Lesson No. ( 14 ) God Cares for Zechariah and His Wife to announce the Birth of John the Baptist
References
Matthew 3:1-12, Luke 1:5-23 & 57-80.
Notes for Servants
★ A sin committed by a servant of God is more serious than the sin committed by ordinary people. So, we have to be careful that we do not offend our children.
★ Do we believe the promise of God when we teach them to our children or are we like the Scribes and the Pharisees? Let's examine ourselves.
Objectives
General: Believing in God's promises.
Specific: The children will be able to ...
A. Tell what happened when the angel appeared to Zechariah.
B. Tell what happened to Zechariah when he did not believe the angel.
C. Believe that God gives us everything through our prayers.
Bible Verse
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord."
Luke 3:4
Teaching Aids
1. A censor to represent service in the temple, for acting the story, bring a picture of an angel (a wing - vestments).
2. The children act this scene: Zachariah and the angel.
Introduction
(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Do not concentrate on Zechariah's mistake, so that the children may not have an idea that priests always make mistakes.
(5) Do not concentrate on Zechariah's silence as he did not believe the angel lest the children should be afraid of angels and punishment. You can mention that situation in a joyful way.
Story Time
Zechariah and Elizabeth prayed, asking the Lord to give them a child. The Lord answered their prayers even when they were very old.
One day, Zechariah was serving in the Temple in Jerusalem, and then suddenly he saw a vision. The angel of the Lord appeared to him.
"Do not be afraid, Zechariah," the angel said, "For your prayer is heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John."
"How can this be?" Zechariah asked. "We are too old to have a son."
"I am Gabriel, and God has sent me to announce the birth of your son."
God made Zechariah silent because he did not believe.
Zechariah left the Sanctuary. He was silent, the people were amazed. Zechariah went home. Zachariah told Elizabeth about his vision through writing
on paper.
1. What are the names of the priest and his wife?
2. What did they pray for?
3. What did the angel say to Zechariah?
4. Why did Zechariah not believe?
5. How could Zechariah tell his wife about the good news?
Discussion
1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.
Learning Activities
Activity Sheet.
No Comments