Free Bible lesson for kids · The Promise
An Angel Visits Zacharias
While the priest Zacharias served in the temple, the angel Gabriel told him that he and Elisabeth would have a son named John. Because he did not believe, Zacharias could not speak until the promise came true.
- Bible passage
- Luke 1:5–25
- Big idea
- God hears our prayers, even the ones we have prayed for a long time.
- Memory verse
But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John.
Luke 1:13 (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
Zacharias was a priest, and his wife was Elisabeth. They were righteous before God, but they had no children, and now they were old (Luke 1:5–7). One day Zacharias was chosen to burn incense in the temple, while the people prayed outside (Luke 1:8–10). Suddenly an angel of the Lord stood by the altar, and Zacharias was afraid (Luke 1:11–12).
The angel said, “Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard” (Luke 1:13). Elisabeth would have a son named John, who would turn many people to the Lord (Luke 1:13, 16). Zacharias asked how he could know this, since they were old. The angel answered, “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God” (Luke 1:18–19). Because Zacharias did not believe, he could not speak until the promise came true (Luke 1:20). Soon Elisabeth was expecting a baby, just as God said (Luke 1:24–25).
Read it in the Bible: Luke 1:5–25 (KJV)
5There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. 7And they had no child, because that Elisabeth was barren, and they both were now well stricken in years. 8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course, 9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord. 10And the whole multitude of the people were praying without at the time of incense. 11And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12And when Zacharias saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell upon him. 13But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. 14And thou shalt have joy and gladness; and many shall rejoice at his birth. 15For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. 16And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. 17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. 18And Zacharias said unto the angel, Whereby shall I know this? for I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years. 19And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings. 20And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. 21And the people waited for Zacharias, and marvelled that he tarried so long in the temple. 22And when he came out, he could not speak unto them: and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple: for he beckoned unto them, and remained speechless. 23And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. 24And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, 25Thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.
Questions to ask
Where was Zacharias when the angel came?
In the temple, burning incense (Luke 1:9).
What was the baby to be named?
John.
Why could Zacharias not speak?
He did not believe the angel’s words (Luke 1:20).
What this story teaches
- God hears our prayers, even ones we pray for years (Luke 1:7, 13).
- God sends His angels to bring His good news (Luke 1:19).
- God planned for John to turn many hearts to Him (Luke 1:16–17).
- God wants us to believe His words, not doubt them (Luke 1:20).
- Everything God says will come true at the right time (Luke 1:20).
Jesus Is the Christ
Gabriel said John would make people ready for the Lord. Later John said he was not the Christ; he was sent ahead of Jesus.
John 3:28
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God that He hears us when we pray. |
|---|---|
| 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: “God hears our prayers, even the ones we have prayed for a long time.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Luke 1:13 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 10 minutes
Silent Zacharias
You need: Word cards: angel, temple, incense, baby, pray, write, old, surprised
- One child is Zacharias. Like Zacharias, they may not say a word.
- Show Zacharias a card. They act it out with no sounds at all.
- Whoever guesses first is the next Zacharias.
Zacharias could not speak until God’s promise came true, and it came true exactly as the angel said.
For youth group · game · indoors or out · about 10 minutes
Silent Line-Up
You need: Nothing
- Without talking, the group lines up in order of birthdays, January 1 to December 31, using only hand signals.
- Check it out loud. Then try again by number of siblings, or by how far you live from church.
- Talk: what was hard about waiting and not speaking? Zacharias waited months.
“Thy prayer is heard.” God answers in His time, even when we have to wait.
Pray
Thank God that He hears us when we pray.