A Christmas message for youth and preteens can be a challenge. To many older kids, the biblical events of Jesus’ birth are familiar. But knowing the deeper meaning of Jesus’ birth is truly life-changing.
So how do we tailor the Christmas message for youth? How can we get the good news of Luke 2 to “stick” in kids’ hearts and minds? Try these ideas with preteens this Christmas season:
Christmas Message for Youth: 3 Tips for Big Impact
1. Make it real.
When sharing a Christmas message for youth, talk about how Jesus’ birth and life impacts students’ lives here and now. The word Immanuel, which means “God with us,” sums up the core message of Christmas and Jesus’ birth. How many preteens have sung songs and heard that word repeated but missed the meaning?
God is with us means we have access to a relationship with Jesus now. God is present here on earth. Because of Jesus, we can have a real relationship with the creator of the universe! So use a Christmas message for youth to discuss what that looks like in a preteen’s daily life.
2. Be experiential.
Preteens disengage when we “preach” to them. They don’t want to sit for 20 minutes and listen to you communicate information. Older kids learn best when you use a hands-on, experiential approach to learning.
So with that in mind, here are two experiential, fun activities. Both work well with a Christmas message for youth:
