Zechariah and the Birth of John 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: “God had heard their prayer.”
Zechariah was a priest. A priest works in God’s house, the temple. His wife was Elizabeth. They both loved God and did what God said. But they had no children, and now they were very old.
One day it was Zechariah’s turn to go into the temple. He burned incense – something that smells sweet when it burns. Outside, all the people were praying.
Suddenly an angel of the Lord was there! He stood by the altar, on the right side. Zechariah was afraid.
But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, because your request has been heard. Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son. You shall call his name John.” A request is when you ask for something. God had heard their prayer.
The angel said, “You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.” He said John would turn many people back to God. John would get people ready for the Lord.
Zechariah said, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man.” The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God.” Then he said, “You will be silent and not able to speak.” Zechariah had not believed the angel’s words. So he would not talk until the baby came.
Outside, the people waited and waited. Why was Zechariah taking so long? When he came out, he could not talk. Not one word! He made signs with his hands. Can you tell something with just your hands, and no words?
Then Zechariah went home. And soon Elizabeth was going to have a baby! She said, “Thus has the Lord done to me.” That means: Look what God has done for me!
Then the day came. Elizabeth had a baby boy! Her neighbors and family heard how kind God had been to her. They were glad with her. God had heard their prayer.
When the baby was eight days old, friends came. Let’s count to eight: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight! They wanted to call the baby Zechariah, like his father. But Elizabeth said, “Not so; but he will be called John.”
“But nobody in your family has that name!” they said. So they made signs to his father. What name did he want?
Zechariah asked for a writing tablet – a little board to write on. He wrote, “His name is John.” Everyone was amazed. Can you write John in the air with your finger? J-O-H-N!
And right away, Zechariah could talk again! He spoke, and he praised God. God had heard their prayer.
All the people around wondered, “What then will this child be?” And the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit. He said, “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel.” Then he spoke to his baby. “And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High.” A prophet is someone who tells God’s words.
Zechariah said God’s kindness would come like the sunrise. It would be like morning light after the dark night. Can you lift your hands up slowly, like the sun coming up? It would shine on people in the dark. He said God would come “to guide our feet into the way of peace.”
Baby John grew and became strong. God had a big job for him. God does what he says, just as the angel said. God had heard their prayer.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think Zechariah wanted to say when he could not talk?
- How do you think Elizabeth felt when she held baby John?
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)
“Your request has been heard” — Luke 1:13 (your request → fold your hands; has been heard → put your hand behind your ear)
Dear God, thank you that you hear our prayers. Thank you for every new baby. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Always Keeps His Promises
Memory verse: “Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard.” — Luke 1:13 · WEB
The Bible story
An old priest named Zechariah meets an angel in the temple, and God gives him and Elizabeth a very special baby boy who will help the whole world get ready.
Talk about it
- What was Zechariah's special job? — A priest who served God
- What did Zechariah and Elizabeth pray for again and again? — A baby of their own
- Where was Zechariah when the angel appeared? — Inside the temple
- How did Zechariah feel when he first saw the angel? — Afraid
- What was the very first thing the angel said? — Do not be afraid
- What name did the angel say to give the baby? — John
Where is Jesus in this story?
When Zechariah could finally speak, he praised God for raising up “a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:69). He wasn't talking about his own baby, because John came from Aaron's family. He meant Jesus, the King from David's family. John's job was to go before the Lord and prepare his way (Luke 1:76).
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes we wait a long, long time for something we hope for, just like Zechariah and Elizabeth waited for their baby. But God never forgets us, and He hears every single prayer. Even when things seem impossible, God can do amazing things in His own perfect time. We can trust Him and wait with hope, knowing He loves us and always keeps His promises.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You that You hear my prayers and always keep Your promises. Help me to trust You and wait with hope, even when things feel hard. Thank You for baby John and for sending Jesus to show us Your love. Amen.
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