Theology of Christmas Hymns

Description of Christmas Teaching Idea
Youth will search famous Christian hymns for clues to the real meaning of Christmas!

Resources

• Hymn books or the words to famous Christmas Hymns
• Large sheet of paper for each group. (classifieds from the newspaper are a cheap alternative) (Group size can be pairs or small groups of any number)
• One water soluble marker for each group
• Adhesive tape

Preparation

1. Arrange the chairs so that youth will sit in small groups when they enter the room.
2. Inside each circle of chairs place one or more hymn books and a large sheet of paper.
3. Tape a list of page numbers for the hymns under one chair in each group to help them quickly locate the Christmas Hymns.
4. The person with this list is designated the group leader.
5. Tape a water soluble marker under one chair. The person sitting in this chair will be responsible for writing the list of observations.

What to Do

1. Once the youth are seated, have them look under the chair for the list and the marker. Assign each task accordingly.
2. Each group is given a task to search through the Christmas Hymns and identify what they teach us about Christmas. They should identify the song title and the phrase for each response.
3. They should search the stanzas and the hymn titles and write what they find on the piece of paper given.
4. When you are ready, stop the activity.
5. Ask the team leaders to present their lists to the class as a whole.

Take it to the Next Level

• Here are some of the questions you can ask. Each group can be assigned the same question, or each group may have a different one.
• Who are the key people discussed in each hymn?
• What are the key events mentioned in each hymn?
• What references to scripture can be found in the hymns?
• What facts about Jesus’ birth are referenced?
• What phrases are used to describe the baby Jesus?
• What things are mentioned that are based upon tradition instead of Scripture?
• What response do these hymns require from us related to Christmas? Do they ask us to do anything?
• What emotions are suggested or expressed?
• Why do you think this hymn was written?
• Why do you think this this hymn has become popular for the Christmas season?

Variation

• Instead of splitting up the questions, ask each group the same list of questions, but give each group a different hymn.

More Christmas Resources for Youth Groups
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