Kids Bible lessons and ministry resources that teach from the New Testament book of Ephesians.
The Armor of God is a fun visual to talk about with students, but it is important to communicate what it truly means, as well. As frightening as it might sound, there are evil forces at work in the world around us. The good news is that we know God protects and provides for us, no matter what. This message uses some protective “gear” to exemplify the importance and meaning of being protected from harm. Our spiritual
How do we protect ourselves spiritually? What is God’s Armor, and how do we clothe ourselves with it? These crafts are just a few fun examples of how to make great visual reminders of the elements that make up the Armor of God. A paper plate serves as the base for a “shield” of faith; a headband makes a “helmet” of salvation, and a paper towel tube offers a great start to a “sword” of the spirit.
Children can relate to the concept of admiring soldiers…whether the idea of armor comes from ancient Roman days, Medieval knights, or modern day military and police, donning a protective uniform is something kids appreciate. Wearing defensive gear offers a visual analogy to spiritual armor. It’s important to share with students that there is spiritual warfare going on around us. This might seem like an uncomfortable or frightening thought. However, when we know that God is on our
This message aims to describe for children what wisdom means and where it comes from. Young people might think of wisdom as mere knowledge or “head smarts”, but true wisdom comes from the heart. Wisdom is something that we should desire because God wants us to have it and practice using it. The message uses practical objects and misconceptions to elaborate on what wisdom is. Law/Gospel Theme: God wants us to act as wise and not foolish
What is wisdom? How do we get it and use it, and why is it important? Youngsters might imagine wisdom to be synonymous with intelligence, but it is helpful to explain that wisdom comes from the Lord, and that it involves decisions and discernment. These crafts highlight those principles. A “Decision Bag” allows children to create a re-usable tool for making choices. A “Treasure Box” reminds kids that wisdom is a true treasure. And an owl puppet
What is wisdom? How do we know what choices are best? Can we make ourselves wise? Young students may or may not have encountered such considerations in their lives, but they are worth discussion. Kids should understand what wisdom is and where it comes from. They can learn the importance of discernment, even at an early age. The story of King Solomon is a great opportunity to contemplate wisdom and recognize that it is a treasure from
This message addresses a beautiful passage in Ephesians, which reminds us to “put on Christ” as we focus on living in ways that are kind and truthful, rather than lashing out in anger. The key principle of this message focuses on what it means to imitate Jesus. When we imitate something, we mimic or copy it, recognizing that we are not the thing itself, but that we can represent it. When we imitate Jesus, we know we
What does it mean to imitate Jesus? How do we build others up with kindness and tenderheartedness? Is it a sin to be angry? This beautiful passage from Ephesians emphasizes the importance of genuine kindness. These crafts reiterate the significance of building each other up in love and controlling our reactions to emotion by focusing on Jesus. A “flipside of anger mask” reminds kids that we should imitate Christ, and not dwell on anger. An “anger stress
“Be kind”…we say it often, but what does it mean? How do we describe and encourage love and kindness in students, and how do we explain the importance of imitating Jesus, despite our troublesome human nature? It can be challenging to re-shape the naturally self-centered habits of children, but it’s important to provide them with God’s word as an example of how we ought to live. Kids can observe and explore how beautiful it is to love
This message uses a plant-based object lesson to communicate to students the importance of having a firm foundation in the love of Jesus. Being “rooted” in Christ means dwelling in Him and gathering strength and nourishment from Him, just as plants set forth roots and are nourished by soil. It can be challenging for youngsters to fully grasp the metaphor of dwelling in Christ, but a practical visual helps to explain how we can be filled with
What is my purpose? Young children might not worry too much about a grand plan or purpose for their lives, but it’s still meaningful to communicate to them that God loves them and has chosen them for something important. We might not know much about the future, but we can be confident that God promises us amazing blessings, and that He has a plan for us that was known long before we were even born! Lesson focus:
We recognize the precious blessing that we are sons and daughters of God. He has chosen us and made us part of His family, which reminds us that we are heirs to His kingdom and deeply loved by Him! These are beautiful truths that children need to know and embrace. These crafts aim to help students recall who they are in Christ and know that they have a special purpose. An “up-cycled instrument” uses simple materials in
Young students might not yet be wrestling with the question of life purpose, but every child seeks to be known and loved. Whether or not they have strong relationships with family, it’s important for kids to know that they are chosen by God and adopted into His family. This message reminds students that God has a special plan and purpose for them, and that He has always cared for them and will continue to do so. The
God is our Shield (Ephesians 6) Lesson #34 in What is God Like? AGE GROUP: elementary (ages 6-11)TIME REQUIRED: 45 minutes This is lesson 34 of 42 in our study on the Attributes of God called “Can you tell me what God is like?” Visit the series index to view all the lessons and get more ideas for using this curriculum in your children’s ministry. LESSON 34: GOD IS OUR SHIELD Key Verse: “My shield is God Most
This free coloring page is based on the Book of Ephesians. It’s one part of our series of illustrations for each individual book of the Bible. Click here to download the print friendly PDF version. We’ve also uploaded the image in JPEG format. The illustration captures the theme from Ephesians 4:4-6. There is one body and spirit… one hope… one Lord, one faith, one baptism. We will add a series index one we have several books online. For now
Our new lesson for 2024 Mother’s Day includes a coloring page, object lesson, word search, easy-to-teach lesson plan, and craft ideas for honoring mom. This simple lesson plan for Mother’s Day is based on Ephesians 6:1-3. The PDF download includes 6 original coloring pages and a printable game about biblical mothers. Don’t miss the 10-page coloring book for Mother’s Day with talking point questions to turn craft time into a teaching moment. I’ve written This simple lesson
The circle of blessing is a fun way to illustrate the promise God makes to children in the 5th commandment. Use this for a fun children’s sermon on mother’s day or father’s day (or in any lesson on the 5th commandment. Supplies Needed: Circle of about 3ft diameter. I used a piece of rope attached to the floor with masking tape. A large hula-hoop would also work. Squirt-gun or plastic spray bottle. You could use a sports
Here is a lesson plan on the Bible verse that says children obey your parents. I wrote it for a chapel service at our Christian school. There were about 40 kids from preschool to 5th grade in the room. Because the children have a strong background of Bible knowledge I wanted to focus on heart application. The whole lesson is build around an extended object lesson about obeying your parents. About 7 years ago, I read about
