christmas countdown— the word became human lessons... · right, or display the ornaments on your...

Christmas Countdown—The Word Became Human

Description:

Using Christmas Scripture readings, true stories of God’s power, prayers,

and crafts, children will count down December days until Christmas in a

meaningful way.

Aims:

• Children will hear or read the Christmas story from the Bible.

• Children will glimpse the excitement of people receiving the gift of

God’s Word for the first time.

• Children will learn a bit about different aspects of Bible translation

through true stories.

• Children will pray for Bible translation and people in the story.

• Children will create Christmas ornaments that remind them of the

story so that they can retell it.

Audience:

Grades K–6

Settings:

Your family can complete one segment each day at home from

December 1–25, or Sunday school teachers and teachers of five-day

classrooms can choose an option provided on page 3.

Minimum Time Requirements:

5–10 minutes each day

Scripture:

Various

If you have any questions or problems related to this lesson, please contact Wycliffe’s Children’s Communications team at: [email protected]. No part of this lesson may be republished or sold without permission. Copying for classroom use is encouraged! © Wycliffe 2013 More curricula to engage children in Bible translation are available at www.wycliffe.org/kids.

Materials:

• Bible • Scissors • Ornaments printed from page 18 onto sturdy paper (one per child for each day)

• Newspapers to cover tables for easy clean-up

• Items for coloring, drawing, and decorating ornaments (pencils, markers, crayons, glue sticks, glitter, plastic jewels, sequins, and ribbon)

• Paper hole punch • Small, empty box wrapped as a Christmas gift for Day One introduction lesson

If you have downloaded this

lesson from the website:

• Twenty-five small lunch bags or festive gift bags

• Ribbon, cord, or yarn for a line long enough to hold the bags

(Materials continued on page 2)

Introduction:

Gifts are often the main focus of the Christmas season. Whether giving or

receiving, we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of purchasing and not

focus on what Christmas is truly about—the birth of Jesus Christ when the Word

became human. This Christmas Countdown helps children think about eternal

gifts, such as people receiving Scripture in their language for the very first time.

With Christmas Scripture readings, true stories of God’s power, prayers, and

crafts, children will count down the days until Christmas in a meaningful way. The

set includes twenty-five short segments—do them all or choose only what fits

your schedule! (You can even watch and listen to some of the included

Scriptures at www.scriptureearth.org.)

Preparations:

• Set a time of day to do the Christmas Countdown—after breakfast, at

lunchtime, or before bed. Try to be consistent to build anticipation.

• Collect table covers for easy clean-up (such as newspapers), pencils,

colored markers, crayons, glue sticks, jewels, beads, glitter, sequins, and

other items to decorate ornaments. (Choking Hazard: Do not use small

beads or other items with children who may choke on them.)

• Gift wrap a small, empty box for introducing this series.

• If time permits, preview and choose audio and video Scriptures for your

children available at www.scriptureearth.org.

• Print one ornament per child for each of the twenty-five days, or for the

days in your alternative countdown plan, and cut them apart.

• Optional: Prepare a poster board tree something like the pictures to the

right, or display the ornaments on your own Christmas tree.

If you have downloaded this lesson from the website:

• With a marker, number the outside of plain lunch bags or small festive gift

bags from 1–25 (or for your alternative plan from page 3).

• Place the empty gift-wrapped box inside bag number twenty-five.

• Print and cut apart the Christmas Countdown readings that start on page 4.

Use all twenty-five days or only the days in your alternative plan.

• Put one blank ornament per child and the daily reading into the

corresponding bag. Match the daily reading to the bag number.

• Clip the numbered bags on a length of ribbon, yarn, or string hung in a

convenient area. Each day, children will open a new bag, see fewer bags

on the line, and more decorated ornaments!

Materials continued from page 1

• Clothespins or clips to attach bags to the line

• Poster board tree similar to the pictures below

Christmas Countdown, Winter 2013, page 2

Alternative Countdown Plans:

Option One

Five-Day Option for Sunday School Teachers:

(Five Sundays in December)

Sunday Verses to Read Story to Read

1 Romans 5:15, Revelation 7:9 Use December 1: “Introduction Lesson”

2 Luke 1:26–30, John 1:14 Use December 2: “The Christmas Story for the Frist Time.”

3 Luke 2:1-14 Use December 10: “No Room at the Inn.”

4 Luke 2:15–20 Use December 13: “What Does It Matter Which Word We Use?”

5 Luke 2:21–38 Use December 25: “Jesus, the Perfect Kaiwá.”

Option Two

Fifteen-Day Option for Five-Day School Teachers:

(Three weeks prior to Christmas break)

Weekday Verses to Read Story to Read

1 Romans 5:15, Revelation 7:9 Use December 1: “Introduction Lesson.”

2 Luke 1:26–30, John 1:14 Use December 2: “The Christmas Story for the First Time.”

3 Luke 1:29–33 Use December 3: “Clear Words.”

4 Luke 1:34–38 Use December 7: “Following God’s Trail.”

5 Luke 2:1–5 Use December 9: “Finding the Perfect Word.”

6 Luke 2:6–7 Use December 10: “No Room at the Inn.”

7 Luke 2:8–11 Use December 11: “Angels.”

8 Luke 2:12 Use December 13: “Does It Matter Which Word We Use?”

9 Luke 2:13–14 Use December 14: “Joy Despite Persecution.”

10 Luke 2:15–20 Use December 15: “Stories to Share the Good News.”

11 Luke 2:21–22 Use December 18: “Bible on Cell Phone.”

12 Luke 2:23–24 Use December 20: “Breath of New Life.”

13 Luke 2:25–32 Use December 19: “Time of Grace, Gift of Understanding.”

14 Luke 2:33–35, John 20:22 Use December 22: “Your Heart Will Despair for your Child.”

15 Luke 2:36–38 Use December 23: “A Most Unlikely Media Specialist.”


Daily Countdown Time

December 1: Bag 25

Daily reading: Romans 5:15 and Revelation 7:9

Introduction Lesson

Seat children and pull the wrapped “gift box” from the bag, saying,

Who’s excited about Christmas? We all look forward to Christmas and

wonder what gifts we’ll open on Christmas day, don’t we? But during this

Christmas season, we’re going to learn about people who are receiving

the best gift ever! Can you imagine what that gift might be?

Have one person unwrap the box. Everyone will see that the box is

empty. Then say,

It’s sad to see that the box is empty, isn’t it? People don’t like to open an

empty gift box! Now I want you to imagine something with me. Imagine

that this empty box represents two thousand people. That’s a lot of

people, isn’t it? And each of these people represents one language group

that does not have a Bible. That’s a lot of languages with empty boxes!

These languages are called Bibleless people groups. Many of these

languages have never even been written down. People speak their

languages, but they don’t read or write them.

Since these people have no Bible, they can’t read that Jesus came to

earth as a baby! They can’t read about how He was born in a stable and

slept in a manger where animals eat. They can’t read about angels,

shepherds, or wise men that came to see baby Jesus. They can’t read

John 3:16 telling them that God loves them so much He sent His only

Son to die for them so that they could enjoy eternal life.

But did you know that Jesus is called “the Word” in the beginning of the

Gospel of John? He became human and lived with us! (John 1:14)

Each day we’ll read part of the story about Jesus, the real reason we

celebrate Christmas! We’ll also read a true story about Bible translation

and how Scripture is changing lives around the world. We’ll pray together

for the Bibleless people, and make ornaments to help us retell the day’s

story. We’ll see Christmas through the eyes of those receiving the best

gift ever—God’s Word in the language that they understand the best.

Just imagine—one day every people group, nation, and language will be

praising God!

Materials:

• Fold and insert pages 4 and 5 into this bag, plus the empty gift-wrapped box.


Prayer Idea:

Dear God, help us to think about You and to see the needs of others this

Christmas. May we treasure You and our Bibles most of all!

Ornament Drawing Suggestion:

Before decorating your ornament, draw something that reminds you of

today’s time so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s a picture of baby Jesus or

a Bible!

Further Instructions to Teacher:

For the rest of the Christmas Countdown, open your Bible and read the Bible

verses along with the story you placed in that day’s bag. Older children could

read the Bible verses and stories to everyone instead, if you like. After the

story, pray together and have children draw a picture on the ornament that

reminds them of the story. Then let them decorate and cut out the ornament

reminder. While they decorate the ornament, talk about what they learned and

how they can apply it to their lives.

Finally, hang the decorated ornaments on the poster board Christmas tree,

your own Christmas tree, or on the line with the remaining numbered bags as

a reminder of the day’s story. Each day you will see the number of ornaments

increase. Children can retell stories to visitors, proudly pointing out the

ornaments they created.

From here on, please cut the pages in half before placing them in their

numbered bags along with blank ornaments to decorate.


December 2: Bag 24

Daily Reading: Luke 1:26–28 and John 1:14

Hearing the Christmas Story for the First Time

For many years the Mwaghavul people of Nigeria could

only listen to the Christmas story in the Hausa language.

You see, in Nigeria everyone speaks Hausa to talk to

people from different language groups in a store or on the

street. No one had written any Scripture in the

Mwaghavul people’s language yet.

But when they finally heard in their own language how

Jesus had come to earth, they asked, "Where did this

come from?" They didn't realize they had heard the very

same story every Christmas. Of course they could hear

Hausa words with their ears, but God’s message never

got through to their hearts because it wasn’t in the

language they understood best. Praise God that the

Mwaghavul people now clearly understand the Christmas

story with both their hearts and minds! They understand

what John 1:14 means when the Bible says that the Word

became human and came to live with us—it means

Jesus!

About 150 more Nigerian languages don’t have the

Christmas story or any of God's Word in their own

language. This region in Central Africa represents over 30

percent of the world's remaining Bible translation need—

more than eight hundred million people can’t read the

Christmas story in their own language yet.

Christmas celebrates that the Word became human—

Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Mwaghavul

people can clearly understand the Christmas story

through Scripture translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Dear Lord, please bring people to translate Your Word

into the many Nigerian languages that still wait. Remind

me to pray for them, because translation isn’t easy.


Before decorating your ornament, write something that

reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe

it’s “aha!” or “Jesus=Word.”

December 3: Bag 23

Daily reading: Luke 1:29–30

Fifteen-day option: Luke 1:29–33

Clear Words

Did you know that there are even language groups in

the United States that still don’t have God’s Word in

their language? A translation team working in

Montana had just finished translating the Gospel of

Luke into Cheyenne. You may have heard or seen of

the Cheyenne people group in old movies, but they

still speak their own language even today.

With the book of Luke finished, the translation team

was excited to help record and dub the “JESUS” film

into Cheyenne.

At the end of one recording session, the Cheyenne

man who read Jesus' part began to shake his head

and chuckle. “Wow!” he said. “That's good teaching!”

He had heard the stories and teachings of Jesus

many times in English when he attended a Christian

school as a young boy. But reading and hearing

those very same stories now in his language made

them really clear. They held new meaning for him,

and he finally understood them.

Another Cheyenne reader said that now the words

sounded so clear that they had to pay attention and

obey them.

Christmas celebrates that the Word became

human—Jesus came and lived with us! Now the

Cheyenne people can clearly understand about Him


Prayer Idea:

Lord, thank You that the Cheyenne people can see

and hear Jesus speaking Cheyenne in the “JESUS”

film. Please help teams translate that film into other

their languages, too!


Before decorating your ornament, draw something

that reminds you of this story so you can tell it again.

Maybe it’s a picture of a schoolhouse or a boy

reading the Bible.


December 4: Bag 22


True Joy

One morning a translator preached at a South Tanna

church on the island of Vanuatu. Later he sat with some

men who went to that church. Together they read

Matthew, chapter five, to check how well the people

understood the translation.

As they read, he sometimes heard a group of women

laughing and whispering to one another. Worried that the

text had some big mistakes that made them laugh, he

turned to the women and asked,

“Did you hear a talk [way of speaking] that is not straight

or clear?”

A couple times they were able to offer a better word or

phrase, but the translator finally realized that they were

not laughing over the mistakes—they were laughing

because their language made them happy!

In Tanna, many women speak only one language. They

don’t often understand what the Bible says in other

languages. And so for them, when they heard Jesus’

words in their own language and saw it written on a

page, they just had to laugh! They were so excited!


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the people of South

Tanna can joyfully learn about Him through Scripture

translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, that understanding Your Word brings

great joy—even laughter! Show me how to help the

nearly two thousand language groups that can’t

experience that joy because the Bible hasn’t been

translated into their language yet.


Before decorating your ornament, draw something that


it’s a picture of a laughing face or someone preaching to

a group.

December 5: Bag 21

Daily reading: Luke 1:34

Now I See Clearly

Recently the Seimat translation team traveled to

a conference in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea.

They showed some really interesting facts about

their Bible translation and literacy project to other

teams there. Several Seimat men shared bits

about their culture and other interesting facts

they learned while working in the Seimat Bible

translation project.

One man named Rudolf is able to read some

English and has read the Bible in English. But he

had difficulty understanding what many of the

words and phrases meant. Many times it made

no sense at all!

He said that reading God’s Word in English is

like “swimming on the surface of the sea when

you can’t really see what’s down there beneath

you.”

Now that Rudolf can read God’s Word in his own

language, he said that it’s like “putting on a

diving mask, swimming down deep, and being

able to see clearly everything that is there.”



Seimat people can clearly learn about Him


Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, that we have Your Word in our

language. Now the Seimat people do, too! Help

us to dig into the Bible, and see clearly what You

have to say to us.


Before decorating your ornament, draw

something that reminds you of this story so you

can tell it again. Maybe it’s a picture of a diving

mask or someone reading the Bible.


December 7: Bag 19


Fifteen Day Option: Luke 1:34–38

Following God’s Trail

Some people groups in Alaska’s frozen north lands

follow trail markers in order to stay alive. You see,

much of that area has no natural landmarks like

mountains or streams. Even people who know a trail

can get lost and freeze to death in a snow storm.

So people mark trails with tall tripods—three poles tied

together at the top. They attach a piece of bright,

reflective tape to the top of each one. Even at night,

light will reflect from that tape.

One language in this area has a word that means "to

follow." It can also mean "to obey." People follow trail

markers, "obeying" them in order to get where they

want to go—even when they cannot see the trail.

The Bible translation team in one of those languages

couldn't find a word for "doing," as in "doing God's will."

So in John 6:38, they used the word for "follow or

obey." It reads something like, "For I have come down

from Heaven to follow, or obey the will of God who

sent Me; not to follow, or obey My own will.”

This makes it clear to readers that they need to follow

and obey Christ’s example instead of just knowing

about it.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now this people group

in Alaska can follow His trail through Scripture


Prayer Idea:

Dear Lord, when people receive Your Word for the first

time, please show them how to follow it.



reminds you of this story so you can tell it again.

Maybe it’s a tripod or a path with trail markers on it.

December 6: Bag 20


Motivated to Share

A translator sat on a covered log beside his

Lambayeque Quechua brothers who had come for

Quechua Scripture reading classes.

One of the brothers, Cosio, pointed through the

doorway at towns on the hillsides. His next comment

touched one translator’s heart deeply:

“Well, we have a lot of work laid out for us. We are the

ones who need to take the Gospel to each of those

towns.”

These men from seven churches began to read slowly

and with many pauses. As they read portions of

Scripture, Bible story booklets, and a Quechua

storybook, they began to read more easily and even

with feeling.

These reading classes began to train church leaders

and others to read the Quechua Scriptures well.

Then ty planned for a few chosen people from the

reading group to travel from church to church,

encouraging others to read the Scriptures in

Lambayeque Quechua.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Lambayeyque

Quechua people can encourage others to read and

learn through Scripture translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, that once the Lambayeque Quechua

had Your Word, they wanted to share it. Please remind

us to share Your Good News with people around us.




it’s a picture of a mountain range or a group of villages

scattered in the many peaks of a mountain range.


December 8: Bag 18


It Tastes So Good

People celebrate Christmas in the Cape Verde Islands off

the coast of West Africa, just like we do here. The Cape

Verdean translation team worked hard to translate the

first two chapters of the Gospel of Luke into their

language before December, since it tells the account of

Jesus’ birth so well. When they finished, they gave a copy

to their pastor and asked him to look it over. That first

December Sunday, the pastor began his sermon as

usual, asking people to stand up to hear God’s Word.

“Our reading will be from Luke two, verses one through

seven,” he announced.

This time, however, he didn’t open the Bible in

Portuguese, the official language. Instead, he opened his

copy of the newly translated verses in Kabuverdianu, their

own language. The people listened intently. Then the

pastor paused and exclaimed, "It tastes so good! It tastes

so good!"

The translation team began to sob. A row of teenage girls

stared at each other in wide-eyed wonder and then pulled

each other into a group hug. The listeners’ eyes filled with

joyful tears. As the pastor read the last word, a

spontaneous cheer erupted: "Amen! Hallelujah!"


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Cape Verdean

people can delight in learning about Him through

Scripture translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Lord, thank You that people want more when they hear or

read Your Word in their language for the first time. Please

encourage translation teams to press on and finish

translating more Scripture.




it’s someone holding the Bible and crying, or a group of

girls hugging.

December 9: Bag 17



Finding the Perfect Word

The Finallig mother tongue translation team* in the

Philippines began to study all the different meanings of

words and phrases in their language. They learned

what a huge difference it makes to choose terms that

are correct and natural, just as people would speak

them. Matthew 2:14 says, “That night Joseph left for

Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother” (NLT). In the

first draft, the Finallig translation team wrote “the child

and Mary, his mother” word for word. It did not sound

natural, but the individual words seemed right.

However, as they explored the Finallig terms, the

translators remembered a single word in Finallig that

covered the whole meaning of the phrase. One word

actually means “the mother-child pair.” Once they used

that word instead, the verse sounded just like people

normally speak.

Thinking about the meaning of words helped the

Finallig team choose words that made the translation

easier to understand for the people. Then they could

understand the beauty and importance of who Jesus is!


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Finallig people

can more easily learn about Him through Scripture


*A mother tongue translation team translates God’s

Word into their own language.

Prayer Idea:

Dear Lord, please help translation teams find just the

right words to communicate Your message in a way

that is easy to understand in their languages.




it’s a picture of a mother holding a baby, or Joseph,

Mary, and Jesus traveling to Egypt.



December 11: Bag 15



Angels

As a child, grown-ups taught young Sunarjo that an angel

followed people, seeing every thought and action. That

angel used a scale to weigh a person’s good thoughts and

actions against bad ones.

As Sunarjo grew older, he felt the weight of his wrongs.

He saw less hope of the good weighing more than the bad

in his life. Wycliffe translators Peter and Sue Westrum

encouraged him to read Scripture. One day he read in

Luke that an angel told the shepherds not to be afraid.

They brought good news of great joy to all people. At that

moment Sunarjo knew that he had found the truth!

He recalls, “The mention of an angel struck me the most. I

knew about angels. But this angel brought a Good News

message for all nations—a Lord and Savior. God’s Word

lifted my burden.

Different messages speak to different people. The

Christmas story spoke to me. Because the Word of God

has such power, I believe God wants me to translate it for

people who do not have it in their own language.”


Jesus came and lived with us! Now Sunjaro and his

people can let Jesus lift the burden of their sin through

Scripture translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Dear Lord, thank You that Your Word helped Sunarjo

understand that Jesus paid for his sins. Please help others

translate Your Word for more people groups so they can

know that Jesus paid for their sins, too.




it’s a picture of the angels bringing the Good News of

Jesus’ birth, or a picture of a scale measuring the good

versus the bad.

December 10: Bag 16


No Room at the Inn

When Congolese Bible translation teams in Africa heard

the phrase, “No room at the inn,” they had difficulty

translating it. They didn’t understand the Bethlehem

innkeeper’s response. A good Congolese person always

makes room to shelter people, no matter what!

To continue his translation studies, Congolese translator

for the Mayogo language, Pastor Mapuma, and his wife

Faustine, moved their family of seven to Kenya. They

rented a two-bedroom apartment in Nairobi. All seven

people squeezed into that little apartment.

Another Congolese translator, Pastor Choro, from the

Lendu-speaking people, also moved to Nairobi to study.

His family of five settled in a guesthouse. A few days later

thieves attacked the night watchman and broke into the

guesthouse. This reminded Choro’s wife of an attack from

her past. Frightened, she refused to stay at the

guesthouse. But where could they live?

Hearing of their trouble, Mapuma and Faustine invited the

Choros into their little apartment—bringing the total to

twelve people! Even though the families came from

different language groups, Mapuma cheerfully quoted the

Mayogo proverb, Kpála bedhe etï de, which means, “A

house is never full.”


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Mayogo- and

Lendu-speaking people can enter His house through

believing Scripture translated into their languages.

Prayer Idea:

Dear Lord, please remind translation teams everywhere

that You love them and that You will faithfully provide what

they need so they can finish the translation well.



reminds you of this story so you can tell it again. Maybe it’s

a picture of a family of seven plus a family of five, or just

twelve people all together.


December 13: Bag 13


Five-day option: Luke 2:15–20

Does It Matter Which Word We Use?

The Mbe translation team read in Luke chapter two, verse

seven, that Mary laid Jesus in a manger. The translation

team used the familiar word “ókpáng.” Their translation

expert, John, said, “Tell me about an ókpáng.” One of the

translators drew a sweet cradle hanging from ropes.

“What do the [Bible dictionary] notes tell you about a

manger?” John asked. When they learned that a manger in

Jesus’ day was actually an animal feeding trough, the Mbe

team objected, “We have always used the word ókpáng!”

John told them, “Jesus came to live among us in the

lowliest way possible. He didn’t sleep in a nice ókpáng like

every Mbe mother wants for her newborn. So we need to

find your best word for an animal feeding trough.”

“We feed our animals out of old, worn-out baskets that we

can’t use for anything else—an ɛ́dzábrí,” they replied. “Test

that term out on some Mbe speakers,” John suggested.

When the team tested the new term, the Mbe people

pictured the newborn baby lying in a feeding basket. They

realized that Jesus loved them enough to humble Himself

to reach them!


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Mbe people can

learn how much He loved them through Scripture


Prayer Idea:

Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us enough to be born in a

stable and sleep in a manger. You left the glory of Heaven

to become our Savior. Help me to share this Good News

with everyone I know!



reminds you of this story so you can tell it again—maybe

an old woven basket, or Jesus sleeping in the manger.

December 12: Bag 14


They Wanted to Listen and Read Past Midnight

On one of the Oov islands near Papua New Guinea,

people recently celebrated the opening of a new church

building. During the ceremony, they listened to newly

translated Scripture verses. Afterwards the translation

team all went home, except for one translator named

Lekong, who lived there. The next day he came to work

saying, "After you left, everybody kept talking about the

Bible verses they heard."

"Oh, why…?" another team member asked.

"They said they had never heard God's Word like that

before. They told me, 'We did not know the Bible could

speak so clearly and powerfully. It is going to be wonderful

to have God's Word in our own language. Then we will

really understand it!'"

Later Lekong brought home Scripture recordings so

people could listen to more newly recorded verses. He

also brought paper copies of the Bible verses. People

listened and followed along on the printed pages. They felt

so excited—they wanted to listen and read over and over!

Lekong called a halt at midnight, saying, "This is enough

for now. I have to go to sleep, because tomorrow morning

I need to continue working on the translation."


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Oov people can

clearly and powerfully learn about Him through Scripture


Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, for preparing the Oov people to receive

Your Word in their language. Please use audio Scriptures

to excite and prepare other groups with Bible translation

projects underway.



reminds you of this story so you can tell it again—maybe

people listening to the Bible, or someone translating.


December 15: Bag 11



Stories to Share the Good News

The storytelling workshop in Papua New Guinea started

off with a bang. Keith, the workshop leader, shared,

“Stories are the main way a society passes along its

values.… Jesus Himself constantly used stories to get

His message across.”

Students spent the first week learning how to write,

learn, and share memorable Bible stories. Then they

used those stories to lead Bible studies. It’s not as easy

as you might think to write a Bible story that people can

remember. The story can’t give listeners too much

information; it must be less than three minutes long; and

it must use body actions, drama, and enthusiasm. The

listeners have to be very involved in what the story is

sharing!

A man named Solomon shared one evening, “You

know, in our church we have all good people. But if you

say to them, ‘You are Christians. Tell me what you

believe. Tell me about Jesus,’ most of them couldn’t say

anything. When we are in church, we listen hard to the

sermon; but after we go outside, we immediately forget

what we just heard. This storytelling is the very best

way to help us tell others what we believe.”


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Maiadomu can

tell others about Jesus through Bible stories translated

into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, that storytelling teams can share

memorable Bible stories, like when Jesus taught in

parables. Help them tell stories that make listeners want

to study the Bible.




it’s “telling Bible stories” or “Jesus told stories, too.”

December 14: Bag 12



Joy Despite Persecution

A man we’ll call “T” grew up in one of the world’s major

religions other than Christianity. His family sent him to a

local religious school. He did not feel happy there, so he

ran away. Through a series of events, he met someone

from his home area who had become a Christian. That

person told him about a traveling teacher from Nazareth,

named Jesus. As he learned more about Jesus, T came to

the same decision that Peter, James, and John had

reached when they heard about Jesus—he left everything

and followed Him.

T’s community threatened to hurt him because he follows

Jesus. His family rejected him too—what a difficult life! But

T’s joy stands out. He is always smiling, always laughing,

always joking, and always ready to worship and give

thanks. In 2009 he attended a OneStory* training session

in Asia. There he learned many ways to tell Bible stories so

that people would enjoy listening to them. Now T wants to

tell important Bible stories to his own people so that they

can understand the truth about Jesus, too!


Jesus came and lived with us! Now people like T can follow

Jesus and tell others about Him through Scripture


*The OneStory program trains people to tell Bible stories in

their language in a short and interesting way so people can

remember them.

Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, for people like T who have paid a high

price to follow You. Strengthen them each day. Help them

to boldly tell others who need to hear about You.




someone telling a story to a group, or Jesus calling the

disciples to leave their fishing boats and follow Him.


December 17: Bag 9


A Life Changed

In one community of Southeast Asia, a woman named

Sharon* started listening to newly translated Bible stories

with her friend Rose*. Over and over, Sharon played the

recording of a story that her team had translated. Then she

would check whether the meaning came through correctly

by asking Rose questions. With each story, Rose became

more and more interested. Then, after hearing about

Jesus’ birth, His baptism, and John the Baptist’s call to

repent from sin, Rose began to think seriously. She

thought about wrong things she had done in her own life

and how she needed God to forgive her. One day Rose

abruptly asked, “Could I become a Christian now?”

That surprised Sharon. She hadn’t thought Rose would

want to trust in Jesus until she had heard all the stories.

Excitedly, Sharon explained more about what it meant to

be a Christian. Rose put her faith in Jesus and believed He

died for her sins on the cross. Sharon invited Rose to

church. Rose soon learned about Jesus’ ministry, suffering,

death, and resurrection. Her faith in Jesus Christ grew

deeper. God’s Word, spoken in her language, began to

change Rose from the inside out.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now women like Rose can

put their faith in Jesus and grow through Bible stories


*not their real names

Prayer Idea:

We praise You, Lord, that Your Word changes people from

the inside out. But many people don’t have the Bible yet.

Please call more workers to help translate so that people

can learn about You.




two women listening to a recording of the Bible, or a picture

of Jesus on the cross.

December 16: Bag 10


Unexpected Helpers

The Bondo* translation team asked a father and son to

listen to the recently translated book of Jonah and let them

know what they thought of it. The two men agreed, but first

the father told the team that he didn’t like the idea of

putting God’s Word into Bondo. The translators talked with

the two men for a long time. They discussed the

Scriptures, God, pastors, prayer, and healing.

After the discussion, the translation team started reading

the book of Jonah in Bondo to the father and son. After

only the first three sentences, the men stopped them. They

asked who had told this story. The team members

answered that two other Bondo speakers had translated

this into Bondo. The father didn't ask any more questions,

so they read on. When something was confusing, the team

made changes so that it would be understood.

Several times over the two and a half days of reading and

correcting, the father and son said they were very happy

with the story. When they finished, the father asked for a

paper copy of what he had heard to take with him. The

translation team gladly gave him one! Only our awesome

God changes hearts like this.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Bondo people can

clearly understand about Jesus through Scripture


*not the real name

Prayer Idea:

We praise You, Lord, for using the Bible to change

people’s hearts. Please continue to use Your Word to

soften peoples’ hearts so they can learn what You did for

them.




a very big fish from the book of Jonah, or people reading

the Bible to a father and son.


December 19: Bag 7



Bwisi: Time of Grace, Gift of Understanding

An elderly Bwisi man said, “This is the fiftieth year

that I have attended church, but I have never read

any Bible verse in my language—until now! I am

like the old man, Simeon, in the Bible. The Holy

Spirit promised Simeon he would not die without

seeing the Messiah….People used to say that no

one would ever write the Bible in Bwisi because it

is an unwritable language…but here it is!”

Beatrice, a Bwisi lady, often could not understand

the Scriptures read in church because they weren’t

in her language. One Christmas day Beatrice

heard Mark 1:1–8 in her own Bwisi language. For

the first time, she understood that John the Baptist

meant, "people preparing their lives and hearts for

the coming of the Lord Jesus.” She also

understood that only Jesus has power to save

people from their sins. Beatrice said she will

continue to believe and trust only in the Lord Jesus

Christ for the rest of her life. Praise God!



Bwisi people can clearly learn about Jesus through

Bible stories translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, that a team is translating Your

Word for the Bwisi people. Help them to do a good

job so that people like Beatrice can understand it

clearly.



that reminds you of this story so you can tell it

again. Maybe it’s a wrapped present with a big

bow, or it’s a very old man.

December 18: Bag 8



The Bible On Cell Phone

A few years ago, the Urbed dialect translation team

recorded an audio drama that includes important

stories from the Bible. The team immediately began

to hand the recording out. At first they thought that

they would have to give people a CD or DVD player,

too, because the Urbed people didn’t have them. So

the team bought a player called a MegaVoice. It is

solar-powered, meaning that the sun recharges its

batteries! This was perfect for the people to use, but

each one cost $35. So the team planned to only

hand them out if people showed real interest in

listening to the stories.

But the team overlooked one important fact. It turned

out that the Urbed already used their cell phones to

listen to music and poetry. They even watched

videos on their cell phones! Now the translators

carry short selections of the Bible story recordings in

their pockets, holding over forty videos of Bible

stories that start with creation and end with the

crucifixion. They wait for the right time, and then pull

out their cell phones and share photos, music, and

videos!



Urbed people can learn about Him through Bible

stories recorded in their language.

Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, for new technology that allows

people to carry Your Word with them wherever they

go. Help people to use Your Word regularly so they

can grow strong in You.




Maybe it’s a cell phone, or a group of people

listening together.


December 21: Bag 5

Daily reading: Luke 2:33–34a

Peace Wall

On the day that the Lote people celebrated receiving

their New Testament, church leaders told everyone,

"This book is precious. It is our daily food. We must

study it and let it change us." The local church showed

their enthusiasm for the Lote New Testament with

singing, traditional dancing, and dramas.

One drama told this story from their history: Men began

killing each other after a member of one clan killed a

dog in another clan. Many people died. As the war got

worse, more people lost their lives. Finally, someone

built a peace wall—kind of like a fence—between the

two clans. Women of both clans brought their sleeping

mats to the peace wall. They also danced at the peace

wall, refusing to leave. When the men came to fight at

the peace wall, the women placed themselves between

the men of the two opposing sides. Then if the men

fired shots, they would kill their women instead of their

enemies. The brave efforts of these women finally

brought peace between the two sides.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Lote people

can understand that Jesus stands as a peace wall

between sinful man and holy God through Bible stories


Prayer Idea:

Thank You, God, that You sent Jesus to stand between

sinners like us and the punishment we deserve. Please

use Your translated Scriptures to bring peace between

warring people and lead them to You.




it’s a fence or the cross with “Jesus” written on it.

December 20: Bag 6


Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:23-24

The Breath of New Life

Western Cakchiquel translators were checking John 20:22,

where Jesus breathed on His disciples, giving them the gift

of the Holy Spirit. The translation expert asked, “Do anyone

ever breathe on another person?”

“Well,” said one of the translation team, “not like the word

for breathe we’ve used in this verse. This just means using

our lungs to inhale and exhale air. But there is another kind

of breathing. As kids, our grand-mother would ‘breathe’ on

us before we left for the day. It was a blessing, a way to

show that she desired the very best for us. We also

breathe on rocks that we use in slingshots, so the stone

will hit the target.”

The translation expert asked if this other type of breathing

played a part in the Cakchiquels’ traditional beliefs about

spirits. They would not want to mix those ideas into

Scriptures. But the translators said it wasn’t part of the old

beliefs. They could surely use this word!

This second Cakchiquel word for breathe shared a deep

truth. Jesus desired the very best for His disciples—for

them to stay right on target. What more perfect blessing

could Jesus have breathed into His disciples than the gift

of the Holy Spirit?


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Cakchiquel people

can understand that Jesus gave them the blessing of the

Holy Spirit through Scripture translated into their language.

Prayer Idea:

Lord, thank You for inspiring the original Scripture writers to

use just the right words. Please help teams translate Your

Words in a way that makes sense to people and so they

understand more about You.




a slingshot and rock, or a stone hitting a target.


December 23: Bag 3



A Most Unlikely Media Specialist

Wäŋgarr Wutjara is filled with excitement, creative ideas,

and willpower. This mother of three grown children helped

to translate the New Testament in her own language—

Djambarrpuyngu. After that, she taught herself how to

record audio programs. Then she worked with team

members to make part of the Christmas story video usable

on cell phones. They watched, smiled, and started thinking

of new possibilities.

Next, Wäŋgarr created her first video, adding music and

pictures to the audio recording of Luke chapter eight,

where Jesus calms the storm. Because her life felt stormy,

she could relate to Jesus bringing peace.

Soon after that, Wäŋgarr heard that some children could

recite these two video Bible stories. When she asked their

mother about it, she said, “Every night my children fight

over my cell phone because they want to watch the Bible

stories before going to bed.” The mother asked Wäŋgarr

to make more videos!

One boy listens to the stories every night. He follows

along, saying every word that the narrator speaks. Other

children join in, reciting the stories too. They’ve memorized

Scripture! Youth leaders now send the videos to friends.

Wäŋgarr works hard to supply enough videos to meet the

demand.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now Djambarrpuyngu-

speaking children can watch, listen, and learn about Jesus


Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, for giving Wäŋgarr the idea to put Your

precious Word onto cell phones. Please encourage more

people to use their skills in Bible translation.




people with a cellphone or watching Bible videos.

December 22: Bag 4

Daily reading: Luke 2:34–35 and John 20:22

Fifteen-day option: Luke 2:33–35 and John 20:22

Your Heart Will Despair for Your Child

When Mary brought baby Jesus to the temple, the

prophet Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her

soul. Do you think Simeon meant that Mary would be

killed by a sword? No! He meant that Mary would feel

great sadness when men rejected and killed her

grown Son, Jesus.

In the Merei language of Vanuatu, in the Pacific

Islands, the translation team thought about translating

the words literally: “A knife for fighting will cut into your

spirit/life.” But those words wouldn’t tell the true

message and would confuse people. A word-for-word

translation would lose what the Bible was really

saying. They needed to find something that made the

people understand better. Translation teams face

these types of challenges daily as they work to

translate the meaning of God’s Word in the right way.

The team tried different words and phrases that Merei

speakers use to show their emotion when someone

they love dies. Then they decided to describe it as,

“Your heart will despair for your child.” They found that

this wording meant exactly what Simeon told Mary!


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Merei people

can clearly understand Simeon’s prophecy and Jesus’

great sacrifice through Bible stories translated into

their language.

Prayer Idea:

Dear Lord, please help translation teams find just the

right way to express Your Word in many languages.

Remind them to ask Your help in making translations

the very best they can be.




Maybe it’s a sword or a broken heart.

December 25: Bag 1



Jesus, the Perfect Kaiwá

The Brazilian mission “Missão Evangélica Caiuá” held a

weeklong Bible conference for Kaiwá and Guarani

church leaders. One Wycliffe specialist named Loraine

Bridgeman led a session that helped the Kaiwá think

about their history and what they value as most

important.

Loraine asked a group of Kaiwá church leaders to

make a list of the good character traits or things the

Kaiwá people treasure and appreciate most in people.

The long list began with these two points:

“A well-respected and honored Kaiwá person displays

humility, self-control, and meekness.”

“He or she should not get angry easily.”

When they finished putting more items on their list,

Loraine asked, “Do you know a Kaiwá person who

demonstrates all of these good thoughts and actions?”

The team thought for a long time. They couldn’t find

anyone who had every item on the list. Then the light

dawned. “Jesus is the perfect Kaiwá!” That’s why He

could pay for our sins.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Kaiwá people

can learn about Him being the perfect sacrifice for them


Prayer Idea:

Thank You, Lord, that you are not a foreign God to

anyone. Help Bible translation teams translate your

Word so that everyone can understand Jesus as the

perfect sacrifice for them.




it’s the word “perfect!” or the phrase “Jesus saved me!”

December 24: Bag 2 Daily reading: Luke 2:38

Christmas Story on CD

The Ngombale translation had stopped. A discouraged

translation team told the vernacular media* specialist about

their troubles. That specialist immediately thought that

Ngombale people might want to hear God’s Word, instead

of reading printed Scriptures.

So a Cameroonian co-worker, Guy Mevele, traveled to the

Ngombale area to record the Christmas story. Using a

laptop and portable recording equipment, Guy carefully

recorded the story. Then he edited it. He made ten CD

copies and gave one to each large church. They played

these CDs in Sunday services before Christmas.

For weeks the workers waited to hear how the people felt

about those CDs. Then one day a request came for forty

CD copies. Later they learned that the Christmas CD made

people want written Scripture in Ngombale!

When Easter came around, people eagerly purchased all

the Scripture posters the team printed. In the past, it would

have taken six to nine months to sell them all! People also

asked for literacy classes. Hearing God’s Word in

Ngombale made them want to read it too. Now the

translation committee is excitedly planning to produce the

“JESUS” film in Ngombale.


Jesus came and lived with us! Now the Ngombale people

can watch, listen, and learn about Jesus through Scripture


*Vernacular media: a mother tongue language put into

audio or video form

Prayer Idea:

Lord, please don’t let translation teams get discouraged

and give up. Help them to find solutions to the problems

they face so work can continue on their projects.




people listening to a CD with a cartoon balloon saying

“Christmas story,” or a stack of CDs.


christmas countdown— the word became human lessons... · right, or display the ornaments on your...

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