VERSES: Luke 1:26-56
MEMORY VERSE: Luke 1:30 "...fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with the God."
BOOK TO REMEMBER: Mark. Write "Mark" on small slips of paper, so the students can memorize the second book of the New Testament. Practice repeating the first two books of the New Testament.
PRAYER: Thank God for having a wonderful plan of sending Jesus from heaven to save us from our sins.
SPECIAL SONG: Jesus Loves Me (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #2 on this blog. (Click orange circle to hear tune.)
VISUAL AID: Large Activity (see below) or chalkboard/whiteboard drawing.
LESSON POINTS:
- About six months after the angel, Gabriel, had appeared with a message that Zacharias and Elisabeth were going to have their first child even though they were very old, Gabriel appeared to someone else! He appeared to a young girl named Mary who lived in the city of Nazareth who was to be married to a man named Joseph. The angel brought news that Mary was going to have a baby, too! Gabriel appeared to Mary and said to her, "You are highly favored and the Lord is with you. You are blessed among women." Now this was a surprise to Mary, and, at first, she was troubled at the angel's words because she didn't know what his words meant.
- Gabriel told Mary not to be afraid because she had found favor with God. She would have a baby boy and she should call his name Jesus. Her son, Jesus, would be great and then Gabriel said many other wonderful words to her about Jesus. Mary asked Gabriel how this could happen because she had not married Joseph yet. The angel said that the baby was the Son of God. Gabriel also told her that her cousin, Elizabeth, was going to have a baby in three months, even though she was old and had never had children before. The angel also said, "For with God nothing is impossible." Mary accepted by faith without hesitation that this was going to happen and said to the angel, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord." Then Gabriel left Mary.
- So, what did Mary do next? The Bible says she hurried to the hill country of Judea where Zacharias and Elisabeth lived. When Mary walked into their house and said hello to Elisabeth, the Bible says that as soon as Elisabeth heard Mary's voice that her own baby boy, who she was to name John, leaped inside of Elisabeth and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She spoke to Mary and said that Mary was blessed among women and blessed was the baby that she was going to have. She said that Mary was blessed for believing the things that the angel told her would be coming true.
- Mary answered Elisabeth and quoted verses in the Old Testament that prophesied about Jesus. Mary stayed with Elisabeth about three months and then she went home to Nazareth. Next time, we will see what Elisabeth and Zacharias name their son and if Zacharias will ever talk again.
- Read Luke 1:37. Name a few examples that prove this point, i.e., Abraham and Sarah having Isaac at an old age, Jonah and the great fish, Daniel in the lion's den, etc.
- Remember the angel had said that in Luke 1:15 that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he was born. What does Luke 1:41 say?
- When Mary answered Elisabeth, she quoted parts of 13 Old Testament verses. Mary knew her scriptures, didn't she? (Luke 1:46-55).
Materials needed: 9" x 12" tan construction paper, 5" x 14" dark brown construction paper, 3" x 7" white construction paper, scissors, markers, crayons, glue, tape.
- Hand out tan paper. This is the house.
- Hand out the dark brown paper. This is the door.
- Fold edge of dark brown paper up 4".
- Place tape on one edge to secure.
- Fold 1/2" on one edge of the door, lengthwise.
- Glue only on folded edge of paper in the middle of the tan paper. The door should open and close.
- Trace door on the tan paper, so that when the door is opened, a small line is visible on tan paper.
- Draw black lines lengthwise on door to resemble wood planks.
- Inside the 'house', draw a few household items like door and picture.
- Hand out two pieces of white paper.
- Draw Mary on one piece of white paper.
- Draw Elisabeth on the other piece of paper. (Optional: Mary and Elisabeth are drawn here for you, if you choose to copy and paste this in a word document to copy.)
- Write their names at the bottom of their dresses.
- (DO NOT GLUE Mary or Elisabeth. They should be movable.)
- Color the two women and inside the house.
- Write "Mary And Elisabeth" and "Luke 1:26-56" at the top of the tan paper.
- Practice some things that Mary and Elisabeth said to each other, stressing how John leaped for joy when he heard Mary's voice.
- Place Mary and Elisabeth inside the door pocket to take home.
