For kids and adults alike, Christmas is a special time. Everything about this season fills us with nostalgia: the lights, the food, the family, the songs, the laughter, and of course the presents! But there is a singular reason this day has become so cherished by so many. This is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus and share timeless Christmas Bible stories with our kids!
In this blog we’ll dive into the top Christmas Bible stories for kids. With each Bible story, we’ll include a scripture for your family to read, some thoughts on how to apply this story to our lives, and a Christmas kids Bible video to watch. Plus, as a special Christmas gift to your family, we’ve given you an amazing 3-Pack of Christmas Bible Comics!
The Promise of Christmas Bible Story
Overview: The Promise of Christmas Bible Story reminds us that long before Jesus was born, prophets had been telling people about the greatness and salvation He would bring. God’s plan to save us from our sin stretches back all the way to the beginning. No matter how strange and seemingly impossible the prophecies may have seemed, Jesus’ fulfilled them all. At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus—the greatest gift we will ever receive.
Scripture Reading (Isaiah 9:6-7): For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
Application:
- Jesus is the center of God’s Story: From Genesis to Revelation, the entire story of God is about Jesus. He was the focus of everything promised in the Old Testament.
- Jesus fulfilled every promise of God: When Jesus came, He fulfilled every promise God had ever made. From His birth to His death, Jesus fulfilled the Word of God in every way.
- Jesus is the reason we celebrate Christmas: Christmas is filled with reasons to celebrate, but THE reason is the coming of Jesus, who is the fulfillment of God’s ultimate promise: that He would send us a Savior.
The Birth of Jesus
Overview: The Birth of Jesus Christmas Bible Story is the culmination of thousands of years of waiting for the promised Messiah. This story is one we should be happy to discuss and celebrate at any time of year, not just at Christmas time. The Christmas story is the story of the greatest gift ever given: Jesus. In the package of one tiny baby, we were given so much.
Scripture Reading (Luke 2:4-6): So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Application:
- Gift of salvation: Jesus was born so that He could die in our place. His death washed us clean of our sin.
- Gift of relationship: Sin had separated us from God. With the birth of Jesus, we were shown that God would do and give anything to repair our broken relationship.
- Gift of mercy: Sending Jesus was God’s ultimate act of mercy. We didn’t deserve the salvation His Son’s sacrifice would bring us, but God showed us mercy and sent His Son anyway.
Mary and Joseph Christmas Bible Story
Overview: The Mary and Joseph Christmas Bible Story gives the account of Mary and Joseph, both descendants of Abraham and King David, were engaged to be married. Sometime before their wedding day, an angel of the Lord came to Mary, who was a virgin, to tell her that she was going to give birth to the Son of the Most High. Before Joseph was able to break off his engagement to Mary, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and explained that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit, and she was going to give birth to the Messiah. Near the time that Mary was due, she and Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem for the Roman census. When they arrived, the city was packed with travelers, and the only place left for them to stay was a stable.
Scripture Reading (Luke 2:16-20): So they (shepherds) hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
Application:
- God has a plan: God has always known that humanity would need a savior. He had been planning for Jesus’ birth from before He created anything. God knew the family line from which Jesus would be a descendant. He knew the dangers Jesus would face. He knew the sacrifice Jesus would have to make. And yet, because He loves us so much, He sent His only Son to save us.
- Looks can be deceiving: Many people expected the Messiah to be very different from a baby born to a poor family. Many expected that the Messiah would be born royalty and would eventually become the good and just ruler they had so longed for. But Jesus came to serve, not to rule. This confused people, and many did not believe that Jesus was the Messiah because He did not look like what they thought He would or should be.
- The best gift has been given: Christmas is a time of getting together with friends and family and exchanging gifts. Gift giving is meant to remind us of the gifts the wise men gave to baby Jesus, but giving and receiving often becomes the focus of Christmas celebrations. It is important at Christmas time to reflect on what we have been given. God gave us His son, and through Him, we can receive salvation. We will never receive a more precious gift than that.
The Magi Christmas Bible Story
Overview: The Magi Christmas Bible Story follows the journey of a group of Magi, also known as wise men, in search of the promised King. One night, while they were gazing out into the night sky, they witnessed the brightest star they had ever seen. Convinced it was the announcement of the birth of the King they had been waiting for, they set off on a journey to find Him. Their adventure took them through the streets of Jerusalem, into the presence of the wicked King Herod, and finally to the exact location of Jesus. When at last they found the young Messiah, they fell on their faces and worshiped Him.
Scripture Reading (Matthew 2:10-12): When they (the Magi) saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
Application: Have you ever wanted something quite badly, for example, a bike? You want this bike so much, you try to find the best one to buy, you watch for advertisements on TV, you read about it, talk about it, and write about it in school. Searching for a way to get this special treasure takes up every spare moment you have. The wise men felt much stronger about finding the Deliverer who would be the King of all kings! They knew He was something special, and they stopped at nothing to find Him. God promises that when you seek Him, you will find Him, especially when you seek Him with all your heart. And when your strongest desire is to find His treasure, you will find it.
The Miracle of Christmas
Overview: The Miracle of Christmas Bible Story begins when Caesar Augustus, the ruler of the Roman empire, called for a census in which everyone under Roman rule would be counted. To do this, everyone had to return to their hometown. This meant that Joseph and his fiancée, Mary, had to travel all the way to Bethlehem from Nazareth. This long journey was made even more difficult as Mary was expecting her first child. When they arrived in Bethlehem, the city was filled with others who had traveled in order to be counted in the census.
Scripture Reading (Luke 2:1-5): In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
Application:
- Miraculous News: The angels shared the good news with the shepherds that the Messiah, the Savior of the world had been born!
- Miraculous Birth: There are many things that make the birth of Jesus astonishing: He was born to a virgin, He was born in the humblest of places, and He was visited by lowly shepherds. Jesus was unlike any king who had come before or who would come after Him.
- Miraculous Mission: After meeting Jesus for themselves, the shepherds went out to tell everyone what they had seen and heard.
Free Christmas Bible Story Comics
As promised, Sharefaith Kids would like to bring you a special gift…FREE Christmas Bible Story comics! Simply fill out the form below and we’ll send you a 3 pack of comics that you and your kids will love.