars, and our earth, everything
we have in our world is a gift from God. God also gives us eternal life when
we have a relationship with Jesus. Jesus is Gods greatest gift. Right now,
lets brainstorm about other gifts God gives us and write them on the paper
squares we brought back from our search. Use a separate square for each
gift. Concentrate on gifts youre especially thankful to God for.
Make sure each child has at least three or four squares of colored paper. Kids might
write responses such as peace, happiness, a house, family, friendship, healthy
minds and spirits, Jesus, answers to prayer, love, food, or clothing. Be sure
to have extra paper squares available in case kids think of more gifts. As children are
working, write, Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God
our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens (James 1:17a) on the
newsprint below the star you drew.
After each child has written on three or four paper squares, ring the bell, and wait
for kids to respond.
Ask: Why does God give us gifts? (Because he loves us; because he wants us to
feel special; because he wants to take care of us.)
Do we deserve Gods gifts? Why or why not? (No, because God is perfect
and were not; no, because God doesnt owe us anything.)
 Foreign Visitors Worship Jesus

When has God given you a special gift, such as answering a prayer or
providing something just when you needed it? (God provided a job for my mom
when she needed one; God healed my friend when he was sick.)
Say: Lets cover the large star with the gifts that weve written down. You may wish to have children
When its your turn, read aloud the gifts you wrote down, rub the glue stick clean their hands with baby wipes
on the back of your paper squares, and glue them on the star. Lets have or at a nearby sink before they
the person wearing the most red and green begin; then well go left around handle or eat their snacks.
our circle.
After kids have attached their papers to the star, you may want to display the star on
a wall of your classroom.
Then say: These are all important gifts, but theres one gift from God
thats more important than anything else. Jesus is Gods greatest gift. At
this time of year, were thankful for the gifts we receive. Lets remember to
be especially thankful for Jesus.

Closing
n Star Burst
SUPPLIES: CD player
track 8 Before class, cue the CD to We Three Kings (track 8).
Have the kids form trios or foursomes. Then ask them to turn
their backs to each other within each group and extend their arms
and touch fingertips with their neighbors to form points of a star.
Say: You look like stars! Hold your star shape, and close your eyes for
prayer. As I play soft music, silently thank God for several gifts hes given
you. Maybe youd like to thank him for giving you a special family or for the
beauty he created outdoors or for helping you get good grades in school.
Play We Three Kings (track 8) on the CD. When the music stops, close the
prayer time by saying: Thank you, God, for all your gifts. Most of all, we thank
you for letting us know that Jesus is your greatest gift. In his name we
pray, amen.
Lets all thank him together by shouting Thank you, God!
Have kids hold their hands up and shout, Thank you, God!
Return the CD to the Learning Lab for later use.

Growing closer to Jesus extends

beyond the classroom.
Photocopy the Hands-On Fun at Home handout (at
the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home
with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the
handout to spark meaningful discussion on this weeks
topic.

Hands-On Bible CurriculumGrades 3 & 4 39

 Journey to Jesus

Read Matthew 2:1-3.

If you were one of the wise men, why would you want to worship Jesus?
How would you worship him?

Read Matthew 2:4-6.

If you were Herod, how would you feel about the baby Jesus?

Read Matthew 2:7-9.

If you were one of the wise men, what would you do? Would you believe Herod?
Why or why not?

Read Matthew 2:10-12.

You are the wise men. Youve found Jesus and youre worshipping him.
How does it feel to look at Gods Son?
What gift would you bring him? Explain.

Permission to photocopy this handout from Groups Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use.
40 Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com
 top fold
Gift Box
Whatever is good
and perfect comes
down to us from God our
Father, who created
all the lights in
the heavens
(James 1:17a).
top fold

fold
fold

cut bottom fold cut

fold

fold

fold

fold

cut bottom fold cut

fold
fold

1. Cut out the box on the solid lines. Use markers to decorate 3. Fold all the sides of the box up on the dotted lines.
the box on the blank side.
4. Tuck the corner flaps to the inside, and fold the curved
2. Make four small cuts on the solid lines between the pairs flaps over them. Tape the curved flaps in place.
of dots.

Permission to photocopy this handout from Groups Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use.
Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com 41
 LESSON 3

Jesus is Gods greatest gift.

Whatever is good and perfect comes down to us from God our

Father, who created all the lights in the heavens
(James 1:17a).

Discuss these questions during a meal this week.

Read Matthew 2:11.

What gift would delight you most this Christmas?
If the wise men lived in our
__________________________________________________________
time, what gifts do you think
What gift could you give that would delight someone in our family?
__________________________________________________________ they would give to Jesus?
How can our actions to each other be gifts?
Read James 1:17.
__________________________________________________________
Can you think of a time
someone served your family

etc. To help decorate your ho

use for Christmas, ask perm
and his or her service felt like a
gift from God?
draw stars on the window ission to
s with a bar of soap. For ea
thank God for someone in ch sta r you draw, Read 2 Peter 1:3.
your familygrandparen
and cousins as well as im ts, aunts, uncles,
mediate family members What talents or abilities has
you can rub off the stars wi . After Christmas,
th a damp cloth. Jesus given you that help you
serve others?
Make a silly
wise-owl mask from a paper plate.
Fold the plate in half. Use a pencil
to mark eyeholes and a beak. Cut out
eyeholes, and fringe the edges of the eyes. Make one cut for
the beak. Unfold the plate. Lift up the beak to make it stick
Make your meals at Christmastime special
out. Curl the fringes around the eyes outward; then paint
with the help of a star-shaped cookie cutter.
or color the owl with markers. Take turns putting on
Try the cookie cutter on cinnamon toast,
the mask and telling how to give good advice.
cheese slices, butter and jelly sandwiches, or
For example, you might say, With a
luncheon meat slices. Be sure to use the cut-
smile, Only when youre asked,
away scraps, too.
or Only when you know a
good answer to give.

Permission to photocopy this handout from Groups Hands-On Bible Curriculum Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use.
42 Copyright Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com