A Complete Two-Week Christmas Series With Purpose
Imagine this: It’s two Sundays before Christmas. The room is packed, the Christmas vacation anticipation is sky-high, and there’s a group of 5th-grade boys in the back trying very hard not to look interested. And succeeding.
And then you start cutting a tiny piece of paper…
…and you walk through the hole you cut.
Now everyone’s leaning in.
From there on, your lesson hits like a Christmas blockbuster.
And why shouldn’t it? The Christmas story is the tale of a Top-Secret Rescue Mission.
It’s filled with profound, universe-shaking theology, covering a range of deep theological doctrines:
• The Incarnation – When God the Son Took On a Real Human Body and Lived with Us
• Jesus’ Divinity and Humanity – The Savior who is 100% God, 100% Man, Bridging the Gap
• Fulfilled Prophecy – The Savior Foretold Long Ago, Born Right on Time
• God’s Redemption Plan – The Greatest Rescue Story Ever Told
• Grace – Salvation by God’s Kindness, Not Anything We Do To Earn It
• Light Shining in the Darkness – Jesus, Light of the World, Sent to Show Us the Way
Let’s build two Christmas Sunday School lessons together around these big ideas and then we’ll load you up with high-impact, kid-tested, concrete activities to go with them:
• Immanuel – “God with us”
(includes the ideas of Incarnation + Jesus’ Divinity + Jesus Humanity)
• Christ – “The Chosen One”
(includes the ideas of Fulfilled prophecy + God’s Redemption Plan + Grace + Light Shining in the Darkness)
For each doctrine, you’ll get:
• A kid-friendly theological explanation
• Object lessons & science experiments
• Icebreaker games (that even 5th-grade boys will love)
• Memory verse ideas
• Small-group discussion prompts
• A simple way to connect everything back to the gospel
• And we promise – no crafts that kids have already done a thousand times
Use these activities as a 2-week Christmas series or as a menu of ideas to mix into your existing plan. Pick what fits your group’s age, room, and time, and adapt as needed.
1. Click here to download all the resources shown below for free --or--
2. Click here to get a built-for-you version of these lessons with large-group leader guide scripts, pre-made slides and videos, take-home activity sheets, small-group leader guides, hands-on science experiments, and more…
🎄 Big Idea #1 – Immanuel: “God With Us”
At Christmas, we celebrate something wild: Immanuel – God the Son became a real human without ceasing to be God.
Teaching the Theology (In a Kid-Friendly Way)
Jesus didn’t just send a message from far away.
He moved in – into a real town, a real family, a real body.
That’s what “Immanuel” means: God with us.
The name Immanuel is like a Christmas CODENAME for Jesus.
It tells kids who the baby is: God Himself, here in person.
🎯 Activity 1: Opening Game: Picture Puzzles That Hook Attention
How to play:
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Show the slide with the two pictures side-by-side.
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Kids silently raise their hands when they spot a difference.
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When called on, they either describe it or come up to the screen and point to it.
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Keep going until they’ve found all the differences.
Quick tie-in:
Say, “You did a great job spotting all those little tiny differences. I can see that your brains are already in 'notice the details' mode, which is exactly what you want as you open the Bible. Today we’re going to look at how God communicated in the Old Testament and how things changed when Jesus came. Same God – but after the birth of Jesus, His relationship with people gets clearer and closer. Let's dive into it and you tell me what differences you see between how God communicated to people in the OT and NT.”
Then move into your lesson.
Note: This puzzle is included in the free download.
The "built for you" Spyence Christmas curriculum includes three different puzzles like this because, as soon as you finish one, kids want to do another one.
🖼️ Activity 2: Printable Graphic – For the Visual Learners
You could show this slide on the screen and discuss it as a group, or you could print this graphic out for kids and have them get into small groups and label how God spoke to people in each instance:
• God spoke to Moses through the burning bush. (Exodus 3:1–4)
• Samuel heard God’s audible voice. (1 Samuel 3:1–11)
• God used a pillar of cloud by day to show the Israelites which direction to travel in the wilderness. (Exodus 13:21)
God had lots of ways of communicating with people in the Old Testament, but none of them was as personal as Jesus. God became a human so that He could live with people, walk with them on the road, camp on a mountainside with them, barbecue on the beach with them, and teach them face-to-face. Jesus truly was Immanuel, God with us.
Note: This slide (and the ones below) are included in the free download.
This slide (and many others, such as countdown videos, etc.) are included in the slide set for the Spyence Christmas lessons.
🏷️ Activity 3: Act It Out with Two Name Tags
Supplies: Two nametag stickers for each kid. One says “GOD” and one says “HUMAN.”
Big idea:
Jesus is 100% God, 100% Man.
How to present it:
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Have kids put on a “GOD” nametag. Ask: “What is God like?” Let kids answer: all-powerful, never sins, knows all things, always loves, etc.
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Have kids take off the “GOD” nametag and put on a “HUMAN” nametag. Ask: “What are humans like?” Let kids answer: we get tired, hungry, we can sin, we can have a relationship with God, etc.
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Then have kids put both tags on at the same time.
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Say: “Jesus is different from us. He is fully God and fully human. He can do everything God can do, and He became like us so He could relate to us, show God to us, and die on the cross for our sins.”
✂️ Activity 4: Object Lesson + Science Experiment: “Heaven-to-Earth Doorway”
This one wows older kids because it feels like a magic trick – but it’s pure scissors and paper.
Supplies (per kid):
• 1 sheet of paper (or a printed template like the one shown above that comes with the Spyence Christmas lessons)
• Scissors
• Scotch tape at each small group table to repair accidental cuts
Big idea:
Each kid in your Sunday School class will cut the paper following the directions on the template. Then, they’ll actually be able to step through the hole they cut in the paper, like a doorway.
Video Explanation of How It Works:
How to present it:
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Hold the paper in front of your face so kids can’t see you directly, and say, “Before Jesus came, God still spoke to people. They could hear Him, see signs of Him, but they didn’t know Him face-to-face.”
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Lower the paper and talk directly to them: “When Jesus came at Christmas, God didn’t just send a message. He came Himself, in a body we could see and hear and touch. God stepped through the opening from heaven to earth.”
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Explain that they’re going to cut a “doorway” in their paper to picture Jesus stepping through the “door” between heaven and earth to be Immanuel, God with us.
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In small groups, leaders guide kids through the cutting pattern that turns one sheet into a huge loop they can step through. (It's good for your leaders to try this ahead of time to practice.)
When kids actually step through their paper doorway, the room erupts. Even 5th-graders will be impressed.
Reinforce it:
“If I can step through this paper and get closer to you, imagine what it meant that God the Son stepped into our world as Jesus. That’s Immanuel – God with us, in person.”
Tell kids to take their “doorway” home and use it to explain the lesson to their family or a friend.
Note: The template and instruction sheets for this activity are included in the free download and in the full Spyence Christmas curriculum.
📖 Activity 5: Hands-On Bible – “Gospels = Immanuel Files”
Immanuel isn’t just a Christmas word. It’s a good description of what the four Gospel books are all about.
Think about it: All four Gospel writers are sharing what it was like when God was here with us on earth. (Matthew and John lived and traveled with Jesus for three years. Mark interviewed Peter, who also lived and traveled with Jesus. And Luke was a doctor who did lots of research and interviews in order to write his book.)
These four authors tell us true stories of what Jesus was like when He was hungry and when He was sleepy, when He was surrounded by crowds and when He went off alone to pray. They tell stories of Him crying and rejoicing, teaching, healing, cooking, arguing with Pharisees, forgiving very bad people, casting out demons, calming storms, and walking on water. They even describe Him dying and how He reacted to the people torturing and killing Him. And – this is awesome – they share true stories of what He was like when He came back to life.
Goal: Show kids that if they want to know “God with us,” the best place to go is the four Gospels.
How to do it:
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Put up this slide from the Spyence curriculum, or... on a board or poster, write the names: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John.
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Briefly describe each one in kid language:
• Matthew – focuses on Jesus as the promised King.
• Mark – fast-moving stories showing Jesus serving and helping.
• Luke – carefully-researched stories showing Jesus as Savior.
• John – shows Jesus as God so we can believe and have eternal life. -
Give each small group one Gospel and have them look up a “Jesus moment”:
• For example, when Jesus was hungry or tired (Matthew 4:2, Mark 4:38, Luke 4:2, or John 4:6–7)
• Other “Jesus doing regular stuff” verses would include walking along the shore (Mark 1:16), going to dinner parties (Matthew 9:10, Mark 2:15–17), and cooking breakfast over a charcoal fire (John 21:4–13). -
Have groups share what they found:
• “What does this story show us about what ‘God with us’ is like?”
Connect the dots:
“These four books are like four camera angles of Immanuel. Whenever you read them, you’re hanging out with Jesus / Immanuel / God With Us.”
🎮 Activity 6: Memory Verse That Feels Like a Game – The “Nope!” Challenge (Matthew 1:23)
Kids memorize Matthew 1:23 by catching you when you “mess up.”
How to play:
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Display the verse where everyone can see it.
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Tell kids: “Every time I say a word wrong, I want you to jump up, cross one arm over your chest, and shout, ‘NOPE!’ Then tell me the right word and sit back down.”
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Start reciting the verse, intentionally making silly mistakes:
• “The virgin will deceive…”
• “They will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God misses us’…” -
Each time, let them correct you. Once they get the hang of it, hide the verse and keep going.
The mixture of humor + repetition cements the verse, and the body motion adds muscle memory, which is especially helpful for wiggly kids. Plus, the older boys just LOVE catching the teacher making a mistake (even if it’s intentional).
🗣️ Activity 7: Small Group Discussion & Gospel Connection
In small groups, use simple questions to move from information to heart-level:
• “If you had to explain ‘Immanuel’ to a friend, how would you say it in your own words?”
• “Why is it good news that God is with us and not against us?”
• Read John 14:1–3 and ask: “We’re waiting for Jesus to come back, just like people waited for Him to come the first time. What should we do while we wait?”
Tie it to the gospel clearly:
“Immanuel isn’t just about God visiting for a little while. Jesus came to live a perfect life, die on the cross for our sins, and rise again so we could be with God forever. That’s what John was talking about in John 1:12: ‘Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God…’
Isn’t that beautiful? Everyone who trusts in Jesus as their Savior becomes a child of God forever.”
🎥 Bonus Activity: Have the Spyentists at Spyence Headquarters Introduce the Bible Lesson
Are your kids SO DONE with boring skits and cheesy videos?
Want to give them a taste of the fun, high-energy Spyence experience?
Each Spyence lesson comes with a professionally-produced Bible-Lesson Intro Video that makes the big theological idea stick. Kids love it. And not just the kids...
Why leaders love these videos:
- They reinforce the doctrine in a way kids actually remember.
- They feature the Spyentists’ quirky humor and spy-lab fun.
- They help kids review the main idea, theology term, and Bible verse
- They give your volunteers a breather while boosting engagement.
But instead of telling you how awesome they are…
Let me show you.
👇 Here’s a 3-Minute Teaser for the Video for Week 1 (Immanuel: God With Us)
🎄Big Idea #2 – Christ: “The Chosen One”
Christmas also gives you a perfect opportunity to focus on one of the richest titles for Jesus: Christ.
It’s not a last name. It’s not just a fancy church word. It’s a codename that means:
“The Chosen One” or “The Anointed One.”
Teaching the Theology (In a Kid-Friendly Way)
In the Old Testament, there were three very special jobs:
• Kings – led and ruled God’s people
• Prophets – brought God’s messages to the people
• Priests – offered sacrifices so people could be forgiven
When someone was chosen for one of those roles, a leader poured a little oil on their head. That ceremony was called anointing – a sign that this person was chosen for a special job.
So: “Anointed one” = “Chosen one.”
Many kings, prophets, and priests were anointed. They were “a” chosen one. But Christmas is the story of THE CHOSEN ONE arriving:
• Jesus is the ultimate King
• Jesus is the ultimate Prophet
• Jesus is the ultimate Priest who would offer Himself as the sacrifice for our sins
That’s what the title Christ is getting at.
Okay, let’s look at some activities that will be perfect for reinforcing the big truths in this lesson for the kids at your church.
(And remember: You can order the pre-made ready-to-go version of these lessons with slides and videos, scripts for your leaders, take-home activity sheets for parents, hands-on science experiments, and more.)
🎲 Activity 8: High-Energy Game – “The One” Elimination Challenge
This game sets up the concept of “The Chosen One” in a way older kids really get into.
Setup:
• With a Sharpie, write A on one side of a quarter and B on the other side.
• Clear a front area or stage. Using painter’s tape, label one half of the area “Group A” and the other half of the area “Group B.”
How to play:
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Everyone stands up and comes forward.
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Kids choose to stand in one of the two sides of the stage – in either Group A or Group B.
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You flip the coin. If it lands on A, Group A stays on stage and Group B returns to their seats. If B, the opposite.
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The remaining kids split up and choose sides again for the next round.
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Keep flipping until only one person is left standing.
Declare them “The One” and then tease it out:
“Today, [kid’s name] was ‘the one’ left at the end of the game. Jesus is also called ‘the one.’ In fact, Jesus "Christ" means Jesus "The Chosen One."
Jesus is not just one of many. He’s THE Chosen One – the One God picked to be our King, our Teacher, and our Savior.”
You’ve now created a felt experience of being “the one,” which makes the title Christ much more relatable for kids.
🍬 Activity 9: Object Lesson + Experiment: “The Chosen Peppermint”
This is a simple science experiment that turns into a powerful visual.
Supplies (per group):
• Several red-striped peppermints
• A plastic or paper bowl
• Warm water
Video Explanation of How It Works:
How to present it:
Direct your students to…
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Place several peppermints on the plate.
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Slowly pour warm water over them so it covers each candy.
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Watch as the red stripes dissolve.
Compare the coloring on these candies to a peppermint in a separate dish that was kept dry.
Teaching moment:
Point out to your kids how different the single “no-stripes” candy is compared to the others with the red stripes. It's one-of-a-kind, just like Jesus.
In the Old Testament, lots of people were anointed: lots of kings, lots of priests, lots of prophets. Each was a chosen one. But Jesus is THE Chosen One – the Christ. He stands out from everyone else. No one else is like Him.
📜 Activity 10: Memory Verse – Christ, Savior, Lord (Luke 2:11)
Christmas is your chance to help kids reflect on the many theologically-rich names for Jesus.
Notice how many names Jesus is given in just this one verse:
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” – Luke 2:11
Three huge truths in one sentence:
• Savior – Jesus rescues (or saves) us from the punishment we deserve for our sins.
• Christ – Jesus is The Chosen One, the anointed King/Priest/Prophet.
• Lord – Jesus is God, the Boss, the Master, the One in charge.
Let kids help you create motions for each phrase (older kids love making them funny or dramatic):
• “Savior” – for example, arms out wide like a rescue or life preserver
• “Christ” – for example, point up like crowning a king, or dabbing oil on the forehead
• “Lord” – for example, salute or kneel
Have the room stand up and practice the verse with motions, then speed it up, whisper it, shout it, and finish with one big, strong, in-unison version.
🧍Activity 11: Identity & Discipleship – “Little Christs”
Once kids grasp that Jesus is The Christ, you can blow their minds even more.
Read Acts 11:25–26 and ask:
• “What nickname did Jesus’ followers get?” (Answer: Christians)
Explain:
“‘Christian’ basically means ‘little Christ’ or ‘belonging to Christ.’ If you trust Jesus as your Savior, you’re tied to Him forever. You’re on His team. You carry His name.”
Ask:
• “If we’re ‘little Christs,’ how should that change how we act at school? Online? With siblings?”
• “What is one way you’d like to act more like Jesus this week?”
Pray with your group, asking God to make them more like The Chosen One they follow.
💬Activity 12: Clear Gospel Invitation (Age-Appropriate & Gracious)
Christmas is a natural time to invite kids to trust Jesus. You don’t need to pressure anyone – just clearly state the good news:
“Jesus was ‘The Chosen One’ who came to Earth to rescue us from our sins, or all the bad things we've done. Because Jesus got punished for those bad things on the cross, we don't have to get punished for them. The Bible says that everyone who believes in Jesus will be saved, which means they can be friends with God and live with Him forever!
If you believe that and want to tell God, you can talk to Him in your own words right now. If you’d like help, you can pray something like this. Just tell God you agree with this prayer if you want to.
Dear God, I know I've done bad things...
Things that break our friendship...
But I believe Jesus got punished for those bad things...
To fix our friendship...
I receive your free gift of eternal life...
Thanks for letting me be your friend...
and part of your family...
Amen."
Then, invite anyone who prayed to talk with you or a leader afterward.
📅Putting It All Together: A 2-Week Christmas Theology Plan
Here’s one way to structure these ideas into a simple 2-week Christmas Sunday School lesson series.
🎄 Week 1 – Immanuel: God With Us
Doctrinal goal: Kids understand that Jesus is God with us – God the Son in a real human body, come to live among us and make the Father known.
Elements you might use:
• Connect question: “Would you be more afraid to swim with a shark or an alligator?”
• Game: Christmas picture-difference puzzles to warm up their observation skills.
• Teaching: Immanuel from Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:23
• Experiment: “Heaven-to-Earth Doorway” paper cut.
• Application: Four Gospels as the best place to learn what “God with us” is like.
• Memory Verse: Matthew 1:23 using the “Nope!” game.
• Small groups: Discuss what it means for God to be with us and how to wait for His return.
🎄 Week 2 – Christ: The Chosen One
Doctrinal goal: Kids understand that Jesus is The Christ – God’s chosen King, Priest, and Prophet who died and rose so we could have eternal life.
Elements you might use:
• Connect question: “What’s one thing your friends would say you’re really good at?”
• Game: “The One” elimination game (coin-flip showdown).
• Teaching: Kings, prophets, and priests were anointed to show they were “chosen” for that position. Jesus is the ultimate King/Prophet/Priest, Christ = The Chosen/Anointed One.
• Experiment: “The Chosen Peppermint” visual.
• Memory Verse: Luke 2:11 (Savior, Christ, Lord) with kid-generated motions.
• Small groups: Talk about being “little Christs” (Christians) and following His example.
Of course, you can also blend both into one extended Christmas Sunday by picking one game, one experiment, one verse, and one main discussion focus.
🎁 Conclusion: Take Advantage of This Special Time
Christmas is one of the best times of year to help kids see that the story of baby Jesus is way bigger than a manger and some shepherds.
It’s a chance to talk about who God is, why Jesus came, and how the whole Bible points to Him.
⭐️ Ready to Turn Christmas into a Theology Adventure?
If you’d love to:
• Go deeper than “baby in a manger”
• Help kids really understand who Jesus is and why He came
• Use Christmas games, experiments, and object lessons that actually engage Sunday school kids (even the 5th-graders!)
• Have all the hard work (planning, scripting, explaining) already done for you…
…then the Spyence Christmas curriculum was made for you.
👀 You’ve just seen the teaser version.
To get the full scripts, experiments, small group guides, and printable resources, check out the Spyence Christmas lessons (or the full Spyence curriculum bundle).
You bring the kids.
We’ll bring the “whoa!” Sunday School Activities + Solid Theology combo.
📦What You Actually Get in the Spyence Christmas Curriculum
Here’s what’s included when you grab the Christmas holiday lessons from Spyence at Spyence.com (or in the Christmas bundle):
✅ 2 Full Large Group Lesson Guides with Teaching scripts
✅ 2 Icebreaker Games
✅ 2 Hands-On Science Experiments
✅ 2 Full Small Group Guides with Age-Appropriate Discussion Questions
✅ 2 Memory Verse Activities
✅ Visuals that make “Immanuel” and “Christ” unforgettable
✅ Supply Lists & Prep Notes
✅ Engagement that Works for Older Kids
✅ Smooth Transitions and Gospel Connections
✅ Perfect for Sunday School, Kids Church, or any Children’s Ministry setting.
All of it is built in the Spyence style: Gospel-centered, theology-rich, and actually fun.
🙌 Final Encouragement: Big Truth, Big Fun, Real Spiritual Growth
Christmas doesn’t have to be a choice between deep theology and fun activities.
When kids are:
• Laughing while they yell “NOPE!” to fix your memory verse mistakes
• Stepping through impossible paper doorways
• Watching one peppermint stand out as “chosen”
…they’re not just burning energy – they’re building a solid Biblical worldview:
Jesus is Immanuel – God with us
Jesus is The Christ – The Chosen One