The Baby's Name Is…?

Topic: Salvation

Theme: God’s Gift of Salvation

Purpose: to be the Holy Spirit’s second witness challenging God’s people in my care to receive God’s gift of salvation in Jesus.

Response: Individuals will raise their hand to indicate they are receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Visual Aid: Individually wrapped “Life Savers”

candy pieces.

When a new baby is born what do we ask about it?

WAS IT A BOY OR A GIRL?

HOW MUCH DID IT WEIGH?

HOW ONG WAS IT?

WHAT IS THE BABY’S NAME? We can find the answer to this one in Luke 2:21 (NIV). It tells us. "On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived."

This is an interactive message. Please feel free to participate and answer the questions out loud. The more of us who participate the better,

1. When did they name the baby? Why then? Who determined that it was time?

ON THE EIGHTH DAY

TIME TO CIRCUMCISE HIM

ALL JEWISH BOYS WERE CIRCUMCISED ON THE EIGHTH DAY AS PART OF GOD’S COVENANT WITH ABRAHAM.

2. What did they name him?

Jesus

3. Who named the baby?

MARY & JOSEPH

4. Why did they name him that? (See Matthew 1:21 & 25, and Luke 1:31.)

THE ANGEL TOLD THEM TO NAME HIM JESUS

“JESUS” MEANS “THE LORD SAVES”

BECAUSE HE WILL SAVE US FROM OUR SINS

5. How does he save us from our sins?

HE LIVED A PERFECT LIFE

HE DIED ON THE CROSS

GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD

6. When does a gift become truly yours?

(Hand out the “Life Savers” and ask this question)

WAS THIS GIFT YOURS WHEN I PURCHASED IT? – NO.

WAS IT YOURS WHEN I SAID I WOULD GIVE IT TO YOU? -- NO

WAS THE GIFT YOURS WHEN IT WAS HANDED TO YOU? – NO, NOT AS LONG AS IT’S WRAPPED.

WHEN DOES THIS LIFE SAVER BECOME TRULY YOURS? – WHEN YOU UNWRAP IT AND BEGIN TO ENJOY IT.

7. Have you received God’s Christmas gift? Are you living like it?

THE BOTTOM-LINE:

THE BABY’S NAME IS Jesus. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THIS GREAT CHRISTMAS GIFT?

Please bow your heads and close your eyes so everyone can have a private time with God.

Have you actually unwrapped God’s gift of salvation? Jesus purchased it for you. It’s been delivered in many different ways, but have you begun to enjoy it?

If you are unwrapping and enjoying God’s gift in Jesus, raise your hand so I can pray for you. (Acknowledge their hands, and then lead them in prayer.)