WELCOME TO WEEK 1

God has a plan for each one of us. He sees each one of us and has something special for each of us to do. It may seem like a really big job, or it may seem as if it is not an important job at all. When God calls you to action, what will your response be? Will you be afraid or will you say “I am the Lord’s servant, may it be as you have said”.

Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24; Colossians 1:15-20

BIBLE STORY

We make lots of plans in our lifetime from planning a birthday party to planning a trip. We know we need to be prepared for different situations that may happen. Let’s make a plan today to start your own business. Think about what type of business you would like to create. It can be something you can realistically do today such as a lemonade stand or a lawn care service or something you hope to do in the future. Think of all the things you would need to be prepared for this new business. Write down your plans and the actions you will need to take.

A lot of thought goes into planning a business. You would not be successful at your business if you didn’t think ahead and prepare for all of your business’ needs, supplies, and budget. Being prepared helps you be more successful because you can be ready to solve any problems that may occur. If you were unprepared, your business would probably fail because you would spend your money the wrong way, or not have the needed supplies to carry out your service.

God has a plan for our lives. He does not ask us to do things by accident or coincidence, but through His infinite wisdom. We may not always see how the little things God asks us to do will benefit anyone, but He knows how those little things fit into the bigger picture. This week we are reading about Mary and Joseph. They were living a normal life and making plans to get married when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. Mary could have rejected God’s plan, deciding it would be too hard, but instead she decided to follow the plan God laid out for her. In so doing, the world was blessed by her obedience. 

Materials: paper and pencil

Read or listen to the scripture story in Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

Who did the angel Gabriel go to see in Nazareth? (Mary)

Who was Mary pledged to be married to? (Joseph)

How did the angel describe Mary? (You who are highly favored)

What was the good news he told Mary? (She would conceive and give birth to a son and name him Jesus)

What will the Lord God give him? (He will reign over the Jacob’s descendants forever)

How did the angel say it would happen? (The Holy Spirit will come on you and the power of the Holy High will overshadow you)

What was Mary’s response? (I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled) 

BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Mary and Joseph were living normal lives. They were getting ready to be married when the angel Gabriel appeared to them. Mary and Joseph both chose to listen to God’s plan and follow it. We often have our own plans of what we would like to see happen in our lives, but it is important to seek God’s plans first. 

Activity

Activity sheet- God has a plan for our lives and for our future. We can also make plans on how to complete a task. We make plans on what we need to pack for a trip or how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Use the following activity sheet to help you make a plan to make a root beer float. Use the picture cues and complete the direction, then use the plan to make your own Root Beer float!

Materials: printed activity sheet, pencil optional: ingredients to make a root beer float

Alternate

Make a map of your school or your neighborhood. A map guides us in the direction we need to go in order to get to our destination. It helps us not get lost on our way. God is our roadmap. He guides us throughout our lives so that we don’t get lost!

Materials: graph paper or plain paper, pencil, ruler

Create activity:

Create a Mary and Joseph cardboard tube. With a pencil, outline a top portion of the tube to be the face. Paint each cardboard tube (tissue roll) a color of choice (Ex: Mary blue and Joseph dark brown). Mix brown and white paint to create their skin color and then paint the face area. Once the tube has dried, using various pieces of cloth or burlap scraps, attach a headdress and clothing if desired. Use a black permanent marker to draw their face (eyes, nose and mouth). Note: be prepared for messy painting. Use a pallet (or paper plate) to distribute small amounts of paint. This makes it easier for kids to use the paint as well as mix colors.

Materials: cardboard tube (tissue roll), paint, paintbrushes, felt or pieces of material

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Handprint Angel. Trace handprints on a white sheet of paper then cut them out, leaving the fingers together. Cut out the angel’s body using yellow paper, making a rounded triangular shape. Cut out a round face and hair. Glue all the pieces together and decorate with crayons or with glitter. See the following example.

Materials: white, yellow and other optional colors construction paper, gold glitter, glue, writing utensil

Craft 2

Coloring page

Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons

FOLLOW-UP

Read Colossians 1:15-20

This verse describes Jesus as…

-The creator of the world

-the first born of creation

-the image of the invisible God

-the head of the church

-He reconciled all things to himself

-he is before all things and all things hold together through Him.

This verse is describing Jesus as God, the creator of all things that you can see and the things that you can not see. It not only describes Him as God but it also describes Jesus as the first born of creation. If He is the firstborn of creation, what does that make you and me? We are a part of God’s family. That is something to celebrate! God had a plan when He created the world, and that includes us, His creation. We are not here by accident but through God’s infinite wisdom. 

How did God speak to Mary?

How did God speak to Joseph?

Have you ever heard God’s voice speaking to you?

How do you know when you are following God’s voice and not your own?

Practical Application at Home

It’s easy to look at the stories in the Bible and wonder how anyone could have disobeyed God. It’s easy for us because we know the end of their stories. We have seen past that moment and how God worked it out, but if we put ourselves in their shoes it might not be as easy. As we live our daily lives, we often have a hard time trusting God’s plan. Think about the following situations and determine what you think God would want you to do and if it is an easy choice.

-Helping a new kid at school feel welcome

-Sharing your last of something

-Being kind to an opponent who beat you at a game

-helping pass out food at a homeless shelter

-asking someone if they need help

-Obeying a rule from your parents that you do not like

-Saying hello to someone you pass along the street

-Saying thank you to the lunch servers in the cafeteria

Sometimes these seem like little things that do not matter, but God sees them as a way to show His love to the people around you. God can use a simple gesture of kindness and turn it into a big gesture for the person receiving that kindness. Our kind acts can soften someones heart and help them receive God’s love. We don’t have to worry about how God will use our actions, we just need to obey and trust God will use it in the way He knows is best. 

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Donate to a local food shelter or toy drive this Christmas season. As a family, volunteer together or pick out toys you think another child your age might enjoy.