Leader BIBLE STUDY Use Week of: 1 People had been waiting a long time for Jesus. God hinted at His coming in the garden of Eden when He promised a seed to conquer the serpent. (Gen. 3:15) The prophets told of His coming hundreds of years before His birth. God was working out His plan to reconcile people to Himself. In the Bible, God often used angels to communicate His message to people. Angels spoke to Abraham in Genesis 18. The Angel of the Lord spoke to Balaam in Numbers 22. Now Mary and Joseph, the earthly parents of Jesus, each received a special visit from an angel to announce the birth of God s promised Messiah. The angel Gabriel s announcement to Mary surprised her. God chose Mary to be the mother of His child. The angel s message revealed much about this promised child. First, He would be great in both being and nature. He would be the Son of the Most High. Jesus is the Son of God, and the Lord God promised to give Him the throne of His father David. These words fulfilled the prophecy given to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16. Jesus would reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom would have no end. The good news that Jesus was coming into the world was good news because of why He was coming. An angel revealed Jesus purpose to Joseph in Matthew 1:21, He will save His people from their sins. The gospel is the good news of what God has done for us through Christ. The announcement of Jesus birth is not the beginning of the gospel; God had been planning for this moment since before the beginning of time. (See Eph. 1:3-10.) Help the kids you teach understand that God s plan has always been to save sinners and bring them back to Himself. Jesus, whose name means Yahweh saves, is the center of that plan. 1 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 16 Session 1
Preschool Bible study OVERVIEW Session Title: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 Big Picture Question: What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 2:30,32 Unit Christ Connection: The Savior God had promised was born. U N I T 16 1 Small Group Opening (15 20 minutes) Large Group Bible Study (10 15 minutes) Small Group Activities (20 25 minutes) Snack and Transition (20 minutes) 2
The BIBLE STORY Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 One day God sent an angel named Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth. The angel went to visit a young woman named Mary. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. The angel said to Mary, Be happy! God is happy with you. He is with you. Mary was afraid and unsure. Why would God be happy with her? She hadn t done anything special. The angel said, Do not be afraid, Mary. He said that Mary was going to have a very special baby. The baby s name would be Jesus. The baby will be great, the angel said. He will be a king! Mary asked the angel, How can that happen? The angel said, God will be the father of the baby. The baby will be God s Son. The angel Gabriel told Mary that her relative Elizabeth was going to have a baby, even though she was old and had never had any children. The angel said, God can do anything! Mary hurried to her relative Elizabeth s house. When she arrived, the baby inside Elizabeth leaped for joy! Elizabeth said, What an honor, Mary! You and your baby will be blessed! Mary was so happy. She praised God with a song about how great God is. Mary knew people in the future would say she was blessed because God had done great things for her by choosing her to be Jesus mother. God kept His promise to Abraham to bless the whole world through Jesus. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months. Then she went home. Joseph found out Mary was going to have a baby, but Joseph knew it was not his baby Mary and Joseph were not married yet! Joseph thought about what he should do. Then, an angel appeared to him in a dream. Joseph! the angel said. Don t be afraid to take Mary as your wife. Mary is going to have a son, and I want you to name Him Jesus 3 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 16 Session 1
because He is going to save His people from their sins! When Joseph woke up, he did just what the angel said. He married Mary, and when she had a son, Joseph named Him Jesus. Christ Connection: Many of God s prophets talked about Jesus before He was born. Everything they said about Jesus was true. Before He created the world, God planned to send Jesus. Jesus came to do God s plan, to rescue people from sin. 4
Small Group Opening Session Title: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 Big Picture Question: What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 2:30,32 Unit Christ Connection: The Savior God had promised was born. Go, Tell It on the Mountain song Set out an offering basket. favorite toys Post an allergy alert, if necessary. Circle Jesus in the Pictures activity page, 1 per kid pencils or crayons LOW PREP Welcome and Session Starter (15 20 minutes) Play the unit song Go, Tell It on the Mountain in the background as kids arrive with their parents. Set out a few favorite toys such as puzzles and blocks. Activity Page: Circle Jesus in the Pictures Some children may not realize that Baby Jesus is the same Jesus whom they have heard about in other Bible stories. Talk about the stories as kids draw a circle around Him in each picture. Say You know many stories about Jesus. In some of them, He is not yet grown up, and in others, He is. Do you remember the stories in these pictures? Hop the names Practice saying the names in Find and sort names : Mary, Joseph, Jesus, Gabriel, Elizabeth. Clap the syllables in each. Hop on each syllable. Ask a child to count syllables as others hop the name in order to determine whose name has the most hops or claps. For older kids, try hopping or clapping extra loudly on the accented syllable. 5 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 16 Session 1
Mary: MAYR ih Joseph: JOH zif Jesus: JEE zuhs Gabriel: GAY brih el Elizabeth: ih LIZ uh beth Say What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. index cards or construction paper cut into cards marker tape countdown video (optional) Go, Tell It on the Mountain song Find and sort names In clear block letters, print each of the following names on two or three cards (10 or 15 cards total): MARY, JOSEPH, JESUS, GABRIEL, ELIZABETH. Before kids arrive, tape the cards around the room for them to find. When all cards have been found, sort cards according to the names on the cards. For the youngest children, print only two cards with each name; color code them if necessary. (Print Mary in blue, Jesus in red, and so forth.) Transition to Bible study Ring the bell, show the countdown video, flip the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for children to copy to gain attention. Play the unit song Go, Tell It on the Mountain as you move the group to the Bible study location. 6
Large Group Bible Study Session Title: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 Big Picture Question: What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 2:30,32 Unit Christ Connection: The Savior God had promised was born. Large Group Bible Study (10 15 minutes) Your Salvation song Key Passage Slide or Poster Bible Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph video Introduce the Bible story Say What happy time is coming soon? () What do you remember about last, and what are you looking forward to this? [Listen to responses.] Do you know whose birthday we celebrate at? (Yes! Jesus birthday!) Offer to sing a song about Jesus, such as Away in a Manger, if kids would like to suggest a carol. Specify that it should be about Jesus (not Santa Claus)! Conclude by singing Your Salvation. Play it again, and encourage kids to sing Hallelujah! at the right places. Watch or tell the Bible story Say Today we will hear about two people who received messages from an angel. If an angel came to tell you a message from God, do you think you would be excited or scared? Listen to (or watch) the Bible story and see how the two people felt when an angel visited them. Show the New Testament and explain that the New Testament begins with the birth of Jesus. Tell the Bible story, or show the video Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph. 7 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 16 Session 1
Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Your Salvation song Tip: Do activities one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time in small groups that rotate through each activity set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose 8 Talk about the Bible story Kids can shout out answers that they know. Say What is the name of the angel who spoke to Mary? (Gabriel) Was Mary excited or afraid of the angel? (afraid) What good news did the angel tell her? (Mary would have a special baby and name Him Jesus.) Who would be the baby s father? (God) Who else would have a baby even though she was old? (Mary s relative, Elizabeth) Joseph was supposed to marry Mary, but he didn t know whether he should or not. What did an angel tell him to do? (Don t be afraid to marry Mary.) Did Mary and Joseph obey the messages from God which angels told them? (Yes!) What did they name the baby when He was born? (Jesus) What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Show the Bible story picture and explain that these prophets wrote about Jesus before He was born. Everything they said about Jesus was true. Before He created the world, God planned to send Jesus. Jesus came to do God s plan, to rescue people from sin. Transition to small groups Explain the activities you have set up. Move to the activities with the key passage song, Your Salvation, playing in the background.
Small Group Activities Session Title: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Bible Passage: Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 Big Picture Question: What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Key Passage: Luke 2:30,32 Unit Christ Connection: The Savior God had promised was born. Small Group Activities (20 25 minutes) LOW PREP bows masking tape blocks (optional) Try a bow challenge Tape an 8- to 10-foot line to the floor. Encourage each kid to practice walking as he balances a bow on his head. Then challenge him to walk along the taped line. If the bow falls off, he may replace it and continue walking. Pretend the taped line is a balance beam. To make this more of a balance beam challenge, encourage kids to concentrate on the goal, looking forward toward the end of the line and not at their toes. Suggest balancing walking with arms extended to the side. Suggest changing arm positions and pointing toes to look graceful, or place blocks on the line to step across. Say Could you walk fast with a bow on your head? Mary hurried to tell her good news to her relative Elizabeth. Prophets had told God s people that God had a wonderful plan for them. Mary and Elizabeth knew that Mary was part of God s plan. What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. 9 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 16 Session 1
cell phone or other recording device big bag of small bows construction paper Listen to messages Before the session, record directions on a cell phone, computer, or other recording device. Directions might include actions such as Sing a song. Touch your toes three times. Wave hello to a friend. Encourage each child to think of an action, whisper it to you, and then record it. Play back the newly recorded actions for your group and do them together. Say How do we get important messages today? (cell phone, newspapers, television, email, computers, mail, posters, conversations) How did Joseph receive a message with directions from God? (from an angel in a dream) What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Spell with bows Spell Mary, Jesus, or Joseph with small bows. Older preschoolers may follow your pattern and attempt to spell one of those names. Young preschoolers may form the letter J for Jesus. They may also form the initial letter of their own names. Draw the initial for them to follow if they need a pattern. If you have enough bows, lead kids to tape down bows to form the letter J for Jesus; print Name Him Jesus on the page. Send the page home. Say Why did Mary and Joseph name the baby Jesus? (Angels told them to name Him Jesus.) What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. 10
newspapers sponges tempera paint, 2 or 3 colors shallow pans painting smocks clothespins (optional) reduced-fat cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese slices pineapple chunks grapes or berries toothpicks or short wooden skewers small plates small star-shaped cookie cutter crackers (optional) Allergy Alert Sponge paint on newspaper Spread a page or half page of newspaper for each kid to paint on. Put each paint color in its own pan with a couple of sponges. Sponges may be cut into shapes. Use clothespins to hold the sponges and to keep only one side of the sponge in the paint. Say Today we may read news in a newspaper. How did Mary learn the news that God planned for her to be the mother of Jesus? (from the angel Gabriel) What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. Make a snack Give each child a small plate to use as a workspace. Set out bowls of cut up pineapple, berries, and grapes that kids may thread onto toothpicks or skewers. Cut stars from cheese slices, or allow older preschoolers to cut their own. Top each skewer with a cheese star. For a simpler snack, allow kids to cut cheese stars, put a star on a cracker, and eat it. Give one or two clear directions, such as Put at least two different kinds of food on your toothpick or You may eat one snack now and make one to save for snack time. Say You listened and followed directions. Joseph listened to the angel s message and did exactly what the angel said to do. What part did Mary and Joseph have in God s plan? God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly parents of Jesus. 11 Preschool Bible Study Leader Guide Unit 16 Session 1
countdown video (optional) Allergy Alert snack food paper cups and napkins soap and water or hand sanitizer Journal Page Bible Story Coloring Page books and puzzles crayons dry erase boards and markers (optional) Go, Tell It on the Mountain song Tip: Remember today to give parents The Big Picture Cards for Families: Preschool. These cards allow families to interact with the biblical content each week. Snack and Transition (20 minutes) Play the countdown video as kids help put away supplies and clean up from the activities. Take a restroom break. Wash hands well with soap and water, or use a small amount of hand sanitizer and encourage kids to rub it in thoroughly (leaving nothing to lick off of hands). Ask for volunteers to help set out the snack if that works in your routine. Kids may wish to take turns thanking God for the snack, or a leader may pray. If you made a snack, invite kids to eat it. Otherwise, serve the snack provided by your church. Always consider allergies. Transition As kids finish eating and dispose of leftovers and trash, guide them to a quiet activity such as coloring the Bible story coloring page, reading a book, working a puzzle, or writing on a dry erase board. If you play Go, Tell It on the Mountain, kids may draw mountains on their journal page. Send home the bow initials and sponge-painted newspapers. Distribute The Big Picture Cards for Families: Preschool card pack today. 12
Journal Page Key Passage: Luke 2:30,32 Session 1: Angels Spoke to Mary and Joseph Luke 1:26-56; Matthew 1:18-24 Session 2: Jesus Was Born Luke 2:1-20 Session 3: Jesus Was Dedicated Luke 2:21-40 OK TO PRINT