Brite Monthly – December 2023

This month’s biblical theme is:

Arrival of Jesus

For hundreds of years, God promised His people He would send a Messiah – a Rescuer to save them from their sins. Through promises to the fathers of the Israelites, proclamations through later prophets, and a surprise visit to Joseph, God made His promise clear. Then one night in Bethlehem, that promise was fulfilled. Jesus was born. Celebrated at first only by shepherds, the world changed. The moment all of Scripture was pointing towards occurred. Jesus, the star of the show, was now in the spotlight, beginning the plan God had all along.

Prophecies: Old Testament prophets, such as Isaiah and Micah, gave predictions about who the Messiah would be. God kept those promises and Jesus fulfilled every prophecy.

Genealogy of Jesus: The list of Jesus’ family shows that He had a real family made up of real and flawed human beings. Jesus came to Earth as fully human and fully God.

Joseph and the Angel: Joseph was confused by Mary’s news about having a baby. An angel appeared to him and shared that this was God’s plan. This baby would take away the sins of the world.

Jesus is Born: Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem where Jesus was born and laid in a manger. It was a different beginning than anyone could predict for the Messiah, but it was God’s perfect plan.

Shepherds: A group of shepherds in a field were the first to hear of the great news of Jesus’ birth. After the angels announced the news, the shepherds rushed to see the baby. Then, they worshiped and praised God.

This month’s Unit Title is: In the Spotlight

In this month’s intro videos, siblings work together to put on a play about the story of Christmas for a special friend. Decor could include stars, red curtains, red carpets, and anything drama related.

Check out our Pinterest board for more ideas! https://www.pinterest.com/britecurriculum/in-the-spotlight/

This month’s Leader Training Topic is:
Teaching Tips to Help Truth Stick

As we read through and study God’s Word, we get to know who God is and how God is at work. These truths about God are foundational to our own understanding of ourselves, the world around us, and how we can be in relationship with Him. They also give us a clear sense of purpose, helping us to recognize God’s redemptive activity in the world and calling us to join Him in that mission. The curriculum that you use with your group each week is designed to draw kids’ attention to a particular truth about God. Over time, these truths that they are learning, help to paint a picture of God’s character and activity. As a leader, you have an opportunity to not only teach these truths but to help make them stick for kids. The goal is for what is true to take root in the kids’ lives, both in their minds and in their hearts. As it does, it helps to inform the kids’ perspectives about themselves, the world around them, and their relationship with God. This month, we’ll explore various ways to help truths stick for kids so they can cultivate an awareness of God’s presence and activity.

Throughout the month, we’ll explore the following topics:
  • Week 1 – Repetition
  • Week 2 – Emphasize Why It Matters
  • Week 3 – Connect to God’s Bigger Story
  • Week 4 – Put it into Practice
  • Week 5 – Share Stories
Teaching kids about the gospel:

The gospel is the good news. God wants everyone to know this good news and to not miss out on this invitation!

Here’s the gospel in four main words: God, Us, Jesus, Trust.

God

God is a loving God who is all-powerful and holy. He knows and sees everything, and rules over everything. God created all people in His image, and we are valuable to Him.

Us

But we have sinned, and our sin separates us from God. What is sin? Sin is anything we think, say, or do that disobeys God. The penalty for sin is death and separation from God forever.

Jesus

But because God loves us so much, He sent His one and only Son, Jesus, to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus died in our place. But He did not stay dead—He rose again three days later. Because of Jesus, we no longer have to be separated from God and we are offered the free gift of eternal life!

Trust

God gives salvation, rescuing us from our sin, to everyone who places their trust in Jesus as their Savior. What is trust? It means that we rely on what Jesus did. You cannot be saved from sin by doing good things, but only through what Jesus did for you.