Jesus' Birth through the Eyes of Isaiah and the Prophets

Video Workshop - The Promise

Summary of Lesson Activity:

Uses portions of the DVD The Promise - The Birth of the Messiah to look at Isaiah's promises of Immanuel, the Christ child, and consider how they relate to us today.

Note:  The entire movie is longer than the typical class.   As the focus of this workshop is on Immanuel/Isaiah's promise I have chosen to use only portions relating specifically to that story line therefore ending the video after the angel's annunciation to Mary.

Attention Supporting Members - A Rotation.org The Promise Video Guide can be found here in our Bible Video Resource Forum (free to Supporting Members).

Scripture References:

• Isaiah 7:14 Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
• Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
  those who lived in a land of deep darkness—    on them light has shined.

Objectives:

• Locate the book of Isaiah in the Old Testament.
• Understand what a prophet is.
• See God's promises full-filled, as foretold by Isaiah, and realized in the birth of Christ.
• To know that Jesus is the light, that will light their path, if they choose to follow him.

Leader Preparation:

• Preview the movie so you're comfortable with all the pauses and forward chapter jumps.
• Have your Bible marked with yellow stick notes for easy reference at Luke 2.
• I recommend you take a yellow highlighter and highlight PLAY - PAUSE - CHAPTER FORWARD areas on your lesson for easy reference.
• On white Avery label sheets or cardstock print the attached prayer cards (there are 6 on a page).  You will need one per student.  Cut and hole punch each prayer card and insert into keychain ring on mini-flashlights.

Materials list:

• VIDEO: The Promise - The Birth of the Messiah. An animated Christmas musical made by Glorious Films, 2013. (45 mins).
  
  
• Television and DVD player or hookups to stream the video
• Bibles
• Whiteboard or large sheet of paper attached to wall with proper writing instruments.
• White cardstock (a couple of sheets) or Avery Name Tag Sheets
• Flashlight (a good bright one)
• Popcorn & juice.
• Optional: mini-flashlights / one per child. (At time of writing, you could buy a package of 12, cheap, "Jesus is the Light and the Way" flashlights by Fun Express, 780984495909.)
• Printed Cardstock Prayer Cards

Classroom Preparation:

• Have DVD in and stopped at main menu ready to hit play.
• Have popcorn and juice poured and ready.
• Write the two verses, on the whiteboard. (can children see these using your flashlight from any seat? - test it out to make sure your flashlight is bright enough)
• Have your Bible, flashlight, and lesson ready.
• You will need every minute you have for teaching time, so don't waste any!

Presentation:

Opening- Welcome and Lesson Introduction

Welcome the children and Introduce yourself.

Dig- Main Content and Reflection

Bible Story:

SAY: The Prophets are a major portion of the Old Testament writings. Their writings make up 16 books which use the prophets' names as titles. A prophet was a messenger of God to the people of that day. Their role was to call the people back to the way of God.  They also brought hope and encouragement to the Jews who were being persecuted by the Assyrians during that time.

Isaiah was a Hebrew prophet, the son of Amoz of Jerusalem. He was a prophet during the years 742-700 BC, in and around Jerusalem.  The book of Isaiah is the first book of the Major Prophets.

Today we are going to look at the prophet Isaiah's foretelling of the coming Messiah and how it was fulfilled in the Christ child.

Let's open our Bibles and read what Isaiah prophesized about the Christ child.

A quick way to find the book of Isaiah in the Bible:

Open the bible in the middle, you should find yourself either in the book of Solomon (last book of "Poetry & Wisdom") or the next book, Isaiah, the first book of the Major Prophets.

Have all the children find Isaiah 7:14.  Pick a child to read it.

Have the children find Isaiah 9:2.  Pick a child to read it.

• Isaiah 7:14  . . . Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.. .
• Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
  those who lived in a land of deep darkness—    on them light has shined.

The Movie:

PRESS PLAY (00:00)                 (Ref:  Chapter 1 -  How Long O, Lord - 0:00 - 1:50)

Simeon - In The Temple

PAUSE (01:40) after Simeon opens the temple doors

Questions:

The People – When Will The Messiah Come?

PLAY                                             (Ref:  Chapter 2 - Cry of the People - 1:51 - 5:20)

PAUSE (04:10) - When the song “When will the Messiah Come?” is finished

Patience is something we all struggle with when we have to wait, especially when the waiting goes on and on, and the Israelites have been waiting a long time for the promised Messiah!

The Jews are ruled by King Herod who has found favor with the Roman emperor Caesar and does not appreciate hearing the Jews talk of their coming Messiah. Even the majority of Jewish leaders (Pharisees/Scribes/Sadducees) did not wish to believe in Isaiah's prophecy.  None of them wanted to lose their power.

Read Isaiah 9:2

Questions:

1. Did you just see the darkness that Isaiah talked about?  Did he mean  . . .
   a) the Sun would be covered and people would live in darkness.
   b) the people would live in persecution (being punished for being a Jew and loving God).
   c) not having God in your life was like living in the dark.
   Answer:  Both b & c.
2. What is the darkness people walk in today?   Hearing about Jesus but choosing to not believe.
3. What is the great light?  Jesus is the great light.
4. How does it shine?     Allowing him to work in us and through us makes the light shine.

Simeon - Preaching

PLAY

PAUSE (05:20) - after Simeon finishes singing

Give one of the children the flashlight and have them read Isaiah 7:14 from the chart.

Questions:

1. I wonder how is God "with us" today?  Has anyone seen signs of God around them?
   If the children can't come up with any ideas - share a couple of signs, that have shown you, God is here today.  It may also spark their own ideas to add to yours.

Gabriel’s Announcement to Mary

PRESS CHAPTER FORWARD TWICE (10:30) - to Mary humming to herself

PLAY                            (Ref:  Chapter 4 - Nothing Is Impossible - 10:44 - 15:02)

PAUSE (13:39) - after Mary’s finishes singing - nothing is impossible with God

This section is the FULFILLMENT of God's promise through Isaiah 7.

Questions:

1. The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (NIV)
   What shocked Mary most when the angel, Gabriel, told her she was going to have God's son?
   She is a virgin so it’s not possible.  (younger children - she's not married)
   
2. What does Gabriel say to Mary’s “it’s not possible”?
   “Nothing is impossible with God!
3. What other surprise does the angel Gabriel share with Mary about her cousin, Elizabeth?
   That Elizabeth is pregnant with a son.
4. Why would this news, about Elizabeth, tell you again that "Nothing is impossible with God!"
   Elizabeth is very old, past the age of having children (barren)

END of video watching

Closing:

• Read the two scripture verses together. (Younger children - read a few words and have them repeat after you.)
• End by saying "Jesus is our light".  As a reminder that Jesus is our light I'm giving you each a flashlight.  Attached to it is a suggested thought to add to your evening prayers,

"Thank you God for sending Jesus to light my path.  Tomorrow help me to follow the path he has chosen for me, in Jesus' name. Amen."

Sources:

• Bible Background by Carol Hulbert, First United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor, MI
• Neil MacQueen - scripture and focus ideas made during the "Flash Mob" brainstorming on Isaiah

Written by Luanne Payne
Hampton United Church, Hampton, ON

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.