Mary Visits Elizabeth 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: “Baby John leaped for joy!”
Mary lived in the town of Nazareth. One day the angel Gabriel came to her. He said, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you.” Highly favored means God is very kind to you.
The angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Mary.” He told her she would have a baby boy. She should name him Jesus. He would be called the Son of God!
The angel told her more news. Mary’s relative Elizabeth was going to have a baby too! A relative is someone in your family. Elizabeth was old, and she had never had a child. The angel said, “For nothing spoken by God is impossible.”
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” That means: Yes, God. Let it happen the way you said. Then the angel went away.
Soon Mary got up and hurried to the hill country. It was a long way, up and down the hills. Step, step, step! Can you walk in place, quick, quick, like Mary? At last she came to the house where Elizabeth lived.
Mary went in and said hello to Elizabeth. And just then, the baby inside Elizabeth’s tummy leaped! Jump! Baby John leaped for joy!
Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She called out with a loud voice, “Blessed are you among women! Blessed is the fruit of your womb!” Blessed means God is very good to you. The fruit of your womb means the baby in your tummy.
Elizabeth said, “Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” God’s Spirit showed Elizabeth that Mary’s baby was the Lord!
Elizabeth said, “The baby leaped in my womb for joy!” Can you jump for joy too? Baby John leaped for joy!
And Elizabeth said, “Blessed is she who believed.” Mary had believed what God said.
Then Mary sang a song to God. “My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Magnifies means she praised God as very, very great. Can you lift your arms up wide, as big as Mary’s song?
Mary sang, “He who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.” Mary was full of joy, and so was the little baby inside Elizabeth. Baby John leaped for joy!
Mary sang that God is kind to his people. He is kind again and again, for always and always.
She sang that God lifts up the little people. Those are the ones who are small and poor. She sang, “He has filled the hungry with good things.”
She sang that God remembered his promise to Abraham, long, long before. God keeps his promises!
Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Let’s count them: one, two, three! Then Mary went back to her own home. God was doing great things for Mary and for Elizabeth. And through baby Jesus, he was doing great things for the whole world. Baby John leaped for joy!
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Mary and Elizabeth felt when they saw each other?
- What makes you so happy that you want to jump for joy?
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)
“My soul magnifies the Lord” — Luke 1:46 (My soul → hands on your heart; magnifies the Lord → lift your arms up wide)
Dear God, you have done great things. Thank you for Jesus, and thank you for my family. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Keeps Every Promise
Memory verse: “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!” — Luke 1:45 · WEB
The Bible story
When Mary hurried up into the hills to visit her cousin Elizabeth, the baby inside Elizabeth leaped for joy and God's promise came alive!
Talk about it
- Who told Mary she would be the mother of God's special baby? — An angel
- What surprising news did the angel share about Elizabeth? — She would have a baby too
- Where did Elizabeth live? — In the hill country
- How did Mary go to see Elizabeth? — In a hurry
- What did the baby inside Elizabeth do when he heard Mary? — Leaped for joy
- What did Elizabeth call Mary? — Blessed among women
Where is Jesus in this story?
When Mary arrived, Elizabeth called her “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43), and baby John leaped for joy. That leap was the start of John's whole life's work. Years later he said about Jesus, “He must become greater; I must become less” (John 3:30). Like John, we find our deepest joy when we point others to Jesus, not to ourselves.
What God wants to tell us
In this story God shows us that He always does what He says, even when it seems impossible. Elizabeth was old, and Mary was young, yet God had a beautiful plan for them both. When we trust God like Mary did, our hearts can be full of joy even before we see how everything works out. God sees you, He loves you, and He never breaks a promise.
Prayer
Thank You, God, for always keeping Your promises. Help me to trust You like Mary did, and to fill my heart with joy and praise. Thank You for sending Jesus because You love me so much. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
