Christmas Day

For the student: Read along, fill in the blanks, and write your answers on the lines. Your parent has the answers.

Step 1 · Understand the Collect

A collect is a short prayer the pastor prays for the whole church. Here is today's collect:

Words to know. Only-begotten Son: God's one and only Son. In the flesh: with a real human body. Bondage: being a prisoner or a slave. The Word (in the Gospel): a name for Jesus, God's Son. Dwelt: lived.

1. We are talking to Almighty ______________.

2. We ask that Jesus' birth would set us ______________.

3. We ask to be set free from the ______________ of sin.

Step 2 · Understand the Gospel

John 1:1-14

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

1. Who is "the Word"?

2. What was made through the Word?

3. What shines in the darkness?

4. What did the Word become, and where did He live?

Step 3 · Find the Collect in the Gospel

Our prayer asks that Jesus' birth would set us free. In John's Gospel, God's Son comes into our world. Let's find our prayer in the story.

1. The collect speaks of Jesus' birth in the flesh. Find the verse that says the Word became flesh.

2. The collect asks to be set free. Read verse 12. What does Jesus give to those who believe in Him?

3. Sin is like a dark prison. What does verse 5 say about the darkness?

Step 4 · The Small Catechism

The Second Article. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true.

1. Luther says Jesus is "true God." Which verse in John 1 says the Word is God?

2. Luther also says Jesus is "true man." Which verse says that?

3. Luther says Jesus "has redeemed me... from all sins." What does the collect ask Jesus' birth to do for us?

Step 5 · Wrap It All Up

Pray today's collect together one more time. Then ask:

1. What does Jesus do for you by becoming flesh?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible. Small Catechism quotation from Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation, © Concordia Publishing House.