Christmas Story – Kid Version, The

Main Point: Our lives can be changed by the Christmas story of Jesus. Therefore, we need to know His story.

The Discussion Starter: Christmas According to Kids
Southland Christian Church is a growing church in the Lexington, KY area. While they are known for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ…they are also known for sharing funny videos like the one used in this discussion starter.

The video is actually from 2015, but it’s become famous on social media this Christmas season. In it, kids from their church tell the Christmas story in their own words and in their own way. Simultaneously, adults from the church lip sync what the kids are saying. The result is a hilarious retelling of the Christmas story.

Some of the details the kids recount are spot on, some aren’t. Knowing the story is the point of this discussion. Let’s take a look at this funny clip together.

The Video Clip:
Click the following link for the YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suowe2czxcA&t=11s

Transitional Statement:
No doubt, you have a favorite part from that video. It’s just sooooo funny! I like hearing the kids try to recollect all the details of the story and share about the birth of Jesus in their own way. The kids got most of the points right, but there were a few pieces here and there that were a little fuzzy. In our small group discussion, we’re going to talk about how important the story of Jesus’ birth is. Our lives can be changed by the Christmas story of Jesus, so we need to know His story.

Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format-a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. 1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our names and our favorite part of Christmas.

1. 1. ASK A FEW: What parts of the video stood out to you, and why?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: Just for kicks, what other “Bible story” would you like to see these kids retell while the adults act it out? Why?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: What are some reasons it’s important to understand the Christmas story?

Read the following passage:

1. 1. Luke 2:1-21 (NLT)

At that time the Roman emperor, Augustus, decreed that a census should be taken throughout the Roman Empire. 2 (This was the first census taken when Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 All returned to their own ancestral towns to register for this census. 4 And because Joseph was a descendant of King David, he had to go to Bethlehem in Judea, David’s ancient home. He traveled there from the village of Nazareth in Galilee. 5 He took with him Mary, to whom he was engaged, who was now expecting a child.
6 And while they were there, the time came for her baby to be born.7 She gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him snugly in strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no lodging available for them.
8 That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior-yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.”
13 Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others – the armies of heaven – praising God and saying,
14 “Glory to God in highest heaven,
and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.”
15 When the angels had returned to heaven, the shepherds said to each other, “Let’s go to Bethlehem! Let’s see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
16 They hurried to the village and found Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. 17 After seeing him, the shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. 18 All who heard the shepherds’ story were astonished,19 but Mary kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often. 20 The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen. It was just as the angel had told them.
21 Eight days later, when the baby was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given him by the angel even before he was conceived.

1. 1. ASK A FEW: What were some of the details the kids got right about the Christmas story? What were some of the details the kids got wrong about the Christmas story? (Leaders – For a little help, you might want to check out this article: 10 things we get wrong about the christmas story)

1. 1. ASK A FEW: What details seem to be missing from the story we just read from Luke’s Gospel? (Leaders – Take a moment to explain that the birth of Jesus is told in the Gospel of Luke, which you’ve just read, and the Gospel of Matthew, that you didn’t read. If you have time, you may want to read that account, as well. But at least point out that Matthew gives details Luke doesn’t, for example, the wise men, and Luke gives details Matthew doesn’t.)

1. 1. ASK A FEW: The very last line of the video was one of the kids saying, “The new baby is gonna change the world.” Why would the kid say that? Do you agree or disagree?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: Let’s break the story down for a moment or two. In what way(s) did the birth of Jesus change Mary and Joseph’s life?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: In what way(s) did the birth of Jesus change the shepherds’ lives (Luke)?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: In what way(s) did the birth of Jesus change the wise men’s lives (Matthew)?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: Do you personally know someone whose life has been changed by Jesus? If so, who and how?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: The Bible clearly teaches that this very special Baby was born for a very special reason: so He could save us from our sin. How did Jesus go about doing that?

1. 1. ASK A FEW: Has the story of Jesus changed your life? If so, how? If not, why not?

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: How does the story of Jesus’ birth need to change your life this Christmas season?

Wrap Up:
We watched a funny video about a bunch of cute kids retelling the Christmas story and inserting pieces that weren’t part of the biblical account, and the same kids messing up some of the details that were a part of the Christmas story. In the end, what we’re walking away with is this: we need to know the Christmas story of Jesus because He can change our lives.

Listen guys, there wasn’t a character in the story we read that didn’t have his or her life changed. Mary’s life was changed. Joseph’s life was changed. The shepherds’ lives were changed. The wise men’s lives were changed. King Herod’s life was changed. Furthermore, millions of people around the world have had their lives changed by this story for the last 2,000 years!

That’s fine and all, but I want to tell you why YOU need to understand this story: you need to understand this story about Jesus because He can change YOUR life in ways that no one and nothing else can.

Christmas isn’t about decorations.
It isn’t about Santa Claus or flying reindeer.
It isn’t about food or eggnog or candy canes.
And it isn’t even about presents.

It’s about Jesus. None of those other things can change your life. None of those other things can rescue you from your sin. None of those other things were willing to die for you. Jesus did and that’s why He’s the only one who can change your life!

That’s why the story of Jesus’ birth is so important. It tells us about the God of the universe coming to us and loving us so much that He died on a cross to forgive us of our sins.

(NOTE: This would be a great place to share your personal testimony, or have an adult leader share his/her testimony. You might even invite your pastor or other church member to do that, too.)

I hope that you’ll allow Jesus to change your life. I hope that you will learn to choose Jesus over your sin, your desires, your wants, and your will. When that happens – and only when that happens – your life will be radically different. If you want to talk more about Jesus changing your life, hang around after we close in prayer and speak with one of our adult leaders.

Close in Prayer

Written by David R Smith