News
WELCOME TO WEEK 1
“Good news travels fast.” Have you ever heard that saying before? Do you believe it? Does good news also travel far? Maybe our good news doesn’t travel very far outside our family and friends, but there was news so great that it has traveled around the world! Yes, the Good News of Jesus is not just ordinary good news but the Gospel. This week we will see how this Good News was a part of God’s plan and meant to be shared around the world.
BIBLE STORY
When you have good news how do you like to share it? Do you write a note, shout it out loud, dance around the room or tell it to a friend? There are lots of ways to celebrate good news. This morning let’s have a dance party as if we were celebrating some good news. I’m going to share news, and if you think its good news, dance, if you hear something that is not good news, stop dancing.
It’s my birthday
I lost my pet
I won an award
I got second place in the contest
I stepped on an ant pile
I had a cookie for dessert
I watched my favorite movie
I got soap in my eyes
When we have good news we like to share it and hopefully the person we share it with is happy to hear it. Jesus brought good news to the world when he was born. The good news was hope for salvation. God wanted to prepare the hearts of Israel before Jesus began His ministry and he planned for John to do this. God sent an angel to tell the parents of John they would have a baby and that baby would prepare the way for the coming Messiah. That is great news! Let’s read or listen to find out how God told these parents the good news.
Read or listen to the Bible verse for this week: Luke 1:5-20; 57-66
Who was Zechariah? (A Jewish priest)
What was his wife’s name? (Elizabeth)
Why didn’t they have any children? (Elizabeth couldn’t conceive)
Why was Zechariah in the sanctuary? (He was chosen by lots to go in and burn incense)
What did the angel who appeared to Zechariah say to him? (Don’t be afraid, your wife will have a son, John)
What did the angel tell Zechariah, John would do someday? (Great in the sight of thee Lord and turn many Israelites to the Lord, and prepare the way for the coming of the Lord)
Why did Zechariah have a hard time believing this would happen? (He and Elizabeth were older in age)
Why did Gabriel thee angel tell Zechariah he should believe his words? (The angel stands in thee presence of God, he was sent by God)
What did the angel Gabriel say would happen to Zechariah because of his unbelief? (He would not speak until the child was born)
After John was born, what happened to Zechariah? (People came to see the baby and wanted them to name him Zechariah, but then Zechariah spoke John’s name)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
John paved the way for Jesus to come, he prepared the hearts of Israel to see their sins and be ready for a Savior. Our parents have laid a foundation or helped prepare the way for us to hear and accept the good news of Jesus. They have planted the good news of Jesus in our minds so we can know who Jesus is and what He did for us. Although they may have paved the way, it is up to us decide to be in relationship with God. On a white sheet of paper titled “Without Jesus”, list some ways that you have sinned in red. God sees all of these sins and even the ones we do not realize we’ve made. On another white sheet of paper titled “Covered by Jesus” write those same sins in white. Even when we believe in Jesus we will still sin, but those sins that are like Scarlett are covered by Jesus and He will cleanse them to make them white as snow.
Materials: white sheet of paper, red pen/crayon
Alternate
Play a game of charades. Use details from the story of the birth of Jesus to create scenes for thee audience to guess. I wonder if Zechariah had to mime his actions when he could not speak for so many months. It is easier to share our good news when we have a voice!
Materials:
Independent activity:
Create an announcement. Think of something that is good news that you would like to share. Create an announcement on a large sheet of construction paper or poster. Wire the event and draw pictures to illustrate your announcement. We often have good news we want to share and announce to others, such as an upcoming performance or game. Jesus brought good news not only to the people around him, but to the whole world. They can know that Jesus came to live and die to save us from our sins. That is the biggest announcement wee could ever share!
Materials: Large sheet of construction paper, markers and crayons
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, scissors
Craft 2
Pick one of the following crafts to complete about John the Baptist.
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read or listen to Malachi 3:1-4
Malachi was written long before John and Jesus were ever born. God had a plan and knew He would send Jesus to be the Savior of the world. He also knew he would send John to prepare the way for Jesus. God knows the beginning from the end and He is not bound by time as we are. That brings comfort in knowing that nothing sneaks up on God. He none only knows what is to come but He has already set a plan in place that will come to be. John had good news to share about the coming Savior and He knew it was true because everything God had said hundreds of years before had already come true. We can trust God’s word and know that it is truth.
Who did God send as a messenger before Jesus?
What does it mean to pave the way?
What was Johns message to the people?
What was Jesus’ message to the people?
What message does the Bible have for us today?
How can we trust that the Bible is true?
Practical Application at Home
Just as John paved the way for Jesus, he spread the message of a need to repent for sins. Wee too need to be sure we remember our need for a Savior. We can acknowledge our sin and then confess it. God says He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins. Jesus birth, life, death and resurrection make the cleansing of our sins possible. We can have a direct relationship with God because of Jesus. That is good news worth sharing with the world!
Collect several rocks and design them using paint and markers. Write messages of hope on each rock and then create a path. You can create a path in your own backyard or alongside a walking trail on your next family nature hike.
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?