Sharing the Christmas message with preteens can be challenging. Many older kids are already familiar with the biblical events of Jesus’ birth. But knowing the deeper meaning of Christmas is truly life-changing.
So how do we tailor the Christmas message for youth? How can the good news of Luke 2 stick in the hearts and minds of older kids? Try these Christmas messages for youth group and preteens this season:
Christmas Message for Youth Group: 3 Tips
1. Make it real.
When sharing the Christmas message with middle schoolers, talk about how Jesus impacts our lives now. Immanuel, which means “God with us,” sums up the core message of Christmas. How many preteens have sung songs about that word yet missed the meaning?
God 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 Christmas messages 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 lecture. Older kids learn best from a hands-on, experiential approach.
So with that in mind, here are two fun experiential activities. Both work well with a Christmas message for kids:
- Balloon Race—Give each preteen a balloon with their name on it. Have kids stand in a straight line, shoulder to shoulder, on one side of a room. Invite all the kids to blow up their balloons and then release them at the same time. The player’s balloon that lands closest to the opposite wall wins. The point: God is with us and within us. He is as close to us as our very breath. Just as we breathed air into our balloons, God breathes his spirit into us.
- Shepherds, Angels & You—Open your Bible to Luke 2:8. Read about the shepherds and angels. Then divide the group into shepherds and angels and act out the events.
Fun, hands-on activities drive home the point of each Christmas message. Preteens will be more engaged, and the meaning will really stick.
