46

ere you ever afraid of thunder? of lightning? of the dark? of people who shout?

Jamie didn’t like thunderstorms, especially when they came in the night. But his mother knew that. She always came to be with him. “Don’t be afraid,” she would say. “I’ll stay with you. It will be all right.” And then Jamie could go back to sleep.

In Bible days when God sent an angel to talk to someone, He first made sure that they were not afraid.

ecently we learned about an angel’s visit to Zechariah, a Temple priest. God sent an angel to stand by the altar where he served. Zechariah, the elderly priest, was

frightened—but not for long. The angel immediately

soothed Zechariah’s fear.

“Do not be afraid,” the angel said. “God has heard your prayer.” Then the angel told Zechariah some wonderful news. His wife, Elizabeth, would have a baby, and they were to

name the baby John.Later God wanted

to tell Mary that she would have a special

baby boy. Again He sent an angel to carry the

message. To keep from frightening

Mary, the angel spoke softly. “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord

is with you” (Luke 1:28).Now, greetings are

friendly words. Enemies don’t send each other greetings; they

Luke 1:13, 19, 30; 2:10; The Desire of Ages, pp. 47, 97, 98Don’t Be AfraidDon’t Be Afraid!

RR

46

WW10

Lesson

www.gracelink.net/primary

47

The MessageBecause God is our friend, we are not afraid of Him.

47

voices were hushed and the bright light had faded, the shepherds were no longer afraid.

“Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that the Lord has told us about,” they said. No longer afraid, they hurried to look for Jesus.

So when God speaks, He doesn’t mean to frighten us. He wants everyone to hear the friendly message “God is with us.” There is no need to be afraid. God is our friend; we need not be afraid of Him.

Memory Verse“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people”(Luke 2:10).

send threats. But even so Mary was troubled—and frightened. So the angel spoke more plainly. “Do not be afraid, Mary.” There it was again—that special message from God: Do not be afraid.

God sent the same message to the shepherds the night Jesus was born. When the angel messenger appeared, glory and brightness shone, lighting up the night sky. The shepherds were afraid.

In his book Luke says that these brave men were terrified. But then the angel spoke. “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.” And the angel told them about the special Baby born in Bethlehem. They would find Him lying in a manger. When at last the angel

www.gracelink.net/primary

48

OD With your family, take a walk outdoors, if possible. Are there some things in nature you might be afaraid of? Find a quiet place you feel very safe and read your Bible lesson together.

E AR D Find and read Luke 2:10. What is the good news?

I NS G Sing “Anywhere With Jesus” (Sing for Joy, no. 45). Then thank Jesus for the good news.

E AR D During family worship, ask each person what scares them the most. Together, read Luke 1:13, 30 and Luke 2:10. What scared Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds? How did the angel calm them?

OD Make an angel mobile. Make five (or more) angel cutouts from construction paper. With lengths of thread or yarn, hang them from a wire coat hanger. Add a sign that reads: “Do not be afraid!” Put it where you will see it every day.

OD Teach the memory verse to your family. Then thank God for His angels.

E AR D Read and discuss Luke 1:11-13 for family worship. Have everyone fold a piece of paper in half and then in half again. Open the paper. In the first corner write “God is our Friend; do not be afraid.” Draw a picture of the angel talking to Zechariah in the second section. Under the picture write “You will have a son named John.” Save the paper for tomorrow.

OD Say your memory verse to your family.I NS G Sing “God Is So Good” (Sing for Joy, no.

13). Then thank Him for being your best Friend.

E AR D During worship, read and discuss Luke 1:26-31. In the third section of the paper you made yesterday, draw the angel talking to Mary. Underneath, write “You will give birth to Jesus.” Save these papers.

H EAS R Ask an adult to tell how they felt when they first heard the good news about Jesus.

OD Make a “good news” poster. Draw something you are afraid of. Put an X through it. Write “God is my friend; I am not afraid.”

E AR D With your family, read and discuss Luke 2:8-10. Finish the papers started earlier. In the fourth section, draw a picture of the angel talking to the shepherds. Underneath write your memory verse.

OD Cut a sheep shape from an empty cereal box. Cover it with cotton balls to remind you that the angel told the shepherds, “Do not be afraid.”

OD Say your memory verse with your family.I NS G Sing “Go, Tell It on the Mountain” (Sing for Joy, no. 83).

S A B B A T H S U N D A Y

M O N D A Y T U E S D A Y

W E D N E S D A Y

48 www.gracelink.net/primary

49

E AR D During family worship, ask each person what scares them the most. Together, read Luke 1:13, 30 and Luke 2:10. What scared Zechariah, Mary, and the shepherds? How did the angel calm them?

OD Make an angel mobile. Make five (or more) angel cutouts from construction paper. With lengths of thread or yarn, hang them from a wire coat hanger. Add a sign that reads: “Do not be afraid!” Put it where you will see it every day.

OD Teach the memory verse to your family. Then thank God for His angels.

OD During family worship, show and tell about the things you made this week. Hang your angel mobile in a special place. (Save it for Lesson 12.) Show your paper with the four squares, and tell your Bible lesson to your family. Show your scared/smiling face and say your memory verse.

OD Ask each person to tell something they like about Jesus. Read John 15:15 together.

I NS G Sing songs about being friends with Jesus.

F R I D A YOD To begin family worship, have everyone

cut a large circle out of construction paper. On one side, draw a face with a scared expression. Then write: “Do not be afraid.” Turn the paper over. Draw a face with a smile. Write: “I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10).

OD With your family, discuss how this lesson helps us not to be afraid of the second coming of Jesus. Read Matthew 24:30, 31 together. How will Jesus’ second coming be like the first? How will it be different?

T H U R S D A Y

49

In Bible times, musicians came to the house to greet

the new baby. Jesus was born far from home and there were no human musicians, but God

sent the angels to sing.

www.gracelink.net/primary

50

Luke 2:1-7; The Desire of Ages, pp 43-49A Gift for Me?A Gift for Me?

50

11

Lesson

NN iv was so happy that she could not stop smiling. She loved babies, and her mother was coming home soon with a new baby boy! Last Christmas she had received a beautiful baby doll for a gift. Now she would have a real baby to love and play with. What a perfect gift—much better than her baby doll gift!

Many years ago another family rejoiced because of a special gift baby. Who do you think it was?

ary smiled to herself. She just couldn’t help it. She would soon have a very special Baby, Christ the Lord.

Ever since the angel had told her about it, she had wondered. First she wondered why God had chosen her. True, she and Joseph came from the tribe of David. God’s Word had said the Messiah would come from that tribe. However, they lived in the wrong town. The prophet

Micah had foretold that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, the City of David. However, Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth.

Then important news had reached their village. Emperor Augustus had decided to take a census. He wanted to know how many people lived in his kingdom. This meant that every family would be counted. And they had to be counted in the town of the father’s

MM

www.gracelink.net/primary

51

Luke 2:1-7; The Desire of Ages, pp 43-49

The MessageGod gives perfect gifts, and His best gift is Jesus.

51

Memory Verse“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father” (James 1:17).

ancestors. That meant that Joseph would have to go to Bethlehem.

It was almost time for her baby to be born. And God had arranged everything. Her baby would be born in Bethlehem, just as the prophet Micah foretold. At just the right time, the government was requiring them to go to Bethlehem.

The trip was slow and tiresome. The roads were crowded with travelers. Mary may have been uncomfortable riding on the donkey for so long.

Tired and weary, they finally reached Bethlehem. But Joseph couldn’t find any place for them to stay. No one had an empty room. Even the covered porches of the inns were packed with tired travelers. Joseph was discouraged. Mary was worn out.

Finally an innkeeper took pity on them. He saw Mary and knew she would soon have her baby. “I’m sorry,” he explained. “Every room is taken. But there’s a stable out back. If you . . . ”

”We’ll take it,” Joseph replied. “We’re glad to have a place.”

That night Baby Jesus was born. Mary wrapped Him carefully in the soft cloths she had brought from home. She

cuddled Him, filled with wonder all the while. Finally, she placed Him in the manger that Joseph had filled with clean, sweet hay.

Mary sank down on the soft straw bed that Joseph had prepared for her. She had

never been so tired in her whole life! However, she was also happy and content. God

had kept His word. He had given her the perfect gift. Jesus is

God’s perfect gift to us, too.

www.gracelink.net/primary

5252

OD Take a walk with your family. Collect samples or make a list of growing things that God has given us. Talk about the gifts. Then read today’s lesson story about God’s greatest gift to us.

E AR D Read James 1:17 together. Thank God for His wonderful gifts in nature.

I NS G Sing a Christmas carol before prayer.

E AR D Read Micah 5:2 together during family worship. In what town was the Messiah to be born? _____________________________

OD Name some of Joseph’s famous ancestors who came from Bethlehem. See Ruth 1:1, 2, 22; Matthew 1:5, 6, 16. Write three of them here: (1)______________________ (2)___________________ (3)______________________

OD Ask adults in your family to tell about where they were born. Where were you born? _______________

E AR D With your family, read Luke 2:5-7. Set up a Nativity scene in your home. How does Jesus’ first home compare with your home?

OD Imagine what animals might have been living in Jesus’ first home—the stable. Add pictures of them to your “Jesus’ Baby Book.” Learn two new things about the animals you drew.

OD Teach your memory verse to your family. Then thank God for a place to live.

S A B B A T H

M O N D A Y

T U E S D A Y

E AR D Read Luke 2:1-7 with your family for worship.

OD Start to make a “Jesus’ Baby Book” from used Christmas cards, etc. (You will add to this book each week.) This week, include pictures of the angel talking to Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, and Jesus’ birth. Write a title for each page. If your parents made a baby book about you, ask to see it.

OD Say the memory verse. Find the word “perfect” in a dictionary. What does it mean?

S U N D A Y

The stable where Jesus was born was probably a cave behind

the inn. Caves were used as animal shelters in Bethlehem.

E AR D During worship today, place some wrapped Christmas gifts near the Nativity scene at your house. Let them remind you that Baby Jesus is the best gift of all.

OD Make and decorate a gift-shaped cutout with ribbon, etc. On it, write your memory verse. Hang it where you can see it every day.

I NS G Sing “Silent Night” (Sing for Joy, no. 76). Then thank God for His best gift—Jesus.

W E D N E S D A Y

www.gracelink.net/primary

5353

E AR D During worship today, look at a Bible map. How far is it from Nazareth to Bethlehem? Find a place the same distance from where you live. How long would it take to walk there? to go by car or bus?

E AR D Read John 1:10, 11 together.

I NS G Sing a Christmas carol.

H EAS R After worship, help make some Christmas cookies for Friday evening. Say or sing your memory verse while you help.

T H U R S D A YE AR D For family worship, create a human

Nativity scene. Read Luke 2:7 together. Have each family member be a character: Joseph, Mary, an angel, the innkeeper, animals, etc. (Save the shepherds for next week.) Ask each to tell who they are and what they think of Jesus’ birth.

I NS G Sing carols to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

H EAS R As you share your “gift cookies,” say the memory verse together. Tell God in prayer that you accept His wonderful gift.

F R I D A Y

www.gracelink.net/primary