December 10

Advent:  the Latin word that means "coming". As we anticipate the birth of our King Jesus, we want to teach a different part of God's plan for His people leading up to His glorious arrival.  The concept of the Jesse Tree is based on Isaiah 11:1, and the prophecy that the Savior would come from "the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit." Each day we will place an ornament on our Jesse Tree to represent the events or people we learned about each day through the month of December. The tree becomes a great visual and daily reminder of what we're really celebrating during Advent season. This 25 day celebration is a vehicle to tell the Story of God in the Old Testament, and to connect the Advent Season with the faithfulness of God across 4,000 years of history.
The story of Christmas actually begins in Genesis so that is where we will begin! We will cover significant events throughout the Old Testament — each story pointing to the coming Messiah. It’s like an overview of the whole span of His Story — leading right up to the climax of the coming Christ! Our desire is to not only highlight an important scene from God’s epic in time, but to always unwrap more of Jesus, the gift hidden in every story. Remember as you teach each story from Creation to the Wise Men

 that every story whispers His Name!

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December 1

Introduce your Jesse Tree...
 I Samuel 16:1-.Who Jesse was (King David's  Father).
Jesse, for whom the tree is named, is the first person in the genealogy of Jesus.
Isaiah 11:1 - Prophecy about Christ coming from the "stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit."

Begin with the Story of Creation (Genesis 1)

                       Ornament: World 
Videos: The New Superbook: Creation

Read John 1:1-5
Theme: God is the loving and gracious Creator of all things. Jesus was from the beginning with God

December 2

The Story of Adam and Eve (Genesis 2 and 3)

             Ornament: Apple
Videos: In the Beginning, Superbook: Adam and Eve
Theme: Sin entered the world, but God promised to send Someone to crush Satan's power. Sin came into the world through Adam, but God gives us life through Christ (Romans 5:12-19)

December 3

The Story of Noah (Genesis 6:9 - 9:17)

           Ark Ornament

Theme: Teach God's promises and covenant.
Videos: Greatest Adventures: Noah, The Story of Noah, The Sons of Noah,

December 4

The Story of Abraham (Genesis 12:1-7, 15:1-6)

                   Star Ornament

Theme: God's promise to bless the earth through Abraham. Abraham was told by God that his decendents would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.

December 5 

The Story of Isaac (Genesis 22:1-14)

             Bundle of Twigs Ornament

Teach that Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his only son points to God's sacrifice to send His only Son to be the perfect sacrifice for us.

December 6

The Story of Jacob (Genesis 27:41 - 28:22)

        Ornament: Ladder

Theme: Jesus is our "ladder" to God. Jesus is the bridge that reconciles fallen man to a Holy God.

Teach that the blood of a lamb on the doorposts of the Israelites' houses was the sign for God to spare His people

John 1:29
Jesus is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world

Mark 14:12-16
Celebration of the Passover becomes the celebration of the Lord's Supper for us as New Testament believers.

December 9

Moses (Manna) (Exodus 16)

Bread Ornament

God gave His people manna to eat in the wilderness, to save them from hunger

John 6:31-59
Jesus is the Bread of Life

December 10

Moses (10 Commandments) (Exodus 20:1-36)

Ten Commandments Tablets Ornament

Teach that in the Old Testament God gave His people His law

In the New Testament (Romans 10:4) Christ is the fulfillment of the law for us as New Testament believers!

Teach that even as a little boy, Samuel heard God and believed Him. The Lord told Samuel to give the people what they wanted, their first King. God would eventually send the King of Kings to His people in sending His Son, Jesus.

December 14

The Story of David (I Samuel 16:1-13)

Harp Ornament

Teach that Samuel annointed Jesse's youngest son, David, because God looks at the heart, not the outward appearance

Isaiah 53:2
Teach prophecy that Christ would not attract us by His appearance
Videos: David the King, David and Goliath, Superbook David I, Superbook David II, Dave and the Giant Pickle, Flying House David, Greatest Adventures: David, Greatest Legends: David, David and Saul
                                                                         December 15

The Story of Elijah (I Kings 18: 16-46)

The Altar Ornament

Teach that Israel was worshiping false gods
God showed His people that He was the true God

December 16

The Story of Hezekiah (Isaiah 37:36-38, context of battle with Assyria: 2 Kings 18-19 and 2 Chronicles 32:1-23)

Empty Tent Ornament
Theme: God is our Jehovah Nissi: the Lord our Banner! He delivered Hezekiah and the Israelites from the Assyrian army and killed 185,000 men - leaving only EMPTY TENTS in their camp! God will do what God wants to do! We must trust Him as our Protector and our Defender.

December 17

The Isaiah Story (Isaiah 9:1-7)

Piece of Coal Ornament
God sent prophets to tell Israel of the promised Redeemer.

December 18

The Jeremiah Story (Known as the "weeping prophet") Jeremiah 9:1, 13:17

Tears Ornament
Theme: Jeremiah was broken over the sin of his people. He greived over their rebellion and preached and warned them to repent and return to the Lord. We must also preach this message of repentence as we share the Good News of Jesus. We must ask God to break our heart, as He did Jeremiah's, over the sin of those around us.

December 19

The Nehemiah Story (Nehemiah 2-6)

The City Wall Ornament
Theme: Nehemiah was obedient to go and rebuild the broken down walls of Jerusalem. God will accomplish His purposes. He allows us to be a part of His work when we surrender our lives to Him and obey His commands. Nehemiah demonstrates humility and unselfishness as he gives his life to fulfill the work of the Lord.

December 20

The Story of Zechariah (Luke 1:5-25 and Luke 1:57-80)

Pencil and Tablet Ornament
Theme: The Bible tells us both Zechariah and Elizabeth were "upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord's commandments and regulations blamelessly." God blessed them with a baby, John the Baptist, who was full of the Holy Spirit from birth.



December 21

The Story of John the Baptist (Luke 3)

Burlap Coat Ornament
Theme: John preached a message of REPENTENCE. He prepared the way of Jesus. In every generation the way of the Lord must be made ready. Oh, that our children would make ready the way of the Lord and be preachers of repentence for the forgiveness of sins!

December 22

The Story of Mary (Luke 1:26-38 and 46-55)

Ornament: an angel

Theme:Mary's faith and obedience, and praise for God's plan. She identified herself as "a bondservant of the Lord". Teach what a bondservant was based on Deuteronomy 15:16

Listen to "A Labor of Love" by Andrew Peterson on BEHOLD THE LAMN OF GOD ALBUM(Grooveshark for free!)

December 23

The Story of Joseph (Matthew 1: 18-25)

Toolbox Ornament
Theme: Joseph was a carpenter who listened to the angel of the Lord and was obedient in faith. What God was telling him didn't make sense in human terms, but he trusted God and took Him at His word. Will we trust God even when we can't understand?

December 24

The Story of the Birth of Christ (Luke 2:1-20)

Manger Scene Ornament
Theme: Jesus has come! Our King is Born! This changes everything!

December 25

The Story of Why He Came (John 3:16)

Cross Ornament