Welcome to our MBI Children and Family Ministry Newsletter!
We seek to support Children and Family Ministry by providing free or inexpensive resources that inspire and educate faith in Jesus.
Luke 2:11 – “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
CHRISTMAS
Christmas is the time each year when we remember and celebrate the incarnation of our Lord. The apostle Luke records the annunciation of this miracle in Luke 2:11: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” This birth was no ordinary birth; indeed, it is the historical event that changed the history of humanity; our Savior has been born. Jesus as the second person of the Trinity preexisted with God in the beginning before the world began; “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus came to provide a way for His people to be redeemed and restored into a right relationship with God. Through Jesus becoming flesh and dwelling among us, we can experience God’s glory, grace, and truth by faith in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. We rejoice in His work, trust in His truth, live by His grace, and praise His name alone. This is the Good News and it is worthy to be celebrated; this is why we celebrate Christmas!
Savior In The Manger:
Savior In The Manger is a book written by Sylvia Nantongo, an author from Uganda. She graduated from Elim Bible Institute and College Lima with a degree in Biblical and Theological Studies. Moreover, having been in children’s ministry since 2005, Nantongo’s desire is to help children grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually and to empower them to reach their full potential in Christ. This book narrates the story of the humble birth, death, and resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As Christmas starts getting closer, this book provides the church and parents an opportunity to teach and remind their children of the meaning of Christmas. Through this book, children would not just understand the reason for Christmas, but they will also be able to respond to the question, “Why do we celebrate Christmas?” They will find that the answer is found in Emmanuel, who was born in the manger but is the Savior of the whole world. If you are interested in acquiring this resource, you may access it here.
Unwrapping The Name Of Jesus:
Unwrapping The Name Of Jesus: An Advent Devotional is a devotional book for families by Asheritah CiuCiu. Through the month of December, families are given one attribute of Jesus to focus on and study per week. Each weekday, readers find short reflections about that week’s attribute of Jesus. The daily devotionals include activities, a challenge, prayer, worship song, and additional Scripture references for further study. The goal of this book is to be able to prepare the reader’s heart so that when Christmas day comes along, the whole family, adults and children alike, can celebrate the holiday with a Christ-centered, awe-striking joy that leads to worship. You can find the book here. There is also a children’s version, Unwrapping the Names of Jesus for Kids, where CiuCiu describes Jesus’s attributes through story-telling. You can find that book here.
Christmas is Coming:
Christmas is coming and this means it is time to celebrate what God has done through Jesus. The book Christmas is Coming by Tama Fortner explains the context in which the Christmas story took place and it does so in a way that is easily understood by young children. It is specifically targeted for children ages 2 to 6 years old. This story is an effective way to prepare your children to head into the Christmas season with the right mind set. Christmas has already come in the person of Jesus and through faith in His redemptive work through His life, death and resurrection, parents and children celebrate the good news of the gospel message (John 3:16). You can purchase the book here.
