This free Bible lesson for children teaches children about being close to God. It’s based on passages in John 8:32, Deuteronomy 11:18, and Romans 12:9-10.
Lesson Title: In God’s Hands
Bible Reference: John 8:32, Deuteronomy 11:18, Romans 12:9-10
Target Age Group: Elementary School
Learning Context: Sunday School
Target Time Frame: One Hour
Memory Verse: “Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.” Deuteronomy 11:18
Gospel Connection: This lesson strives to teach children that they should always be close to God. The illustration of a balloon will be used to teach them what life is like when they are grounded in God’s word. The balloon itself represents the child. The child is free to do anything in life. The string attached to the balloon is the child’s family, friends and church. The string represents all of the people that support and guide the child through life and closer to God. The hand that is holding the string represents God. God is what keeps the child grounded in life. Without God’s gentle guidance the child would be lost. The balloon (child) is still free to move and do as they please, but the closer they are to God (the hand) the safer they are. Therefore, God has set us free, but we must be near God and in His will to truly be free.
Learning Aim:
- Children will learn that God has set them free.
- They will also learn that should be close to God.
Basic Supply List:
- Bible
- One helium filled balloon
- Extra balloons
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Colored pencils
- Masking tape (to make start and finish lines)
- Straws
- Scissors
Note: In the teaching plan below the words in italics are meant to be read aloud. The regular text is simply directions for the teacher.
> > > > Basic Teaching Plan < < < <
Introduction: As the kids arrive, greet them and guide them to play the ever popular game where they have to keep a balloon from touching the floor. You might want to have an extra balloon ready in case the first one pops. Let the kids play until the whole class has arrived and you are ready to start the lesson.
Once you are ready for the lesson to start have the whole class sit down and show them a balloon. This balloon needs to be filled with helium and tried with a string. Ask, How can a balloon like this teach us about God? Allow the kids to answer and then tell them that we are about to find out.
Biblical Evidence:
The first part of the illustration is the balloon. Show the children the balloon and explain, Let’s pretend that you are a balloon. You are full of life, like the balloon is full of air. You have the freedom to move anywhere in the world simply because you are free. You could go anywhere in the world that you want to go, but you don’t because you know it wouldn’t be safe. For example, you don’t go to the other side of the street without a parent because you know that it would not be safe. You are like a balloon that is free to go your own way. Think about a balloon without a string, it would fly up into the sky and be lost. The balloon needs its string to keep it safe and grounded. You need people in your life, like your parents and Sunday school leader, to guide you and keep you safe in life. The string that the balloon is attached to is like the people in your life that you need to keep you safe and close to God. Like the balloon, you are still free to move and do as you please, but they keep you away from danger. Lastly, we have the hand that is holding the string that is holding the balloon. This hand is like God’s hand. If the hand lets go of the string, the balloon will be lost. Without God holding us and keeping us where we need to be we would also be lost. The Bible teaches us that God is our strength. We cannot do anything without him. Let’s look at what the Bible says about. Read John 8:32. Just like the balloon we are free from our sins when we entrust God with our lives. Read Romans 12:9-10. This verse tells us that we should be devoted to one another and love one another because we are Christians. We should help each other stay close to God. Think about the people in your life who keep you close to God. Without them, you would be lost. Now read Deuteronomy 11:18. This verse tells us that we are to be close to God. We should bind his words on our hearts and our minds. If we truly want to be free, we must be close to God. Just like how the balloon must remain connected to the hand that holds it, because if the hand lets go then the balloon will fly away and eventually pop.
Balloon Pictures: Make a picture to go along with the story. Use construction paper to trace each child’s hand. Cut out the hand print and paste it to the bottom of another piece of construction paper. Have the kids glue a piece of string to picture that is connected to the hand and a balloon (either not blown up at all, or only blown up a little bit) that has been attached to the top of the page. Write the bible verse at the top of the page and have the kids color the background if you want them to.
Balloon Race: To play this game, divide the class into two teams. Create a starting line and a finish line. This is a relay race. The class must use a straw to blow a balloon across the floor to the finish line, and then back to their team. The first team to finish is the winner.
Review the Lesson: Use the following questions to review the lesson with the class. Stay each statement and have them stand up if the statement is true and stay sitting if it is false.
- God wants us to be free. True.
- God wants us to depend on Him. True.
- God wants us to hate our friends and enemies. False
- Romans 12:9-10 tells us that God wants us to be devoted to each other in love. True
- God does not want us to be concerned about other Christians. False
- God does not want to be close to us. False.
- Deuteronomy 11:18 says that we should bind the words of God on our hearts and minds. True
- We are safest when we stay near God. True
Conclusion: Close by praying for each child and asking God to be close to each of them. Give each child a high five as they leave and remind them to stay close to God.