This week we are learning about the story of The Wise Men. Below you will find the story to read to children with some questions and then a prayer following that. You can read the story first, then ask the questions and then have them repeat the prayer after you. I have put periods throughout the prayer for you to pause and let the children repeat after you.
You can read from a Children’s Bible, your Bible or use the following story.
The Wise Men
Matthew 2:1-12
When Jesus was born, God put a special star in the sky. The Wise Men who lived far away saw this star. They knew it was a sign from God that a new king had been born. The Wise Men listened and obayed and followed the star.
On their way, they stopped in the city of Jerusalem to see King Herod. The Wise Men asked him about the new King Jesus. Herod was a mean king. He tried to trick the Wise Men. "You must find him for me so I can worship him, too," he said. King Herod didn't like that there was a new king because he wanted to be the only king.
The Wise Men heard what King Herod had said and went on their way. When they saw the star in the sky they were overjoyed. As the star moved in the sky the Wise Men followed it until it stopped. When the star stopped moving they knew that was where they would find Jesus. When they got to his house they saw Jesus, and bowed down and worshiped him. They gave him presents fit for a king: gold, frankincense and myrrh.
Then an angel appeared to the Wise Men in a dream. He warned them,"Do not go back to King Herod." So the Wise Men listened and obeyed and went home on a different road. When King Herod heard that the Wise Men were not coming back to see him he was very mad. King Herod was jealous of Jesus because he wanted to be the only king. So King Herod ordered his men to kill all the little boys.
God wasn't going to let that happen to Jesus, so he sent an angel to warn Joseph. "Hurry! Take Mary and Jesus to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you to come back, because Herod wants to kill God's Son." Like the Wise Men Joseph listened and obeyed and snuck out at night when it was dark, so no one could see, and took Mary and Jesus to Egypt.
Questions:
Talk about what the Bible story was about by asking the children questions. You can decide ahead of time how you want them to answer the questions. I like to have the children raise their hand to answer the question. If they are incorrect that is fine. You can say what the answer is or ask: “Does anyone else have a thought or answer to the question?”
Questions to ask if you like:
• What did God put in the sky that the Wise Men saw? (A star)
• Did the Wise Men follow the star? (Yes)
• As they were following the star who did they visit to ask about Jesus? (King Herod)
• Was King Herod a nice king or a mean king? (Mean)
• Did King Herod ask the Wise Men to find Jesus so he could worship him too? (Yes)
• Did King Herod really want to worship Jesus or hurt him? (Hurt him)
• What did the Wise Men give to Jesus? (Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh)
• Who appeared to the Wise Men in a dream? (An angel)
• What did the angel tell them? (Do not go back to King Herod)
• When the Wise Men did not go back to visit King Herod was he happy or mad? (Mad)
• Did King Herod ask his men to kill all the little boys? (Yes)
• Who warned Joseph in a dream to bring Mary and Jesus with him to Egypt? (An angel)
• Did they listen and obey the angel? (Yes)
• Did God keep Joseph, Mary and Jesus safe? (Yes)
• Did the Wise Men and Joseph listen and obey God? (Yes)
Prayer:
While sitting on the floor with criss cross legs, have the children repeat after you. You can have them fold their hands and close their eyes or just sit quietly and say after you. Following is a prayer written out that you can use, or you can make up your own.
Dear God (children repeat)
Thank you for this day. (children repeat)
Thank you for sending (children repeat)
your son Jesus. (children repeat)
Please help me (children repeat)
to listen and obey (children repeat)
just like the Wise Men and Joseph. (children repeat)
I love You (children repeat)
Amen (children repeat)
