LIFE POINT God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Good News BIBLE PASSAGE CHRIST FOCUS God sent Jesus because He loves us. LIFE ACTION Encourage families to take their preschoolers to view a live manger scene in your area. Talk about Jesus earthly family and Mary, His mother. Mary was Jesus' mother. MATTHEW 1:16 LOBL Jesus DATE OF USE LEADER BIBLE STUDY God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Mary worshiped God with her cousin Mary did what God told her to do. Those Elizabeth. Read Mary s song of praise (vv. sound like simple Bible truths. But these 46-55). Her song expressed joy, adoration statements also reflect the great love of a loving God, and a sense of humility. of God and the obedience of a young As you think about Christmas, ask God to woman. The Bible tells us that God sent show you how to communicate His love the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26). to the preschoolers you teach. Thank God Gabriel declared the mind-boggling for Mary s obedience. Ask Him to help news: Mary would be the mother of you obey as you teach children about His the Messiah. Gabriel told Mary that the love and His plan for sending Jesus. baby s name would be Jesus. Why this name? The name Jesus means Yahweh is salvation (Matthew 1:21). Gabriel also told Mary that Jesus would be called the Son of the Most High (Luke 1:32). Thank God for His Son and worship Jesus by calling on these names. Mary asked another question after she heard Gabriel s announcement: How? (See v. 34.) Mary sought to understand what was happening. The angel s news did not make sense to her because she was a virgin. The angel gave a clear answer; God s Son would enter the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. What was Mary s response (v. 38)? Mary voluntarily submitted to God s will. 1 Extra Christmas Session A
BIBLE STORY MARY S GOOD NEWS BIBLE STORY FOR 2s Mary was a young girl. She lived in Nazareth. BIBLE STORY FOR 1s A messenger (an angel) told Mary some exciting news. Mary was going to have a baby. The baby s name would be Jesus. Mary was surprised, but she was happy. God chose her to be Jesus mother. Mary said, I am God s helper. I will do whatever He says. Mary went to see her cousin Elizabeth to tell her the good news. One day God sent a messenger (an angel) to tell Mary some special and exciting news. You are going to have a baby, the angel said. The baby s name will be Jesus. He will be the most special baby. Mary was surprised, but she was happy. A baby! Mary hurried to tell her cousin Elizabeth the good news. Elizabeth was happy, too. God loves you, Mary, Elizabeth said. He has chosen you to be Jesus mother. What wonderful news! Mary said, I am God s helper. I will do whatever He says. Mary sang a song of thanks. God has done great things. Notes LEARNING ACTIVITIES Children learn as they play, move, and do. Select activities each week that are best suited for the age group you teach. SONGS Songs are recorded on Babies, 1s, & 2s Enhanced CD. Track 7. A Family for Jesus Track 8. Wonderful News GETTING READY TO TEACH Gather resources and materials needed for Bible-learning activities. Prepare pack items 25, 31. (See instructions in 1s & 2s Leader Pack.) Print the Bible story picture from the Babies, 1s, and 2s Enhanced CD. Make shakers using plastic bottles. Put a small amount of rice or several jingle bells in each bottle. Secure the lids using hot glue and tape. Help the children think about Jesus. Say His name often and talk about Him. This week s Christ Focus is God sent Jesus because He loves us. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 1s & 2s 2
Mary was Jesus mother. Matthew 1:16 YOU WILL NEED: religious Christmas cards, hole punch, curling ribbon, masking tape book Families (Pack Item 25), self-mount photo album with magazine pictures of mothers and babies, two or three books featuring babies Bible Story Picture: Mary s Good News (Enhanced CD), bottle shakers (see Getting Ready ), 1s & 2s Enhanced CD diaper bag, a few baby items (clothing, diapers, bottles, toys), book Wonderful News (Pack Item 31) BIBLE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES LACE CHRISTMAS CARDS Bible Focus: We hear about Jesus at Christmastime. Punch holes in the cards about 1 inch apart and ½ inch from the edge of the card. Wrap tape around one end of the ribbon and tie the other end to a hole in the card. Show a child how to lace the ribbon through the holes. Talk about the pictures on the cards and how each relates to Christmas. Tell the Bible story. Thank God for sending Jesus. READ BOOKS ABOUT BABIES Bible Focus: Mary was Jesus mother. Arrange the books on the floor or a blanket. Offer to read a book to a child. Point to the pictures of mothers as you look at the photo album. Thank God for the child s mother. After you read other books, mention that God planned for Mary to be Jesus mother. PLAY MUSICAL SHAKERS Bible Focus: Mary sang a song to God. Place the shakers near the CD player. Set the CD to play the songs A Family for Jesus and Christmas Is a Happy Time. Encourage the preschoolers to make musical sounds with the shakers as the CD plays. Point to the picture of Mary. Talk about Mary s good news and happy song. Tell the children God said Mary would have the baby Jesus. PLAY WITH BABY ITEMS Bible Focus: God told Mary she would have the baby Jesus. As a child plays with the items, talk about ways each item is used to take care of a baby. Mention that God gave Jesus a family and God gave the child a family, too. Tell the Bible story. Sing the song A Family for Jesus. 3 Extra Christmas Session A
LIFE POINT God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. PLAY WITH FAMILY FIGURES Christ Focus: God sent Jesus because He loves us. Bible Focus: God chose a family for Jesus. Encourage boys and girls to stack the blocks or build a house for a family. Help a child complete the activity on the Kids Activity Page. Talk about Jesus family. Thank God for Jesus. TALK ON TELEPHONES Bible Focus: Mary heard good news. Open the Bible to a picture of Jesus birth. Place the telephones with the Bible. Invite a child to talk on one of the telephones with you. Say something like: I have good news. Jesus loves you. Comment that Mary heard good news from an angel. The angel said that Mary would have the baby Jesus. BIBLE STORY PLUS for 2s Hide the baby pictures around the room. After 2s gather, invite a few 2s to look around the room and find the pictures of babies. After all the pictures are found, invite children to sit with you on the floor. Open the Bible to Luke 1 and tell the story. Vary the volume and pitch of your voice as you tell the story so children can sense Mary s excitement. Show the Bible story picture. Comment that Mary was happy and sang a song to God. Sing the song Wonderful News. Open the Bible and say the Bible Phrase. Show where the phrase is located in the Bible. Encourage the boys and girls to repeat the phrase with you. Pray, thanking God for the good news about Baby Jesus. Notes cardboard blocks, plastic or wooden people figures, 1s & 2s Kids Activity Page Read to Me Bible for Kids, two toy telephones pictures of babies (glue to index cards), Bible Story Picture: Mary s Good News (EnhancedCD) BONUS IDEAS! draw with crayons rock a baby doll blow and catch bubbles BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 1s & 2s 4
BONUS TEACHING HOUR for 1s & 2s EXTRA CHRISTMAS SESSION A Room Your teaching partner(s):, DON T FORGET! Put take-home items in children s bags. Make a final diaper check. Release children to authorized adults. Leave the room neat and clean. Thank you for serving! EVERY SUNDAY 1s & 2s LEARN WHEN THEY... Listen to music Play with toys Explore nature items Look at pictures Read books Hear the Bible story Enjoy a light snack Relate to teachers and other kids Good News BIBLE STORY Mary s Good News LIFE POINT God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Mary was Jesus mother. Matthew 1:16 CHRIST FOCUS God sent Jesus because He loves us. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 1s & 2s BTH-1
BIBLE STORY MARY S GOOD NEWS BIBLE FUN ACTIVITIES * An angel told Mary she was going to have a baby. * The baby s name would be Jesus. * Mary was surprised and happy. * Mary said, I will do whatever God says. * Mary told Elizabeth the good news. Mary was Jesus' mother. MATTHEW 1:16 SONG Use the tune Mulberry Bush to sing: The angel came to Mary, to Mary, to Mary. The angel came to Mary, and told her some good news. You will have a baby, a baby, a baby. You will have a baby, and you will name Him Jesus. PUSH A BABY DOLL IN A STROLLER Provide a toy doll stroller and place the doll in it. Invite a child to push the stroller around the room. Talk about the ways mothers care for their children. Mention that God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. PLAY WITH A COMPUTER KEYBOARD Place an old computer keyboard on a low table or on the floor. Invite a child to type on the keyboard. Comment that a keyboard is used on a computer to send messages. Mention that Mary received an exciting message from God. Pray and thank God for the important news about Jesus. SET THE TABLE Provide toy dishes for children to use. Trace around a plate and cup on a large piece of construction paper. Place the papers with the dishes. Encourage the children to work together to set the table. Relate this play to ways mothers care for their children. Comment that Mary was Jesus mother. She was excited to learn that Jesus would be born. ROLL CARS Provide several sturdy cars and trucks with cardboard blocks. Encourage boys and girls to roll the cars and build with the blocks. As children roll the cars, tell them that Mary traveled to visit her cousin Elizabeth. She sang a happy song to God. Tell the Bible story and say the Bible phrase as children play. Thank God for sending Jesus. PLAY INSTRUMENTS AND SING Use the bells from a set of rhythm instruments. Or make simple bells by threading two jingle bells onto a chenille stem. Twist the ends of the chenille stem together. Play a Christmas selection from the Babies, 1s, & 2s CD or sing the song (see margin) as children play the bells. Comment that bells make a happy sound and help us think about the happy time of Christmas. Comment that Mary sang a happy song to God. 2-BTH
Extra Christmas A Good News Mary was Jesus mother. Hearing Good News M AT T H E W 1:16 Look at the pictures. Point to a way we hear good news. 1 s & 2 s K I D S A C T I V I T Y PA G E S 1