Christmas Risk Game

In our family, we view Santa as a fun game to play, not a reality.  This made us unusual in both families, and it was strongly suggested that we not let our kids "ruin" Santa for their cousins by spilling the beans. I don't think they ever did spill the beans to their cousins...I hope they didn't. 

We enjoyed Santa as kids but decided to keep as much truth as possible between us and our kids. Sometimes they puffed up in their secret knowledge and sometimes played right along as if Santa was everything they saw on TV or read in storybooks. We really tried to emphasize the Biblical account of the first Advent of Christ and what it means in our lives. I hope this is what sticks with them.

Along these lines, here's a game we played in Junior Bible Quiz class on our Christmas party Sunday—I call it Christmas Risk. The questions are based on the JBQ material about Christmas that the kids have memorized, straight-from-the-Scripture facts, as well as the things I've tried to teach my own kids about Christmas year by year. 

In teams or on their own, kids have 500 points to "risk," and they have three lifelines. They pick a question and decide how many points they want to risk. Note: try to avoid saying "bet" in Sunday School. For example: "I'll take question number five for 200 points." I printed the questions and taped them to the whiteboard in class. You could draw them from a holiday hat, hide them around a room, or pin them to a Christmas tree.

Have fun!

Questions/Answers for the CHRISTMAS RISK GAME

-Who was someone who prophesied regarding Jesus’ birth? 

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Hosea

-What king tried to kill Jesus? Herod

-Where were the magi from? the East

-Who declared a census? Caesar Augustus

-Why was Jesus born in a stable? There was no room for Him in the inn.

-What were the shepherds doing when the angels came to them? keeping watch over their flocks at night

-What were the angel's first words to the shepherds? "Fear Not!"

-What is another name for the town of Bethlehem? the City of David

-Who told Mary she would be the mother of the messiah? the angel, Gabriel

-Why did Joseph name Mary’s son Jesus?  because He would save His people from their sins and/or the angel told him to

-The angel told Mary, “Nothing will be impossible with _______.”  God

-Mary answered the angel, “Behold the ________of the Lord.”  handmaiden

-Just before Jesus was born, his famous cousin was born – what was his name?  John (the Baptist)

-After the angels made their announcements to the shepherds, how did they respond?  They went in haste to Bethlehem

-What city did Joseph live in? Nazareth

-What was Joseph doing when the angel visited him for the first time?  sleeping

-What does Emmanuel mean?  God with us

-When the wise men came seeking Jesus, what question did they ask?  

"Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?"

-Where did the star finally come to rest?  over the stable

-What gifts did the wise men give to Jesus?  gold, frankincense, and myrrh

-Name three people who were visited by angels during the story of Jesus’ birth. Mary, Joseph, the Magi

-To avoid being killed by Herod, where did the angel tell Mary and Joseph to take baby Jesus?  Egypt

-What special people met Jesus in the temple when Mary and Joseph took him to be presented to the priests? Anna the Prophetess,  and Simeon the Righteous and Devout

-Why do we have a tree at Christmas?  The tree foretells the cross - both made of wood (Galatians 3:13)

-Why do we use an evergreen tree? It represents eternal life.

-Why do we give gifts?  We follow the example of the magi.

-Why do we sometimes use an angel on top of the tree? To remember the angels who came to share the Good News with Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds.

-Why do we sometimes use a star on top of the tree?  To remember the star that led the magi.

-Why do we see special lights at Christmas time?  Jesus is the Light of the world. (John 8:12, Matthew 4:16)