The Angel Visits Mary Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “A baby named Jesus was coming!”
Mary lived in a little town called Nazareth. She was going to marry a man named Joseph. Joseph came from the family of King David. David was a great king who lived long before.
One day God sent an angel to Mary. An angel is a helper from heaven. Angels bring messages from God. This angel’s name was Gabriel. Can you say his name with me? Ga-bri-el.
The angel came in and said, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you.” Rejoice means: be very, very glad!
Mary was greatly troubled. She did not understand. She thought and thought. What did these words mean?
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.” That means God was kind to Mary. God had chosen her.
“You will give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’” A baby! Can you rock a little baby in your arms? Rock, rock, rock. A baby named Jesus was coming!
The angel said more. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” The Most High is God. God is higher and greater than everything.
“The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David.” A throne is a king’s big chair. So Jesus would be a King! “There will be no end to his Kingdom.” His Kingdom would go on and on, forever and ever. A baby named Jesus was coming!
Mary asked the angel, “How can this be?” Mary was not married yet. How could she have a baby?
The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you. The holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.” The Holy Spirit is God’s own Spirit. God would do it with his great power. Jesus would be God’s own Son! A baby named Jesus was coming!
Then the angel told Mary some more good news. Mary had a relative named Elizabeth. A relative is someone in your family. Elizabeth was old. People said she could never have a baby.
But now Elizabeth was going to have a baby too! Her baby had been growing inside her for six months already. Can you count to six on your fingers? One, two, three, four, five, six!
Then the angel said, “For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” Impossible means it can never happen. But when God says it, it happens!
Mary listened. Then she said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” A servant is a helper. Mary meant: I am God’s helper. Let it happen, just as you said.
Mary said yes to God. Can you nod your head, like Mary? A baby named Jesus was coming!
Then the angel went away. Mary was alone again. But now she knew God’s wonderful plan.
God loved the world so much. He was sending his own Son to be with us. A baby named Jesus was coming!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Mary felt when she saw the angel?
- What do you think Mary did after the angel went away?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” — Luke 1:37 (nothing → shake your head; spoken by God → hand by your mouth, then point up; impossible → make big strong arms)
Dear God, thank you for sending Jesus. Thank you that nothing is impossible for you. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Loves a Willing Heart
Memory verse: “For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” — Luke 1:37 · WEB
The Bible story
One ordinary day in Nazareth, the angel Gabriel brings Mary the most wonderful news in the whole world, and her trusting answer changes everything.
Talk about it
- What was the name of the young woman in this story? — Mary
- In which town did Mary live? — Nazareth
- Who came to visit Mary? — An angel named Gabriel
- Who did Gabriel say would make it happen? — God's Holy Spirit
- How did Mary feel when she first heard the angel's greeting? — Puzzled and troubled
- What did Gabriel tell Mary not to be? — Afraid
Where is Jesus in this story?
Gabriel told Mary that God would give her son “the throne of his father David” and that “his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:32–33). Long before, God had promised King David that his family's throne would last forever (2 Samuel 7:16). Jesus is that promised forever King, and everything Gabriel said about him is still true for you today.
What God wants to tell us
God did not choose Mary because she was rich or famous. He chose a young woman who loved and trusted him. When God asked something big of her, Mary said yes, even though she did not understand it all. God shows us that he can do amazing things through anyone who is willing to trust him. We can trust him too, because he always keeps his promises and always loves us.
Prayer
Father God, thank you that you love ordinary people like me. Help me to trust you and to say yes when you ask me to follow you, just like Mary did. Thank you for sending Jesus. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
