This lesson teaches children that Jesus came from a long family line of God’s people, and that his name means “God with us.” It is written for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, including the story, the memory verse, and one activity.
Big Idea
God kept his promises for hundreds of years, and Jesus came as God’s own Son to be with us and to save us from our sins.
Memory Verse
Matthew 1:21
She shall give birth to a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins.”
(WEB)
Have children stand up and put both hands over their hearts when they say “Jesus” and then open their arms wide when they say “save his people.” Practice the motion together three times so the words and the movement stay linked.
The Story: Matthew 1 for Kids
Long, long ago, God made a promise to a man named Abraham. God said that a great family would come from him. Years passed, and that family grew into a nation with many kings. One of the most famous kings was King David, who loved God and wrote many songs to him.
Many generations went by after David. Some of the kings were good, and some were not. God’s people sometimes forgot about him, but God never forgot about them. The Bible lists each father and son in this family line, all the way from Abraham to a man named Joseph.
Joseph was engaged to a young woman named Mary. Before they were married, Mary was going to have a baby. Joseph was a good man, and he did not want to shame Mary, so he planned to quietly step away from the engagement.
While Joseph was sleeping, an angel of the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, “Joseph, don’t be afraid to marry Mary. The baby in her is from the Holy Spirit.” The angel told Joseph to name the baby Jesus, because Jesus would save God’s people from their sins.
When Joseph woke up, he did exactly what the angel told him. He took Mary as his wife, and they named their baby Jesus. The baby was born, and his name means “God is with us.” God had kept his promise to send a Savior.
Read It Together
Matthew 1:1
The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.
(WEB)
Point out that this verse is the title of the whole family story. Ask children to notice the two names given, David and Abraham, and explain that both were chosen by God to be part of this promise.
Matthew 1:18-19
18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was like this: After his mother, Mary, was engaged to Joseph, before they came together, she was found pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her husband, being a righteous man, and not willing to make her a public example, intended to put her away secretly.
(WEB)
Show children how Joseph is described as a righteous man who chose kindness. Explain that doing the right thing sometimes means being gentle and careful with other people’s feelings.
Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and shall give birth to a son. They shall call his name Immanuel”; which is, being interpreted, “God with us.”
(WEB)
Read the name Immanuel aloud and explain it means “God with us.” Remind children that this name tells us God wanted to be close to his people, not far away.
Talk About It
- What is one name in this family line that you already know a story about?
- How do you think Joseph felt when the angel came to him in his dream?
- Why do you think God wanted to send Jesus to be with us?
- What does it feel like to know that God is always with you?
- How can you show kindness to someone the way Joseph showed kindness to Mary?
Activity Ideas
Family Tree Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Have children draw a simple tree with Abraham at the bottom and Jesus at the top, adding a few names from the family line such as Isaac, Jacob, and David. Let them color each branch and write the names as best they can, then talk about how the family grows across the years.
Angel Messenger Relay
You will need a small open space and a folded paper “message” for each child. Have children line up and pass a message from one end of the room to the other, pretending to be the angel bringing news to Joseph. When the message reaches the end, have the last child read the words aloud: “God is with us.”
Take-Home Name Card
You will need an index card, a marker, and a sticker or two. Ask children to write the word Immanuel on the card and draw a small heart beside it. Encourage them to place the card somewhere they will see it each morning, such as on the bathroom mirror or by their bed, as a reminder that God is with them every day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God kept his promises across many generations, even through periods of failure and unfaithfulness. The genealogy includes ordinary people and some surprising names, which reminds us that God works through imperfect people to bring about his plans. The angel’s message to Joseph also shows that Jesus is both fully human, through his earthly family line, and the Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit.
When teaching children, avoid overstating the details of the family line or turning the genealogy into a long list to memorize. Keep the focus on the big truths: God keeps his promises, and Jesus is God with us. Also be careful not to imply that Joseph’s dream was an everyday experience for believers, since this was a unique moment in the story.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank you for keeping every promise you have ever made. Thank you for sending Jesus to be with us and to save us from our sins. Help us remember that you are always close to us, and help us love you and others every day. Amen.
