Jesus Was Born
(Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20)
August 23rd, 2026
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
Matthew and Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ birth showcase God’s faithfulness in sending us His Son. Long before Mary and Joseph embarked on their journey to Bethlehem, God had already promised to redeem His creation through the long-awaited Savior. Now, God was ready to make good on His promise of salvation—in an unexpected setting, at a seemingly inopportune time, and through the most unlikely of people.
The earthly arrival of God in human form caught many by surprise. From Jesus’ virgin birth to His first night spent in a manger, the lowliness of this humble King seemed counterintuitive to most people’s expectations of how the Messiah would arrive. The joyous birth of Jesus, however, was such a miraculous occasion that God sent angels to prepare the hearts of those who would behold the newborn King—not only Mary and Joseph, but also the shepherds in the field who believed by faith.
Despite all that seemed to go wrong in this story—from the decree of Caesar Augustus, the timing of Mary’s pregnancy and delivery, and there being no guest room for Jesus—God orchestrated every detail of this birth narrative so He would be glorified through the humble arrival of His Son. Through His angels, God spoke words of comfort, encouragement, and guidance to Jesus’ parents and the shepherds, leading them to trust Him with each next step.
Many Old Testament prophecies had shed light on how the Messiah would arrive. The prophet Isaiah spoke of a virgin giving birth to a son named Immanuel and later predicted a child with the title, Mighty God (Isaiah 7:14, 9:6). Meanwhile, Micah, a contemporary prophet to Isaiah, had predicted the Messiah would come from Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). These were only the beginning of many Old Testament prophecies Jesus would fulfill on His way to live a perfect life, die a sacrificial death, and rise again.
Pray for your children as they hear this incredible Bible story. May they, too, find their place within God’s miraculous plan of redemption, placing true faith in the Savior born to bring us eternal life.
***Next Week: Jesus Was Dedicated (Luke 2:21-39)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-56; 2:1-20 from the Bible.
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An exciting trend for expecting parents is to host a gender reveal party. Friends and family gather to watch the parents cut a cake, pop a balloon, or open a box to see what color is inside—pink for a girl or blue for a boy. No matter what color, everyone celebrates the fact that a sweet baby is coming!
When the time had come for God to send His Son into the world, the angel revealed the news to Mary and Joseph that she would give birth to a Son and His name would be Jesus. This was more than just a gender reveal; this was God’s own Son coming as the light into a dark world!
When Jesus was born, God sent a host of angels to announce the birth to shepherds. They were the first to hear the good news that Jesus—the Savior—was born. The shepherds rushed to Bethlehem where they found Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus just as the angels told them.
The shepherds shared the good news with others, and everyone was amazed! We love to celebrate the arrival of a cute baby, but the shepherds and all of creation celebrated because the Messiah had come!
God kept His promise to send Jesus, the Messiah, to save people from their sins. God will keep His promise to save everyone who trusts in Jesus as Savior and Lord.
Pray: God, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, into the world. Help us never forget how good this news is for us. Give us the courage to share with others that Jesus is the promised Savior who came to save us from sin and death. Amen.
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Preschool:
“God loved the world and gave his only Son to all who believe in him.”John 3:16
1st-5th:
“God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son. Anyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.” John 3:16 NiRV
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Mornings
Thank God for sending His only Son into the world to save sinners. Praise Him for the fact that this was always His plan. Think about how great God’s love must be to send His Son to live with us and die for us. How should we respond to this love?
Evenings
Praise God for first sharing the good news of Jesus’ birth with shepherds. Shepherds may not have been seen as special in their own culture, but God loved them. How does the announcement to shepherds show us God’s love? How can this help us see what God thinks of us?
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For Fun
If available, look at childhood photos or videos of each family member. Share stories of joy and excitement that came with each child coming into the family. Tell each child how much of a blessing they are to your family. Remind kids that Jesus’ birth is good news because Jesus is the promised Savior who came to rescue us from sin and death.
To Serve
Take the whole family shopping for baby clothing or supplies. Gift the items to an expecting mother in your church or to a local pregnancy center. Spend time praying for the families who will receive the gifts. Remind kids of the joy that came to Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds when they heard the good news of Jesus’ birth.