Jesus' Family Tree: The Story of Redemption
From SPARK
One-sentence summary
A four lesson advent series in flipchart form using both the Old and New Testaments.
Description
This advent series titled Jesus' Family Tree has four lessons. It is a flipchart for children. Each lesson has three stories. The lessons tell about the events leading up to and including the birth of Jesus. The lessons are from the Old and New Testaments.
This material is written for use during Advent which is the four Sundays before Christmas. The text of the story is to be read while showing the pictures. There is a picture for each story that describes the event. The Jesse Tree symbolizes Jesus' family background. Jesse was the father of King David and an ancestor of Jesus. Symbols are included to put on the Jesse Tree craft. The four themes are:
- Creation and Covenants (God's Promises)
- Types of Christ in the Old Testament
- Prophesies of Christ From the Old Testament
- Prophecy Fulfilled In Christ's Birth
The lessons help children learn that the Bible is a continuous story. It is the story of God's love from Genesis to Revelation.
During these Advent lessons, the children will memorize Philippians 2:5-11
The group project is making a Jesse Tree, The lessons includes 32 symbols that can be use on this tree. These can be copied. Each child can make a Jesse Tree and take it home.
Considerations
- Each lesson points to the coming appearance of God as man.
- The craft is building a Jesse Tree of Biblical events. These events point to the birth of Jesus.
- The colored pictures are full-page and follow each story. The picture is to be seen by the children as the story is read.
- It does not show the clothing that was worn in Bible times. It is symbolic clothing without details.
- It is suggested that an eight branched tree be made out of brown paper bags to represent the family tree of Jesus. Each week place the symbols for the three stories told, on a branch. Begin at the top of the tree and work down.
- The coloring book has pictures of each story. The coloring books need to be bought for each child.
Limitations
- The people pictured are symbols of people. They are faceless which might be confusing for some children who are not picture literate.
- Clothing worn is symbolic of western clothes.
- Most pictures show the whole view of people. A few show parts of bodies. These might be upsetting in some cultures.
Guidelines for Use
- These lessons are useful for both school and Sunday School.
- These lessons would also be useful as an audio-book. The pictures are still needed. The pictures would need to be mounted on thicker paper, laminated, or placed in a plastic sleeve to protect them.
Where to Obtain
Link to Producer or Source Organization
Children's Ministry International
Cost
The cost is $3.00 (2007); $25.00 (US) price in 2006
Producer/Owners
Author/Artist/Producer
Tom Waldecker & Ann Langley
Current copyright owner
Children's Ministry International, Inc
Other Information
If you are interested in translating these lessons into a minority language, contact Children's Ministry International. Working together you can agree on a Creative Commons license for free translation of this material.
