Note to the Teacher

This lesson focuses on the theme of "Looking for God's Guidance," inspired by Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12, encouraging students to recognize God's leading in their lives and follow his guidance. The icebreaker, "Star Search," challenges students to locate and match stars around the room, symbolizing how we follow God's guidance through life’s journey. The discussion explores how we can better listen for God's direction, examining the role of faith and persistence in seeking God’s will. For the activity, students create a “Faith Journey Map,” marking significant moments with stars and reflecting on the next step God may be leading them in their spiritual growth.

Times are based on a fifty-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Icebreaker: The Star Search (10 minutes)

Invite students to form a circle and choose who will begin. Then, have everyone go around and introduce themselves by saying their names. Next, students will take turns saying a word or phrase related to guidance, light, or stars (e.g., "path," "lamp," "guide," "star," "hope," etc.) and then another person’s name. The person whose name is called then repeats the process, saying a different guidance, light, or star term, followed by another student’s name. Student names cannot be repeated until all students have been called. The group continues until someone hesitates, repeats a term, or calls the name of someone who has already been called. (Navigation terms from maps or apps are acceptable!)

If you want to take this to the next level, have the students establish a beat by clapping in time and saying the words and names on beat.

Bible Reading (5 minutes)

Read Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12.

Discussion Questions (10 minutes)

Looking for God's Guidance

In Isaiah 60:1-6, God tells us to “rise and shine” because his light has come. Where else have you heard the phrase “rise and shine,” and how do we usually use it? What do you think it means for God’s light to guide us through the darkness?
Matthew 2:1-12 describes the journey of the wise men following the star. What do we use today as we figure out directions and need guidance? What do you think the star symbolized for the wise men? What might it symbolize for us today?
Isaiah 60:3 says, "Nations shall come to your light." What kind of actions, attitudes, and beliefs do you think would attract others to come to you for inspiration or guidance? How about for the school you attend or the city or country in which you live?
Looking at Matthew 2:9-10, we see that the wise men rejoiced when they saw the star. How do you experience moments of joy in your faith journey when you see God’s guidance or light in your life? In other words, what causes you to rejoice because of your faith?
In both Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12, we read about a call to follow the light. What can be challenging about following God’s light? Are there other things we sometimes end up following? What are those, and why do you think that is?

Active Learning Activity (20 minutes)

Faith Journey Map

Provide each student with a large piece of paper and a variety of writing tools, including pens, pencils, markers, and colored pencils. Have them draw a map of their faith journey, using stars to mark the different points along the way. The stops on the journey might include a significant thing they learned, a major life event, a retreat, an answered prayer, or something else. Ask them to leave some room on the paper at the end of their journey.

Once they have completed that activity, ask them to reflect on where they have come from in their journey and invite them to think about what the next stop or star could be.

Once they have finished, invite students to share a stop or two on their journey and describe how they sense God leading them through their journey.