Light is intrinsically linked with Christmas. The coming of the light was foretold in Prophecy and Christ came as the light of the world. The wise men followed the light of a star to Jesus. Jesus came as the light of men.

• “the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”(Matthew 4:16)(Isaiah 9:2)
• “In Him was life, and that life was the light of men” (John 1:4).
• “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
• “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

During the Christmas season we need to be reminded: “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matthew 5:14) “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16)

Description
But one look at ourselves and we realize that all to often we are not very good lights. How can we be better lights? Use this Christmas object lesson to help youth find out the secret of how they can be lights to the world this Christmas!

Materials needed

• A meeting room that can be darkened.
• Glow in the Dark plastic stars (Easily found at home decorating stores) If you want the youth to “take the lesson home” buy enough stars so that every youth or child can have one to take back with them.
• A bag, wrapper or container that is completely light proof and allows in absolutely no light in which you can place one of the stars. (If nothing else you can wrap it in a couple layers of foil and roll up the edges.)

Preparation
Put on star away so that it receives absolutely NO LIGHT for a day. Place another star in direct light for the day and make sure it gets plenty of light up until the meeting.

What to Do

1. Just before the meeting starts, take the star that has received light the entire day and place it someplace in the meeting room where it will get plenty of bright, direct light yet can easily be seen by the youth after the lights are turned off.
2. You might was to begin by singing some of the Christmas hymns or carols that mention light. (We Three Kings, Angels From The Realm Of Glory, Do You Hear What I Hear, Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, etc.
3. Discuss light and how Jesus is the light of the world and how we are also supposed to let our lights shine before men.
4. Ask youth for examples of how we let our light shine.
5. Ask for advice on how we can shine brighter for Jesus this Christmas.
6. Ask youth if they would like to know the #1 secret to letting your light shine?
7. When they all say yes, have someone shut out the lights.
8. Point to the glowing star and state that like Jesus, we are to be lights in the darkness.
9. Then while the lights are still off, take out the star that has been kept out of the light all day and tell the youth you are placing another star next to the one that is already shining. you can also take both stars and hold them up together. If the room is dark enough, most will not be able to see the new star at all.
10. As the lights are turned on, youth will see you holding two stars.
11. Explain the secret: One had been in the light all day and another had been in darkness. The biggest secret to shining out for Christ this Christmas is to spend plenty of time with the Jesus, plenty of time in the light. By spending time in the presence of Jesus, we will be able to make a difference in the darkness.
12. End the meeting by giving each youth a glow in the dark star to take home as a reminder to spend time each day in the presence of Jesus so that they can shine forth for Christ this Christmas!

MORE IDEAS? See “Creative Object Lessons”
200 page e-book that explains everything you need to know when planning your very own object lessons. It contains 90 fully developed object lesson ideas and another 200 object lesson starter ideas based on Biblical idioms and Names / Descriptions of God.
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