Curriculum
Angels Watching Over Me
Memory Verse:
“Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door. He or- dered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.” Psalm 91:11-12
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
God knows everything and can do anything to protect us. King Herod wanted to kill Jesus, but God prevented that from happening, according to His plan.
Scripture Summary
The Magi (or wise men) were traveling, following the star, and looking for Jesus. When King Herod heard this, he was angry with jealousy. The Jewish people were anticipating the coming Messiah, and were calling Jesus the King of the Jews. Herod saw this as direct competition.
King Herod called for the Magi and asked them to report back to the king where they found Jesus. King Herod claimed he wanted to worship the child himself. After the wise men found Jesus, worshiped Him, and presented gifts, they returned home. The Magi returned using a different route because they were warned in a dream not to return to King Herod.
God knew to warn the Magi in a dream to change their plans to return home. He knew to send an angel to tell Joseph in a dream to pick up and move twice in the middle of the night. The details of these moves proved the fulfillment of specific prophecies from the Old Testament that Jesus was the Messiah.
King Herod’s evil plans were revealed when he was fooled by the Magi. King Herod then ordered all boys, aged two and under, to be killed.
Once King Herod had died and his evil reign had ceased, God sent another angel to Joseph letting him know it was safe to return.
Why Is This Important
God knows everything–even what’s in the hearts and minds of people and how that can change circumstances. Got protects his people and “determines their steps” according to His plan (Proverbs 16:9).
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
Recognizing Protection
“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” (Proverbs 16:9)
My sister teaches kindergarten and invites a firefighter to come and vis- it her classroom each year. They cover the basics of fire safety and even impress the kids with a fire truck tour. As the firefighter puts on her
full gear, she’s not just attempting another show-and-tell. The coarse fire-resistant fabric of a firefighter’s suit can feel bristly. The firefighter’s voice sounds more like a superhero villain than a rescuer. Allowing chil- dren to see, hear, and feel a firefighter in full gear helps them recognize a firefighter as a rescuer–not as someone to fear.
God protected His Son, Jesus, from King Herod’s attempts to kill Him. He came to the Magi in a dream to return home another way. He sent angels to Joseph multiple times with a message to gather his family and move in the middle of the night. God’s messages interrupted plans, caused sleepless nights, and potentially caused fear. His messages were instruments of protection for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. His messages saved Jesus’ life.
God also protects us–the dear children He loves. This protection is within His overall plan for our lives. His protection might not look like what we think it should, and His protection might cause some interruptions. But we can trust our Protector. As we continue to spend time with God and get to know Him, we’ll be better equipped to recognize His plan as a plan of protection.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for knowing everything. Thank You for knowing and loving me enough to know when I need protection. Help me trust You and Your plan of protection. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need:
An “Angels Watch- ing Over Me” card for each child
Get Ready:
Copy and cut apart the “Angels Watching Over Me” cards.
SAY: Today’s Bible memory verse sounds like a poem to me. So I’m going to give you this “Angels Watching Over Me” card to take home to remember that God protects you.
Give children the “Angels Watching Over Me” cards. Then read the memory verse:
“Evil can’t get close to you, harm can’t get through the door.
He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go.
If you stumble, they’ll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling.”
Psalm 91:11-12 (The Message)
Tell children they’re going to learn today’s Bible memory verse with actions. Lead them through saying the verse and making the motions in parentheses.
“Evil can’t get close to you, (wag your finger like you’re saying “no”) harm can’t get through the door. (cross your arms across your chest) He ordered his angels to guard you (wave arms like angel wings)
wherever you go. (sweep right arm out in front of your body from left to right)
If you stumble, they’ll catch you; (pretend to trip)
their job is to keep you from falling.” (stand up tall with hands on hips)
Psalm 91:11-12
Lead children in saying the verse multiple times. Encourage them to say the verse and motions for their families.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need:
Three places in your room to take children, A baby doll wrapped in a blanket, Bible
SAY: Today’s Bible lesson is going to have us on the run! And we’re on the run for good reason. After Jesus was born, King Herod threatened to find Jesus and kill Him. So something really amazing happened because God protected Jesus and His family. Get ready because we’re going to have to run from King Herod.
ASK: If you were going to need to run from your home, what’s one thing you would absolutely take with you? (Allow children to respond.)
SAY: When Jesus was born, Herod was King. (Hold the baby doll as though it’s baby Jesus.)
Paraphrase Matthew 2:12-13.
Get ready to run. Then read Matthew 2:14.
Excitedly, take children to another area of the room as you flee.
ASK: What do you think it would be like to have to run for your life?
Paraphrase Matthew 2:15.
SAY: Okay, we’re safe now so we can stay here. But awful things were happening back in Israel.
Paraphrase Matthew 2:16-18.
ASK: What do you think about what Herod was doing?
Paraphrase Matthew 2:19-21.
SAY: So let’s go back to where we were because it’s safe there now.
Return with the children to where you were originally. Paraphrase Matthew 2:21-23.
SAY: Wait! Joseph took his family to Galilee instead of Israel. So let’s go over there.
Take children to another area.
SAY: God sent angels to watch over His baby son and protect Him from harm. And God sends angels to watch over and protect children.
Paraphrase Matthew 18:10.
Snack
Edible Angel Snack
You’ll Need:
1 General Mills Bugle, 1 Rold Gold Tiny, Twist pretzel, 1 oyster cracker, 1 Cheerios cereal (any flavor), Paper plates, Napkins
Tell children they can create an angel with today’s ingredients. Children can make multiple angels.
Help children follow these directions.
- Lay the pretzel in the center of your plate. This will be the angel’s wings.
- Position the bugle with the wide part facing the bottom on your plate.
- On the pretzel wings, lay the bugle. This will be the angel’s body.
- Place the oyster cracker at the top of the narrow part of the bugle. This will be the angel’s head.
- Place the Cheerio on the oyster cracker. This will be the angel’s halo.
- Enjoy.
While children enjoy their snack, discuss:
- What do you know about angels?
- What did you learn about angels from today’s Bible lesson?
SAY: God loves us so much that He protects us. God sends His angels to watch over us and protect us.
Game
Angel Outline Game
You’ll Need: Large sheets of newsprint or butcher paper, Markers
Get Ready:
You’ll need adult volunteers to help outline the children on the paper
Have children take turns lying down on a sheet of newsprint. The adults can trace their body onto the newsprint.
Then give each child three different uncapped markers for each hand. Tell children to wave their arms up and down while coloring with their markers.
When they get up, they’ll see their beautiful wings. Write children’s names on their angel outlines to take home.
Craft
Escape to Egypt Coloring Pages
You’ll Need: “Escape to Egypt Coloring Page”, Water color paints, Paint brushes, Paper towels for cleanup
Give each child an “Escape to Egypt Coloring Page.” Encourage children to paint their picture. As they work on their coloring pages, remind children that God protected Jesus and His family just as God protects them and their family.
Prayer
Prayer of Protection
Form a circle. Then share a specific story about how God has protected you.
Ask children to think of ways that they, their families, or their friends need protection. Then lead them in the following prayer:
Dear God, thank You for protecting us. Thank You for sending angels when we need them. Today, we need Your protection for... (have children call out their prayers as you go around the circle).
Close with thanksgiving.
