Lesson Overview
1
Get Them Curious
Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.
Spot the New Emoji
Players must race the clock and identify the new emoji that has been added.
2
Screen Time
Show kids a video on the
Bible story.
The Magi Visit Jesus
The Story of Christmas (Jesus and the Wise Men), by Saddleback Kids
3
Make it Stick
Help kids remember the
Bible story.
The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story
Kids arrange 14 Emojis in sequence, then use them as prompts to re-tell the story of The Magi Visit Jesus.
4
Dig Deeper
Help kids grasp
the big idea.
A Gift for Jesus
Kids make a Treasure Chest with a Pop-up Heart for Jesus.
5
Walk the Talk
Help kids live out
the big idea.
Mystery Stocking
Using their sense of touch, players must guess what the mystery stocking contains.
6
Take it Home
Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.
I Will Worship Jesus
Worship Jesus not just with words but also with actions.
Big Idea
Jesus deserves our worship.
Key Verse
They bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11
Live it Out
We should worship Jesus as our Savior and King.
This Sunday School Lesson requires some advance preparation. For a consolidated summary of preparation, supplies and free printables required, please scroll to the bottom of this lesson.
1. Get Them Curious – Spot the New Emoji
Remember to download, print and cut up the Spot the New Emoji Printable Cards in advance.
Set up each round by placing 12 Emoji cards on a table or on the floor, visible to all the kids.
For each round, allow players 30 seconds to look at the cards.
(You can vary the number of cards and timing according to the age/ability of the players.)
After the given time, have 2 helpers hold up a towel or bedsheet to block the players’ view as you add 1 new card. (You can also rearrange the existing cards to make it more challenging.)
Remove the towel or bedsheet.
Players must quickly identify and shout out the new emoji that has just been added.
Play as many rounds as you like.
To make the game progressively challenging and exciting, increase the number of cards and reduce the viewing time with each round.
For the final round, the new Emoji card that you add must be the Star emoji:
Discuss:
- Did you enjoy this game?
- Are you generally good at noticing new things?
- What new card was added in the final round of today’s game?
- Do you remember a Bible story about a group of people spotting a new star?
- Can anyone guess the title of today’s Bible story?
Say: Let’s watch a short video on The Story of Christmas (Jesus and the Wise Men).
Pray: Dear God, thank you for our Spot the New Emoji game! Please help us learn the Bible story about the wise men visiting Jesus and teach us how you want us to live out today’s lesson. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
2. Screen Time – The Magi Visit Jesus
This is our favorite YouTube video on The Magi Visit Jesus: https://youtu.be/Zk1LhnqROCM
Before you begin, tell the children to pay attention to the various events in the story.
3. Make it Stick – The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story
Remember to download The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Printable, The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Prompts, and Slide 2 (Solution).
Print 1 copy of The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Printable for each group of kids.
Discuss: What Bible story did we just watch?
Show Slide 1 (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
For older kids, you may like to have them open their Bibles to today’s passage.
Say: Let’s see if we can use Emojis to help us re-tell the story of The Magi Visit Jesus.
Divide into small groups.
(We suggest a group size of 3-5 kids. Groups can be larger, but smaller groups allow everyone to be involved.)
Give each group:
- The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Printable
- Scissors
- Re-stickable Glue Stick
Part 1 – Sequencing Emojis
Read out the story prompts, one at a time, from The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Prompts you have downloaded.
(You can also show the story prompts on a screen.)
After reading each prompt, give kids some time discuss and look at the first page of The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Printable:
They must choose 1 emoji that is most representative of that prompt.
Cut out that Emoji and paste it on the second page of their Moses and the Burning Bush Emoji Story Printable: 
For example:
- Prompt 1 says, “Some wise men from the east spotted a new star.”
- Kids look at all the emojis and decide to choose the star emoji ⭐
- They must cut out the star emoji and paste it on the first square
(We recommend using re-stickable glue sticks so that kids can move the Emojis around if they change their minds later.)
Carry on until you have read out all 14 prompts, and kids have finished sticking all 14 emojis.
You may want to read out all 14 prompts one more time for kids to confirm their choices.
Finally, show Slide 2 (The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Solution):
Part 2 – Re-telling the Story
By now, the kids should be familiar with the 14 emojis and the story of The Magi Visit Jesus.
Continue showing Slide 2 (The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Solution).
Starting with the first emoji, have each group take turns to re-tell (in their own words) the part of the story represented by each emoji.
4. Dig Deeper – A Gift for Jesus
Remember to download Treasure Chest Craft Printable and prepare all necessary materials in advance.
Show kids a sample of the Treasure Chest Craft that you have made.
Tell kids they will be making their own Treasure Chest Crafts.
You will need for each child:
- 1 Treasure Chest Craft Printable
- Scissors
- Sticky Tape or glue
To make the Treasure Chest Craft:
1. Cut out all the pieces, along the black solid lines.
2. Carefully cut a slit for the latch, along the black solid line (kids will need help with this).
3. Fold along the dashed lines.
4. Apply some glue on the white flaps to assemble your treasure chest.
5. Take the L-shaped strip of paper. Fold the longer side over the shorter side, along the grey dashed line.
6. Continue folding in accordion style.
7. Continue folding until you have reached the end of paper. Glue the 2 ends together.
8. Glue on the Heart.
9. Glue the pop-up heart to the inside bottom of your Treasure Chest.
10. Close the treasure chest and slot in the latch.
Discuss: What does our Treasure Chest with Pop-up Hearts have to do with today’s story?
Read Matthew 2:11
Show Slide 3 (Key Verse): 
Have everyone read the slide.
Discuss: What did the Magi from the east do when they found Jesus?
Read Matthew 2:1-2
Discuss: Why did they do this?
Say:
- When the Magi saw a new star, they knew that the King of the Jews has been born.
- They traveled a long distance from the eastern land to Jerusalem to search for the newborn King.
- When they found Jesus, they bowed down and worshiped Him, and they presented Him with special gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
- They honored Jesus because they knew Jesus was no ordinary King. Jesus was worthy of their worship and their gifts.
- Jesus is not just our King. He is also our Savior!
- Jesus is worthy of our worship and our gifts too!
Show Slide 4 (Big Idea): 
Have everyone read the slide.
5. Walk the Talk – Mystery Stocking
Remember to prepare a Christmas Stocking and a variety of objects to be placed inside the stocking during the game.
If you are playing with a very large group, you may like to split into two or more smaller groups.
Have each group sit in a circle.
You will need to for each group:
- 1 stocking
- 1 set of the following mystery objects that can be associated with worshiping God:
| Mystery Object | How this object relates to worshiping God |
| Any small musical instrument (For example: maracas, castanet, bells, triangle, harmonica) | We can worship God by singing praises. We can worship God by playing music. |
| Bible | We can worship God by reading the Bible. We can worship God by obeying God’s Word. |
| Money | We can worship God by tithing. We can worship God by giving to the needy. |
| Bottle of water | We can worship God by giving a bottle of water to someone who is thirsty. |
| Christmas cookie | We can worship God by sharing the food that we have. |
| Sweater | We can worship God by sharing the clothes that we have. |
| Gospel tract | We can worship God by telling others about Him. |
| Band-Aid | We can worship God by caring for someone who is hurt or sick. |
| Packet of tissue paper | We can worship God by comforting those who are sad. |
| A school book, pen or pencil | We can worship God by doing our best in school. We can worship God by helping others with their homework. |
| Watch / Clock (used to symbolize time) | We can worship God by spending time with Him (reading the Bible, praying, going to church). We can also worship God by using our time wisely to do things that please God (e.g. studying, helping others). |
Secretly place 1 mystery object in the stocking.
Hand the stocking to the youngest player.
The player must not look inside the stocking but just put one hand in to feel the object inside.
The player will try to guess the object or pass the mystery bag to the left if they need help.
Once any player guesses correctly, show the object to everyone.
Set the first mystery object aside.
Secretly place a second mystery object in the stocking.
Hand the stocking to the next player.
Carry on until you have used up all the mystery objects.
Discuss:
- Did you enjoy the game?
- Was it easy to guess the object?
- Have you ever received any Christmas gifts placed in stockings?
- What were some Christmas gifts that you have received?
- Were there some gifts that you liked more than others? Tell us more.
- What gifts did the Magi give to Jesus?
Say:
- In today’s story, the Magi worshiped Jesus and gave him special gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh because they knew Jesus was no ordinary King.
- Jesus is not just our King. He is also our Savior!
Have kids look at all the mystery objects.
Discuss:
- What are some ways we can worship Jesus?
- What are some gifts we can give Jesus?
Say:
- In today’s story, the Magi bowed down and worshiped Jesus and they presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
- Jesus is worthy of our worship and our gifts too!
- We should worship Jesus as our Savior and King.
Show Slide 5 (Live it Out): 
Have everyone read the slide.
6. Take it Home – I Will Worship Jesus
Say: Let’s recall all that we have learned today. Can you remember the title of today’s Bible Story?
Show Slide 1 again (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: Can you remember today’s big idea?
Show Slide 4 again (Big Idea):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: Can you remember today’s key verse?
Show Slide 3 again (Key Verse):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: How can we live out today’s lesson?
Show Slide 5 again (Live it Out):
Have everyone read the slide.
Say: In the game we just played, we learned that there are many ways we can worship Jesus.
Discuss: How will you worship Jesus this week?
Give each child a copy of The Magi Visit Jesus Take it Home Handout.
Discuss:
- What is one way you will worship Jesus this week?
- Write that down on the first page of the Live it Out section.
- Then spend some time worshiping Jesus in a prayer.
- The other pages are for you to do at home. Tell me next week about what you did at home!
Give everyone some time to write down their Live it Out action plan before ending the lesson with this closing prayer:
Pray: Dear Jesus, thank you for today’s Bible lesson on The Magi Visit Jesus. Thank you that you are our King and our Savior. You are worthy of our worship and our gifts. We want to worship you not only by singing praises, but also in our lives. Please help us to worship you this week! In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Lesson Preparation and Supplies
Here’s a summary of all the preparation, supplies and free printables required for this lesson.1
Get Them Curious
Prepare kids for an exciting
learning journey.
Spot the New Emoji
Players must race the clock and identify the new emoji that has been added.
Download, print and cut up the Spot the New Emoji Printable Cards.
You will also need a large towel or bedsheet.
2
Screen Time
Show kids a video on the
Bible story.
The Magi Visit Jesus
The Story of Christmas (Jesus and the Wise Men), by Saddleback Kids
Ensure that you can play this YouTube video:
The Story of Christmas (Jesus and the Wise Men), by Saddleback Kids (Video URL: https://youtu.be/Zk1LhnqROCM)
3
Make it Stick
Help kids remember the
Bible story.
The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story
Kids arrange 14 Emojis in sequence, then use them as prompts to re-tell the story of The Magi Visit Jesus.
Download Slide 1 (Sunday School Lesson Title & Bible Reference):
Download The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Printable.
Give each group:
- The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Printable
- Scissors
- Re-stickable Glue Stick
(We suggest a group size of 3-5 kids. Groups can be larger, but smaller groups allow everyone to be involved.)
Download The Magi Visit Jesus Emoji Story Prompts.
Download Slide 2 (Solution):
4
Dig Deeper
Help kids grasp
the big idea.
A Gift for Jesus
Kids make a Treasure Chest with a Pop-up Heart for Jesus.
Download the Treasure Chest Craft Printable.
Make 1 Treasure Chest with Pop-up Heart in advance.
(Follow the instructions in “Dig Deeper” section above.)
You will need to show kids your sample craft.
You will need for each child:
- 1 Treasure Chest Craft Printable (printed on cardstock)
- Scissors
- Sticky Tape or glue
Download Slide 3 (Key Verse):
Download Slide 4 (Big Idea):
5
Walk the Talk
Help kids live out
the big idea.
Mystery Stocking
Using their sense of touch, players must guess what the mystery stocking contains.
For this game, everyone will be seated in a circle. However, if your class is very large, you may like to split into two or more smaller groups.
You will need for each group:
- 1 Christmas stocking
- A variety of objects that relate to the lesson:
Bible; Money; Bottle of water; Christmas cookie; Sweater; Gospel tract; Band-Aid; Packet of tissue paper; A school book, pen or pencil;
Watch or Clock. (Details on how these suggested objects relate to the lesson can be found in the “Walk the Talk” section above) - Small prizes for volunteers who have guessed correctly.
Download Slide 5 (Live It Out):
6
Take it Home
Send kids home with a concrete action plan and fun midweek activities.
I Will Worship Jesus
Worship Jesus not just with words but also with actions.
Download The Magi Visit Jesus Take it Home Handout. You will need to print 1 copy for each child.
It would be good to tell parents about the Take it Home Handout. Encourage them to do the suggested family activity with their child.
