Surprise Party is a 4-week preteen ministry series that helps preteens discover how wonderfully surprising God is. Through Christmas stories, mystery challenges, and hands-on activities, preteens will see that God loves to surprise his people with goodness, truth, and forgiveness. From Mary and Joseph to shepherds and wise men, each week reveals a new reminder that God’s plans are full of unexpected joy.

Because this series comes directly from the Deeply Rooted curriculum, it contains a ton of extras you would not normally get in a stand-alone 4-week series. Look what’s included when you purchase Surprise Party:

SLIDES: Full slide decks for each lesson to reinforce key ideas, keep energy high, and help visual learners connect.
VIDEO: Optional video moments that support the Mystery Challenges and bring teaching points to life. Use them to elevate the room, or teach without them if you prefer.
AUDIO: Optional sound FX and background tracks that make transitions smoother and surprises more exciting. All lessons function perfectly without audio as well.
TAKE HOME PAGES: Weekly, student-friendly take home pages designed to help preteens remember and live out the lesson during the week.
PARENT EMAIL TEMPLATES: Ready-to-send parent emails that extend the conversation at home and help families understand each week’s focus.
EXTENDED SMALL GROUP GUIDES: Extra-depth discussion guides for ministries that want meaningful, guided conversations beyond the basics.
PRESERVICE ACTIVITIES: Low-prep activity options that set the tone, build curiosity, and help preteens engage as soon as they walk in.
AND MUCH MORE: Printable cards, supply lists, object lesson guides, editable files, and a wide range of support tools that make leading this series simple, fun, and spiritually effective.

Check out the Sample Lesson! (NOTE: This sample includes only the Large Group Guide. When you purchase the full series, you’ll receive everything listed above, plus:)

• Folders with all lesson components
• Admin Guides with prep steps and printables
• Small Group Guides with clear instructions for leaders
• Editable scripts, outlines, take home pages, and graphics
• And much, much more

SERIES OVERVIEW

In this 4-week Christmas series, your preteens will discover how God uses surprises to teach, bless, guide, and forgive his people. Each week unpacks a different surprising truth from Scripture:

Lesson 1: Christmas Was Surprising

Luke 1 and 2; Jeremiah 29:11; Romans 8:28
In this lesson, preteens see how the Christmas story begins with one of the biggest surprises in history. From angel announcements to a baby born in a manger, the lesson highlights how God kept surprising Mary, Joseph, and everyone around them. Preteens discover that just as God surprised people in the first Christmas, God is still the Great Surpriser whose plans are good even when we don’t see them coming.

Lesson 2: Gifts from a Perfect Father

Matthew 1:18–25; Matthew 2:1–14; Matthew 7:11
This lesson looks directly at the gifts and surprises woven into the Christmas story — from Joseph receiving direction in a dream to the wise men bringing gifts to Jesus. Preteens explore the difference between the kinds of surprises that cause worry and the kinds of surprises that come from a perfectly loving Father. By looking at how God guided and provided for Mary, Joseph, and the wise men, preteens learn that God’s good plans continue into their own lives too.

Lesson 3: Good Secrets. Bad Secrets.

Luke 2:1–18; Deuteronomy 29:29; Proverbs 25:2
Using the shepherds and wise men from Luke 2, this lesson shows how God didn’t leave anyone out of the Christmas story. God revealed the birth of Jesus to people others often overlooked, proving that his love isn’t a secret meant for only a few. Preteens discover that while people keep secrets from each other, God doesn’t hide his love — he invites everyone in, just as he invited shepherds and foreigners into the story of Jesus’ birth.

Lesson 4: Surprise! You’re Forgiven!

Genesis 37–50; Romans 6:23
This lesson, which might fall AFTER Christmas, focuses on O.T. Joseph in Egypt. It ties his story to Christmas: Joseph’s act of surprising forgiveness points toward the greatest surprise gift ever given: Jesus. Preteens see that just as Joseph forgave people who didn’t deserve it, Christmas is God’s surprising gift of forgiveness to us through Jesus. The lesson makes clear that this forgiving, gift-giving heart of God is what Christmas is all about.

Each Lesson Includes:

Mystery Challenge to engage the room and set up the lesson theme.
Bible Reading Time where preteens open Scripture, ask questions, and discuss it in Small Groups.
Interactive, Hands-On Lessons using visuals, props, videos, and real-life connections.
Response Time with thoughtful activities that help preteens apply what they learned in personal and meaningful ways.
Small Group Time with discussion and activities that help to deepen the impact of the lesson.

Surprise Party will bring joy, depth, fun, and Gospel clarity to your preteen ministry this Christmas season.

BONUS: OPTIONAL SURPRISE PARTY EXPERIENCE

As an added bonus, this series includes an optional project that many preteen leaders have called the highlight of their entire Christmas season. Throughout the four weeks, your preteens can work together to plan and throw a real surprise party for someone in your church or community.

This experience invites preteens to embody the joyfully surprising spirit of Christmas — the same surprising goodness God showed the world when Jesus was born. Dozens of churches have done this project and have shared story after story of preteens lighting up with generosity, creativity, teamwork, and compassion. Many preteens experience it as a life-long memory and one of the moments when the meaning of Christmas “clicks” in a personal way.

This project is completely optional and fully guided inside the curriculum. Whether you choose to keep the series simple or take your preteens deeper through this service experience, Surprise Party equips you with everything you need to make this Christmas meaningful and unforgettable.

Season Preteen Curriculum