DATE OF USE ________

Good News

BIBLE PASSAGE

Luke 1:26-56

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.

BIBLE PHRASE

Mary was

Jesus' mother.

— M A T T H E W 1 : 1 6

LOBL

Jesus

LIFE POINT God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother.

LEADER BIBLE STUDYGod chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother.

Mary did what God told her to do. Those

sound like simple Bible truths. But these

statements also reflect the great love

of God and the obedience of a young

woman. The Bible tells us that God sent

the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26).

Gabriel declared the mind-boggling

news: Mary would be the mother of

the Messiah. Gabriel told Mary that the

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.

Mary worshiped God with her cousin

Elizabeth. Read Mary’s song of praise (vv.

46-55). Her song expressed joy, adoration

of a loving God, and a sense of humility.

As you think about Christmas, ask God to

show you how to communicate His love

to the preschoolers you teach. Thank God

for Mary’s obedience. Ask Him to help

you obey as you teach children about His

love and His plan for sending Jesus. ____

_____________________________

_____________________________

_____________________________

1 E x t r a C h r i s t m a s s E s s i o n a

Notes

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.

MARY’S GOOD NEWSLuke 1:26-56

BIBLE STORY FOR 2sMary was a young girl. She lived in Nazareth.

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.”

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 STORY

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”

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 1s & 2 s 2

BIBLE-LEARNING ACTIVITIES

LACE CHRISTMAS CARDS ►Christ Focus: God sent Jesus because He loves us.

►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 ►Christ Focus: God sent Jesus because He loves us.

►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 ►Christ Focus: God sent Jesus because He loves us.

►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 ►Christ Focus: God sent Jesus because He loves us.

►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.”

BIBLE PHRASE

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)

3 E x t r a C h r i s t m a s s E s s i o n a

Notes

LIFE POINT

BONUS IDEAS!

• draw with crayons

• rock a baby doll

• blow and catch

bubbles

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 ►Christ Focus: God sent Jesus because He loves us.

►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 2sHide 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.

►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)

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 1s & 2 s 4

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.

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

for 1s & 2s

EXTRA CHRISTMAS SESSION ARoom __________________

Your teaching partner(s):____________________, ____________________

Thank you for serving!

Good News

BIBLE STORYMary’s Good NewsLuke 1:26-56

LIFE POINTGod chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother.

BIBLE PHRASEMary was Jesus’ mother.Matthew 1:16

CHRIST FOCUSGod sent Jesus because He loves us.

BONUS TEACHING HOUR

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 1s & 2 s B T H -1

BIBLE FUN ACTIVITIES

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.

BIBLE STORYMARY’S GOOD NEWS

Luke 1:26-56

* 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.

BIBLE PHRASE

Mary was

Jesus'

mother.

— M A T T H E W 1 : 1 6

SONGUse 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.”

2 - B T H

Extra Christmas A Good News

Hearing Good News

BIBLE PHRASEMary was Jesus’ mother.

— M A T T H E W 1 : 1 6

Look at the pictures. Point to a way we hear good news.

1s & 2 s K I D S A C T I V I T Y PA G E S 1