JESUS CHRIST

IS COMING
TO TOWN
THE INCARNATION
EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE

SCRIPTURE # 451 • Paper

John 1:14 # 359 • Markers
John 14:6 • Crayons
John 15:12 YOUCAT • Scissors
1 John 4:8-9 # 76 • Large Wreath or decorative
Philippians 2:5-11 #9 pine that can be made to
Colossians 2:9 # 152 look like a wreath
Hebrews 2:17-18 • One large white candle
Hebrews 4:15 • Candles
SUPPLIES NEEDED • Lighter
2 Peter 1:4 • Christmas decorations
• 4 boxes and wrapping paper
OUTLINE

CATECHISM • Handout: "Top 10 Ways to

# 456-463 Show God’s Love" (page 60)
# 432 • Pens/pencils
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN

GOAL
The goal of this Edge Night is to help the middle
school youth understand the four reasons God
became man: to show us the love of the Father, to
give us a model of holiness, to unite our human
nature with the divine nature and for redemption.
EDGE NIGHT AT A GLANCE
The topic of this night is the Incarnation. The
Incarnation is a fundamental belief for us as
Catholic Christians – that God became man to
save us from our sins. In John 1:14, we are told, “the
word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Since
we celebrate God becoming man at Christmas,
this night is going to be very Christmas centered.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives us the
four reasons for the Incarnation: 1) To show us
the love of the Father, 2) to give us a model of
holiness, 3) to unite our human nature with the
divine nature and 4) to redeem us from sin.
The night will begin with a game of “Follow the
Leader.” The Proclaim will help process the “Follow

54 EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE

the Leader” and then share with the youth about
the Incarnation. During small groups, the youth
will talk about these reasons for the Incarnation
and discuss God’s great love and mercy in sending
His Son to become man. Then they can play a
“Top 10” trivia game, and make Christmas cards
to show love to someone they look up to. Finally,
they will be challenged to apply this to their lives
and live out what they learned.
BEFORE THE NIGHT
For the closing prayer, you will want either a large
wreath or use pine needles that can be placed in
a large circle around the room, but made to look
like a wreath. You will also need one candle per
youth during the closing prayer.
ENVIRONMENT
Since this night is about the Incarnation, the
environment is Christmas-themed. If you
can, have a Christmas tree with four presents
under it that represent the four reasons for the
GATHER
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
(10 min)
As the youth enter, have fun upbeat music playing
in the background.
The youth minister should gather all the youth
together, welcome them to Edge Night, and lead
an opening prayer. He or she should introduce
any youth at Edge Night for the first time and
present a brief overview of the session.
You may use this opening prayer:
“God, thank you for bringing us all here together
tonight. Thank you for a chance to be with friends
and to grow closer together here at our parish.
Please send your Holy Spirit down upon us as we
learn about how the reasons why God came down
to earth. Help us to know and love you more.
EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE
Incarnation. Use any other Christmas decorations
that you have available and be sure to place a
nativity scene front and center in the room.
MEDIA SUGGESTIONS
If you have a projector and a screen, consider
playing a classic Christmas movie like Charlie
Brown Christmas. Know that the movie will be
distracting if you just have it playing, so keep the
movie volume on mute and the Christmas music
filling the room. If you don’t have Christmas music
of your own, queue up a play list of Christmas
music on the free online service Pandora.com.
Type in a classic song like “Oh Holy Night” and
Pandora will take care of the rest.
Lord, when we seem so busy at Christmas, we
may forget that you became like us so that we can
become more like you. Help us to grow in holiness
tonight and have a deeper understanding of your
Incarnation. Amen.”
OUTLINE
FOLLOW THE LEADER
(10 min)
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN
“Follow the Leader” is the classic game of placing
one person in front of a line and having others
follow him or her. Have the small groups stand
and get into single-file lines. Either choose one
of the Core Members or a youth in the group
to start as the leader. The leader begins to walk
around the room and at a spontaneous time,
does something like hop on one foot – the rest
of the youth in line must “follow the leader” and
copy exactly what the leader is doing – hopping
on one foot. After a few moments of leading,
change the leader and encourage the new leader
to be creative (and safe) while leading the group
55
 around the room. Not all youth may get a chance
to be a leader – the focus is more on how do we
follow (to be explained in the Proclaim).
PROCLAIM
SCRIPTURE PROCLAMATION
(5 min)
Philippians 2:5-11; 1 John 4:7-11
VIDEO TEACHING
(10 min)
As an alternative to a live teaching, show the pre-
recorded teaching for this night found Edge Video
Support 8.
“JESUS CHRIST IS COMING
TO TOWN” TEACHING
(10 min)
The Incarnation
Incarnation is not a word we use that often in
daily life. So when we hear something out of the
ordinary, there is a temptation to just tune out
because it does not seem important. But the word
“Incarnation” is very important because it means
that God took on a human form as Jesus Christ.
You see, at Christmas, we often focus in on other
OUTLINE
aspects of what is happening during that busy
time and we forget the miracle that occurred. On
Christmas, we celebrate the Incarnation – that
God became man and became like us in all ways
but sin. But why would almighty God do this? The
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN
Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us there are
four reasons for the Incarnation.
Reason 1: Jesus came to earth to reconcile us
with God the Father.
Most of us are familiar with the story of Adam
and Eve – and the fall in the Garden of Eden. The
rest of the Old Testament tells the history of God
making covenants with His people and working to
save us from the fall. It is, however, only the final
Covenant that is made through Jesus’ suffering,
death, and resurrection, that we are able to be
reconciled to God. Think for a second about who
56 EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE
you are and what you would say “belongs to you.”
You have many gifts and talents – and these are
a gift from God. What is the one thing that is truly
ours? Our sin. Sin is when we turn away from God
and say no to His grace and yes to our own will. If
we lie or steal or cheat, this is because we said no
to God’s will to do what is right and you make the
choice to sin. In John 3:16, we get good news: “For
God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him will not die but have
eternal life.” Jesus came to take away our sins so
that we can be reconciled with God.
Reason 2: So that we would know that God
loves us.
Think for a second of the many ways that Jesus
could have come to earth – He could have come
as a ruler or king who demanded things of people;
He could have come as a warrior who was strong
and mighty in battle and conquered the world.
But this is not how Jesus came into the world.
Jesus came, as a sweet baby, perfectly humble –
just like you and me. This was the way that God
chose to reveal His great love for us. And love is
not just something we talk about; Love is Jesus – a
person who shows us the love of God the Father.
Jesus shows us that God’s love is free, it is total
(He holds nothing back), it is faithful (it never goes
away), and it's fruitful. Pope Benedict XVI tells us
in Deus Caritas Est: “Since God has first loved us,
love is now no longer a mere command; it is the
response to the gift of love with which God draws
near to us.” What Pope Benedict XVI is saying is
that we do not love because we are told to do
so; rather, we love because when we experience
the love of God the Father, we cannot help but
respond with love.
Reason 3: So that we would have a model of
holiness
Let me take you back a minute to our game that
got us starter – “Follow the Leader.” We need a
good leader to follow – one we can really trust
and emulate without worry or fear of following
someone down the wrong path. Maybe during
the game you had to do some very silly or even
risky things in order to follow the leader.
God did not want to give us just any kind of role
model – He wanted to give us the very best. Jesus
is a true model of what it means to be holy. For
us to focus on any other person for our holiness
will leave us falling short. Think about those sport
stars or celebrities that people are trying to be like reconciliation, have a model of holiness, and the
– play soccer like him/her, sing like him/her, be in hope of being with Him forever in heaven.

the celebrity did something wrong. It is suddenly

all over the media and you begin to wonder who
you can trust. Here is what Jesus has to say about
that: "I am the way the truth and the life; no one
comes to the Father, but by me" (John 14:6).
BREAK
We never have to fear when we follow Jesus. His
SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION
(15 min)
ways are perfect so we can trust to follow Him.
Jesus’ very life is a model of how we should live
As your small group begins, say a prayer for the
our lives – serving others, putting others before
group and the activities for that session.
us, and living a life of virtue. Jesus is the perfect
model of holiness for us.
Discuss the following questions:
Reason 4: To unite our human nature with
• What are the four reasons for the Incarnation
God’s divine nature.
of Jesus?
“It is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our
spirit that we are children of God, and if children,
• What did our game “Follow the Leader” have to
then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with
do with tonight’s lesson about the Incarnation
of Jesus?
17). Jesus became man so that we could become
• Reason 1: “To reconcile us to God” – why do we
more like God. We cannot know God unless He
need Jesus in order to be reconciled to God?
reveals Himself to us. Jesus is that full revelation
(Because we cannot forgive our own sins – we
of who God is. Before the Incarnation – Jesus
cannot heal ourselves, we need Jesus to forgive
becoming man – we did not and could not know
our sins so we can be right with God again.)
God fully. It is in Jesus’ Incarnation that we come
to fully know God. Before Jesus, there was still
• Reason 2: “So we know God’s love” – How does
separation between God and us. Because of
Jesus reveal God’s love for us? (Jesus’ life, his
Jesus, that separation is gone. We can now know
and experience the fullness of God. Jesus did not
come only for us to experience God’s love and
• Reason 3: “Be a model of holiness” – How is Jesus

OUTLINE
reconciliation here on earth, but He also came
the perfect model of holiness (He was without
so that we could be united with God forever in
sin, did the will of God the Father perfectly)
heaven. Right here on earth we can experience
God’s grace through the sacraments, but it is
• Reason 4: “Unite us with God’s divine nature” –
because of Jesus’ Incarnation that we have hope
Why does Jesus’ Incarnation make us “children

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN

of living eternally with God in complete joy.
of God”? (Through the Incarnation, we become
the adopted sons and daughters of God and
Summary
thus heirs to God’s kingdom – heaven)
What’s important is that we don’t get confused
about why God became Man. Some people like to
• Remember the old saying WWJD (What Would
focus on one reason and not another. For instance,
Jesus Do) – how can we help be a model of
they see Jesus as a great teacher and model for
holiness for others?
holiness, but they ignore that Jesus reconciled
us with God so we can now go to heaven. So
whenever you think about Jesus Christ, remember
that He is God and that He came to earth for all
four reasons. Perhaps on Christmas Day, you can
say a prayer of thanksgiving that Jesus became
man so that we can forever enjoy God’s love, His

EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE 57

 TOP 10 WAYS TO SHOW
GOD’S LOVE
(10 min)
Give each youth a copy of the handout, "Top 10
Ways to Show God’s Love," (page 60) and a pen/
pencil. Give the youth about 7-8 minutes to work
on the handout individually. As time permits,
have the youth share their Top 10 List with the
small group.
CHRISTMAS CARDS
(10 min)
Provide paper, crayons, markers and any other
decorations you want to use to make Christmas
cards. Give the youth a few minutes to decorate
the cards and then give several minutes for the
youth to write in the card to show their love to
someone they look up to, ie. parent, grandparent,
teacher.
SEND
LARGE GROUP PROCESS
(5 min)
As time permits, allow youth to share one or
two items from their Top 10 List of Ways to Show
God’s Love. If possible, use these as a part of your
OUTLINE
Summary Challenge for the week.
CLOSING PRAYER
(15 min)
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN
While the youth are in small group, set up the
large wreath or pine, the large white candle, and
one candle per youth for the prayer. After a few
youth have shared from their list (see Large Group
Process), begin by singing a coming Christmas
carol such as “Silent Night,” or “Away in a Manger.”
Invite the youth to join in with the song. Note, you
could also briefly draw the youth’s attention to
the words that were sung and how these songs
help remind us of the true meaning of Christmas
– the Incarnation.
58 EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE
After the song, tell the youth about the Christmas
wreath and how it symbolizes God’s great love
for us in two ways: 1) the circle is a symbol of
infinite love – without end; 2) the evergreen also
symbolizes God’s unending love. While these are
only symbols, they point us toward Jesus Christ
who is the true example of God’s love for us. At
Christmas, we remember that God loves us so
much, that He sent His one and only Son. Also at
the top of the wreath is a large white candle – this
symbolizes that Jesus is the Light of the World.
Around the wreath are candles – one for each
youth. After a brief explanation of the wreath and
candles, invite the youth to come forward and to
light his/her candle from the large white candle
and to place the smaller candle somewhere
inside or by the wreath (you will have to adjust
based on the number in your group and the size
of your wreath). Once the youth light a candle,
have him/her kneel next to the candle and say a
short prayer of thanksgiving that Jesus became
like them so they can become more like Jesus.
The youth can also ask Jesus for help to live more
like Him.
Once every youth has had the opportunity to
light a candle and pray, let the youth know that
the Incarnation gives each of us a reason to sing
– and a reason for joy. To close, sing “Joy to the
World” together – sing it with joy and festivity.
SUMMARY CHALLENGE
Before the middle school youth are sent home,
they will be challenged to remember:
• The Incarnation is when Jesus became Man – He
took on human form and was like us in all ways
except for sin.
• In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we learn
that there are four reasons for the Incarnation.
• Jesus became man so that: we could be reconciled
to God, know God’s great love for us, have a
model of holiness, and so we can partake in
God’s divine nature.
• This week, go out and live as you wrote on your
Top 10 List of Ways to Show God’s Love. Do not
 simply let that be a random list, but let others
see God’s love through you.
TO THE PARENTS OF
Tonight at Edge we discussed the Incarnation.
Our goal was to help the youth understand God
taking flesh as far more than just baby Jesus in
a manger, but a life-altering revelation of God’s
love “in the flesh.” We focused more on the “why”
of the Incarnation than the how. As outlined in
the Catechism of the Catholic Church, there are
principally four reasons that God took flesh. Jesus
became man so that we could know the true
definition of love and how we should respond
to that love. The Incarnation of Jesus was also to
redeem us from our sins – we cannot forgive our
own sins. Thirdly, Jesus is the perfect example
of holiness – we can never falter if we follow
Jesus’ example of true holiness. And lastly, the
Incarnation allows us to partake in God’s divine
nature – and to experience the true joy of His
kingdom. The better our youth understand the
purpose(s) of Christ’s Incarnation, the more they
will appreciate the significance of both Christmas,
Easter and, even, Ordinary Time!
• What are some ways that Jesus is a model for us
through His actions and/or ways that He taught
and preached?
• Why was it important for God to become man –
Jesus’ Incarnation?
• Tell me about your Top 10 List and how can I
support you in completing your list?
ADAPTATION IDEAS
• For the “Follow the Leader” opening activity,
you may want to have the youth go outside or
into various places to help spread them out.
• If you cannot do the wreath, consider using other
symbols for Christmas, but be sure to explain
to the youth the reason for those symbols and
why we see them in our church.
• Have your music minister come and lead
the Christmas carols for the closing prayer
experience.

Here are a couple of questions you might want

to ask during the ride home from Edge or in the
coming week:

OUTLINE
Notes

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JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN

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EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE 59

 JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN HANDOUT

TOP 10 WAYS TO SHOW GOD'S LOVE

INStructIoNS:
As we heard tonight, one of the main reasons that Jesus became man
(the Incarnation) was to be a model of holiness for us. Jesus lived His
life in such a way that we can follow His example in the way we treat
others and serve. On the lines below, create your own Top 10 List of
Ways to Show God’s Love. Be sure to include ways to show God’s love
to your family (including siblings), to your friends, at school, and in
your community.

1. ________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________

6. ________________________________________________________________________

7. ________________________________________________________________________

8. ________________________________________________________________________

9. ________________________________________________________________________
HANDOUT

10. ________________________________________________________________________
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN

60 EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE

JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN CHECKLIST
EDGE NIGHT CHECKLIST
CORE PLANNING TEAM:
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
DATE OF LIFE NIGHT:
____________________________________________
ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE NIGHT:
⃞ Give copes of the Edge Night to each of the
members of the planning team. Each person
should read the Scripture, Catechism, and
YOUCAT references as well as review the
planning guide before the brainstorming
meeting.
⃞ Have the planning team meet for a
brainstorming meeting (this should last no
longer than 1 hour). The team prays and
discusses where the youth are in their faith
journey in relation to this topic. Using this
planning guide as a starting point, the team
adapts the Edge Night to meet the needs of the
youth and the parish.
⃞ Assign the person responsible for the following:
Environment ________________________________
Before the Night (when needed) _______________
Audio/Visual Needs __________________________
Opening Prayer ______________________________
Scripture Proclamation ________________________
Proclaim (discuss with YM) ____________________
Summary Challenge __________________________
EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE
TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO EDGE NIGHT:
⃞ Turn in your notes for the Edge Night to the
youth minister. Allow the youth minister to
give feedback and make necessary changes.
⃞ Create a list of needed supplies and materials.
Assign a person to be responsible for collecting
and/or purchasing the items needed.
⃞ Discuss with the youth minister who will be
giving the Proclaim/witness for the Edge Night.
Be sure that this person is given the script and/
or teaching. Inform them of any practices, time
limits, and/or deadlines.
WEEK OF THE EDGE NIGHT:
⃞ Person giving Proclaim checks in with youth
minister.
⃞ Check that all supplies have been obtained/
purchased.
⃞ Create/collect items for environment. Have
volunteers ready to help if needed.
⃞ Email Core Team an overview of the Edge Night.
CHECKLIST
DAY OF THE EDGE NIGHT:
⃞ Set up the environment. Make sure the room is
clean and presentable.
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN
⃞ If needed, set up audio/visual equipment. Test
the video clips to make sure both picture and
sound work.
⃞ Pray! Pray for the youth attending the Edge
Night. Pray for God’s will to be done through
the night. Pray over those involved.
61
 JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN EVALUATION

EDGE NIGHT EVALUATION

INStructIoNS:
Use the following questions to discuss and evaluate your Edge Night.

1. On a scale of 1-10, how well did this Edge 1. On a scale of 1-10, how well did this Edge
Night accomplish the goal we set? Explain. Night accomplish the goal we set? Explain.

2. What was the strongest aspect of this Edge 2. What was the strongest aspect of this Edge
Night? Night?

3. What kind of follow-up do we need to do 3. What kind of follow-up do we need to do

after this Edge Night? after this Edge Night?

4. What can we improve for future Edge Nights? 4. What can we improve for future Edge Nights?
How can we accomplish this? How can we accomplish this?

1. On a scale of 1-10, how well did this Edge 1. On a scale of 1-10, how well did this Edge
EVALUATION

Night accomplish the goal we set? Explain. Night accomplish the goal we set? Explain.

2. What was the strongest aspect of this Edge 2. What was the strongest aspect of this Edge
Night? Night?
JESUS CHRIST IS COMING TO TOWN

3. What kind of follow-up do we need to do 3. What kind of follow-up do we need to do

after this Edge Night? after this Edge Night?

4. What can we improve for future Edge Nights? 4. What can we improve for future Edge Nights?
How can we accomplish this? How can we accomplish this?

62 EDGE SEMESTER PLANNING GUIDE