Bible Story: Gabriel Told About Jesus (Luke 1:26:56) Bible Phrase: Mary will be Jesus mother (Luke 1:31). Bible Truth: God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. New Testament Unit 4: Jesus Birth Lesson 2: Gabriel Told About Jesus God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Matthew and Luke record events related to the birth of Christ. Our story today is taken from the Book of Luke, which bears the author s name. Luke was a physician and friend of the apostle Paul. Luke began his account with the announcement from the angel Gabriel to Zachariah that he and Elizabeth would have a son, though they were well past childbearing years. Their son, John, would prepare the way for God s Son, Immanuel. Our story begins a few months before John s birth. Please read Luke 1:26-56. One can only imagine how it would have been to be visited by a celestial being. Only two holy angels are identified in Scripture, Gabriel and the archangel Michael. We know Gabriel was a special messenger of God. He had appeared to Daniel and Zachariah. After appearing to Zachariah, Gabriel brought Mary a monumental message that would change the world. We learn from Scripture that Daniel was terrified when Gabriel spoke to him (Dan. 8:17) and Zachariah was startled and gripped with fear (Luke 1:12). The passage in Luke states that Mary was troubled and wondered about his greeting (Luke 1:29). Gabriel told her not to be afraid. Mary listened as the angel announced her future and the coming King who would save all mankind. Gabriel spoke forth His name and His reign that never would end. Mary s only recorded question is, How can this be? though there had to have been thousands more in her heart. Gabriel answered with, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Jesus was divinely conceived but humanly born. He was God and man. God chose Mary to be the mother of His Son. She was not wealthy or important. She was just a poor Jewish girl, full of faith and integrity. Mary humbly accepted the role God planned for her. She hurried to visit her relative Elizabeth, who was great with child, to tell her the good news. Elizabeth, filled by the Holy Spirit, prophesied about the Christ. Humbled by the huge call upon her life, Mary broke forth with a song of praise to God. She recognized her low estate and magnified God her Savior. Her song is often called the Magnificat. Some of her words were from Hannah s prayer in 1 Samuel 2:1-10. Preschoolers can understand Gabriel was a special messenger sent from God to tell Mary the good news about Jesus. They also can understand that Mary was obedient and accepted the plan God had for her life. It is from our own emptiness and poverty that God brings forth blessing and purpose. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 1
Block Center Build with Blocks Wooden blocks Copy of Block Figures Gabriel and Mary (Reproducible) What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Encourage preschoolers to work together to build and construct. Cut out block figures and tape each figure to a block so figures will stand. Invite children to build a biblical era house with the blocks. A home from that time period would be a simple square structure with a flat roof. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, use the block figures to tell today s Bible story. Express that the angel Gabriel told Mary she would be the mother of God s Son. Art Center Make a Wrapping Paper Collage Non-fantasy Christmas wrapping paper White paper, curling ribbon, glue, tape, child scissors What to Do: Print the Bible phrase at the bottom of each paper. Cut paper into small squares. Invite children to make a collage with the paper squares. Show children how to curl the ribbon and then tape or glue to their collage. Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible phrase at the bottom of the sheet. Comment that our story today is about God choosing Mary to be the mother of His Son, Jesus. Center Time Home Living Center Picture Pose the Bible Story Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; doll items such as doll bad, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles and diapers. Optional: Biblical costumes for an angel and Mary (see instructions below), teaching picture What to Do: Choose a Sunday or two this month to provide biblical costumes and props for children to picture pose different parts of the Christmas story. A few costumes will work for multiple characters. Picture posing is dressing up as the character(s) in the teaching picture and posing as they are posing. Some children will enjoy dressing up and pretending while others may not be interested. Accept each child s choice. Help interested children put on the costume(s) over their clothes. Show the teaching picture to the children. Explain this week the biblical costumes represent the angel Gabriel and Mary. Help children pose as the characters in the picture. Link to the Bible Story: As children pose, express that God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary she would be the mother of God s Son Simple Biblical Costume Two yards of fabric are needed for each costume. Fold one and a half yards of the fabric in half widthwise; selvages will be on each side. Cut a hole in the center on the fold large enough for a child s head to fit through. Cut two 2-inch strips from the half yard of fabric for a waistband and headband. The remaining fabric can be used as a head covering secured by a headband. Bible Learning Center Find Matching Pictures Copies of Activity Page Which Pictures Match? (Reproducible) Washable markers or crayons What to Do: Ask children to look carefully at each row of pictures and decide which two pictures are exactly alike. Color the two pictures that are the same in each row. Link to the Bible Story: Express to children that today we will hear a Bible story about these pictures. Identify the pictures of Gabriel and Mary. Puzzle Center Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. Copy of Puzzle Gabriel Told About Jesus (Reproducible) Construction paper, glue, scissors, clear plastic adhesive paper What to Do: Glue the puzzle Gabriel Told About Jesus to a piece of construction paper. Cover the puzzle with a sheet of clear plastic adhesive paper. Cut along the cutting lines. Invite preschoolers to work the Bible story puzzle along with other puzzles. Encourage children to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than doing the puzzle for the child. (Save puzzles for use during the month.) Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or briefly tell the Bible story. NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 2
Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Gabriel Told About Jesus (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Point to each symbol and tell God s unfolding story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage children to say the story with you. Comment to boys and girls today s story is from God sent Jesus to help us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.) Talk with preschoolers about things for which they have to wait such as: birthdays, Christmas, vacations, for their turn at something (i.e., swing set or to sit in the front seat of the family car), waiting for someone to get ready to go, for a movie to start, etc. Discuss how they feel about waiting (i.e., excited, nervous, bored, happy). Express the following in your own words: Last week, we learned that God used people called prophets to tell people that He one day would send His Son. God kept His promise, but He waited a very long time. God s people had been waiting 700 years for God to send His Son. Then God sent an angel to give an important message to a young girl named Mary. Bible Story Gabriel Told About Jesus A very long time ago, God promised to send His Son. Years passed as God s people waited. Finally, one day God sent an angel named Gabriel to talk to a young woman named Mary. Mary lived in a small town called Nazareth. She had been waiting for God to send His Son, too. Gabriel went to Mary and said, Mary, God is pleased with you! You love God and serve Him. God is with you. Mary was frightened by the angel and what he was saying to her. Then Gabriel said, Don t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. You will give birth to a son, and you will call His name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. At first, Mary was confused about what Gabriel was saying. She listened as he explained how this would happen. Mary began to understand and then told Gabriel she was pleased to serve God in this way. Mary wanted to share this good news with her relative Elizabeth, so Mary hurried to Elizabeth s home. When Elizabeth saw Mary, she said, You are blessed of women; and your child, Jesus, will be blessed of God. Mary rejoiced that God had chosen her to be the mother of His Son. The long wait was about to come to a close. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask the following: Who did God send to talk to Mary? What did Gabriel tell Mary? What did Gabriel tell Mary to name the baby? Who did Mary tell about Jesus? 2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Remind children that after a very long time, God kept His promise. God chose Mary to be Jesus mother. Mary was glad to do what God asked her to do. 3. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting children to join you in prayer. Thank God for keeping His promise and sending His Son, Jesus. 4. Direct children to Craft Time. NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 3
Craft Time Make an Angel Ornament Copies of Angel Ornament (Reproducible) Crayons, stapler or tape, hole punch, ribbon Glitter glue or glitter paint, brushes, paper plates What to Do: Precut angel ornaments. Pour a small amount of glitter paint or glue onto paper plates. Give each child an angel ornament to color and paint with the glitter paint or glue. Teachers can assist with bringing the edges of the angel s skirt together and taping or stapling to hold. Help with punching a hole in the top of the angel and tying a small ribbon for hanging. Link to Bible Story: Remind children of today s Bible story. Express that after waiting a very long time, God sent the angel Gabriel to tell Mary that she would have God s Son, Jesus. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time/Dismissal Bible Phrase Stick Game 6 craft sticks CD player/cd of instrumental Christmas music Sack or basket What to Do: Print each word and the reference of the Bible phrase on a craft stick. There should be six craft sticks. Turn the sticks over and number them in the order of the phrase. For instance, stick number 1 should have the word, Mary on the back. Stick number 2 should have will on the back, and so on. To play the game, begin the music. As the music plays, pass the basket or sack around. Stop the music; the child holding the sack or basket chooses a stick and places it on the floor in the middle of the group. Continue the passing until all the stick are gone. Work together to put the sticks in numerical order. Turn the sticks over and say the Bible phrase. At the close of the game, thank children for working together to play the game. Say the phrase one more time together. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church. NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A Page 4
Resources and Supplies New Testament Unit 4: Jesus Birth Lesson 2: Gabriel Told About Jesus Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page Which Pictures Match? 1 copy per child Puzzle Gabriel Told About Jesus, 1 copy per class Block Figures Gabriel and Mary, 1 copy per class Angel Ornament, 1 per child Teaching Picture Gabriel Told About Jesus, 1 copy per class God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock), 1 copy per class Parent Page, 1 per child Optional: Coloring Page Gabriel Told About Jesus Additional Home Living Materials Optional: Gabriel biblical costume (2 yards white fabric) Additional Art Materials A variety of non-fantasy sheets of Christmas wrapping paper (3 or 4) Curling ribbon White paper Construction paper, 1 sheet Clear plastic adhesive paper, 12-inches x 15-inches Ribbon, for ornament ties Glitter glue or glitter paint Paper plates, 3 or 4 to use with painting Game Time 6 craft sticks CD of Christmas instrumental music Sack or Basket NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A
Which Pictures Match? Which Pictures Match? Instructions: One copy per child. Children look at each row of pictures and circle the matching pictures in each row. NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A Center Time: Bible Learning Center
Gabriel Told of Jesus Puzzle Instructions: Copy 1 per class. Glue puzzle to construction paper, cardstock or light cardboard. Cover in clear adhesive plastic and cut on indicated lines. NT04 Lesson 2 Hours A & B Center Time: Puzzle Center
Block Figures: Gabriel and Mary Block Figures: Gabriel and Mary Instructions: Copy 1 per class on cardstock. Cut apart the figures and tape each figure to a wooden block or paper tube. NT04 Lesson 2 Hours A & B Center Time: Block Center
Angel Ornament Angel Ornament Instructions: Copy 1 sheet for each child. Child uses crayons, glitter glue or glitter paint to decorate the angel. Teachers assist in bringing the angel s skirt together at the back and taping or stapling to secure. NT04 Lesson 2 Hour A Craft Time
God s Unfolding Story Cube Instructions: Cut out on dotted lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or tape to form a cube.
Mary will be Jesus mother. (Luke 1:31) Coloring Page Gabriel Told About Jesus NT04 Lesson 2 Optional