Free Bible lesson for kids · The Promise

Mary Visits Elisabeth

Mary hurried to the hill country to visit her cousin Elisabeth. When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby leaped for joy, and Mary sang praise to God.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Luke 1:39–56
Big idea: God’s good news makes us want to praise Him.
Memory verse: And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. Luke 1:46–47 (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

In those days Mary hurried into the hill country to the house of Zacharias, and she greeted Elisabeth (Luke 1:39–40). When Elisabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby inside her leaped, and she was filled with the Holy Ghost (Luke 1:41). She said with a loud voice, “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42). She called Mary “the mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43).

Elisabeth said her baby leaped for joy, and that Mary was blessed because she believed (Luke 1:44–45). Then Mary praised God: “My soul doth magnify the Lord” (Luke 1:46). She rejoiced in God her Saviour, who had done great things for her (Luke 1:47–49). She praised His mercy, for He lifts up the lowly and feeds the hungry, just as He promised Abraham (Luke 1:50–55). Mary stayed about three months, then went home (Luke 1:56).

Read it in the Bible: Luke 1:39–56 (KJV)

³⁹And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; ⁴⁰And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. ⁴¹And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: ⁴²And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. ⁴³And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. ⁴⁵And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. ⁴⁶And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, ⁴⁷And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. ⁴⁸For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. ⁴⁹For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. ⁵⁰And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. ⁵²He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. ⁵³He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. ⁵⁴He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; ⁵⁵As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever. ⁵⁶And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.

Questions to ask

Who did Mary go to visit?
Her cousin Elisabeth.
What did Elisabeth’s baby do when Mary arrived?
He leaped for joy (Luke 1:44).
What did Mary do after Elisabeth blessed her?
She praised God in a song.

What this story teaches

God’s good news fills our hearts with joy (Luke 1:44).
God blesses those who believe what He says (Luke 1:45).
God is our Saviour, and holy is His name (Luke 1:47, 49).
God shows mercy to those who fear Him (Luke 1:50).
God always remembers His promises to His people (Luke 1:54–55).

Jesus Is Lord

Even before Jesus was born, Elisabeth called Him her Lord. One day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Philippians 2:10–11

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Praise God for the good things He has done.
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’s good news makes us want to praise Him.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Luke 1:46–47 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 or out · about 8 minutes

Leap for Joy

You need: Nothing

Everyone crouches down small, like baby John.
The leader tells the story slowly. Every time the kids hear the name “Jesus”, they leap up with their arms high and shout “Joy!”, then crouch again.
Try to trick them with words that sound close: “Jeremy”, “cheeses”.

When Mary came with baby Jesus, John leaped for joy. Jesus brings joy!

For youth group · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes

Magnificat Remix

You need: Bibles, paper, pens

In small groups, read Mary’s song in Luke 1:46–55 and list everything Mary praises God for.
Each group writes its own praise: a list, a poem, a short song or a rap, about what God has done for them.
Share them with the whole group.

“My soul doth magnify the Lord.” What has God done in your life that’s worth celebrating?

Pray

Praise God for the good things He has done.