An Angel Brought a Promise

Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-33

Our story comes from the Bible. It is in the part, or book, of the Bible called Matthew. Matthew was one of the special helpers of Jesus. Our story also comes from book in the Bible called Luke. Luke loved Jesus and wrote about Him so that others could know Jesus and love Jesus, too.

The Bible tells us about a girl named Mary who lived in a small town called Nazareth.


Mary was excited. She was engaged to Joseph. They were going to get married. But one day, something even more exciting happened! An angel named Gabriel appeared to her and told her some wonderful news.


“Mary!” the angel said. "God is very pleased with you and has sent me to deliver His wonderful message. He is with you."


Mary was afraid. She had never seen an angel before. What kind of a message could this be? But she listened closely to what the angel said.


Then the angel said, "Don't be afraid, Mary. You are going to have a baby boy! You will name Him Jesus. He will be great. He will be God's Son. God will make Him a king over all God's people."


This message surprised Mary. As she was still thinking about what the angel said, he suddenly disappeared. Mary wondered what Joseph would think when he heard the message.


Joseph was surprised when he heard Mary was going to have a baby. They were not married yet. What was he going to do?


One night, he was thinking about Mary as he fell asleep.

As he was sleeping, the angel came and talked to Joseph in a special dream.

The angel said, "Joseph, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She will have a baby. He is God's Son! You will name Him Jesus."


Joseph remembered the dream clearly when he woke up. The message from God said that He would send His Son, Jesus, to be born as a baby.

God sent a wonderful message to Mary and Joseph.


Bible Paraphrase: God sent his Son. (But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law. Galatians 4:4 NIV)

Text Truth: God sent a wonderful message.


Family Devotional

In all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, there is a quiet message that can be encouraging. God has sent a special message just for you.


The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth John 1:14

Jesus is God's message of love to us. He consented to become human so that we might know the glory of God through Him.

This season, in the midst of the busyness, we can share the glory of God with others that they might know Him. His glory shines in and through us. Let everyone around you see it as you interact with the store clerk, the next-door neighbor, your family.

Let the love of Jesus be the message you give others.


Activities You Can Do at Home


God Sent His Son

Sing the words of the Bible phrase to the tune of "O Christmas Tree. " 

God sent His Son. God sent His Son.
(Point up.) 
The Bible tells us this verse.
(Hold hands open like a book.) 
God sent His Son. God sent His Son.
(Point up.) 
The Bible tells us this verse.
(Hold hands open like a book.) 
Galatians chapter four verse four.
(Hold hands like a book.) 
Galatians chapter four verse four.
(Hold hands like a book.) 
God sent His Son. God sent His Son.
(Point up.) 
The Bible tells us this verse.
(Hold hands open like a book.) 


Getting News and Sharing News

Point out to your child ways you and others receive news. Your child will enjoy helping you get the mail and sorting it. Look for other ways to share news like email, billboards, and store signs. Remind your child God sent a wonderful message to Mary and Joseph. 


Whisper Good News

Play a message game with your family by whispering some good news in someone's ear. Each one whispers the news to another until it reaches the last person who says it aloud. Have fun laughing at the silly messages that might come out. 


Happy News 

Use the tune of London Bridge as you sing the following song about the message Mary and Joseph heard from the angel. In verse two, replace Mary with Joseph. When you catch someone with the bridge, let them tell the message.

Mary heard some happy news, 
Happy news, happy news.
Mary heard some happy news,
Oh, what is it?
(Catch someone with the bridge, let them tell the message.)

Joseph heard some happy news, 
Happy news, happy news.
Joseph heard some happy news,
Oh, what is it?
(Catch someone with the bridge, let them tell the message.)


Retell the Message 

Let your child use plastic people or figures from an unbreakable nativity set to retell the message the angel told Mary and Joseph. 


Thank God for News

Talk about any news you received this week. As a family, thank God for the news or ask Him to work in the situation. 


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Story illustrations are the copyright of Sweet Publishing and licensed by FreeBibleimages (http://freebibleimages.org) for free download under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Share-alike 3.0 unported licence. 

Bible map provided by Biblos.com.
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