Prepare
Prepare your heart to teach.
Plan for the lesson.
Materials Needed for Small Group:
Activity: What’s Your Response?
Activity: Name of Jesus Craft
Activity: Roll to Respond
Materials Needed for Large Group:
Activity: Three Corners – Responding to the King
Materials Needed for Games:
Game: Follow the Star Game
Game: Pass the Gift of Joy
Game: Star Hide and Seek (Silent Joy)
Connect
Connect with the kids and make them feel heard and cared for.
Small Group Session 1
Distribute name tags and snacks. Choose one of the following activities to do together while children eat their snack.
Share and Listen
Option 1
Ask the children to share their highs and lows (the best and worst things that happened to them either today or from the past week).
Option 2
Ask the children to take turns sharing how they are feeling today using the “How Are You Feeling?” chart.
Pray Together
Collect prayer requests from the students. The leader or a student can pray for the entire group, or a leader can pair up students and invite them to pray for one another.
Opening Questions
- “What is the best news you have ever heard?”
(Follow-up: How did you respond when you heard it?) - “How do you usually feel when you find something really special or exciting?”
(e.g., a surprise gift, a visit from someone, a snow day) - “Can you think of a time when you were so happy you had to tell someone about it?”
(Why did you want to share it?) - “Do people always respond the same way to good news?”
Activity: What is Your Response?
Objective: Help kids identify godly vs. ungodly responses in common situations and understand how following Jesus changes how we respond.
Material Needed:
“Every day we face situations where we have a choice in how we respond. Let’s practice thinking about how we can respond in a way that shows God’s love.”
Read each situation aloud and ask the children questions after each scenario (e.g., “Your friend knocks over your blocks on purpose.”)
- “What is one positive response you could have?”
- “What is one negative response?”
Have the kids vote with their feet by walking to either the “Positive” or “Negative” sign as you read different options aloud. Or let kids sort response cards into the “Positive” or “Negative” bin.
Discuss Each One Briefly:
“Why might that response be hard?”
“What could help you choose the positive response next time?”
“How can Jesus help us respond with love?”
Sample Situations:
- A classmate calls you a mean name.
- Your little brother breaks your favorite toy.
- You see a new kid sitting alone.
- A friend lies to you.
- Someone takes credit for something you did.
- A friend does not want to share the game with you.
- Someone cuts in front of you in line.
- Your teacher asks you a question and you do not know the answer.
- You lose a game and feel really frustrated.
- You see someone drop their lunch tray.
- A kid is being picked on and you are not sure what to do.
- Your sibling wants to play but you want to be alone.
- You forgot to do your homework.
- A classmate says something unkind about your family.
- Your parent asks you to clean up your toys, but you are watching a show.
- You see someone cheating during a game.
- You make a mistake and want to hide it.
- Your friend invites everyone to a party except you.
- Someone is sad or crying during recess.
Head
Teach kids the story of the Gospel.
Large Group
Welcome the students to Crossroads and tell them you are glad they came this week.
Optional Starters
Feel free to choose one, two, or even all of these ideas to start Large Group!
“Who is Jesus” call and response
Prayer Prompt: “God, I want to praise you for…”
(Tell God something amazing about him and praise him for who he is.)
Opening Song: “Joy to the World” by Go Fish
Opening Prayer
Tell kids that closing their eyes and folding their hands together can help keep them focused and not distract those around them.
Activity: Three Corners – Responding to the King
Objective: To help kids experience and reflect on the different responses to the news of Jesus’ birth in Matthew 1–2 through Joseph, the Wise Men, and King Herod.
Material Needed:
Setup: Choose three spaces in your room and label each as one of the corners listed above. Assign a leader to each corner.
Instructions:
Step 1: Introduction (Whole Group)
“We are going to travel to three places in the Christmas story. In each one, someone hears about Jesus—the newborn King. But not everyone responds the same way. Let’s go see what happened!”
Divide the group into three smaller groups and send them to different corners to begin.
- Corner 1: Joseph – Obeyed God’s Message
- Corner 2: Wise Men – Searched for the King
- Corner 3: Herod – Rejected the King
Step 2: Regroup & Wrap-Up
After all groups have rotated through the three corners:
Ask the Whole Group:
- “Who do you want to be like—Joseph, the Wise Men, or Herod?”
- “How can we respond to Jesus as King in our own lives?”
Close in Prayer
Invite kids to quietly talk to God and tell Him they want to follow and worship Jesus like Joseph and the Wise Men did.
Games
Interactive games that bring lesson concepts to life, helping children understand and remember what they’re learning. By connecting play with education, kids can explore ideas in a fun way that strengthens their understanding.
Games
Game: Follow the Star Game
Objective: Reinforce the idea of seeking Jesus with joyful hearts.
Materials Needed:
Instructions:
- Create a path around the room like a star-led journey.
- Along the way, have “star stops” with questions like:
- “What makes you excited about Jesus?”
- “What do you think it means that Jesus saves us from sin?”
- “What can you say or do to show joy?”
- At the end, have the group say together, “Jesus, thank You for saving me!” and celebrate by clapping or dancing.
Lesson Connection: Like the wise men followed the star with joy, we can follow Jesus joyfully too.
Game: Respond or Freeze (Herod, Wise Men, Joseph)
Objective: Help kids connect the story of the flood with active play and understand the impact of the rain.
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- The leader calls out different responses from the Christmas story (e.g., “Obey,” “Search,” “Reject”).
- Kids must act accordingly:
- Obey (Joseph) — Salute or nod yes.
- Search (Wise Men) — Pretend to look through binoculars.
- Reject (Herod) — Cross arms and turn back.
- If they do the wrong motion, they sit out for one round.
- Make it fast-paced and fun.
Connection to Lesson: Helps kids remember the different responses to Jesus’ birth.
After the game, discuss: “Which response do you want to choose when you hear about Jesus?”
Game: Pass the Gift of Joy
Objective: Help kids experience the challenges Noah may have faced in preparing for the flood.
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- Sit kids in a circle.
- Pass a gift box or wrapped object while music plays.
- When the music stops, whoever has the box says one way they can show joy to Jesus (worship, singing, serving, etc.).
- Keep playing several rounds.
Connection to Lesson: Teaches kids that we can all choose to respond with joy, just like the Wise Men.
Game: Star Hide and Seek (Silent Joy)
Objective: Teach kids about God’s promise to never flood the earth again.
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- Hide one large paper star or multiple smaller stars around the room.
- Kids search quietly (like the Wise Men traveling a long way without knowing exactly where they were going).
- When they find the star, they can say “Joy!” and gather together at the front.
Connection to Lesson: Reinforces the idea of seeking Jesus with hearts full of joy like the Wise Men.
Emphasize that sometimes seeking Jesus means being patient and trusting.
Heart
Facilitate activity and study to help kids know and love Jesus.
Small Group Session 2
Share the Key Takeaway: When we hear the good news of Jesus, we can choose to respond with joy.
Activity: Name of Jesus Craft
Objective: Help kids connect Jesus’ name with his mission to save.
Material Needed:
Instructions:
- Let kids decorate the letters with symbols of joy (hearts, crosses, stars, smiley faces).
- Inside or around the name “Jesus,” have them write/draw things they are thankful for about Jesus or how they feel about Him saving us.
“The name Jesus means ‘God saves.’ He came to rescue us from sin so we can be close to him forever. That is good news!”
- “How does that make you feel?”
Activity: Roll to Respond
Objective: Help children reflect on and express joyful responses to Jesus, reinforcing that we can choose to respond with joy because he is the promised Savior.
Material Needed:
Instructions:
Gather the group in a circle or at a table.
“Each number on the die is a way we can respond to Jesus with joy—just like the wise men and Joseph did in our Bible story.”
- Show the number key (see sample below).
- Take turns rolling the die.
- When a child rolls, they read the matching joyful response and act on it (verbally or with a quick action).
- Continue for several rounds or until all kids have had at least 2 turns (reinforce the idea that there are no wrong answers)
Die Key (For Older Kids):
| Number | Joyful Response Prompt |
|---|---|
| 1 | Say something kind about Jesus (e.g., “Jesus is loving!”) |
| 2 | Thank Jesus for something in your life |
| 3 | Share one way you can show joy to Jesus this week |
| 4 | Pretend to give a gift to Jesus—what are you giving him? |
| 5 | Say one reason Jesus makes you happy |
| 6 | Make up a short cheer for Jesus (“Yay, Jesus is here!”) |
| # | Joyful Response Prompt |
|---|---|
| 1 | Say something kind about Jesus (e.g., “Jesus is loving!”) |
| 2 | Thank Jesus for something in your life |
| 3 | Share one way you can show joy to Jesus this week |
| 4 | Pretend to give a gift to Jesus—what are you giving him? |
| 5 | Say one reason Jesus makes you happy |
| 6 | Make up a short cheer for Jesus (“Yay, Jesus is here!”) |
Die Key (For Younger Kids):
| Number | Joyful Response Prompt |
|---|---|
| Even Number | Say one reason Jesus makes you happy (e.g., “Jesus loves me”, “Jesus can help me” ) |
| Odd Number | Thank Jesus for something in your life (e.g., “For my family,” “For my friends.”) |
| # | Joyful Response Prompt |
|---|---|
| Even # |
Say one reason Jesus makes you happy (e.g., “Jesus loves me” “Jesus can help me” ) |
| Odd # |
Thank Jesus for something in your life (e.g., “For my family,” “For my friends.”) |
Going Deeper
- “Joseph trusted and obeyed God, even when it was hard or confusing. Has there ever been a time you felt God asking you to do something that was not easy? How did you respond?”
- “The wise men were full of joy when they found Jesus. What are some things that bring you joy because of who Jesus is?”
- “Jesus’ name means “God saves.” Why do you think we need to be saved? What do you think Jesus is saving us from?”
- “Herod heard the same news about Jesus, but he did not respond with joy—he was angry. Why do some people not want to follow Jesus?”
- “What is one way you can show joy in your life this week because you know Jesus? How could that impact the people around you?”
- “Imagine someone who does not know anything about Jesus asks, “Why is His birth such a big deal?”—how would you explain it to them in your own words?”
- “Jesus did not come to give us more rules. He came to bring forgiveness and show us how to live with him. How does it feel to know that Jesus came to take away your sin?”
- “The wise men gave gifts to Jesus. What is something special you could “give” to Him—not just at Christmas, but today?”
Hands
Lead kids to live out the mission of the Gospel.
Ending Together
“Tell one person in your life about Jesus. He is the savior who takes away our sins, and because of that, we can choose to respond with joy.
Use your Jesus name craft to help you share the good news about Jesus with a friend, family, member, or teacher.”
Response and Reflection
“What is one way you can trust God this week?”
Close in Prayer
Your Feedback Matters To Us!
Tried this lesson in your club?
We’d love to hear how it went! Your feedback helps us review and refine our curriculum so we can continue to support leaders like you and improve the experience for kids across all Crossroads Kids Clubs. Thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts!