In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. Luke 2 v 1 – 3 and Luke 3 v 23 – 38
Lesson Aim
To understand that Jesus was God’s Son.
Hook: Census return 1851 for Buckingham Palace
You might begin by explaining how a census takes place every ten years in this country and the sort of information which has to be included for each person. Show a copy of the census return for Queen Victoria.
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/museum/item.asp?item_id=35
If you go onto the following page it will give you a full transcript. Discuss some of the interesting features on the page, e.g. her occupation.
Move on to the birth of Jesus and the children should be able to tell you that Joseph had to travel to Bethlehem when Caesar ordered a census to be taken. As a consequence Jesus was born in Bethlehem. A census is of particular interest to a family historian who produces a family tree saying who their ancestors were. You might be able to show your family tree at this point (or you may know someone in the church who has done their own).
Application
Luke gives a family tree for the Lord Jesus. Show the text of Luke 3 v 23 – 38. It begins by saying that people thought Jesus was the son of Joseph but if we trace His family tree back, who was Jesus’ real father? Jesus was the Son of God.