Free Bible lesson for kids · The Promise
The Promise of a Saviour
Long before Jesus was born, God promised through His prophets that a Child would come from Bethlehem to be the King and Saviour of His people.
- Bible passage
- Isaiah 9:2–7 · Micah 5:2
- Big idea
- God always keeps His promises.
- Memory verse
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 (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
Long before Jesus was born, God spoke through His prophets about a coming Saviour. Isaiah said that people walking in darkness would see a great light (Isaiah 9:2). There would be joy like the joy of harvest, because God would break the heavy yoke on His people (Isaiah 9:3–4). Then Isaiah gave the best news of all: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
His name would be called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). He would rule on David’s throne, and His peace would never end (Isaiah 9:7). The prophet Micah even named the town: a Ruler would come from little Bethlehem, One whose goings forth were “from everlasting” (Micah 5:2). Many years later, Jesus was born in Bethlehem, just as God had said (Matthew 2:1).
Read it in the Bible: Isaiah 9:2–7 (KJV)
2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
Read it in the Bible: Micah 5:2 (KJV)
2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Questions to ask
Which town did Micah say the ruler would come from?
Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Name two of the names Isaiah gave the Child.
Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
How do we know God keeps His promises?
He promised a Saviour hundreds of years ahead, and Jesus came just as He said.
What this story teaches
- God sent a great Light to people living in darkness (Isaiah 9:2).
- The promised Child is also called The mighty God (Isaiah 9:6).
- The Saviour’s rule and peace will never come to an end (Isaiah 9:7).
- The LORD Himself makes sure His promises come true (Isaiah 9:7).
- The promised Ruler is from everlasting, long before Bethlehem (Micah 5:2).
Jesus Is the Promised King
Micah said a Ruler would come from Bethlehem. Jesus was born there; He is the King God promised long ago.
Matthew 2:1–6
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God that He keeps every promise. |
|---|---|
| 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 always keeps His promises.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Isaiah 9:6 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
Light in the Darkness
You need: A flashlight, paper stars, a room you can make dim
- Hide paper stars around the room while the kids cover their eyes, then dim the lights.
- One child holds the flashlight and sweeps it slowly around the room.
- When the light lands on a star, the nearest child picks it up, then gets the flashlight next.
- When every star is found, turn the lights on and count them together.
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” God promised to send Jesus, the Light of the world, and He did.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes
Prophecy Match-Up
You need: Bibles; cards with promises (Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2, Isaiah 9:6, Zechariah 9:9, Isaiah 53:5) and fulfillments (Matthew 1:23, Matthew 2:6, Luke 2:11, Matthew 21:5, 1 Peter 2:24)
- Shuffle the cards and give each team a set.
- Teams race to pair each Old Testament promise with the place it came true, then check in their Bibles.
- Talk: which promise surprised you, and how long did people wait for it?
God keeps every promise, even ones He made hundreds of years before.
Pray
Thank God that He keeps every promise.