The 4th of July is a major holiday in the United Sates. It’s officially called Independence Day. The celebration relates to our freedom as a nation. The Fourth ties in themes of patriotism, loyalty, thankfulness, and the belief that freedom is a gift from God.
Lesson Plans about Freedom
- Freedom from Sin (John 8:32) This lesson plan shows how obedience and faith in Christ can overcome the power of sinful habits in our lives. No-hassle lesson format makes this one easy to teach with very little preparation or supplies. Ideal for Sunday School or Children’s Church.
- Freedom in Christ Children’s Sermon (John 8) This shorter lesson has a strong evangelistic emphasis. You could combine it with other resources listed below to build a custom lesson plan for the 4th of July.
- Freedom Isn’t Free from Sermons 4 Kids website
Fourth of July Craft Ideas.
- We’ve posted a “Pray for Your Leaders” coloring pages helps enforce the main Christian duty under any government is to seek God’s blessing for their fellow citizens.
- We also created a new “God Bless America” coloring sheet. This one featured a diverse group of children’s faces and images of both city & town. We expect to post some new 4th of July coloring pages each summer.
- The Guildcraft blog has posted some printable God Bless America crafts ~ patriotic flag and patriotic fan
- Danielle’s place has several fourth of July craft ideas
More Ideas for the 4th
- Devotional Christian has posted a list of Bible verses about freedom. Use these to add a scriptural message to any of the crafts above.
- Check out the Patriotic Zone on Kidology. The materials there require a membership, but the resources are excellent.
- Use the Wordless Book to teach kids about freedom from sin through Jesus Christ.
You could modify our lesson on Thankfulness to highlight the blessings of living in a strong, secure, and free nation like America. We also have a lesson on the Passover that deals with themes of national freedom. I know those are long shots, but someone might find them useful.
Make It About God
One danger of doing patriotic crafts in church is losing focus on God. Be sure to explain that our country is a gift from God. Not all believers live in a secure and free nation like America. At the same time, America is a nation for all people even those who do not know Jesus. Offer prayers to God giving thanks and also pray for other nations who do not enjoy freedom. Don’t let the kids mistake patriotism for piety.
More Ideas from our FaceBook Page
I asked readers to give me their best 4th of July Ideas and here is how they responded.
Sherry Maycock: If its about indepencence and freedom you could relate it to how we have our freedom from sin and eternal life because of Jesus death on the cross.Does that help at all?Regards Australia.C.R.C.
Lin Pearson: Tony, you are right “I never want to teach kids that patriotism = piety.” Thinking about patriotism, it can so easily descend into triumphalism, what we in the UK call jingoism ( a beligerent attitude), into empire building and a “we are the best in the world”, forgetting that every blessing our lands have is a gift from God, by his grace.
I agree wuith Sherry that the 4th is a day to remember real freedom and the One who bought it for us at such a cost.
Kerry Tastinger: You could also talk about Moses and the exodus.
Sherry Maycock MAYBE YOU COULD TEACH THEM ABOUT HOW THEY WERE RESCUED BY THERE INDEPENDECE THE SAME AS GOD Rescued us.Games teach them about rescuing by using the blow up rings you float in swimming,having one pretending to be in the water and the other throwing the ring over them to rescue.Hope that this is of some assistance.Sorry about the typing its very late here 12:12am at night.Regards AustraliaC.R.C.
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Our Big Church sermon this week will testamonies from our youth on a mission to the inner city this past week where they helped at children’s camps and repairing homes. The bible verse for the week is 1 John 3:18. Love in action rather than just words. Thinking of using a flag that draped my grandfather’s coffin to help connect love in action with independence day. And how we don’t have to go to war to show our love for our fellow man, but that we can do it with service.
I like to do the whole play on words thing and stress that we all are IN DEPENDENCE of Christ…He’s our everything…we need to depend on Him daily and when tough times come we are IN DEPENDENCE of Him minute-by-minute!
Jenny and Lin,
Thank you for your comments!! I am taking those two ideas for my children’s sermon tomorrow!!
Tony,
Praise God for your ministry. Our Primary class is benefitting from the color pages every Sunday attached to the weekly Sunday School lesson, which is so appropriate for each holiday. I have shared the site with the Children’s Chruch staff who are so appreciative of your contributions also. Bless you!!
Gloria
Hi Tony,
I think I asked last year about anyone who highlights our forefathers and their Christianity at this time of year. I don’t have any great lesson plans but sure would love to hear if others use this idea. I’m using parts of the movie: Discovering America’s Founders (Drive thru History with Dave Stotts) and doing a patriotic craft and just talking to the kids about how, in difficult times, their faith was strong and huge prayers were answered in the formation of our nation. Thanks for all you do and your great resources.
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