Birth of John The Baptist
Luke 1:1-24, 59-end
Teaching Videos
Idea 1
Play charades with the kids.
Cut out the Zechariah charades page and fold up all the little pieces of paper
Take turns letting one of the kids pick out a piece of paper and try to act out what is written on the paper. (they can’t say a word or make any sounds).
Once all the papers have been chosen and acted out ask the kids to put the papers in story order.
Teaching Ideas
Idea 2
Read The Birth of John the Baptist on page 553 of the The Action Bible by Sergio Cariello
Questions:
What did the angel tell Zechariah about his son?
Why couldn’t Zechariah speak until John was born?
How did everyone react when they found out the baby’s name would be John?
What does John’s story show us about trusting God’s plan?
Idea 3
Match the bible promises, with the bible verse, and the explanation.
cut out the pieces of the bible promises match sheet and mix them up.
Let the kids try to match put them together. All three pieces make a match.
Idea 4
Play the silent game with the kids.
Tell the kids that you are going to have a contest where the last person to talk wins.
If you think the kids will be really good at the game - set up an activity where it would be hard for the kids not to talk like Simon Says or an obstacle course.
Once you have played the game, talk to the kids about Zachariah not being about to speak until John was born. Why wasn’t John able to speak? Do you think that would have been hard for Zachariah?
Idea 5
Read “The Birth of John the Baptist” on page 276 in The Beginner’s Bible: Timeless Children’s Stories by Kelly Pulley
Questions:
What special message did the angel give to Zechariah?
Why was Zechariah unable to speak after seeing the angel?
How did Zechariah and Elizabeth show their trust in God?
What special role would John have when he grew up?
Ideas 6
Read this story with the kids.
After you have finished reading, let the kids colour in the page.
As they are colouring, walk around and ask the kids the following questions
Who is this? (point to Zechariah)
What did the angel say to Zechariah?
Did Zechariah believe the angel?
What did Zechariah call his baby?
Idea 7
Play true or false
Zechariah worked as a pizza maker. (false)
Elisabeth was old and lots of people made fun of her because she didn’t have any kids. (true)
Zechariah saw an angel. (true)
The angel’s name was John. (false)
Zechariah didn’t believe the angel and so he couldn’t speak until the baby was born. (true)
Zechariah and Elisabeth named their baby John. (true)
John was Jesus’ cousin. (true)
Idea 8
Read Luke 1:1-24 and 59-end in the bible
Ask the kids if they found anything interesting in the story.
Idea 9
Talk about promises with the kids
Ask the kids if they can think of a time when someone made a promise and then didn’t keep their promise. How did it make them feel?
Then ask them if they can think of a time when someone did keep their promise.
Tell the kids a story from your own life when someone kept a promise.
Ask the kids who always keeps their promises no matter what? (the answer is God)
Talk about the promise God made was starting to come true with John being born.