8 Special Christmas Bible Verses for Sunday School Lessons
Christmas is a special time of year, especially in Sunday School. It is a great time to celebrate with kids in church with fun activities, snacks, crafts, and plays. It's also a perfect opportunity to introduce children to Christmas Bible verses through the Old and New Testaments that tell the story of Christ's birth, so they can hide them in their hearts.
Below you will find eight Christmas Bible verses to incorporate into your Sunday School lessons. Most of the Christmas scriptures referenced below are short and easy for memorization or combined with main reference points as the Christmas story is told in a lesson.
Christmas Bible Verse #1:
Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus because he will save his people from their sins."
This verse is what was spoken to Joseph by an angel in a dream. Explain to children that Joseph was scared by the news that Mary was going to have a baby. So, he wanted to leave her, not understanding the amazing miracle that God was performing by giving her a baby. This lesson would be a great time to discuss dreams with them. Have they ever had a dream? Have they ever had fun dreams? Maybe a scary dream? God spoke to people through dreams in multiple stories throughout the Bible, and He continues to speak to us today in many ways.
Christmas Bible Verse #2:
Matthew 2:10 "When they saw the star they were overjoyed."
The magi, or wise men, are the subjects of this verse. Matthew 2:10 is a great way to explain to the kids that some important men followed a special star to find Jesus. Incorporate into your lesson plan a craft related to a star, or discuss stars with your class (i.e., have they ever watched the stars, where is their favorite place to watch stars). Explain that this verse is why some people put a star at the top of our Christmas trees each year.
The use of the word "overjoyed" is also a great discussion point. What does it mean? Can the class show you what overjoyed looks like to them? Practice getting excited together and demonstrate what being overjoyed looks like so that they can understand what the wise men may have felt.
Christmas Bible Verse #3:
Matthew 2:2b "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him."
Jesus was a real human being, and that means he had a birthday. Although the Bible does not state what day He was born on, we celebrate His birth when we celebrate Christmas. You can teach a Sunday School Lesson on Jesus' Birthday. Take this opportunity to throw a birthday party in your class. The lesson covers the wise men and the part they play in Jesus' birth story.
Christmas Bible Verse #4:
Luke 2:7 "And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no guest room available to them."
We know that Jesus had siblings, but as this verse states He was the "firstborn" and therefore they were all younger than Him. Having a baby doll on hand with some clothes to demonstrate what this verse is discussing is a fun way to bring the story to life for them. Children love dolls/babies, and it is also a great object lesson on how God and our families care for us by wrapping us in cloths to keep us warm and making sure we are comfortable, just like Jesus' mom, Mary did for Him.
Christmas Bible Verse #5:
Luke 2:10 "But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for the people."
Angels are everywhere at Christmas, and that is because they have quite a significant place in the Christmas story. They appeared multiple times to reassure people of the good things that were to come from following God's plan.
This verse is from the shepherds' part in the Christmas story. It was nighttime for the shepherds, and on a typical night, it would have been extremely dark. To help the class understand this part of the story, pretend to be the shepherds by telling the story in the dark. It may be hard for some children to understand why anyone would be afraid of the Christmas story. Jesus came, and the angels that appeared to the shepherds are good, right? Teach that a light appearing out of nowhere from complete darkness is enough to scare even the toughest of us.
Christmas Bible Verse #6
Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those to whom his favor rests."
Glory? What does that mean? We sing about it at church and in songs at Christmas time too, but do children know what the word "glory" really means? Giving praise, like when someone tells them "you did great," or when people clap for us or others, is a way of giving "glory' to someone. This is a great verse to follow up with songs of praise because that is a way of giving glory to God too. You could even explain that the Christmas song that we sing, "Glory to God in the Highest," comes from this part in the Christmas story.
Christmas Bible Verse #7:
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."
Presents are a favorite part of Christmas for a lot of kids (and adults too). Why do we get presents, though, when we are celebrating Jesus' birthday? Use the Sunday School Lesson on Christmas Gifts to teach that Jesus was our present from God.
As the verse tells us "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…" God gave us Jesus, a perfect person to come and die for our sins, because he loved the world so much. We are a part of the world, and we are who God sent his one and only Son for. We give gifts at Christmas, just like God gave us the gift of Jesus. This lesson is also a great time to work on the message of salvation and accepting Jesus into our lives because that is what He came for. That is why Jesus was born!
Christmas Bible Verse #8:
2 Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
One of the awesome things about the Christmas story and about Jesus coming to Earth is that it was referenced before He was born and after He left and went to Heaven. This is a great verse to have the class memorize. It shows that even Paul, who probably never even met Jesus, was thankful for Him and the gift of His death on the cross for us. He calls it an "indescribable gift." Use this time to discuss some of the best gifts the kids have ever gotten. What was that gift, and how did it make them feel? Have they ever gotten something and not known what to say? Have they ever just opened their mouth in shock? Not being able to describe something usually takes an awesome gift.
Be sure to check out our new Christmas Curriculum series! Available for elementary and preschool ministries.
Why should I include Christmas Bible verses in Sunday School lessons?
Including Christmas Bible verses helps kids connect the holiday season with its true meaning—the birth of Jesus Christ. Verses guide discussions, reinforce faith, and provide memorable takeaways that help children grow spiritually during the excitement of Christmas.
Finally, guide your children’s ministry kids to reflect on what freedom means for them and how honoring those who served can mirror our biblical gratitude for God’s gifts.
What Christmas Bible verse explains the meaning of Jesus’ birth?
Isaiah 9:6 is one of the most powerful verses explaining the meaning of Jesus’ birth: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.” This verse reveals that Jesus’ birth was part of God’s plan to bring peace, justice, and salvation to the world. Sharing this verse with children helps them see that Christmas marks the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior who would change everything.
Which short Christmas Bible verse is best for preschoolers?
For preschoolers, Matthew 1:21 is an excellent verse: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.” It’s short, easy to remember, and clearly focuses on the central message of Christmas — the birth of Jesus. Teachers can pair this verse with visual activities, songs, or coloring pages to help little ones connect the verse to the story of Jesus’ arrival in Bethlehem.
Are there Old Testament Christmas Bible verses?
Yes, the Old Testament contains several prophetic Christmas Bible verses that point to Jesus’ birth long before it happened. Isaiah 7:14 foretells that a virgin would give birth to a son called Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” Micah 5:2 prophesies that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem. Sharing these verses helps children see that Jesus’ birth wasn’t random — it was the fulfillment of promises made hundreds of years earlier, showing God’s faithfulness throughout history.
