Use this children’s Sunday School lesson to teach kids about helping others and the resurrection from the dead.
Needed: Bibles, a pile of clothes
Lesson Introduction Activity: Acting It Out
Divide students into groups of two or three. Give them a few minutes to think of their skit. Then, have each group act out what they think happens when someone dies. For more worksheets, songs, and Bible story videos – see the latest Tabitha Dorcas Resurrection Lesson (Acts 9:36-43) and Sunday School Activities.
Kids Bible Lesson: Peter Brings Tabitha Back to Life
Ask students, If somebody dies, can they come back life?
(Read Acts 9:36-37.)
“In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (in Greek her name is Dorcas); she was always doing good and helping the poor. About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room.”
Did Tabitha believe in Jesus? (Yes.)
What happened to her? (She got sick and died.)
Have you ever known anyone who got sick and died? (As the teacher, you should also share about someone who died.)
(Read Acts 9:38-39.)
“Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, ‘Please come at once!’
“Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.”
What good thing was Tabitha always doing for people? What were the people showing Peter? (Tabitha always used to make robes and clothes for poor people to wear.)
If you were poor, what color of robe would you want Tabitha to make for you?
Do you think it’s good to help other people who don’t have as much as we do? (Yes.)
(Read Acts 9:40-41.)
“Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, ‘Tabitha, get up.’ She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called for the believers, especially the widows, and presented her to them alive.”
What did Peter do for Tabitha? (He made her come back to life.)
Before Peter made her come back to life, what did he do? (He prayed.)
It’s very important to pray and ask God what He wants you to do. Peter didn’t know if God wanted to bring Tabitha back to life, so he had to pray and ask about it because God usually doesn’t bring people back to life when they die.
We know that one day, though, Jesus will come back and He will bring everyone who died back to life.
(Read Acts 9:42.)
“This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.”
When people saw that Tabitha had come back to life, what did they do? (They believed in Jesus.)
What Peter did for Tabitha was nice, but the best part was that people saw it and believed in Jesus. If people see us doing good things, maybe they will want to believe in Jesus, too. We can be a good example for people, just like Peter was.
What are some things that you can do to be a good example for other people to believe in Jesus? (Help other people, be good and don’t do bad things, tell people about Jesus, etc.)
Lesson Review Game: Tabitha’s Clothing Store
Assemble a large pile of old clothes. Pick one student to be Tabitha. Tabitha is “It.” Tabitha must take a piece of clothing from the pile and tag someone with it. When she tags someone, they have to take the piece of clothing and carry it with them. Tabitha then goes and gets another piece of clothing and tags someone else.
The round is over when Tabitha has gotten rid of the whole pile of clothes. Pick a new Tabitha and let them try. If the rounds are going too long, pick multiple Tabithas.
Lesson Activity Review Game: Resurrection Tag
Pick one student to be It. That student is Death. Pick another student to be Jesus. When Death tags someone, they fall down and lie on the ground like they’re dead. Jesus can then come to tag them, and they can get back up. If Death tags Jesus, Jesus must count to three (because Jesus was dead for three days), but can then get up again. If Jesus tags Death, the round is over. Play until everyone has had a chance to be both Death and Jesus or as long as time permits.
Remind students that Jesus will come back one day and will raise everyone who believes in Him back to life.
Closing Prayer for Children
Jesus, we thank You for giving Tabitha the idea to make clothes for poor people, and we pray that You’ll give us ideas to help people too. We also thank You for giving Peter the power to bring Tabitha back to life. We’re looking forward to the time when You will come back and raise everyone who believes in You back to life. Amen.
You can also find this lesson for Kindle or in print in my book, The Rock.