So, you think you know the Christmas story? Well, students, get your paper and pencil. Take this quiz and find out. Its origins are from old; I first saw it 45 years ago, when I was a child. Mike Yaconelli and Wayne Rice, with Youth Specialties, are the creators. I have used it for years to help teach folks about the Christmas story. Here’s my edited version of their Christmas Quiz (answers at the end):
____1. As long as Christmas has been celebrated, it has been on December 25. (True or False)
____2. Joseph was from:
A) Bethlehem B) Jerusalem C) Nazareth
D) Egypt E) Minnesota F) other
____3. How did Mary & Joseph travel to Bethlehem?
A) Camel B) Donkey C) Walked D) Volkswagen
E) Joseph walked, Mary rode a donkey F) Who knows?
____4. Mary & Joseph were married when Mary became pregnant.
(T or F)
____5. Mary & Joseph were married when Jesus was born. (T or F)
____6. What did the innkeeper tell Mary & Joseph?
A) There is no room in the inn B) I have a stable you can use
C) Come back after the Christmas rush D) Both A & B
E) None of the above
____7. A “manger” is a:
A) Stable for domestic animals B) Wooden storage bin
C) Feeding trough D) Baseball Boss
____8. Which animals does the Bible say were present at Jesus’ birth?
A) Cows, sheep, goats B) Donkeys & sheep C) Sheep & goats
D) Miscellaneous animals E) Lions, tigers, and bears—Oh my!
F) None of the above
____9. Who saw the “star in the east?”
A) Shepherds B) Mary & Joseph C) Three Kings
D) Both B & C E) None of the above
____10. How many angels spoke to the shepherds?
A) One B) Three C) a “multitude” D) 3.14 E) None of the above
____11. What “sign” did the angel tell the shepherds to look for?
A) “This way to baby Jesus” B) A star over Bethlehem
C) A baby that doesn’t cry D) A house with a Christmas tree
E) A baby in a stable F) None of the above
____12. What did the angels sing?
A) “Joy to the World” B) “Alleluia” C) “Unto us a Child is born”
D) “Glory to God in the Highest” E) “Glory to the Newborn King”
F) “My Sweet Lord”
____13. How many wise men came to see Jesus?
(write in the correct number)
____14. The wise men found Jesus in a:
A) manger B) stable C) house
D) good mood E) Holiday Inn Express F) synagogue
____15. The wise men stopped in Jerusalem:
A) To inform Herod about Jesus B) To find out where Jesus was
C) To ask about the star they saw D) For gas
E) To buy presents for Jesus at the mall
____16. Where do we find the Christmas story (the birth of Christ) in order to check up on all these ridiculous answers?
A) Matthew B) Mark C) Luke D) John E) All of the above
F) Only A & B G) Only A & C H) Only A, B, & C I) Aesop’s Fables
____17. When Mary & Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, what happened?
A) They registered at Babies “R” Us
B) Joseph wanted to break the engagement
C) Mary left town for 3 months
D) An angel told them to go to Bethlehem
E) Both B & D F) Both B & C
____18. Who told Mary & Joseph to go to Bethlehem?
A) The angel B) Mary’s mother C) Herod D) Caesar Augustus
E) Alexander the Great F) Smokey the Bear G) None of the above
____19. Joseph took the baby Jesus to Egypt:
A) To show him the pyramids B) To teach him the wisdom of the pharaohs
C) To put him in a basket by the reeds in the river
D) Because he dreamed about visiting Egypt E) To be taxed
F) Joseph didn’t take Jesus to Egypt G) None of the above
ANSWERS:
1. False. Not until the 4th century did it settle on the 25th. Other dates were accepted before then.
2. A. Luke 2:3-4.
3. F. The Bible does not say.
4. False. Matthew 1:18.
5. False. Luke 2:5-7.
6. E. No word about the innkeeper. Luke 2:7.
7. C
.
8 F. The Bible doesn’t specify.
9. E. The wise men (or Magi) saw the star—they weren’t kings! Matthew 2:1-2.
10. A. Luke 2:8-9.
11. F. Luke 2:12.
12. D. Luke 2:14.
13. No one knows. Matthew 2:1.
14. C. Matthew 2:11.
15. B. Matthew 2:1-2.
16. G. Mark begins with John the Baptist, John with “the Word”.
17. F. Matthew 1:19 & Luke 1:39, 56.
18. D. Luke 2:1, 4.
19. D. Matthew 2:13.