Teaching the Christmas Story

As part of the Christmas program, Brother Steve Demetras presented some excellent ideas for teaching the Christmas story in our homes. Since there was a lot to remember, he posted his outline on the blog.  Feel free to use it to your advantage in teaching this beautiful story.

Resource Sheet for Teaching the Christmas Story

    Christmas can provide a special opportunity for you to bear witness of the Savior and the significance of his birth. Do you plan to spend time with your family and read again the scriptures that tell the Christmas story? That experience can be very meaningful,  or it can be commonplace and have little effect. With careful preparation and the help of the Spirit, you can teach the age old story with new life, new meaning, new power.
    You might consider asking some thought-provoking questions about the Christmas story.

    •    Why did the Father choose to send his Son to earth where and when he did?

    •    If that time and place were important, then why did he not send Jesus into the home of the ruling family where he could have had a broad political base of power to work from?

Steve Demetras

    •    Why did he not send the Savior to be born in Enoch's Zion? Think how different his reception would have been
there.
     If the Father had waited until our modern age, the birth could have been reported worldwide via satellite networks.
Wouldn't that have been an advantage?
Some scriptures that might be used in this discussion are Isaiah 55:8-9; 2 Nephi 10:3-4; D&C 122:7-8; Hebrews 2:14-18.)

Some comparisons and types

1. He who was called the Life was born in the springtime, when all life is renewed (see John 14:6; D&C 20:1).

2. He who is the new David and the Root of David was born in the city of David (see Luke 2:4; Revelation 22:16; Jeremiah 23:5-6).

3. He who is the Bread of Life was born in Bethlehem, a city whose name in Aramaic comes from beth, meaning "house of," and lechem, meaning "bread" (see Luke 2:4).

4. The Lamb of God was born during Passover season (see Luke 2:7; D & C 20:1 ).

5. At the birth of the Light of the World, darkness was banished in America as a sign (see 3 Nephi 1:15, 19).

6. At the birth of the Bright and Morning Star, a new star appeared (see Revelation 22:1 6; Matthew 2:2, 9; 3 Nephi
1:21).

7. He who taught that whosoever humbleth himself shall be exalted came into the world in the humblest of circumstances (see Matthew 23:11-12; Philippians 2:5-10).

8. The Magi from the East followed the light in the heavens, literally fulfilling prophecy (see Matthew 2:2; Isaiah 60:3).

9. He who was both Shepherd and King received homage from shepherds and kings (see John 10:11; Revelation 19:16; Matthew 2:1 1; Luke 2:1 5-16).

10. In America, evil men were threatening to destroy those who believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ. His birth saved them from death. The birth of Christ, that is, his coming to earth to work out the Atonement, saves all believers from
spiritual death (see 3 Nephi 1:4-1 8; 2 Nephi 9:8-9).