Free Bible lesson for kids · The Promise
The Journey to Bethlehem
Caesar Augustus ordered everyone to be taxed in their own city, so Joseph traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David, with Mary, just as the prophet Micah had said.
- Bible passage
- Luke 2:1–5 · Micah 5:2
- Big idea
- God is in charge of history, even of kings and emperors.
- Memory verse
But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
In those days Caesar Augustus ordered that all the world should be taxed (Luke 2:1). This happened when Cyrenius was governor of Syria (Luke 2:2). Everyone went to be taxed, each one to his own city (Luke 2:3). Caesar was a mighty ruler, but the hearts of kings are in the LORD’s hand, and God was using this order to keep His promise (Proverbs 21:1).
Joseph lived in Nazareth in Galilee, but he was of the house and family of David. So he went up to Bethlehem, the city of David (Luke 2:4). Mary, his promised wife, went with him, and she was soon to have her baby (Luke 2:5). Long before, the prophet Micah had said a Ruler would come from Bethlehem, though it was “little among the thousands of Judah” (Micah 5:2). Caesar gave the order, but God was keeping His word.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 2:1–5 (KJV)
1And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. 2(And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) 3And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
Read it in the Bible: Micah 5:2 (KJV)
2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Questions to ask
Who ordered that all the world should be taxed?
Caesar Augustus.
Why did Joseph go to Bethlehem?
He was of the house and lineage of David.
How did this keep God’s promise?
The prophet Micah said the ruler would come from Bethlehem.
What this story teaches
- God holds the hearts of kings in His hand (Proverbs 21:1).
- Every ruler’s power is given by God (Romans 13:1).
- God used a ruler’s order to keep His promise (Luke 2:1, 4).
- God chose little Bethlehem; small things matter to Him (Micah 5:2).
- God sent His Son at exactly the right time (Galatians 4:4).
Jesus Is King of Kings
Caesar gave orders to the whole world, but the baby born in Bethlehem is greater still. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God that He is in control of all things. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God is in charge of history, even of kings and emperors.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Micah 5:2 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors or out · about 10 minutes
Road to Bethlehem
You need: Cushions for hills, a blue sheet for a river, a “Bethlehem” sign, a bundle (a rolled towel) for each pair
- Set up a path from “Nazareth” to “Bethlehem” with hills to climb and a river to cross.
- Kids go in pairs as Mary and Joseph, carrying their bundle together.
- At Bethlehem, each pair says, “We made it, just like God promised!”
God brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem, just as the prophet Micah said hundreds of years before.
For youth group · game · indoors or out · about 8 minutes
Count-Off Chaos
You need: Nothing
- Stand in a circle with eyes closed. The group must count to 20, one voice at a time, in no set order.
- If two people speak at once, start again at 1.
- Talk about Caesar counting everyone, and how God counts every person.
Caesar counted people for taxes, but God counts you precious: “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”
Pray
Thank God that He is in control of all things.