Object lesson - Christmas (1): Zechariah meets the angel Gabriel - Who can you trust?
Use this creative activity to teach about the story of the priest Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel
In this object lesson we'll use a bottle of medicine or a pot of pills to help us explore the concept of trust and how we decide who to trust in our lives. We'll also discuss whether Zechariah should have trusted the angel and what we would do in a similar situation.
This idea is part of a complete Sunday School lesson on Zechariah meeting the angel Gabriel in Luke 1: 5 -25, as part of our series for advent and Christmas.
View the idea below...

What you need:
-
a bottle of medicine or a pot of pills
Let's start...
Activity
In the Bible story of Zechariah, we read about a visit from the angel Gabriel who brings an incredible message that seems impossible to believe. Zechariah and his wife are going to have a baby, even though they are both much too old. But how can they trust what the angel says?
Tell:
Zechariah is in the temple. Suddenly the angel Gabriel appears and tells him that he and his wife are going to have a baby. But wait a minute! That’s not possible! They’re both much too old! Can we trust what the angel Gabriel says?
Do:
Show the children the medicine bottle or pot. If you are ill you go to the doctor and they write a prescription out for you. You then take the prescription to the chemists – there a lady in a white coat prepares the medication for you and gives it to you.
Ask:
- Would you take this medicine?
- Why do you trust the doctor and the chemist?
Tell:
- Imagine you’re shopping with your parents. Suddenly someone comes up to you and gives you the bottle of medicine and tells you that you all have to drink it up that evening.
Ask:
- Would you do it? Why not?
- Why wouldn’t you trust that person?
Tell:
Zechariah wanted nothing more than to have a son, but he had given up his dream. It’s never going to happen. And suddenly an angel appears who tells him that it is’s going to happen.
Ask:
- Do you think that Zechariah should have trusted the angel?
- Is the angel more like the chemist or the person with the medicine that you meet while you are out shopping?
- What would you do?
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