Prepare
Prepare your heart to teach.
Plan for the lesson.
Materials Needed for Small Group:
Activity: Matching Promises
Activity: Yes, Jesus Loves Me! Game
Activity: Jesus’ Special Names Match-Up
Materials Needed for Large Group:
Materials Needed for Games:
Game: Prophecy Relay
Game: Waiting for the Promise
Game: Jesus’ Names Freeze Dance
Game: Promise Pass
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.
Introduction
“Today, we are going to start with a matching game about the promises we have heard about in Crossroads so far this year.”
Activity: Matching Promises
Objective: Match the Bible character with a symbol and a Bible verse, and discover the promise God gave them.
Instructions: Using Printout 1, print a copy or two for each small group. Match the character to the symbol and promise.
How to Play:
Option 1: Tabletop Match
- Mix up all the cards (characters, symbols, and promises/verses).
- Kids work in teams or individually to match all three correct cards.
Option 2: Memory Match
- Flip cards over and play like a memory game—match the character to the symbol and then to the promise.
Adam and Eve
- Symbol: Clothing (Garment of skin)
- Verse: Genesis 3:21
- Promise: Even though Adam and Eve sinned, God provided clothing and a promise of a future Savior. God promised that evil would not win forever. One day, someone would come to crush the serpent (Genesis 3:15).
Noah
- Symbol: Rainbow
- Verse: Genesis 9:13-15
- Promise: God promised never to destroy the whole earth by flood again. The rainbow is a sign of God’s faithful promise to protect life.
Abraham
- Symbol: Ram
- Verse: Genesis 22:13-18
- Promise: God provided a ram in place of Isaac and promised that through Abraham’s family, the whole world would be blessed. This points to Jesus—the greatest sacrifice God would provide.
Joseph
- Symbol: Coat of many colors
- Verse: Genesis 50:20
- Promise: God was with Joseph and used everything—even the bad things—for good. God promised to be with Joseph and fulfilled his bigger plan through him.
“This year we have already seen that God keeps his promises. Today we are going to talk about God’s promise to send a Savior to save the world.”
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, you are powerful because…”
(Share what reminds you that God is powerful—like the stars, the oceans, or miracles you read about.)
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.
Who Do You Listen To?
“Let’s play a quick game! When I say someone who helps you, raise your hand. If they don’t help you, keep your hands down. Ready?”
- A teacher?
- A dog?
- Your parents?
- A potato?
- A police officer?
- Your best friend?
“We listen to people who help us, right? Today, we’re going to hear about someone even greater than all of those people—Someone who was promised a long time ago. Someone who would be our helper, protector, and king.
He’s called:
Wonderful Counselor (He helps us know what’s right)
Mighty God (He’s strong and never afraid)
Everlasting Father (He loves and cares for us forever)
Prince of Peace (He makes us calm when things are hard)
Let’s find out more about him!”
The Story: Sit or Stand Storytime
Objective: The children will be able to understand the passage for today’s lesson and remember it by relating the content to their own lives.
Instructions: Read the passages for today’s lesson, pausing in between verses to ask the children questions related to the reading. Have the children sit or stand to answer each question you ask.
“Today, we’re going to hear some very important words from the Bible. These words were written hundreds of years before Jesus was born—they were a promise from God! And guess what? God always keeps his promises.
As I read, I’ll ask some questions. If your answer is yes, I want you to stand up. If your answer is no, stay sitting. Ready?”
(Pause between each verse or section and ask a question. Speak clearly and with energy!)
Isaiah 9:6a
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.”
Ask:
- “Stand up if you’ve ever held a baby—or seen one.”
(Pause to let them respond)
“Jesus came to us as a baby. Just like you were once a baby, he was born just like us—but he was also the Son of God!”
Isaiah 9:6b
“The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Ask:
- “Stand up if you’ve ever felt confused or needed help making a decision.”
“Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor—he helps guide us.
Now…”
- “Stand up if you’ve ever felt scared or small.”
“Jesus is Mighty God—he is strong and always with us.”
- “Stand up if you’ve ever wished for peace or quiet or for a fight to stop.”
Jesus is the Prince of Peace—he brings calm to our hearts and the whole world.
Isaiah 9:7
“His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.”
Ask:
- “Stand up if you’ve ever seen something unfair happen.”
Instruct all the students to have a seat.
“Jesus is fair. He’s a king who cares about everyone, and his love never stops—forever and ever.”
Reread Isaiah 9:6-7 out loud for the group.
“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.”
Wrap-Up
“These verses tell us who Jesus is and remind us that God made a promise—and he kept it.
Jesus came to Earth because God loves you. He came to save you, be with you, and help you live a life full of hope and peace.”
Close in Prayer
“Let’s take a moment to thank God.”
(Invite kids to close their eyes and fold their hands.)
“God, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you that he is our Wonderful Counselor, our Mighty God, and our Prince of Peace. Help us remember that Jesus came to save us because you love us so much. Amen.”
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: Prophecy Relay
Objective: Teach kids that God’s promise of Jesus took time to be fulfilled, but he kept his word!
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- Divide the class into two teams and line them up.
- Place four envelopes (one for each name of Jesus in Isaiah 9:6) on a table across the room.
- One player from each team runs to the table, grabs an envelope, and brings it back to their team.
- Inside the envelope is one of the names of Jesus (Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace).
- The team must work together to match the name to its meaning (written on the board or a poster).
- Repeat until all envelopes are collected and matched correctly.
Connection:
- “Did it take time to get all the names?” (Yes!)
Say: “Just like this took time, God’s promise about Jesus took a long time, but He kept His word!”
Game: Waiting for the Promise
Objective: Help kids experience what it’s like to wait for something good—just like the people waited for Jesus!
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- Pick one volunteer to sit at the front, holding the wrapped gift.
- Tell them they must wait before they can open it.
- While they wait, the class plays a mini-game (such as Simon Says, counting to 30, or a short memory challenge).
- Once the time is up, allow them to open the gift, revealing a note inside: “Jesus is the greatest promise!”
Connection:
- “How did it feel to wait?”
“The people in the Bible had to wait hundreds of years for Jesus!”
Alternative: Give different kids short tasks (jumping jacks, clapping, etc.) and let them receive a small reward after waiting—this reinforces patience and trust in God’s promises.
Game: Jesus’ Names Freeze Dance
Objective: Help kids learn Jesus’ special names in a fun, active way.
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- Play music and have kids dance around. When the music stops, call out one of Jesus’ names from Isaiah 9:6:
- Wonderful Counselor – Pretend to whisper advice.
- Mighty God – Flex muscles like a superhero.
- Everlasting Father – Stretch arms wide like a big hug.
- Prince of Peace – Close eyes and take deep breaths.
- The kids freeze in a pose that represents that name. Start the music again and repeat with different names!
Connection:
- “Which of Jesus’ names do you like the most? Why?”
Game: Promise Pass
Objective: Help kids understand that God’s promise of Jesus was passed down for generations before it was fulfilled.
Materials Needed:
How to Play:
- Have kids sit in a circle. Play music while they pass an object around the circle.
- When the music stops, the child holding the object must say one of Jesus’ names from Isaiah 9:6.
- If they don’t remember, the group can help them! Keep playing until all names have been said.
Connection: The promise of Jesus was passed down for hundreds of years.
- “Why is it important that we pass on the good news of Jesus today?”
Heart
Facilitate activity and study to help kids know and love Jesus.
Small Group Session 2
Share the Key Takeaway: God the Father sent his Son to save the world—and to save you and me too.
Activity: Yes, Jesus Loves Me! Game
Material Needed:
Instructions:
Number your truths 1–6 (or however many numbers your spinner has). Kids take turns rolling and then read the statement that matches.
After each statement, ask:
- “What does this mean for YOU?” (Let kids think about how this truth is personal. For example, “Jesus helps me when I feel scared,” or “Jesus forgives me when I do something wrong.”)
Sample truths:
- Jesus came to save me
- Jesus forgives me
- Jesus never leaves me
- Jesus knows me
- Jesus helps me
- Jesus loves me no matter what
Ask:
- “What’s something someone has promised you before? Did they keep it?”
- “Have you ever broken a promise or had someone break one to you? How did that feel?”
“God always keeps his promises—even the ones he made long, long ago. The Bible tells us that God promised to send someone very special: a Savior. And that Savior is Jesus!
In our passage today we heard several names for Jesus. Each one gives us a way in which Jesus helps us because he loves us.”
Activity: Name Motions
Assign a motion or action to each of Jesus’ names. Say the names one at a time, and kids must do the motion.
Examples:
- Wonderful Counselor – (Point to head, like thinking)
- Mighty God – (Flex muscles)
- Everlasting Father – (Spread arms wide, like hugging)
- Prince of Peace – (Hold hands together in prayer)
Activity: Jesus’ Special Names Match-Up
Objective: Help kids understand Jesus’ special names from Isaiah 9:6 in a fun and hands-on way.
Material Needed:
Using Printout 2, cut each section out. Mix up the pictures and word cards. Let the kids march the correct name of Jesus with the picture representing it.
Once all the matches are made, read Isaiah 9:6 together and talk about each name.
- Wonderful Counselor 🧠 (Brain or someone giving advice)
- Mighty God 💪 (Strong arm/muscles or superhero cape)
- Everlasting Father ❤️ (Big heart or a dad hugging a child)
- Prince of Peace 😀 (Smiling face)
Going Deeper
- “Have you ever needed help or felt scared?”
- “Who do you go to when you need comfort or peace?”
- “How can Jesus help you?”
- “Which of Jesus’ names in this verse means the most to you right now? Why?”
- “What does it mean that Jesus is our King?”
- “How does knowing Jesus came to save you show you that God loves you?”
Hands
Lead kids to live out the mission of the Gospel.
Ending Together
“Jesus wasn’t just a baby—he is our Savior, our Helper, our Mighty God, and our Forever King. God kept his promise by sending Jesus to save you.”
Response and Reflection
“This week practice your motions a few times to remember the names of Jesus and how he loves you and can help you.”
Close in Prayer
Encourage kids to pray when they feel worried or have to wait for something.
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!