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Bible Lessons » Key Bible Topic or Story » Old Testament

Sunday School Lesson: An Angel Appears to Mary

Published: December 3, 2020

Use this Christmas Sunday School Lesson “An Angel Appears to Mary” to teach kids that God uses ordinary people. This lesson comes from the award-winning Hands-On Bible Curriculum .

Before the Lesson

• Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the supplies listed on the chart.
• Pray for your students and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.

Teacher Enrichment

If you’re reading through Luke 1 , you find that today’s story of the foretelling of Jesus’ birth to Mary interrupts the story of John the Baptist. At the end of today’s story, Mary runs off to visit Elizabeth. After Mary’s song of praise ( Luke 1:46-55 ), the story of the birth of John resumes.

We’re told very little about either Mary or Joseph in this passage. We only know that they were pledged to be married (a pledge that’s more binding than an engagement today), that Mary was a virgin, and that she apparently was chosen to be Jesus’ mother by virtue of being “highly favored” by God. Of all the Jewish men and women of all time, God chose Mary and Joseph to be the earthly guardians of his Son. These were humble, ordinary people who must have had an extraordinary relationship with God. They were willing to be used by God in whatever way he saw fit. And God used them in an extraordinary way!

Use this lesson to help your students see how God uses ordinary people—like them—who are committed to serving him.

Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Matthew 1:18-21 and 1 Thessalonians 5:11 .

• Read Acts 4:13 .
• In what ways did God use these ordinary men? What made them different?
• How willing are you to be used by God in whatever way he sees fit?
• Pray: Lord, use me. Help me to be the person you want me to be in the lives of my students so that they will…

Explain to the kids that whenever you ring the bell, they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Explain that it’s important to respond to this signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible.

• “Will You Risk It?” handouts,
• rubber bands,

Before class, photocopy the “Will You Risk It?” handout (see the bottom of this post). Cut the assignments apart. Make enough copies so that each student will have an assignment. Put each assignment with one rubber band in a separate envelope. Seal the envelopes.

Say: You’re invited to take a risk today. You don’t have to take the risk, but if you do you must agree to do whatever the instructions inside the envelope ask you to do. If you take this risk, you may also be rewarded. I have an envelope for each of you. Who wants an envelope?

Distribute the envelopes. Have kids open their envelopes, complete their assignments, and then give you their rubber bands. As kids turn in their rubber bands, give each one a treat.

Will You Risk It? Debrief

• What thoughts went through your mind when you took an envelope? (I was curious to find out what was inside; I was afraid it might be a trick.)
• If you took an envelope, why did you decide to take a risk? (I thought it would be fun; I hoped there was a good reward.)
• If you didn’t take an envelope, why did you decide not to take a risk? (I thought it might not be worth it; I didn’t care if I got a reward.)
• What other risks do you take sometimes? (Volunteering to do a job for someone; trying to be someone’s friend.)
• How was this activity like other risks you might take? (You never know exactly how it will turn out; if you don’t take the risk, you might miss the reward.)

Say: In our activity, you had to take a risk before you got a reward. At first, some of the opportunities we have to serve God may seem a little risky to us. But the rewards of doing what God wants us to do can be wonderful. God uses ordinary people like you and me to do important things for him. Today we’ll learn how God used an ordinary young woman to bring his Son into the world.

Bible Exploration & Application: Musical Verses

Musical verses introduction.

Set chairs in a circle. Place a Bible with a bookmark at Luke 1:26-38 under one chair. Have students stand inside the circle of chairs. Hold another Bible, and say: You don’t have to be rich or famous for God to use you. Listen while I read Luke 1:26‑27. This passage tells about Mary, the mother of Jesus.

Read Luke 1:26-27 aloud. Say: Jesus’ mother, Mary, wasn’t very old—possibly a young teenager. Most people didn’t know Mary or her family. But God chose Mary for the special purpose of giving birth to Jesus.

An angel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus. Let’s play a game to find out more about Mary. While the music plays, walk around the inside of the circle. When the music stops, sit down in the nearest chair.

Playing Musical Verses

Play some music, then pause it. Say: If you have a Bible under your chair, you’re our designated reader. Open the Bible to the marker, and read Luke 1:28-29 aloud.

After the student reads the verses, say: When Mary first saw the angel, she was confused and wondered what was going on. Imagine that an angel just appeared to you.

• What’s the first thing you might think if you saw an angel? (I’d be scared; I would wonder if it was a dream.)

Place the Bible under a different chair and play another round. Have the student identified as the reader read Luke 1:30-33 aloud. Then ask the class:

• How do you think Mary might have felt after hearing the angel’s message? (Excited; happy to be chosen; curious about how it would happen; scared.)

Place the Bible under a different chair. Continue playing music as kids walk around the inside of the circle. Push “pause,” identify the designated reader, and have that student read Luke 1:34-38 aloud.

After the student reads the verses, ask the class:

• Do you think you would have agreed to do what the angel said as Mary did? Explain. (Yes, I’d do what God wanted me to do; no, I might have said, “Let me think this over first.”)
• Why do you think God chose Mary to be Jesus’ mother? (Because she followed God; because she was nice; God knew she’d make a good mother.)

Place the Bible under another chair. Continue playing music as kids walk around the circle. Turn off the CD player, identify the designated reader, and have that student read Matthew 1:18-21 aloud. Then ask the class:

• Why do you think God chose Joseph to act as Jesus’ father? (Because he was a kind man; because God trusted him.)

Debriefing Musical Verses

Say: God could have chosen someone famous, someone important, or someone wealthy to bring his Son into the world. But he didn’t. Instead, God chose an unknown young woman who was willing to be his servant. God knew Mary would be a wonderful mother for Jesus and that Joseph would be a good earthly father. God didn’t care how famous or important Mary and Joseph were because God uses ordinary people.

Not only did God choose ordinary people to be Jesus’ parents on earth, but God also chooses ordinary people to be Jesus’ spiritual brothers and sisters. That’s right—Jesus was born on earth so that any ordinary person could become a child of God and have a relationship with him. Jesus loves ordinary me and ordinary you!

God Could Use Us!

Say: We’ve already heard how God chose Mary to be the mother of Jesus. But how did Mary react to the news? Let’s look at Luke 1:28-29 again to find out.

Have kids follow along in their Bibles as you read Luke 1:28-29 aloud. Say: In these verses, Mary is confused about why God has chosen her and what the angel’s message might mean. Mary might have felt too young or unimportant for such a special task. Tell us about a time you thought you were too young to have something special happen to you. (My sister said summer camp was really fun, but I was too young to go; my brother gets to drive, but it’ll be zillions of years before I can drive.)

Say: God uses ordinary people, and his choices are often surprising. Let’s find out why. Have kids turn in their Bibles to 1 Samuel 16:7 b, and ask for a volunteer to read the verse aloud: “The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Then ask:

• What ideas does this verse give you about why God chose Mary? (Mary was just an ordinary girl, but God knew her heart; she was nothing special, but God can use anyone whose heart is right.)

Say: God uses ordinary people like Mary, and God can use kids, too.

Breaking News Activity

Form teams of no more than five. (Teams can be as small as three kids.) Give each team paper and a pencil. Have teams choose a Writer to record the group’s news story, a Reporter to present the story to the class, and one or more Encouragers to help team members come up with ideas.

Say: With your team, take about five minutes to invent a story that could happen to someone your age who wants to make a difference for God.

Have one person on your team begin with a sentence such as “Today a 9-year-old girl made the news.” Then take turns adding sentences to your story until everyone has had at least one turn to add a sentence. After everyone has contributed to the story, you can agree to change the details if you want. Have the Writer in your group write down the main ideas of the story for the Reporter to present to the class.

Circulate among groups, and offer ideas to help kids get started. After five minutes, ring the clanging bell and wait for kids to respond. Then have teams present their stories to the class.

Breaking News Debrief

When the “newscast” is over, thank everyone for “tuning in.” Then ask:

• Do you think the stories you invented could really happen? Why or why not? (No, we just tried to make a good story; yes, people can make a big difference if they try and their hearts are right.)
• Would you be willing to do something like the characters in your stories did? Explain. (Yes, I’d love to help people in a special way; no, I wouldn’t know what to do; I’m not sure I could do that.)

Say: Like Mary, we may wonder why God would want to use us. We may feel awkward and nervous about doing something like [INSERT: the stories you made up] . But if we’re willing to get involved, God can use us in amazing ways. We know that God uses ordinary people—people like you and me. Let’s explore how God might use ordinary you and me in his plan.

Just a Piece of Paper

• colored computer paper,
• white paper,
• craft supplies,
• paper person cutout

Ordinary People Activity

Before class, draw a gingerbread-style person outline a piece of white paper. Make photocopies so that each student has one. Cut out the person shapes.

Give each child a person cutout and a piece of colored paper. Say: God used Mary, an ordinary young woman, to bring Jesus into this world. God uses ordinary people, even ordinary kids, to do great things for him.

You each have an ordinary person—a plain, white paper person. This ordinary paper person represents you, an ordinary person. Go ahead and glue your ordinary paper person to the middle of your piece of paper.

Pause as kids follow instructions. Then say: T here you are, an ordinary person in the middle of an interesting world. Let’s add some features to make this ordinary person look more like you. Using the craft supplies, add facial features, hair, clothes, and anything else that would make this ordinary person look more like you.

As kids add their unique features, say: From the minute God created you, you were anything but ordinary. God had plans for the way you would look, act, feel, think, talk, and interact with others. He knows the hairs on your head­—in fact, each one has a number! God made every aspect of you unique.

Give kids time to finish adding their features. Then say: But God has even bigger plans for you than just for your looks, thoughts, and feelings. God wants to use you to do amazing things for him, to encourage others, to help other Christians grow closer to Jesus, and to help people who don’t know Jesus have a relationship with him.

Activity Debrief

• What are some extraordinary ways God can use you in your ordinary life? (God can have me invite non-Christian friends to church; I can encourage people when they’re feeling down.)
• What is it like knowing that God can use you in amazing ways? (It surprises me; it feels good to know that God is powerful enough to use me.)
• What are some big things God might be preparing you to do for him in the future? (I might become a pastor; God might be preparing me to go to another country to share about Jesus; God might want me to open a shelter for homeless children.)

Say: On the outside of your person, draw or write ways you can serve God. These can be ordinary ways in your ordinary world, such as at school, with your family and friends, or in your neighborhood. They can also be huge ways to serve God in the future. No one knows exactly how God is going to use him or her, but remember that God can use you in extraordinary ways, so be creative.

Circulate among kids as they work. Offer ideas to get kids thinking of ways God can use them in their current roles and in the future. After about five minutes, ring the bell, and wait for kids to respond. Then say: I want you to take your poster home with you and refer to it in the coming weeks. Let it be a reminder that God uses ordinary people. And when God uses you for something, however small or huge, draw or write about it on your poster. Having these reminders can encourage us when we feel like just an ordinary person. Let’s find out more about encouragement.

That’s Encouraging

Supplies: Bibles, scissors, markers, crepe paper, gift ribbon

Say: Mary wasn’t the only person who knew how special her baby would be. Listen to what Elizabeth, Mary’s relative, said.

Have kids look up Luke 1:39-45. Ask one volunteer to read aloud the narration in verses 39 to 41 and another volunteer to read aloud Elizabeth’s words to Mary, beginning with verse 42 and ending with verse 45. Have other kids follow along in their Bibles. When the readers finish, ask:

• How do you think Elizabeth made Mary feel? (Special; happy; honored.)
• How do you feel when someone encourages you? (Like I can do something special; like I have a friend; more confident.)
• What kinds of encouraging things could we say to each other? (“You’re a good friend”; “you’re smart”; we could tell people what they do well.)

Throw an Encouragement Party

Cut a foot-long piece of the crepe paper for each person, including yourself. Distribute the crepe paper pieces and markers, and have kids write their names on one side of their streamers.

Say: Let’s check out what the Bible says about encouragement.

Have kids look up 1 Thessalonians 5:11 . When all kids have found the passage, ask a volunteer to read it aloud. Say: We’re going to do what this verse says and spend the next five minutes having an encouragement party. Trade papers with someone else, and write a note of encouragement to that person on the blank side of the streamer. Keep swapping with different people until you hear the signal. Hold on to the streamer you have when time is called, even if it’s not your own.

At the end of five minutes, ring the bell. Wait for kids to respond. Then give each person one piece of gift ribbon. Have kids roll up the streamers they’re holding and use the ribbon to tie them like diplomas. When kids have finished tying the streamers, ask them each to pray silently for the person whose streamer they’re holding. Then have them present the streamers to those people.

Give kids a minute or so to open their “diplomas.” Ring the bell, and wait for the kids to respond.

• What did you learn about encouraging others from this experience? (Sometimes it’s hard to know what to say; it makes people feel good; people like you when you encourage them.)
• How do you think God feels when we take time to encourage one another? (God likes us to encourage people; God wants us to encourage others more often.)

Say: When friends or family members encourage us, they remind us how special and important we are. We go from feeling ordinary to feeling special. Just as God used Elizabeth to encourage Mary, God uses ordinary people to spread encouragement to others.

Closing:   Oh, the Things God Can Do With Me and With You!

Say: We’ve learned today that God uses ordinary people. God can use ordinary you and ordinary me to do extraordinary things for him. We only need to have willing hearts. Think about how God might use you this week.

• How might God use you at school? (God might use me to be friendly to someone who needs encouragement; God might use me to invite someone to Sunday school.)
• How might God use you at home? (God might use me to be nice to my little sister; God might use me to help my parents when they’re having a bad day.)

Have kids sit in a circle. Together practice saying, “Oh, the things God can do with me and with you.” Say: I’m going to pass a   ball around the circle as we recite this sentence together. If you’re holding the ball at the end of the sentence, you must name one way God might use you this week.

After everyone has had an opportunity to participate, say: When we choose to serve God, God can use us to do extraordinary things. As you look for ways to serve others this week, remember that God uses ordinary people. God used Mary, and God can use you!

Will You Risk It? Handout

Cut on the dotted lines:

——————————————————————————————————-

Your assignment is to tell three people why you’re glad they’re here today. When you’ve completed your task, take the loop from your envelope and give it to your teacher.

Congratulations on taking this risk!

——————————————————————————————————–

Your assignment is to pat three people on the back and give them each a big smile. When you’ve completed your task, take the loop from your envelope and give it to your teacher.

Your assignment is to say to three people, “It’s a great day to be alive! Gimme five!” and give them each a high five. When you’ve completed your task, take the loop from your envelope and give it to your teacher.

Your assignment is to shake hands with three people and say, “It’s a special day, and you’re a special person.” When you’ve completed your task, take the loop from your envelope and give it to your teacher.

Check out all these Christmas ideas !

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10 thoughts on “ Sunday School Lesson: An Angel Appears to Mary ”

There is no handout of the lists of risks. When I click on the link, it brings me back to this page.

Donna, it’s on page 2 of this lesson. We’ll fix the link so it’s clearer: https://childrensministry.com/articles/sunday-school-lesson-an-angel-appears-to-mary/2/

Who is Trevor and what was his story? Did I miss a part where Trevor tells a news story?

Hi Haley, Thank you for bringing this to our attention. This was in reference to a story that has recently been removed from the article. We have updated the content for you! Let us know if you have any other questions.

Great lessons, very grateful to have them.

Thank you, Melissa! We’re happy to provide the lessons!

What is the key verse in this message? I am looking for a memory verse.

Absolutely love this and the one before about God keeping His Promise in Jesus….so full of action which keeps the kids motivated….love how it all comes together with the kidz actually doing it all.

Well done good and faithful servant of the Most High

In Him I love to Serve

We are so happy you are enjoying our content and thank you for all of your hard work to teach the children in your ministry. We truly enjoy creating content that involves experiential learning, so kids can retain all that they learn a lot easier. Wishing for many blessings for you and your ministry. Have a great holiday season!

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Sunday School Lesson: An Angel Appear...

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• اللغة العربية

• Messianic Version

The Angel appears to Mary

by truewaykids | Dec 5, 2019 | Bible Lesson , Christmas Lessons , New Testament | 0 comments

This week, we will look at our second week of the Christmas lessons. ( If you missed week one click here ). We will focus on Mary and her reaction to the angel’s message. This passage can be found in Luke 1:26-38.

Some of the key points we will look at are–

• Nothing is impossible for God.
• God works in ways we don’t understand.
• We can ask wise people for advice and counsel.

The Angel appears to Mary – Lesson Guide

There are some helpful animated videos and song ideas included in a youtube playlist to go along with this lesson.

Share with your child, how God often gave important messages to angels to deliver for him. Try to remember some from the Old Testament. Abraham for example.

Ask the child if they know who Mary is. Explain that Mary was a simple Jewish girl who honored God. Talk about how God chose her to give birth to His Son. Point out that people would be mean to Mary for obeying God, but she obeyed Him anyway. Explain that people thought Mary had done a bad thing, but she hadn’t. Remind the child that they should obey God, no matter what other people say.

Pull out baby photos of your child, you, your parents, etc. Point out characteristics that you have in common with your child, or they have in common with your parents. You can play a matching game, such as these two people have this similar feature or personality trait. Remind the child that every baby ever born needs both a mommy and a daddy. Then point out that God told Mary she would have a baby without a daddy, because God would be the baby’s Father. Marvel that nothing is impossible with God.

Mary sang a song to praise God. Talk about how God likes it when we sing praises to Him. Sing a song of praise to God with your child. You may also choose to create a song such as singing “Jesus is the Light of the World, Light of the World, Light of the World. Jesus is the Light of the World. He came on Christmas Day.” Sing these words to the tune of Mary Had a Little Lamb. You may select another phrase or tune (very simple children’s tunes are best) to allow your child to have the joy of creating their own song to praise God.

Point out that God works in ways we don’t understand. Pull up an online clip of a cartoon or other children’s show in a foreign language. Watch the clip together (make sure the content has speaking in it). Ask the child if they understood the talking in the video. Point out that we cannot understand the clip since we do not speak the language. Select a verse in a foreign language (if you know someone who speaks a foreign language, choose that one) or a children’s Bible song. Learn the verse or song with your child (you may use an online video to ascertain correct pronunciation). Then learn the verse or song in English. Talk about how God reveals some things to us, but others, only He understands.

Explain that just like we watched a video or asked a friend about the correct way to say something in another language, people can help us understand God better. Point out that when Mary needed help, she went to Elizabeth.

Ask the child who they can go to for advice. Point out that the Bible is filled with instructions on how to live. Ask the child if they can think of a verse that tells us how to live.

Share how God had also allowed Elizabeth to have a baby, even though she was too old and had waited a long time. Speak how God has a plan for people of all ages. You are never too young or too old to God.

If the child has memorized the song or verse in a language known to a friend, have the child share the song/verse with the friend.

As it is the second week, add Mary and Joseph to the nativity scene you are building. Point out that the time for Jesus’ arrival is getting close.

Pray with your child and thank God that nothing is impossible for Him. Ask Him to help you always obey Him.

Free Printable Bible Story

Games and Activities

Visit a friend

Christmas is a great time to catch up with friends who maybe we don’t see to often. Reflect on how Mary planned a trip to visit Elizabeth, by planning a trip to visit a friend or family member. Thank God for the people He puts in our lives.

Make cards for a care Home

We all love receiving Christmas Cards. Remind your child how the angel delivered important messages from God. Make some Christmas card with your child and deliver them to your local care home. You could use the template provided or make your own. Ask the staff to give them to some of the residence who maybe otherwise wouldn’t have any. Remind your child the Christmas is for everyone, young and old. (Zechariah and Elizabeth thought they were to old).

Leap for Joy:  Remind your child how Elizabeth’s baby jumped with joy as Mary and Jesus approached. Give jumping directions for your child to follow. For example: jump high, jump low, jump forward, jump to the side and so on.

You could also turn it into a game by seeing who can jump the highest, furthest, funniest etc.

Nativity Character Coloring pages

Build out your Nativity Scene

Last week, we began to build our nativity scene. If you haven’t printed it yet, it’s free in last week’s lesson.

This week, we will add Mary’s and Elizabeth’s houses and use them as we tell the story to make it interactive.

Angel Decoration Craft – Includes free template

What you need

• The template page printed on white card or paper.
• Colouring pencils or crayons
• Cut out the cone and glue or tape together. If teaching a group, do before class to save time.
• Colour the Angel and wings.
• Glue the body and wings onto the cone.

Download the lesson

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Family devotional  , "a blessing with every lesson", week 25 - an angel visits mary -, bible time fun through the bible, kids bible lesson 25 - an angel visits mary.

Welcome to week 25!

This week your children learn the Bible story about a faithful girl named Mary.

God sent an angel, Gabriel, to deliver a special message to Mary. Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God. What an honor! Mary did not believe that she, a virgin, would have a miraculous pregnancy of the world’s most important baby, Jesus. Mary was very excited to be the Lord’s servant. 

In this Bible lesson, the children will learn that God can do anything and he is worthy of our trust. We must be willing to serve God with all our hearts. Have fun learning this wonderful story!

If you haven’t read the introduction to Bible Time yet, I recommend you read the outline about the   Bible lessons for children  first.

Children's bible lesson about An Angel Visits Mary -  Key Concepts The key concepts that we focused on this week are:

God can do anything.

God is worthy of our trust.

We must be willing to serve God.

You can also come up with your own key concepts.

Bible Verse for kids The Bible verse for this lesson is ​ Luke 1:30 ICB

“Do not be afraid, Mary, because God is pleased with you” . This Bible verse should be simple enough for your toddler to memorize after a week of practice.

Bible Story Tips

We read “An Angel Visits Mary” beginning on page 49 of the children's Bible Storybook called  Bible-Time Stories and Rhymes .

During story, draw attention to the key concepts for this lesson.

Don't forget to ask questions related to the story, for example, “What message did the angel have for Mary?”

Throughout the Bible lesson we reiterated how important it is to trust God.

After the Bible story and discussion session, we stand up and do the interactive rhyme found in the Bible storybook . 

Prayer After the story and rhyme, we say a prayer that is related to the Bible story. You can either have your children repeat after you or allow them to come up with their own prayer.

Bible Song about An Angel Visits Mary

The Bible song for this week is "Rejoice in the Lord Always" .

We cast the song from YouTube to the television, so our children can see the   motions on the big screen.

bible Activities  about An Angel Visits Mary

We did different Bible activities each day - related to An Angel Visits Mary. We also have a selection of free Bible activities about An Angel Visits Mary here.

The Bible Time Family Fun Pack includes all of the An Angel Visits Mary activities (plus more), printed and arranged for your convenience. Some fun and kid-friendly Mary  Bible activities include: ​

An Angel Visits Mary bible coloring Page

While our daughters colored the An Angel Visits Mary Bible Coloring Page, we talked about how Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of the Son of God.

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Who is it bible Activity

It was a miracle for Mary to have this special baby. She knew it was a miracle from God.

We used the "Who Is It Bible Activity"   to teach our daughters about the importance of each character in the 'An Angel Visits Mary' Bible story.

stand up angel Bible craft

The angel Gabriel, told Mary she would be the mother of the Son of God. Mary’s pregnancy was a miracle.

This 'Angel Visits Mary' Bible craft can be made by making a standing angel with a piece of white card stock paper. First, cut the upper body (including the head) with one half of the paper.

Next, using the second half of the paper, make a cone shape that can stand to be the bottom part of the angel.

Finally, draw a face on the angel, then attach a craft stick to the back of the upper and lower part of the angel. 

(We used the “Stand Up Angel Bible Craft" found in

the Bible Time Family Fun Pack ).

servant of the lord bible craft activity

Mary was happy to serve the Lord!

We too should be willing and happy to serve God.

We used the   " Servant Of The Lord Bible Craft Activity" ,   to help our girls learn Mary’s response to God.

trust bible walk 

It can be hard to put our trust in someone, especially if you don’t know what the outcome will be. Mary trusted God, even though she did not understand everything.

To help demonstrate trust to our girls, we guided them through a path blindfolded. We gave them verbal commands and they carefully followed.

We explained how this demonstration is like us putting our trust in God. We might not know where we are going, but if we listen to his guidance, he will lead us down the right path.

ready to serve Bible gift BASKET

Mary was willing to be the Lord’s servant. Her service to God was a blessing to many other people.

For this preschool Bible activity, we made gift baskets to deliver to our local YWCA. We talked about the joy of giving and how acts of service make both us and those being served happy. 

During  the 'Ready To Serve' Bible Gift activity, I reminded the girls how important it is to serve God.

I Believe It! bible game

God sent a message to Mary that she would have a special baby that would be God’s own Son. 

Even though this seemed impossible, Mary believed God because she knew that God can do anything.

We played a fun game called  "I Believe It! Bible Game" , that showed the girls how great God is.

I hope you enjoyed week 25 of Bible Time FUN Through the Bible. Please comment or share using #bibletimefun .

Don't forget, the Bible Time Family Fun Pack includes all these activities, printed for your convenience. Check them out below! Learn more about the Bible Time Family Fun Pack Subscription Box .

Bible Time Family Fun Pack - New Testament - Segment 7

Bible Time Stories and Rhymes Storybook

17. Samson the Strong

18. The Call of Samuel

19. Give us a King

20. David and Goliath

21. Elijah and The Widow

22. Jonah and the Great Fish

23. T he Fiery Furnace

24. Daniel and the Lion's Den

New Testament

25. An Angel Visits Mary

26. Jesus Is Born

27. Jesus Is Baptized

28. Jesus Is Tempted

29. Jesus Chooses His First Disciples

Children's Bible Lessons There are 52 children's Bible lessons, one for each week of the year.

Every lesson, craft and activity is simple, fun and interactive -  tailored for toddlers & preschoolers!! 

To begin, select a lesson:

Old Testament

1. God Created the World 2. Adam and Eve's Sin 3. Noah and the Ark 4. The Tower of Babel

5. God calls Abraham

6. Isaac is Born

7. Sodom and Gomorrah

8. Jacob's Ladder

9. The Story of Joseph

10. Baby Moses

11. The Escape from Egypt

12. The Ten Commandments

13. Balaam’s Donkey

14. Joshua and the Battle of Jericho

15. The Sun Stands Still

16. Gideon's Army

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THE BIRTH OF CHRIST

Lesson 1: gabriel visits mary.

Lessons in this series: 1 2 3 4 Overview

After completing this Sunday school lesson, children will learn that God has great things in store for all of us as we live lives that are pleasing to Him.

Angels, Birth of Jesus, Christmas, Mary, Pleasing God

AS KIDS ARRIVE (10 minutes)

Give an index card and pencil to each child as they arrive. Ask them to write down at least four things about themselves that make them likeable. When everyone has at least four things, collect all the cards. Then read them one by one to the class and have the kids try to guess who it is. After everyone has guessed, let the owner of the card speak up. How many did each child guess correctly?

This activity will prepare the kids to think about characteristics that are pleasing to God. They will also use this information as a reference during the scripture reading discussion questions.

OPENING PRAYER AND PRAISE (5 minutes)

Further info? Click here

MEMORY WORK (12 minutes)

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." Colossians 3:12 NIV Missing Vowels (Memory Verse Puzzle) Click here

SCRIPTURE READING AND DISCUSSION (15 minutes)

Introduction: Many years ago in Galilee, in a town called Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary. She was about to be married. During those days, it was customary for girls to be promised to be given away as young brides as soon as they reached puberty, which is about twelve years old. This custom was called betrothal, or engagement. The girl's parents had a lot to do with these decisions, not like today where the man and woman decide if they want to get married. A betrothal is not a practice in our culture today, but that was not the only unusual thing about Mary's engagement. She also had a strange visitor just before she was married. This visitor gave her news that was not only surprising, but it turned out to be Good News for all ages to come. Our story today is found in Luke 1:26-38.

Read Luke 1:26-38 (Jesus' Birth Foretold) Have the kids find this story in their Bibles. Ask for volunteers to read the passage, or if you prefer you can read it to the children.

Discussion Questions: 1. Does anyone know the significance of Gabriel's visit being on the 6th month? (Refer to Luke 1:5-25 for background information. Gabriel also visited Zechariah before the birth of John the Baptist, who was to be a prophet of the most high, and a forerunner of Jesus. Zechariah's wife was named Elizabeth, who was also Mary's cousin. John needed to be born before Jesus so he could tell the people to get prepared for the arrival of Jesus. The angel visited Mary about six months after John the Baptist was conceived.) 2. How did Mary react when Gabriel greeted her? (She was troubled at the greeting.) 3. After telling Mary not to be afraid, what was the Good News that Mary received? (She will give birth to a son named Jesus. He would be great, and called the Son of the Most High.) 4. Why was Mary chosen to be the mother of Jesus? (She found favor with God. See Luke 1:28.) 5. God was pleased when Mary surrendered to His Will and became obedient to Him. What other characteristics do you think Mary may have had that were pleasing to God? (The kids may want to refer to the list they created when they arrived.) 6. How about you? In what ways can you be pleasing to God, your parents, or your friends? Will others see you as a good person with these characteristics? (Allow for discussion.)

CLASS EXERCISE (15 minutes)

Knock-Knock (Game) Click here

APPLICATION (2 minutes)

There are many words in the English language that mean "pleasing to God". Virtue, goodness, holiness, righteousness, honor, uprightness, integrity, and morality are a few. When these characteristics are missing, the person is not complete. Just like a memory verse with missing vowels. But a person who is pleasing to God and pleasing to others can be used in a mighty way. That's how God used Mary above all the other virgins to be the mother of His only Son. How wonderful! Who knows what great things are in store for all of us as we live lives that are pleasing to God.

Do you know who your grandfather is? How about your great-grandfather? How about your great-great-grandfather? Next week, we will discover who the great-grandfather of Jesus was, with great said 38 times. Any guesses?

CLOSING PRAYER (2 minutes)

Take home page.

Give one copy to each child at the end of the class to take home. Click here for NIV or KJV [PDF]

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Gabriel Visited Mary Bible Activities

Below you will find a listing of all “Gabriel Visited Mary” Bible activities related to the story found in Luke 1:26-38. The most recently-posted activities are identified at the top of the listing below. You can find an article about how Gabriel visited Mary here . You can find a full listing of stories we cover here .

Jigsaw Puzzle for Gabriel Told About Jesus

This Jigsaw Puzzle for Gabriel Told About Jesus can help kids develop the firm, biblical conviction that Jesus was born of a virgin and, therefore, had a unique pedigree. You can find an article about how Gabriel visited Mary here. You can also see a list of the types of free Bible activities we provide on the site,…

Hidden Pictures in Gabriel Told About Jesus

This Hidden Pictures in Gabriel Told About Jesus activity will help underscore for kids the reality of the virgin conception and the truth that Jesus would be born of flesh AND the Spirit.

Coded Words for Gabriel Told About Jesus

This Coded Words for Gabriel Told About Jesus activity will underscore for kids the reality of the virgin conception and the truth that Jesus would become “the firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:29). You can learn more about Gabriel’s visit to Mary here. You can also see a list of the types of free Bible activities we…

Gabriel Told About Jesus Word Search

This Gabriel Told About Jesus Word Search activity will help underscore for kids the reality of the virgin conception and the truth that Jesus would be born of flesh AND the Spirit. You can learn more about Gabriel’s Visit to Mary here. You can also see a list of the types of free Bible activities we provide on…

Gabriel Spoke to Mary Large Jigsaw Puzzle

This Gabriel Spoke to Mary Large Jigsaw Puzzle will help underscore for kids the reality of the virgin conception and the truth that Jesus would be born of flesh AND the Spirit. You can learn more about Gabriel’s Visit to Mary here. You can also see a list of the types of free Bible activities we provide on the site,…

Mary’s Story Video Overview

This video provides a brief overview of the highlights of Mary’s Story found in Luke 1:26-56, where Gabriel tells Mary she will conceive a baby of the Holy Spirit. She then travels to visit her relative, Elizabeth, and rejoices with her about what God is doing.

Gabriel Told About Jesus Parents Connect Page

This is the Gabriel Told About Jesus Parents Connect Page (NT04L2PC) for God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers.

Gabriel Told About Jesus Teaching Picture

Every lesson from God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers includes a full-color teaching picture for use in teaching the lesson. This is the teaching picture for Gabriel Told About Jesus (NT04L2TP). Click on the Get Activity button below to view and/or download the lesson PDF. You can learn more about Gabriel’s Visit to Mary here. You can…

Gabriel Told About Jesus Hour B Lesson Plan

Every lesson from God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers includes two lesson plans (Hour A and Hour B). This is the Hour B lesson plan for Gabriel Told About Jesus (NT04L2HB). It includes the Hour B lesson plan and the needed reproducibles for that plan. Click on the Get Activity button below to view and/or…

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An Angel Visits Mary

The Christmas Story starts with a teenage girl called Mary being told, in a special way, that she will give birth to a very special baby indeed!

The Story in the Bible

• The History behind the Story

Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. Having come in, the angel said to her, “Greetings, favored one. The Lord is with you.”

But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And look, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.’ He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his kingdom.”

Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?”

The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born will be called the Son of God.

And look, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible."

And Mary said, “See, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word.” The angel departed from her.

Luke 1:26-38

The History behind an Angel visiting Mary in the Christmas Story

Mary was probably about 14 to 16 years of age when she gave birth to Jesus. This was a very common age for young women to be engaged and marry in biblical times. So the son of God was the son of a teenage mother. Joseph was probably slightly older, around 30.

Joseph and Mary were a very average couple in Israel at that time. They would have probably been quite poor. Joseph was a carpenter and this job was seen by some religious leaders as a religious duty rather than a profession. Both Joseph and Mary were descendants of King David of Israel, but at this time his family was in the poorest state it had ever been. Mary was also related to the traditional Priest families of Israel through her cousin Elizabeth.

Nazareth, the town where they both lived, was a small hill town on a caravan route through the country. It also had a center for the temple priests, in which they could come and pray and fast when they were not on duty at the temple. So a wide range of people would travel and visit a town like Nazareth.

Under Jewish law, an engagement like Joseph and Mary's was treated almost like a marriage and could only be broken by an official divorce.

The angel Gabriel, who visited Mary, is God's chief messenger angel and only appears to very important people in the Bible. The first words that Gabriel spoke to Mary 'Greetings, you who are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.' are very important words. 'Highly favoured' means 'God's holy grace is upon you' and is a divine blessing from God - something that would have never normally been said to a peasant girl like Mary! She would have been very scared by this and that is why Gabriel said 'Do not be afraid'.

If you'd like to know more about Gabriel, go to the section on whychristmas?com's sister site whyangels?com about Gabriel .

The name Jesus (or Jeshua as it would have been said then) was a very common name in Israel at that time. If you had gone down a normal street and called 'JESHUA' to some children playing, it is more than likely that a couple of them would be called Jeshua! The name Jesus means 'Saviour' and has a very important meaning in the story.

Mary would have been very surprised with the Gabriel saying that the Holy Spirit would be in her, because in the old Jewish stories, only very important people had the Holy Spirit come into them. She might not have even believed that it is was going to happen, so she went to see her cousin Elizabeth, who Gabriel said would have a baby, to see if it was really true. She did this even before she told Joseph about Gabriel and Jesus.

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An Angel Appears to Mary #1 Coloring Page

God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.   The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus." (Luke 1:26-38)

An Angel Visits Mary Bible Coloring Page for Kids Ages 4-10

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The Annunciation

Angel Gabriel's Announcement to Virgin Mary

• Religious Texts
• An Introduction To Angels
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Whitney Hopler is a writer and editor who has covered faith since 1994. She is the author of the book "Wake Up to Wonder."

• B.A., English, George Mason University

The Christmas story begins with an angel's visit to Earth. In the Bible, the encounter between the Archangel Gabriel and Mary , known as the Annunciation, was when God's archangel of revelation announced to a faithful teenage girl that God has chosen her to give birth to a baby destined to save the world—Jesus Christ.

Mother of the World's Savior

Mary devoutly practiced her Jewish faith and loved God, but had no idea of the grand plans God had for her life until God sent Gabriel to visit her one day. He also delivered some incredibly startling news: God had chosen Mary to serve as the mother of the world's savior.

Mary wondered how that could be since she was still a virgin. But after Gabriel explained God's plan, Mary showed her love for God by agreeing to serve him. This event has become known in history as the Annunciation, which means "the announcement."

The Bible records in Luke 1:26-29:

"In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.'

Mary was a poor girl who lived a simple life, so she probably wasn't used to being greeted the way Gabriel greeted her. And for anyone, it would be troubling to have an angel from heaven suddenly appear and begin speaking .

The text mentions Elizabeth, who was Mary's cousin. God had blessed Elizabeth by allowing her to conceive a child despite the fact that she had struggled with infertility and had passed her childbearing years. Elizabeth and Mary encouraged each other during their pregnancies. Elizabeth's son John would grow up to become the prophet John the Baptist , who prepared people for Jesus Christ's ministry on Earth.

Gabriel Tells Mary Not to be Afraid

The Bible's account of the Annunciation continues in Luke 1:30-33: "But the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.'"

Gabriel encourages Mary not to be afraid of him or his announcement to her, and he reiterates that God is pleased with her. Unlike the cute, cuddly cherubs sometimes portrayed in today's popular culture, angels in the Bible appeared impressively strong and commanding, so they often had to reassure the people to whom they appeared not to be afraid.

It's clear from Gabriel's description of what Jesus will do that Mary's son will be different from any other baby that had ever been born. Gabriel tells Mary that Jesus will be the head of a "kingdom that will never end," which refers to Jesus' role as the Messiah that the Jewish people were awaiting—the one who will save all people worldwide from their sin and connect them to God for eternity.

Gabriel Explains the Holy Spirit's Role

Luke 1:34-38 of the Bible records the last part of the conversation between Gabriel and Mary:

"'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.' 'I am the Lord’s servant,' Mary answered. 'May your word to me be fulfilled.' Then the angel left her."

Mary's humble and loving response to Gabriel shows how much she loves God. Despite the difficult personal challenge of being faithful to God's plan for her, she chose to obey and move forward with God's plans for her life. After hearing this, Gabriel could conclude his mission, and he departed.

• Christmas Angels: An Angel Visits Joseph about the Virgin Mary
• Archangel Gabriel Visits Zechariah, father of John the Baptist
• Archangel Gabriel
• How Do Angels Speak?
• How to Recognize Archangel Gabriel
• Angels Announce Jesus Christ's Birth
• The Christmas Story of the Wise Men (the Magi) and a Miraculous Dream
• Angels of the Bible: Serving God by Serving Us
• Hagar and Ishmael
• The Virgin Mary's Apparitions and Miracles in Guadalupe, Mexico
• What Is the Easter Miracle of the Resurrection?
• An Angel Helps Jesus Christ Before His Crucifixion
• The Ancient History of the 7 Archangels of the Bible
• The Angel of the Lord Wakes Up Elijah
• Angel Types in Christianity (The Pseudo-Dionysius Angelic Hierarchy)
• Christmas Quotes About Angels

Lessons for Sunday School

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An Angel Visits Mary

Story Suggestion:

Luke 1:26-38

The birth of the Lord Jesus came about in a miraculous way. A simple, pure, young woman named Mary was visited by one of God’s angels. The angel told Mary that she would have a son by the Holy Spirit of God. This son, Jesus, would be the Savior of the world. Mary responded obediently to the angel’s message. She prayed and said, “Let it be done to me according to Thy Word.”

Elizabeth and Mary Praise God (Luke 1:39-55) Sunday School Lesson

“Praise God!” There are many ways that we can glorify God in all that we do and with all of who we are. Children should be encouraged that worship is more than just songs in church. Our Heavenly Father blesses us with various gifts, and we can use all of them to love and serve Him. Whatever we do, we recognize and thank God for good things in our lives, honoring His love and faithfulness.

Lesson focus: This lesson focuses on Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth, and how all of the figures in the story recognized and honored the hand of God in their lives. John leapt up in utero, Elizabeth praised Mary’s faith, and Mary sang to the Lord. As these children of God glorified Him, so we can worship the Lord in a variety of ways, with our love, time, and talents.

Passage: Luke 1:39-55 

Target Audience: Kindergarten-6 th grade

Materials Needed: Construction paper; glue; markers or crayons; tape; scissors; decorative supplies; yarn/string; paper bags; popsicle sticks; jingle bells; noise makers; wrapping paper; Bibles.

More Teaching Ideas:

• Watch the video teaching example of this children’s sermon and Bible craft ideas
• Compare another Sunday School Lesson on Mary’s visit to Elizabeth
• Download a teaching skit for this Bible passage
• See more Christmas Sunday School Lessons and Bible Curriculum for Kids

Games and Learning Activities to Introduce the Lesson

Lesson Opening: This lesson looks at giving praise to God, and a beautiful Biblical visit. If following an Advent lectionary, this will take place in the last week of Advent, prior to official Christmas time. Consider opening activities that connect to Christmas, worship elements, or Mary and Elizabeth.

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• Christmas music freeze dance: Dance to some fun holiday music, pausing in a “freeze” motion when the music stops.
• Have a mini gift exchange…provide small wrapped items, or invite students to bring their own. Take turns allowing students to select a gift and show others what is inside. Invite them to then share their gifts by trading with others around them.
• Wrap it up race: split your group into two teams. Have each team select a designated “present” and use wrapping paper and bows to decorate the person! Be careful to leave the head free. Judge winners based on speed and creativity.
• Jump and sing! Celebrate the story with songs that get kids dancing, singing, playing instruments, and making a joyful noise to God.
• Run and shout: this is a game best played outdoors. Line kids up and invite them all to run as far as possible WHILE shouting at the top of their lungs. When the air runs out to shout, students must stop where they are. Great test of lung capacity and energy! 

Prepare students for the story by describing how these events took place shortly before Jesus was born, and capture some of the feelings that Mary must have been having. This passage also reminds us how important it is to praise God, and how we can do that in a variety of special ways!

Sunday School Lesson (Luke 1:39-55) Elizabeth and Mary Praise God

Bible Lesson: This passage is one that could potentially be acted out with script, puppets, or mimed action. You might have older students read or dramatize the parts, or you could read a few verses at a time and pause to discuss. You might also wish to simply read or paraphrase for younger students. 

In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a town in Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. -Luke 1:39-40

Explain (or remind students) that after the angel announced to Mary she would give birth to Jesus, he also told her that her relative Elizabeth was miraculously pregnant. Some people think that Mary went to visit her cousin to escape the prying eyes of townspeople noticing her condition. Many understand the visit to be an opportunity for rejoicing in what God had done for both women. It’s only natural to seek celebration and wise counsel in others, and Mary knew she could trust Elizabeth.

Ask: Who would you go to if you had wonderful news to share? Who would you want to talk to if you needed advice or help?

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” -Luke 1:41-45

Remind/tell students that Elizabeth was going to give birth to John the Baptist, who would prepare the way for Jesus. Both Elizabeth and the baby inside of her recognized that something amazing was happening with Mary. John, not yet born, leaped for joy when Mary approached! This child knew whose presence He was in. Elizabeth felt it and was filled with the Holy Spirit. This means God told her what was happening. She knew Who Mary was carrying, and she considered it an honor to be in her presence. Elizabeth also noted how wonderful it was that Mary believed and had been granted the ability to bear Jesus.

Ask: What do you do when you get really great news? How do you act if you’re very joyful and excited about something special? How do we give praise to God for wonderful things?   

Explain that John was rejoicing inside of Elizabeth, praising God in an infant’s way. Elizabeth glorified God and knew what He had done. There are a lot of wonderful ways that we can celebrate God’s hand and power in our lives. In this story, Mary responded with a joyful song. She rejoiced in what God had done.

Take a moment to read the words of Mary’s “Magnificat.”

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord,

47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

    and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

    from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

    and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

    and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

    in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,  to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” -Luke 1:46-55

Mary sings of the mighty works of God, and of His hand in her life and throughout the world. When wonderful things happen, we can celebrate and rejoice. We might sing or make music, we might jump and dance, we might do art, or just tell others that we love Jesus! There are so many ways we glorify God, and He welcomes and loves our genuine praise. No matter who we are or what we do, we can tell others of His love, and praise Him for who He is and what He does for us.

Ask: How can we praise God every day? What do we have to be joyful and excited about?

Close with prayer, thanking God for His many blessings and glorifying Him for His remarkable work in our lives and in the lives of others.

Sunday School Crafts

Craft: This lesson involves praising and glorifying God, and a joyful family visit. Crafts could center on the story or the principles within it. 

• Make a noisemaker: use cups or plates filled with dry rice or beans; or create a fun jingle bell bracelet to celebrate the holidays and make a joyful noise.
• Make puppets of Mary and Elizabeth. Consider an Elizabeth puppet with a small “John” within.
• Create a baby rattle-themed craft with rattling beads inside, in honor of the babies in the story.
• For Christmas time, decorate a paper Christmas tree and place “ornaments” on it to celebrate God’s blessings to us.

How do we express praise? There are a lot of ways to show enthusiasm: we can jump for joy, sing and dance, giggle with glee, and more! The story of Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth reminds us that there are many methods of glorifying God, and that He delights in our praise. Even John the Baptist praised, before being born! These crafts celebrate Elizabeth, Mary, and more. A jingle bell bracelet allows students to have fun and make a joyful (and festive) noise to God. A “Jumping John” puppet helps share the story with Elizabeth and John featured in a creative craft.

Biel Verses or Craft Captions to Consider…  (Luke 1:39-55)

And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb.    -Luke 1:41

“My soul magnifies the Lord,   and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior…”  -Luke 1:47

Make a joyful noise…praise the Lord!

Glorify God in all things…

John leapt for joy…I will, too! Praise God.

• Advent Sunday School Lesson: Elizabeth & the Birth of John the Baptist
• Advent Sunday School Lesson (Luke 2:8-20) The Bethlehem Shepherds
• Sunday School Lesson (Luke 2:22-40) Simeon and Anna Rejoice
• Luke 1:26-38 Sunday School Lesson – Just Believe! God Does Impossible Things
• Authentic Christianity: Sunday School Lesson from Luke 3:7-18
• "Jesus is Coming" Sunday School Lesson from Isaiah 9:6
• Bible Craft Ideas (Luke 2:41-52) Boy Jesus in the Temple

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Angels of Christmas - Bible Story

In the Bible narrative of Christmas, there are two angelic visits that occur important to the story.  First, the angel known as Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary to inform her that she will give birth to the "Son of the Most High." Additionally, an angel appears to shepherds watching over their flock to bring them "good news of great joy" that a savior has been born in the town of David. Discover more about the Angels of Christmas in the summaries below!

Angel Gabriel visits the Virgin Mary

The Biblical account begins with God sending the Angel Gabriel to visit the Virgin Mary, who was engaged to Joseph, in the town of Nazareth. The angel went to her and said, 'Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.' Mary was very disturbed by his message and questioned what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel spoke to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.'

'How will this be,' Mary asked the angel, 'since I am a virgin?' The angel answered, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.' 'I am the Lord's servant,' Mary answered. 'May it be to me as you have said.' Then the angel left her.

Scripture Verses:  Luke 1:26-38

Angels visit the Shepherds

Shepherds of "fat-tailed" sheep were keeping watch over their flock near the town of David when an Angel of the Lord appears to them and scared them with its presence. The angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.' When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.'

So they rushed to find Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they witnessed baby Jesus, they quickly spread the angelic message that had been told about the child, and all who heard it were over-joyed with amazement. The shepherds then returned, praising and adoring God for all the things they had observed, which were just as predicted by the angels

Scripture Verses:  Luke 2:8-20

Discover the full scripture text for the "Angel Gabriel visits Virgin Mary" and "Angels visit the Shepherds" Bible stories as well as related articles, podcasts, and sermons below!

Luke 1:26-63

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