Kids see that long before Jesus was born, God promised to send a Savior/Rescuer.
They find at least one promise verse in the Old Testament and one fulfillment verse in the New Testament, learning that God always keeps His promises.

Isaiah 9:6a: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given… and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God…”

Simple motions:

• “To us a child is born” – cradle arms like holding a baby.
• “A son is given” – hold hands out like a gift.
• “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God” – point to head (wisdom), then flex arms (power).

Two sides of the room:

• One labeled “PROMISE (Before Jesus)”
• One labeled “FULFILLED (When Jesus Came)”

Call short lines and have kids move:

• “God promised a child who would be a special King.” → PROMISE (Isaiah 9).
• “Jesus is born in Bethlehem.” → FULFILLED (Luke 2).
• “God promised a ruler from Bethlehem.” → PROMISE (Micah 5:2).
• “Wise men visit the new King.” → FULFILLED (Matthew 2).

Each time they reach “FULFILLED,” they say: “God keeps His promises!”

Keep it simple and hope-filled.

Start at the beginning:

• Briefly remind them: in Genesis, people sinned and the world broke, but God promised a Rescuer (you can allude to Genesis 3:15 without going deep).
• Through the prophets, God gave more clues about this Savior—where He’d be born, what He’d be like.

Read one promise:

• Isaiah 9:6–7 (a child, a king, titles like Mighty God, Prince of Peace).
• Or Micah 5:2 (a ruler to come from Bethlehem).

Explain: 

• this was written hundreds of years before Jesus.

Read one fulfillment:

• Matthew 1:22–23 (prophecy about Immanuel fulfilled in Jesus’ birth).
• Or Luke 2:1–7 / Matthew 2:1–6 about Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem.

Emphasize: 

• “God promised… and then He did exactly what He said.”

Connect to kids:

• “When you read the Old Testament, you can look for promise clues about Jesus.”gospelproject.lifeway+2
• “When you read the Gospels, you see how Jesus is the Savior God promised.”

Give each group Bibles and a simple two-part sheet:

• Left side: “Promise Verse (Old Testament)”
• Right side: “Fulfilled in Jesus (New Testament)”

Leaders guide them to:
1. Promise options (choose one):

• Isaiah 9:6 – a child King.
• Micah 5:2 – ruler from Bethlehem.

2. Fulfillment options (choose one to match):

• Luke 2:1–7 – Jesus born in Bethlehem.
• Matthew 1:22–23 – “All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet…” (Immanuel).

Kids:

• Find and underline the promise verse in the OT (leaders help).
• Find and underline the fulfillment verse in the NT.
• On their sheet, draw one picture in each box (a scroll labeled “Promise,” a manger/cross labeled “Jesus fulfilled”).

Leaders say something like:

• “God promised a Savior; Jesus is that Savior.”

Prepare simple cards:

• “A child will be born… he will be called Mighty God, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 clue)
• “A ruler will come from Bethlehem.” (Micah 5:2 clue)
• “Jesus is born in Bethlehem.” (Luke 2 fulfillment)missionbibleclass+2
• “This happened to fulfill what the Lord said through the prophet… Immanuel.” (Matthew 1:22–23 fulfillment)

Kids walk around to find their matching pair: 

• promise clue + Jesus event.

When a pair is formed, they come up, read/paraphrase both, and everyone says:

• “God keeps His promises. Jesus is the Savior!”