ROTATION.ORG WRITING TEAM

JESUS' BIRTH THROUGH THE EYES OF ISAIAH

COMPUTER WORKSHOP

PASSAGE

Story: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 9:6-7
Key/Memory Verse: Isaiah 9:6

PURPOSE

See Bible Background for Purpose Statement for Rotation.

Objectives for Workshop

In this lesson, we want to learn WHAT a prophet IS, and WHAT the prophets SAID about the coming of a Messiah. We also want to discover WHAT a Messiah IS. Finally, we want to discover HOW WE CAN BE PROPHETS of the MESSIAH at Christmas time.

PREPARATION

Review Bible Background.

Materials List

• Bible(s)
  
• Chalk or markers
  
• Chalkboard or Newsprint
  
• Computer(s)
  
• Paper
  
• Printer(s)
  
• Software: Fluffy & God's Amazing Christmas Adventure
  

Advance Preparation Requirements

I think Linda Tresner has a good "other software" computer lab lesson option for the "Jesus Birth Through the Eyes of Isaiah" Rotation, so pardon my conflict of interest here ...

Frustrated with having only tidbits of Christmas material scattered among several CD-ROMS, and tired of using the same old "mostly birth-only" CDs (Birth of Jesus, Star Chasers -which is out of print anyway), I created my own Christmas CD releasing in November 2002. My aim was to create an ADVENT CD, not just a "birth" CD, that was reusable by a wide age range year after year. It's titled "Fluffy & God's Amazing Christmas Adventure." There is no other CD like it that covers so much Advent/Old Testament/Magi/Messiah material, not even close. End of justification!

PRESENTATION

Open - Introduction

Open the learning time asking students to regurgitate every part of the Christmas story that they know. Draw/list it out on the board. If they don't mention the Old Testament Prophets, jiggle their memories and see how much further they can go on the subject.

State the Learning Objective. Tell them what you hope they will learn, before they learn it. Write/illustrate these ideas on the board since most learners are more visual than auditory.

In today's lesson, we want to learn WHAT a prophet IS, and WHAT the prophets SAID about the coming of a Messiah. We also want to discover WHAT a Messiah IS. Ask if anybody has any ideas about these answers right now?

Finally, we want to discover HOW WE CAN BE PROPHETS of the MESSIAH at Christmas time.

Dig - Main Content

Dive into the "Fluffy" CD. Listen to the opening, then go to the Old Testament Prophet section and work through the material. It includes material on ISAIAH and the role of the prophets in announcing the Messiah.

We quite overdid this section - meaning there's extra material to reuse next year, or for those with longer class periods. There is extra material in there on "the concept of Messiah," and comments on "Prophecy and foretelling the future?" (for older students). There is also a "Jesus Family Tree" printable activity to help students visualize where the Prophets fall in the Bible's story. There's a place for students to "add their own prophets" and add themselves.

You can print a free outline of the CD at my company's website -- http://www.sundaysoftware.com/fluffy

Older students can use Prophet 101 AND 201.

Younger students may just use Prophet 101 section.

Stop and recap what they've learned BEFORE going into the "Fluffimation" interactive exercise.

Dive into the Fluffimation interactive exercise. Students will complete an onscreen "mad-lib-like" activity. When everyone is done, GO to each computer and hear what each team has created. Make comments as appropriate.

Reflect - Closure

Conclude the class by recapping the learning objectives and leaving with a sense of what our JOB as Prophets can be in the coming days ahead.

CONTRIBUTOR: Neil MacQueen