Free Bible lesson for kids · The Promise
An Angel Speaks to Joseph
Joseph learned that Mary was going to have a baby. An angel came to him in a dream and told him the Child was from the Holy Ghost, and that His name would be Jesus, for He would save His people from their sins.
- Bible passage
- Matthew 1:18–25
- Big idea
- Jesus is Emmanuel: God with us.
- Memory verse
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Matthew 1:23 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Mary was engaged to Joseph. Before they were married, she was found to be with child by the Holy Ghost (Matthew 1:18). Joseph was a just man and did not want to shame her, so he planned to end the engagement quietly (Matthew 1:19). But the angel of the Lord came to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife” (Matthew 1:20).
The Child was from the Holy Ghost, and Joseph should call Him JESUS, “for he shall save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21). This happened just as the prophet had said: a virgin’s Son would be called Emmanuel, which means “God with us” (Matthew 1:22–23). When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel said and took Mary as his wife (Matthew 1:24). When the baby was born, Joseph named Him JESUS (Matthew 1:25).
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 1:18–25 (KJV)
18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a publick example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
Questions to ask
How did the angel speak to Joseph?
In a dream.
What does the name Emmanuel mean?
God with us.
What did Joseph do when he woke up?
He did as the angel told him and took Mary as his wife.
What this story teaches
- Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
- Jesus is Emmanuel, which means God with us (Matthew 1:23).
- God’s Word always comes true, just as the prophets said (Matthew 1:22).
- We do not need to fear when God guides us (Matthew 1:20).
- Obeying God means doing what He says right away (Matthew 1:24).
Jesus Saves Us from Sin
Jesus is God with us, and His very name tells why He came: to save His people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21–23
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God that He is always with us. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus is Emmanuel: God with us.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Matthew 1:23 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Joseph, Arise!
You need: Nothing
- Everyone lies down and “sleeps” like Joseph.
- The angel (a leader) tiptoes around and taps one child: “Joseph, arise!” and gives a job: “Hop to the door!”
- That child jumps up and does it right away, then becomes the next angel.
When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel told him. He obeyed right away.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 10 minutes
Read Every Word
You need: A printed “directions test”: twelve silly instructions, the first saying “Read everything before you begin” and the last saying “Now do only number 2”
- Hand out the test face down. Say “Go!” and time them.
- Watch who starts barking, standing and spinning before reading to the end.
- Talk: how did listening carefully change everything?
Joseph listened carefully to God and obeyed, even when he didn’t understand the whole plan.
Pray
Thank God that He is always with us.