Countdown to Christmas with Zach - An Advent Podcast for Kids

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers The Grinch Isaac slammed the door and began kicking off his boots while grumbling under his breath. “Everything all right?” his mom asked. “Not according to Mr. Hanson,” Isaac spat out. “Whatever I do for him is never good enough! I mean, it took me an hour to shovel his sidewalk, and what do I get for it? ‘You missed the second step, Isaac. You didn’t get all the way to edge.’ Mr. Hanson is a total grinch! This is the last time I help him out.” Just then Isaac’s sister, Holly, came bouncing into the room. “Mom, the green popcorn is done, and the green soda for our grinch punch is cold. I can’t wait to watch How the Grinch Stole Christmas with our special treats!” “I know a real grinch next door,” Isaac grumbled. “Isaac,” Mom said gently, “I know Mr. Hanson can be difficult, but remember that he doesn’t know Jesus. The only way he’s ever going to change is if he allows Jesus to come into his life and transform him. Only God can make that happen, but we can point Mr. Hanson to Jesus by showing him love and joy, even when he doesn’t deserve it.” “Kind of like how the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes when he saw how joyful the Whos were even after he stole all their Christmas gifts and decorations?” asked Holly. “Exactly,” said Mom. “Even when Mr. Hanson is mean, that doesn’t have to kill your joy—it actually gives you a chance to show him the love of Jesus.” “Hmm,” said Isaac, “I never thought about it like that before. I didn’t realize that just by shoveling snow and being kind to Mr. Hanson I was allowing the love of Jesus to shine through me. I’ll try to remember that the next time I shovel his sidewalk.” “I’m glad to hear there will be a next time,” Mom said as she gave Isaac a squeeze. “And now it’s time to watch . . .” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Holly squealed. “I think I’ll watch that movie with a whole new perspective tonight,” Isaac said with a smile. So how about you? When you have grinchy people in your life, do you still try to treat them with love and kindness? When we show others love and joy, it points them to the source of our love and joy—Jesus! He gives us the strength to be joyful in any circumstance. Trust Him to help you joyfully do good for others, even when they least deserve it. Key Verse 1 Thessalonians 5:15 NIV "Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else." Key Thought Joy points others to Jesus. Further Reading 1 Thessalonians 5:13-17

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers A Special Baby As Mateo and his friend Tory rode the bus home from school, they talked about their Christmas plans. “Grandpa and Grandma are coming for a whole week this year,” said Tory, “and on Christmas Eve we’re all going to see a movie about Santa Claus! Wanna come with us? I’m sure Mom will say it’s okay.” “I can’t,” said Mateo. “Our family always goes to church on Christmas Eve. We have a candlelight service where we read the Christmas story and sing Christmas carols.” “Christmas carols? Like ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’?” Mateo shook his head. “No, songs about the real meaning of Christmas, like ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Silent Night.’” “Oh.” Tory frowned. “The Christmas story is about somebody named Mary, isn’t it? And a guy named Joseph? And about some special baby? What was so special about Him?” Mateo could hardly believe Tory didn’t know the answer to that. “It’s about when Jesus was born. He’s the Son of God,” he explained. “Well, then how could He be born as a baby on earth?” Tory asked. “If He was God’s Son, why did He come to earth anyway?”  “Because we needed Him to save us from our sin—our brokenness—so we could have eternal life,” said Mateo, and he did his best to help Tory understand who Jesus is and why He came. When Mateo told his mom about their conversation, she had a suggestion. “It’s possible other friends of yours don’t know the real meaning of Christmas. Would you like to have a Christmas party so you can share it with them? You could play games and have prizes, and I’ll help with singing carols and tell the Christmas story before we have some snacks and hot cocoa.” “That would be fun!” said Mateo. Mateo invited several friends to come. He didn’t know if any of them would believe in Jesus because of the party, but he wanted to give them the chance to hear about the special baby who was born to save the world—the real reason for Christmas. So how about you? Do your friends know who Jesus is and why He came to earth? How can you share the real meaning of Christmas with them? Maybe you can have a party where you sing carols and have someone tell the   story of Jesus’ birth, or invite them to a Christmas program at your church. You could even simply talk with them about what Jesus has done for you. Share the message of Jesus at Christmas—and all year long. Key Verse Matthew 1:21 "You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." Key Thought Share Christ at Christmas Further Reading Matthew 1:18-23

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers When Love Is Difficult Mom turned from the sink when she heard a door slam and feet running quickly down the stairs. “Mom!” Alicia cried as she ran into the kitchen. “Candice is being mean to me, and she even said she hates Christmas!”  Alicia’s foster mom dried her hands. “I heard some loud voices up there and wondered what that was all about.”  “I wanted her to help me look for Christmas toys online,” Alicia explained, “but she just got mad and yelled at me.” Mom poured Alicia a glass of water as they sat at the table. “Honey, Candice just moved into our house a month ago. She’s still having a hard time adjusting to the big changes in her life. You can remember what that’s like, can’t you?” Alicia shrugged as she drank her water. “Christmas can be a hard time for people,” Mom continued. “Instead of being a celebration, it can sometimes remind them of the people and things they have lost.”  “Oh, like Mrs. Jameson next door?” Alicia asked, remembering how they brought meals to their elderly neighbor after her husband had died. “Yes, exactly,” Mom replied. “Mrs. Jameson is probably going to have a difficult Christmas this year missing Mr. Jameson. Maybe we can think of a way to show love to her.” Alicia brightened. “She really likes my chocolate chip cookies! Could I make some for her?”  “I think that’s a wonderful idea. How about you give some to Candice too?” Alicia’s face clouded again. “But she was just so mean to me. Why should I make her cookies?” Mom pointed to a plaque above the sink that read, People need loving the most when they deserve it the least. “Candice may not be acting very loving toward you, but that doesn’t change the fact that she needs our love. Wouldn’t we be in sad shape if Jesus only loved us when we deserved it?”  “Oh, I guess that’s true,” Alicia agreed. “Sharing chocolate chip cookies is a pretty small thing compared to how much Jesus loves me.”  Mom smiled. “That’s a great attitude, honey. You go ahead and get started on the cookies while I go upstairs and talk with Candice." So how about you? Do you feel like you should only love people who are loving toward you? That’s not the way Jesus loves us—He showed us His love by coming to earth and dying for our sins when we least deserved it. This Christmas, look for ways to show love to people who might be sad or hurting and perhaps not acting in a loving way toward others. Be like Jesus and love others even when they don’t deserve it. Key Verse John 13:34 "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." Key Thought Love one another. Further Reading John 13:34-35; 1 John 4:7-11

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers The Story of Santa "Ho, ho, ho! And a merry Christmas to you!” bellowed a tall Santa at the entrance to Mia’s favorite toy store. Mia and her dad were doing some last-minute Christmas shopping. They needed a few more things for the shoeboxes they were filling for kids who lived in orphanages in poor countries.  “Dad, why do I see so many Santas around at Christmas instead of manger scenes?” Mia wondered aloud. “Everywhere I look I see Santa! See, there’s a gigantic stuffed Santa right over there!” “I agree, there’s a lot more of Santa than Jesus in most stores at Christmas,” said Dad. “I think the tradition of Santa has overshadowed the truth of Jesus’ birth. However, not many people know the story of the real Saint Nicholas where our tradition of Santa began. Do you want to hear it?” “Of course!” said Mia. “According to history scholars, Saint Nicholas was born a long time ago around 280 A.D., which means 280 years after Jesus’ birth,” Dad explained. “His parents were very wealthy and left him a large inheritance when they died. Nicholas was a Christian, so he decided to share his wealth by giving gifts and money to the poor and sick in his town. He later became a Christian bishop in the church and eventually became Saint Nicholas.” “So, did he wear a red suit and have a white beard?” asked Mia. “No one really knows what Saint Nicholas looked like. All we know is he had a reputation of giving to those in need,” Dad said.  “Just like we’re filling those shoeboxes for the needy kids!” Mia exclaimed.  “Exactly!” said Dad. “People often associate Santa with getting a lot of presents. Instead, I think we should think of Saint Nicholas and giving to others. And remember, the reason Saint Nicholas gave to others was to show Jesus’ love to them. As a Christian, he knew the greatest gift we could ever receive was Jesus, who became human in order to save us from sin. That’s really what Christmas is all about—celebrating the gift of Jesus!” So how about you? Do you focus on giving to others at Christmas? Sometimes it’s easy to make Christmas all about getting presents for ourselves rather than thinking of how we can give to others. Money and presents aren’t the only ways to give. Share a kind word, do something extra around the house, or let someone go ahead of you in line. When you give, you point to the greatest gift of all—Jesus. Key Verse 2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" Key Thought Give generously to others. Further Reading 2 Corinthians 9:6-8, 11-15

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers The Most Important Gift Austin woke with excitement and quickly jumped out of bed, wondering  what would be in the wrapped presents under the tree. “It’s Christmas Eve, Mom!” he said as he ran into the kitchen for breakfast. Austin’s family had a tradition of opening their gifts on Christmas Eve.  Throughout the day, Austin made many trips to the Christmas tree to look at the presents. Just when he felt he couldn’t wait any longer, the evening meal was over and the family gathered to open presents. Austin got a book, a pair of jeans, a movie, and the thing he wanted most of all—a baseball mitt!  Austin was already dreaming of summer when Dad reached for his Bible. “Let’s read about the gifts the wise men brought Jesus.” After reading the story, Dad said, “We’ve given gifts to show our love for one another, and we have a gift for Jesus too.” He rattled a shiny red tin that had money from every member of the family in it. Collecting a Christmas offering was another tradition in Austin’s family.  It was Mom’s turn to read, and she read a passage from Second Corinthians. “Just like the people in this story who gave gifts to help the apostle Paul, you all gave money to be used for God’s work,” Mom said when she finished reading. “But the most important thing they gave Jesus wasn’t their money. It was themselves. They gave themselves to the Lord by remembering that He died to save them and submitting to His will for their lives. As Christians, we need to do that too. While it’s good to give money, it’s more important to depend on Jesus to guide us in doing His will and help us love others the way He does.” Austin thought about that as he went to bed. He trusted in Jesus, but he hadn’t really given much thought to how Jesus wanted him to live. Suddenly he jumped up and ran into the living room. “I want to give myself to Jesus! I want to ask Him to help me love others and live my life for Him.” He grinned at his parents. “That’s the most important gift I can give!” So how about you? Have you given yourself to Jesus? That’s the most important gift you can give. As Christians, we must continually give ourselves to the Lord by depending on Him to help us do His will and show others His  love. Give Jesus the gift of yourself this Christmas, and trust Him to use your life to share His gift of salvation with others. Key Verse 2 Corinthians 8:5 "They first gave themselves to the Lord." Key Thought Give yourself to Jesus. Further Reading Matthew 2:1-2, 9-11; 2 Corinthians 8:1-5

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers The Exchange Student "That was a good play,” said José, an exchange student from Mexico who was living with Ronan’s family. They were returning home after attending a Christmas program at church. “I’ve heard a lot about the Bible, but I’ve never been to a pageant like that one.”  Ronan pointed. “Look! There are some carolers. They go from house to house singing Christmas songs. Do you have carolers in Mexico, José?” “No,” said José, “but we do have what we call Los Peregrinos. Like Mary and Joseph, people go from house to house. They pretend to be looking for a place where they can stay. It’s planned ahead so that the third one they stop at lets them in. There’s a piñata ready for the children and hot drinks for the adults.” “Sounds fun!” said Ronan.  “When we get home, I could show you pictures of that and other Christmas traditions we have,” José said.  Ronan nodded. “I’d like that.” Later that night, Dad and Ronan wrapped gifts while José talked to his family in Mexico. “Do you like having José stay with us?” asked Dad. “Yeah, I do,” Ronan answered. “We’ve studied Mexico at school, but learning that way isn’t the same as knowing somebody who’s from there. Having José live with us and listening to him explain what people were doing in the pictures he showed me is a better way to learn.” Ronan fastened a bright red ribbon to a package. “If I had just read about Mexico but had never met José, I wouldn’t know half as much about his culture as I do now.” Dad put down his scissors and tape. “You know, it’s the same with knowing Jesus too. Just knowing things about the Bible is much different from having a personal relationship with Jesus and trusting Him with every part of your life.” “Yeah,” Ronan said thoughtfully. “I think we should explain that to José. He seems to know quite a bit about the Bible, but we should make sure he understands why Jesus died and that he needs to know Him personally.” Ronan paused. “I’ll try to talk to him some more about it when I get a chance.” “That’s a good idea,” Dad said. “I’ll do the same.” So how about you? Do you know Jesus personally? Do you trust Him as your Savior and Lord? Studying the Bible is great, but just knowing Bible stories, facts, and verses is not enough. You need to understand that you’re a sinner who is unable to earn your own salvation and that Jesus died to pay the price for you to have eternal life. Trust Him as your Savior. Learn more at keysforkids.org/GoodNews. Key Verse Philippians 3:10 "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead." Key Thought You can know Jesus personally. Further Reading Ephesians 3:14-21

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers No Room "Rayna, how would you like to have a roommate for a few days?” Mom asked when she picked Rayna up from school. "Pastor Rollins is looking for places for the Peterson children to stay while their mother is in the hospital. I thought maybe we could take Morgan.” Rayna groaned. “Mom, no! She’d want to tag along everywhere I go.”  That evening, Rayna’s family read part of the Christmas story during family devotions. “Imagine Joseph’s disappointment when he asked for a room and the innkeeper turned him away,” Dad said as he closed the Bible. Then he prayed that they would be careful not to do the same thing. Rayna thought about that when she went to bed. In her mind, she could almost hear the innkeeper saying, “Sorry. We have no room!” As Rayna tried to go to sleep, she couldn’t get the phrase out of her head. “No room! No room!” No room for the Son of God! she thought. That’s terrible! Then the words of a Bible verse echoed through her mind: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” She tried to forget those words but couldn’t. Maybe letting Morgan share my room is like offering Jesus a room too. When Rayna sat down for breakfast the next morning, she smiled at her mother. “Did you tell Pastor Rollins to send Morgan to us?” she asked. Mom shook her head. “Not yet.”  “Well, let’s tell him,” said Rayna. “I know she’s a lot younger than me, but she needs a place to stay, and maybe I can help her forget her troubles for a while.” Mom smiled. “I’m glad you decided that, but why the change?” “I thought about the innkeeper last night,” said Rayna. “I don’t want to make the same mistake he did.” “The innkeeper?” asked Mom. “Oh. The one who didn’t have room for Jesus?” Rayna nodded. “I realized that Jesus wants me to make room for her this Christmas. Since I’ve welcomed Him into my life by trusting in Him, He wants me to welcome others too. And I don’t want to turn either one of them away.”  So how about you? Have you made room in your heart for Jesus? Have you invited Him into your life? If you trust in Him, He’s shaping your heart so you can show His love and hospitality to others. Perhaps there’s someone He wants you to make room for in our life, like an older person who is lonely or a classmate who needs a friend. By showing them hospitality, you’re showing them the love of Jesus. Key Verse Matthew 25:40 "The King [Jesus] will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me." Key Thought Be hospitable. Further Reading Matthew 25:37-40; Luke 2:1-7

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers White Christmas "It’s still snowing, Grandpa,” said Evan. “We’ll have a white Christmas for sure!” Evan had not seen much snow when he lived in the valley, but now he was staying with his grandpa in the mountains. Grandpa nodded. “It makes the whole world look so clean, doesn’t it?” he said. “It reminds me of one of my favorite Bible verses. Isaiah 1:18 says our sins can be made as white as snow. That happens when we trust Jesus as our Savior from sin.” Evan nodded, even though he wasn’t really sure what that meant. “I like the snow,” he said. “Can I go sledding for a while?” “Sure,” said Grandpa, so Evan bundled up and went out. That evening, Evan enjoyed a mug of hot chocolate while Grandpa read the Christmas story from the Bible. When Grandpa finished, Evan turned to him. “Grandpa, I was thinking about that verse you like—the one about snow. Didn’t you say my dad trusts Jesus as his Savior?” Grandpa nodded.  “So does that mean his sins are as white as snow now?” Evan asked. “It sure does,” Grandpa assured him. “Then why is Dad still in jail?” asked Evan. “Well, Evan, for many years, your father didn’t want to have anything to do with Jesus,” Grandpa explained. “Just like all of us, he sinned, and he started doing some very bad things and couldn’t stop on his own. He broke the law, so now he has to face the consequences for what he did—even though He decided to trust in Jesus while he was in jail and asked Him to forgive him for all the bad things he did. Jesus washed all his sin away and made his heart clean, and your dad is a new person and will spend eternity with God. Even though there are still consequences for the wrong things he did here on earth, God won’t hold those things against him. In God’s eyes, he’s as white as snow.” Evan thought about that. “I want to be as white as snow in God’s eyes too,” he said. “You can be,” said Grandpa. “Trust Jesus to forgive your sins and make you clean. Then you can have a white Christmas—inside and out.”  So how about you? Did you know that you can have a white Christmas anywhere in the world?  Even if you don’t get snow where you live, you can have a white Christmas on the inside by asking Jesus to wash away all the wrong you’ve ever done. He died to take the punishment for your sin, and when you trust in Him, He will make your heart as white as snow. Trust Him today! Learn more at keysforkids.org/GoodNews. Key Verse Isaiah 1:18 "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow." Key Thought Trust Jesus as your Savior. Further Reading Romans 3:23; Psalm 51:1-4, 7

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers Crybaby Christmas "This is the worst Christmas ever!” Stella told her brother. “Not only did we have to move because of Dad’s job, we have to live in this tiny apartment because we can’t find a house.” She groaned as she tripped over a box on her way to the couch. “There’s no room in here!” Logan shrugged. “At least we have beds. When Mary and Joseph got to Bethlehem, all they could find was a stable. They probably just had straw.” Stella sighed. “Yeah, well, at least they had the gifts the wise men brought them. We don’t have any presents to open tomorrow because we’ve been so busy moving that we haven’t had any time to go Christmas shopping!” “Actually, the wise men didn’t bring gifts to Jesus right when he was born,” Logan said. “They didn’t come until later.” Stella crossed her arms. “Well, at least they had the angels singing. I can’t stream any music because the internet here is too slow!” “It was actually the shepherds who heard the angels singing—not Mary and Joseph.” Logan looked at his sister. “It sounds like you’re having a crybaby Christmas.” Stella raised her eyebrows. “A crybaby Christmas?” “Yeah,” said Logan. “You’re complaining about everything! If you stopped complaining and started singing, at least you’d have some music to listen to and one less thing to complain about!” Stella threw a pillow at her brother’s head, but Mom came down the hallway just in time and caught it in midair. “Okay, you two. What’s going on?” “Logan says I’m complaining about everything!” said Stella. “Well?” said Mom. “Are you?” Stella sighed. “Well, maybe. But everything’s a mess, and just because he’s not bothered by any of it doesn’t mean he can make fun of me!” Mom nodded. “I know Christmas is a lot different for us this year, but we can still be joyful. When we remember that Jesus came to earth to save us and that He’s always with us, we can be joyful even when things are hard. He cares about our problems—and He wants us to care for each other.” Stella and Logan looked at each other and smiled. Then Logan started singing “Joy to the World,” and Stella and Mom joined in. So how about you? Have you been rejoicing in the birth of Jesus this Christmas season? Or have you been too weighed down by problems to feel joyful? Problems can be hard to deal with, especially at Christmas, but remember that Christmas is all about Jesus fixing our biggest problem of all—sin. Remember that He came to earth to save you and is always with you, no matter what problems you face. Then celebrate Christmas with joy! Key Verse Luke 2:10 "The angel said... 'I bring you good tidings of great joy.'" Key Thought Be joyful! Further Reading Isaiah 9:6-7; Luke 2:8-14

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers Hugo's Rescue Rose sat forward in her seat, her eyes riveted to the screen. “Oh, no!” she exclaimed as Hugo, the main character in the movie they were watching, fell into the ocean while trying to get the sail of his ship down. “What will happen to Hugo now? He was sailing alone!” Her brother Barrett grinned. “He’ll get rescued,” he said. “Just wait.” The music played. Excitement mounted. Rose nibbled on a handful of popcorn as she watched the man on the screen struggle for his life. He kicked and splashed to stay afloat as angry waves rolled about and threatened to drown him. Suddenly, a shark’s fin sliced through the water behind the man. “Look out, Hugo!” Barrett exclaimed. “Now who’s worried?” said Rose. But her heart pounded as the shark got closer and closer to Hugo. He fought the sea, unaware of the danger behind him. Just when it seemed the shark would surely gobble him up, a boat roared into view. “Someone jumped in and got a hold of him!” Barrett yelled. “They’re reeling him in!” “Wow!” Rose said when the movie ended. “Good thing that boat came when it did!” Barrett nodded. “That was a good movie.” “Yeah.” Rose got up and adjusted an ornament on the Christmas tree. “It was good, but I like watching Christmas movies this time of year, and that wasn’t very Christmassy.” “Well, it may not have had any Christmas trees or caroling in it,” said Dad, who had watched the movie with them, “but Hugo’s story actually reminds me a lot of what happened at Christmas.” “Really?” asked Rose. “How’s that?” “Christmas is the day we celebrate God rescuing us,” Dad said. “You mean because it’s when we celebrate Jesus’ birth?” Barrett asked. “He came to earth to rescue us.” Dad nodded. “God knew we had no hope of being saved from the sea of sin we were drowning in without Him, so He sent His only Son to jump in and rescue us. When we trust in Him, He reels us in and gives us eternal life.” “I’m glad Jesus came to our rescue,” Rose said. She looked at her dad and grinned. “I guess that really was a Christmas movie after all!” So how about you? Have you been rescued by Jesus? Or are you still drowning in sin? At Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus, God’s Son, was born in Bethlehem. He grew up and lived a perfect life. He died on the cross to take the punishment for your sin, and He rose from the grave to give you eternal life. Trust Him as your Savior today! (See “Have You Heard the Good News?” at keysforkids.org/GoodNews.) Key Verse 1 John 5:12 "He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Song of God does not have life." Key Thought Jesus rescues us from sin. Further Reading 1 John 5:9-13

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers A Fake Christmas "It’s so pretty!” said five-year-old Jessie as she stood at the rope barricade and stared in wonder at the shiny balls, glittering stars, and sparkling snow on a Christmas tree at the mall. “Is the snow on the Christmas tree real?” “No,” said Jessie’s older sister, Dakota. “It comes in a spray can, and you just spray it on.” “It looks so real,” said Jessie, disappointed. “Who are all the presents under the tree for?” “They’re not real presents,” said Dakota. “They’re empty boxes wrapped to look like presents—just part of the decorations. They’re supposed to get people in the mood to buy Christmas presents.” Jessie could hardly believe that the beautifully wrapped boxes were empty. She wanted to reach over the barricade, pick one up, and shake it. Back home, Jessie told her mother about the tree. “The snow looked so real,” she said. “And the presents did too, but Dakota says they’re just empty boxes. Are they really?” “I’m afraid so,” said Mom. “Even though they’re covered in shiny paper and colorful bows, there’s nothing inside.” “That’s sad,” said Jessie. “It’s not real at all—it’s a fake Christmas!” “In a way, it is,” said Mom. “And we wouldn’t want to celebrate a fake Christmas, would we? Not at the mall, and not at our house.” “At our house?” Jessie giggled. “We don’t wrap empty boxes and put them under the tree!” “No,” said Mom, “but if we’re not careful, the things we do to celebrate Christmas—all the parties and gifts and decorations—can distract us from the real reason we celebrate Christmas—Jesus coming to earth to die for our sins. He’s the true gift of Christmas, and without Him, Christmas is empty—just like one of those empty boxes wrapped in pretty paper.” “So is it bad to do those things, like give each other presents or decorate the house?” Jessie asked. “Of course not!” said Mom. “But those things are like the pretty paper we use to wrap the gifts we give each other—it’s not the gift itself. And all the fun things we do at Christmas point us to the real reason we celebrate—that God sent His Son to the world to save us and give us eternal life.”  So how about you? Do you celebrate the real reason for Christmas? Or do you just focus on buying gifts or getting presents? At Christmas, we celebrate God giving us the best present ever—Himself. He sent Jesus to save us from sin so we could have eternal life with Him. If you haven’t received that gift, do it today by trusting in Jesus. (Learn more about salvation at keysforkids.org/GoodNews.) Key Verse Romans 6:23 "The gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Key Thought Celebrate the true gift of Christmas. Further Reading John 3:14-21

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers Forget Your Shoes! Lexie dangled her feet off the bunk bed as her sister got ready for their Christmas program rehearsal. “I’m going to mark my script so I don’t miss any of my lines,” Lexie said. She stuck her pen in her princess purse. “Girls! We need to be at church soon!” Mama stuck her head in the door. “What! You’re not even dressed? We should have left already!” Anna poked her head out of the closet. “But I can’t find my shoes.” “Forget your shoes! Just come on!” Mama rushed away to check on the twins. By the time everyone was loaded in the van, Mama was downright angry. “This happens every time we need to go somewhere!” Mama said. “I’m so sick of being late!” As Mama was about to shut the van door, she looked at Anna’s feet and gasped. “Anna, where are your shoes?” Anna looked like she was about to cry. “You said to forget them.” Mama let out an exasperated groan. “Get your shoes now! And if you’re not back in one minute, I’m leaving!” Five minutes later, Anna climbed into the van, shoes in hand. Mama fussed as they pulled onto the street. “Anna, how could you possibly think I meant for you to go out without shoes on a day this cold? And Lexie, that is the last time I want to see you lollygagging when you should be getting ready!” Just then the radio began to play a song that the twins had been singing all week. Their three-year-old voices quickly chimed in with the music. “For unto us a child is bo-own...unto us a Son is gibben...” Mama stopped yelling. Then she let out a big sigh. “I’m sorry, girls,” she said. “I’ve been so concerned with blaming you for making us late that I forgot why we’re going to rehearse for the Christmas program in the first place—to tell others about Jesus. The truth is, I wasn’t ready on time either, but I didn’t want to admit that, so I made you feel bad about it instead. Will you forgive me?” Anna and Lexie looked at each other. “Forgive you?” Lexie asked. Mama nodded. “Sometimes parents make mistakes too. Jesus is still working to make me more like Him, just like He is with you.” Anna smiled. “Yes, Mama,” she said. “We forgive you!” So how about you? Have you ever heard your parents say things they later regret? Just like you, parents make mistakes. The good news is that Jesus is still working on all of us, so remember that when your parents fall short. Remember that Jesus has forgiven you, and He wants you to show His love to others by forgiving them—including parents! Key Verse Ephesians 4:32 "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." Key Thought Forgive your parents. Further Reading Isaiah 9:6-7; 53:5-6

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers Stand Still for a Miracle Ashlynn waited as her mother marked the back side of her angel’s dress with dressmaker pins and arranged the gold braids of fabric that wrapped around her waist and shoulders. Ashlynn was looking forward to the play, but she was tired of standing, so she wiggled and grabbed the skirt to see it flow around her legs. “Stand still, Ashlynn. I may stick you with one of these pins if you move.” Ashlynn stopped and sighed. “How much longer?” Her mother smiled. “This reminds me of a story in the Bible when God told His people to stand still.” “Really?” Ashlynn said. “God told people to stand still?” “Yes. Do you remember the story of the Israelites leaving Egypt?” Ashlynn’s eyes opened wide. “Oh yeah! God did a miracle. He made a place for His people to walk across a sea that was in their way. They walked to the other side on dry land.” Mom nodded. “And who was chasing them?” “I know! I know!” Ashlynn said. “Pharaoh and his soldiers.” “That’s right. God said, ‘Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord,’ just before He made a path through the sea.” “I bet they wiggled around a lot waiting for God to do His miracle,” Ashlynn said as Mom rechecked the hem of her dress. “They probably did. Standing still is hard to do. The people in the Old Testament had to do a lot of waiting for the Messiah too. They knew God would send the Messiah He promised, but they didn’t know when He would come or how He would help them. Thanks to the New Testament, we know the Messiah is Jesus, and the miracle He performed was dying and rising again to save us from our sins so we could have eternal life with Him. We celebrate Jesus’ birth because it began the miracle of our salvation.” Mom finished pinning and stepped back. “There. It’s done. Step out of the dress slowly so the pins won’t stick you.” Ashlynn did as she was told. Then she jumped up and down. “I’m not sure I can stand still for the play. I want to start celebrating now!” So how about you? Have you ever been told to stand still when you were tired of waiting? The Israelites had to stand still and wait for God to save them from Pharaoh’s army, and they had to wait even longer for God to send His Son to save them from their sins. But for you, the wait is over! Trust Jesus as your Savior and have your sins forgiven today. Learn more about trusting Jesus here. Key Verse Matthew 1:23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’).” Key Thought Celebrate Jesus’ miracle of salvation. Further Reading Exodus 14:10-13, 21-22; John 4:25-26

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers Rock-Solid Protection Brennan listened as the woman on TV reported that temperatures had dropped to a record-breaking low with a strong wind. “Can we still go for our breakfast tomorrow morning?” he asked anxiously. To him, the best part of the season was having breakfast with his dad the day before Christmas. Each year, they’d get up at dawn, load backpacks with supplies, and walk through the snow to a favorite spot on a nearby lake, where they would start a fire and cook their food. Now he wondered if they would have to change their plans because of the weather. “It will be an adventure—a really cold one,” said Dad. “But let’s do it.” Early the next morning, they dressed in several layers of warm clothes and headed for the lake. Wind whipped the snow all around, stinging Brennan’s cheeks. When they finally made it to the rocky lakeshore, Brennan was so cold! “Maybe we shouldn’t have come,” he yelled to his father over the sound of the wind. “We’ll be okay,” Dad assured him. “Head for those huge boulders over there.” Behind a towering rock, Brennan instantly felt warmer. Within minutes, they had a fire going, and they began to warm up even more. “I can hardly feel the wind here,” said Brennan. “I know,” said Dad as he turned bacon in the frying pan. “We can hear it blowing all around us, but the rocks protect us from most of its effects.” He cracked some eggs into the pan. “This huge rock is a good picture of what the Bible means when it says God is our Rock. He gives shelter and protection, and we can trust Him even though there’s chaos all around.” “My teacher at church said something like that,” said Brennan, “but I didn’t really know what it meant until now.” Dad put the bacon and eggs on their plates, and Brennan poured hot chocolate out of the thermos. “I’m glad we came,” said Brennan, “but I’d hate to be out here very long without this rock to shelter us.” “Me, too,” said Dad. “It reminds me that life can also bring many storms—and I’d hate to be in this world without God, our Rock, to shelter me.”  So how about you? Have you ever stood behind a big rock to get out of the wind? Rocks can protect you in many ways, and the Bible says God is a Rock for Christians. He gives shelter and protection from the bad things of this world. Remember that He is there for you during storms in your life—the difficult experiences you sometimes have to face. Go to Him and trust Him to see you through. Key Verse Psalm 62:6 "He (God) only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved." Key Thought God shelters His own. Further Reading Psalm 62:5-8

Thank you for joining Keys for Kids Radio's Countdown to Christmas Advent Activity! Read the story below, answer the questions on the cards, and send us a voice message with your answers! Then you could hear yourself on Keys for Kids Radio as we talk through each day's story! Send In Your Answers Where’s the Birthday Boy? “I love Christmas!” Aaliyah told her friend Piper. “Did you see that huge tree in the mall? It went all the way up to the ceiling! And I love the lights everywhere, and parties–and presents! I think I’m getting that new video game I told you about.” “My grandma’s giving me a tablet,” said Piper, “and I want a scooter. I think Christmas is the best time of the whole year! I hope I get lots of stuff.” Mom glanced up from the book she was reading. “Sounds like you two are forgetting what Christmas is really about.” Aaliyah tugged at Piper’s sleeve. “Come on. Let’s go to my room and play with my dollhouse.” The next afternoon, Aaliyah and her mother went to a birthday party for Aaliyah’s three-year-old cousin, Joey. When they got there, most of her cousins were playing in the rec room–but there was no sign of Joey. “Where’s the birthday boy?” asked Aaliyah, who was very fond of her little cousin. “I want him to see the present I brought for him. I wrapped it myself!” Aunt Gabby laughed. “He’s fast asleep in his room. He was so excited about the party that he wore himself out. I’ll get him up pretty soon.” Aaliyah frowned as excited squeals drifted in from the rec room. “I don’t think it’s right for everybody to have fun without Joey,” she told her mother after Aunt Gabby left the room. “It’s his birthday party, and no one’s even thinking about him!” “Hmm. Well, before you get too upset at the kids here, let me ask you something,” said Mom. “Remember your conversation with Piper yesterday?” “You mean about Christmas presents and stuff?” “Yes. You girls talked about all the fun you’d be having this Christmas, but you didn’t say a word about Jesus, even though it’s His birthday we’re celebrating. Christmas is when we remember how He came into the world as a baby so He could die for our sin.” Aaliyah sighed. “You’re right. I was using Christmas to celebrate all the things I wanted instead of Jesus.” She smiled at her mom. “Let’s ask Aunt Gabby to get Joey up now. We can’t let this party go on without the birthday boy!” So how about you? Do you enjoy celebrating Christmas? Do you get excited about the parties, gifts, decorations, and other fun things of the season? That’s great, but remember that Jesus is the reason you’re celebrating. Christmas is a special time when we remember how He was born into the world as our Savior. As you do fun things this Christmas season, remember it’s His birthday you’re celebrating. Key Verse Luke 2:11 “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Key Thought Celebrate Jesus at Christmas. Further Reading Luke 2:7-16