Bible Studies for Life | Kids Leader Training Podcast

Paul and Silas were inprisoned while in Philippi. They knew God was with them and they continued to praise God and tell others about Jesus even in their difficult circumstances. Missionaries rely on God's Holy Spirit to help them as they work to tell about Jesus. The Holy Spirit also helps people in churches tell about Jesus to the people in their communities.

God said to set apart Saul (Paul) and Barnabas for His special work. This session will lead kids to know that some people today are called by God to leave their homes and go to other places to tell about Jesus. Missionaries may work in their own country or travel to other countries. Help kids know how they can support missionaries to help people all over the world know about Jesus.

Kids: This session will lead kids to understand that the church is more than a building; it's the group of Christians who gather to worship and live for God. Paul heard about the conflicts and disputes in the Corinthian church. He wrote a letter to help them know what to do and how to live together. Christians can trust God to help them know what to do and how to live when they read Scriptures and pray to Him. This session will focus on Paul's teachings to help the church to show love and glory to God through all they do, especially in ways they resolve conflicts and disunity.

Jesus saw the widow's “small” gift among the other gifts dropped into the offering boxes. He noted that her gift was all she had. Jesus taught that giving should represent worship and honor to God, reflecting the giver's heart. Giving offerings is an act of worship. Giving offerings also supports the work of God in the church and around the world. This session will help kids understand that giving money, food, etc. are important parts of worship and working for God. Also, help them understand that offerings include time and talents - other ways to support God's work.

Kids: Worship is responding to God and what He has done. Isaiah was worshiping and had an experience with God. Isaiah responded and wanted to do whatever God told him to do. When people worship God, they should be open to hearing and learning from Him. This session will help kids understand that worship is more than just coming to church or doing certain things. True worship leads to a response in the worshiper.Preschool: God told Moses and the people to build the tabernacle. They learned what God said to do, and they did it. They worked together to gather materials and build the tabernacle. This session will lead kids to understand that people in church today listen and learn about God. They work together to do God's work. These things are a part of worshiping God. 

The church should praise and glorify God in its worship. God calls Christians to worship together corporately. This session will lead kids to think about corporate worship at your church.  

Jesus' death and resurrection fulfilled the promises of God. Prophets wrote about what would happen, and Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. On the road to Emmaus, Jesus used the Scriptures to show the two disciples that He is the Messiah. All the law and prophets are fulfilled in Jesus.

This session will focus on the resurrection of Jesus. We can help kids think about Easter, the time we celebrate that Jesus is alive and thank God for what Jesus did. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus is the center of the gospel. We deserve to die because of our sin, but Jesus died in our place. God was pleased with Jesus' sacrifice and raised Jesus from the dead to reign as King over all creation. We are forgiven only through Jesus.

Jesus, God's Son, came to be the Messiah and the Savior. Prophets wrote about what would happen, and Jesus fulfilled those prophecies. The way He entered Jerusalem fulfilled prophecy. When the people praised Him, they used words that reflected the promise of the Messiah. This session will emphasize to the kids that what was written in the law and by the prophets was fulfilled in Jesus' life and death. 

In His final supper with the disciples, Jesus explained God's plan of salvation—that Jesus would die as punishment for sins. The disciples did not understand it at the time, but later they continued the practice of remembering Jesus' death and payment for sin through the Lord's Supper. This session will guide kids to understand that Christians today continue to remember Jesus' sacrifice through observance of the Lord's Supper in their churches.

Paul faced dangers and difficulties as he told about Jesus. The Holy Spirit even assured Paul that he would arrive to preach in Rome. Christians in any community may have challenges as they tell about Jesus. This session will help kids realize that God wants Christians to tell the good news about Jesus, even when it is difficult. The Holy Spirit will be with them, no matter what they face.

Kids: The Holy Spirit is in the world today, working God's will. This session will guide kids to understand that the Holy Spirit helps people understand God's plan of salvation and guides Christians to live in ways that glorify God. This session will emphasize the fruit of the Spirit helping kids understand that these are results of the Spirit active in the life of a Christian.Preschool: The words in the Bible are God's words. God led people to write the words that we read in the Bible. Paul was one of the men who wrote words that are in our Bible. Many of the words that Paul wrote tell us how to live and what to do. Paul wrote a letter to a friend about what he should do. The words in the Bible are God's message to people today so they can learn what God wants His people to do and know what are right things to do.

Peter wrote that the message of Jesus is not myths and legends. The message preached is from those who witnessed what Jesus did. In addition, the prophetic word is not from men but from God through the Holy Spirit. This session will help children know that the words in the Bible were inspired by God and were written by those led by the Holy Spirit to write them.

The Holy Spirit led Philip to the desert road. Philip met a God-fearing Ethiopian who was reading the prophet Isaiah. The Ethiopian was reading prophecies of Jesus! Philip told the good news of Jesus, and the Ethiopian believed! This session will lead kids to understand the role of the Holy Spirit and the use of God's Word, the Bible, in the Ethiopian's conversion. The Holy Spirit leads Christians to tell the good news of Jesus, the Savior. Christians preach and teach the Bible. People respond to the Holy Spirit and trust Jesus as Savior. 

God sent John to foretell the coming of Jesus, the Messiah. Prophets in the Old Testament told that the forerunner would come. This session will help kids understand that John told about Jesus, God's Son, and some people believed. Jesus came to be baptized by John. This session we can help kids understand the presence of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' baptism. We can emphasize that the Old Testament told that John and Jesus would come and they did. The entire Bible tells people about God's salvation plan and people hear and respond to the Bible message with guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the wall. Even when they faced opposition, they chose to focus on their task and not retaliate against their detractors. Often people have conflicts and look for ways to hurt others, both physically and in other ways. Nehemiah protected his people but did not seek ways to injure the other kings. This session will guide kids to think about how they can respond to others in right ways. 

Kids: God chose Samson before his birth. Examining Samson's life, kids can see the different choices he made. Samson chose to treat people with revenge and anger. This session will lead kids to understand that God's people should respond in ways that honor God.Preschool: David remembered his friendship and promises to Jonathan; David was kind to Jonathan's son. This session will lead kids to think of loving ways they could be kind to people around them.

Kids: David's men had treated Nabal's men with kindness. Later, Nabal refused to give food to David's men. An angry David wanted to hurt Nabal, but Abigail intervened and prevented David's rash actions. This session can lead kids to think about the different choices that each person made. We can talk about the consequences of the choices and help kids understand that how they choose to treat others will have consequences.Preschool: David and Jonathan formed a strong friendship. Jonathan helped David, even when it upset his father, the king. This session will help kids think about how they could choose to be good friends to others, even in difficult times.

Kids: King Saul wanted to kill David. But David refused to harm Saul, God's chosen leader. This session can lead kids to understand that people choose to treat others in ways that follow God or displease and dishonor God (sin). We can help kids know people are responsible for the choices they make.Preschool: David played his harp for King Saul whenever Saul was disturbed. This helped Saul feel better. This session will lead kids to understand that they can do things to help others. They can use whatever abilities they have to help and show love.

Kids: Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard me. I know that you always hear me, but because of the crowd standing here I said this, so that they may believe you sent me.” This session can remind kids that God still hears our prayers today.  Preschool: Jesus prayed to God in the garden. People today can pray to God, too. God hears people when they pray to Him. God wants people to talk to Him and ask Him for help. This session can help kids begin to understand that God always answers in ways that are best.

When the people returned to Judah, they began to worship God in the place where the temple had been. They began to rebuild the temple. As the new foundation for the temple was laid, the people praised and shouted to God. This session can help kids understand that God's people should worship and praise Him. God hears the praise and worship of His people. We can lead kids to think about ways families worship God, both at church and at home or away from church.

Kids: Elijah had just had the “showdown” with the prophets of Baal. Even as strong a man of God as Elijah was, he became afraid when he heard that Jezebel wanted him dead. God heard Elijah's cry out to Him. God kept Elijah safe, fed, and gave him comfort and assurance. This session can lead kids to understand that God hears all prayers. God will answer prayers according to His divine understanding (and may not answer as we ask or want.)Preschoolers: Before Jesus fed the crowd with just a small amount of food, He prayed and thanked God. God responded, and all the people had food to eat. This session can guide kids to understand the importance of praying to God. God hears people pray.

David built the tabernacle so the people would have a more permanent place to worship God. David brought the ark of the covenant, the symbol of God's presence, into the tabernacle. David and the people praised and thanked God. David prayed a prayer of thanksgiving. This session can help lead kids to understand that God wants people to thank Him, and God hears those prayers.

This session will focus on Jesus' growth as part of God's plan. In His visit to the temple, Jesus said He was about His Father's business. From an early age, Jesus began to fulfill God's plan of salvation.

Foreign astrologers recognized a significant birth with the appearance of a star. Prophecy came into play again as Herod's advisors found the birthplace of the Savior in Scripture (Micah). The focus of this session is Herod's threat, the flight to Egypt, and God's protection of Jesus so He could grow and fulfill God's plan. 

This session will lead kids to focus on the facts of the Christmas story, learning that Jesus' birth is part of God's plan to send a Savior. 

This session will connect God's choice of Mary and Joseph as the family for Jesus with the prophecies about the Messiah. God promised that a virgin would give birth to the Messiah, and He chose Mary. God promised that the Messiah would be part of David's family and chose Joseph to raise Jesus.

This session will help kids understand that the prophets told about Jesus' birth hundreds of years before Jesus came. God planned to send a Messiah, His Son, and told that the special child would be born. The prophets wrote this message, and people waited for the Messiah.

God did not just create the universe and leave it to operate on its own. This session will guide kids to understand that God works throughout creation. He provides for His creation. He continues to work His plan in the world today. We can help kids understand that God is at work in creation (even when “bad” things happen). 

Kids: This session will guide kids to understand that even though God created people to have a relationship with Him, Adam and Eve made a deliberate choice to break that relationship through disobedience. They chose to eat from the tree that God had forbidden. Sin resulted in their ejection from the garden. Each person today continues to make the choice to sin and needs the Savior to have a relationship with God.Preschool: This session will guide kids to understand that God made people and that people were different from the animals and other things that God made. God placed the people in the garden and told them to take care of it. 

Kids: This session will lead kids to understand that God created people—man and woman. God created people in His image, unlike anything else He created. God placed people in charge of His creation, to care for it and rule over it. Preschool: This session will lead kids to understand that God made all the animals to live in the world He made. Guide kids to think about all the different kinds of fish, birds, and animals that God made. God created everything, and it was very good.

Kids: Kids hear lots of different ideas on the beginning of creation. This session will emphasize that nothing existed but God in the beginning. God created everything through His word and His deliberate action.Preschool: This session will emphasize that God made everything in the world and the universe. Nothing existed but God in the beginning. God created everything.

Kids: Elijah called for a showdown between God and Baal on Mount Carmel. God responded in a mighty way. He is the only God, who deserves honor and obedience. This session will help kids think about things that may compete for the attention that God deserves (sports, school, gaming, friends). We can stress that God is the one we should obey, not other things.  Preschool: God stopped the rain, and God sent the rain again three years later. God can do anything. God can do things that people cannot do. This session will emphasize some of the things that God can do and how God is good to people today. They can learn that no one is like God; He is the only God. 

This session will lead kids to realize that the culture and world around them is often hostile to God and His will. Help kids understand that people are tempted to make choices against God. But God will be with His people always, even when they face challenging circumstances. Emphasize that God is faithful.

God called Gideon. Gideon listened to what God said to do. Gideon obeyed God and achieved a great victory for God. This session will guide kids to understand God's hand in all that happened—the choice of Gideon, choice of the army, choice of tactics. We can lead kids to know that God is over all that happens and nothing happens that is out of God's control or out of His power. This session will emphasize that God is powerful. 

Moses saw a miraculous thing—the burning bush that was not consumed. God spoke to Moses, telling him that God knew what was happening to His people and was sending Moses to free them from Egypt. This session will help kids understand that people can believe and trust the words of God. God fulfills His promises. We can emphasize that God is trustworthy. 

Kids: Paul saw something that Peter did that was not right. Peter chose to act in a way that seemed to exclude the Gentile believers. Paul told Peter the right things to do. This session will help kids understand that they (and all people) will be faced with making choices that honor God or do not honor God. Christians should choose to do those things that are right and honor God.Preschool: Jesus called Matthew. He also chose to go and eat at Matthew's house. Jesus loved every person. Jesus loved people that others didn't. We will lead kids to understand that people can choose to show love to all people. Loving others is a right choice. With older preschoolers, we will talk about people who may be difficult to love. 

A young ruler came to talk with Jesus. Although the Bible does not tell what the rich man chose to do, he went away very sad. People can choose not to follow God, or they can choose to follow God. Each choice has consequences, and people are responsible for the choices they make.

Jesus visited His friends Mary and Martha. Note the two different ways the women chose to respond to Jesus' visit. Martha worked on preparations; Mary sat and listened. Jesus stressed the importance of what Mary was doing. This session will help kids understand that every day they will be faced with making choices–some which follow God and some which do not. We can help them understand that God helps His people make good choices.

Daniel faced a crisis. The king sent food from his table for the men to eat, food that was unclean to Jews. Daniel chose to follow God's Word, even when it was risky. This session will emphasize to kids that obedience to God is a choice. They can understand what God wants people to do. They can choose to obey or disobey God. We can help kids understand that they will face difficulties, especially when they try to live in obedience to God. This session will lead them to know that God will give them strength during difficult times.

Kids: Before Moses died, he laid hands on Joshua, signifying that Joshua was God's choice as the new leader. Joshua listened to God as he became the leader. Joshua continued to choose to listen to God and follow God's instructions as he led the people into Canaan. This session will help kids understand that God's people choose to use their abilities to follow God and honor God.Preschool: God made people able to make choices. People can make right and wrong choices. Joshua and Caleb made the right choice; they wanted to obey God. But the people of Israel chose to disobey God and not go into the land He told them to go to. They had to face consequences for disobeying. People today make right and wrong choices. Help kids begin to understand that every choice has a consequence. Also, stress that no one can always do what God says; everyone makes wrong choices. God loves people and will forgive them when they do make wrong choices. God wants people to obey Him. 

Jesus helped His disciples in a miraculous way. Jesus, through His power, showed love for His friends and helped them have what they needed. This session will help kids understand that no matter what our needs are, Jesus has the power to fulfill them. We can guide older kids to see the miracle of forgiveness and restoration to Peter as Jesus tells him to feed his sheep.  

Kids will learn that Jesus is God's Son, and He can heal diseases and sicknesses as only God can. In this case, Jesus did not heal Lazarus while he was sick; Jesus came and restored Lazarus to life! Jesus taught through these miracles that He is the Messiah sent by God. This session can help kids know that Jesus has the power to heal people, but not all people are healed physically on earth. That is a hard concept to kids who have lost a parent or loved one to illness.  Preschoolers can learn that Jesus made people well (healed) and did the other things He did because He is God's Son. Jesus also showed God's love to others when He made them well.

Kids will learn that the power of Jesus extends over all creation, and all obey His commands. We can emphasize that Jesus is not like any other man who lived on earth. He was fully God and fully man. Because He is God's Son, Jesus could do mighty things. 

This session will help kids understand that Jesus was God in human form so He could do things that no man could do. We can lead kids to know that the signs and miracles that Jesus did helped people understand that He is God's Son. In this session, we can introduce and define the word miracle.  Preschoolers will learn that Jesus helped people because He loved them. He also showed God's love for people by the ways He helped.  We can lead preschoolers to think about the different ways that Jesus helped people. 

Kids will learn that it is important to listen to what God's Word says, but it is much more important to obey it and do what it says. This session will challenge kids to put God's words into action. We can guide them to think about specific ways they can follow God's words in how they live. Preschoolers will learn about the time Jesus read the Scriptures. In the Nazareth synagogue, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah. He told the people that the prophet's words were about Him. We can emphasize that Jesus taught that words in the Bible scrolls told about Him and the things He would do.

Kids will learn about when Jesus read the Scriptures. In the Nazareth synagogue, Jesus read from the prophet Isaiah. He told the people that the prophet's words were fulfilled in Him. We can emphasize that Jesus taught that He is the Messiah and Savior. Preschoolers will learn about Josiah. Josiah learned about God's commands from the discovered Bible scroll. God's words in the Bible tell people what God wants them to do. People should learn and obey the Bible's words. However, people can choose to obey the Bible or choose to disregard it. The session will help preschoolers know that the Bible can help them know what is right and wrong.

Kids will begin to learn that people can trust the Bible and its message because the Bible is from God. His Word is flawless! God is our helper and always with us.Preschoolers will begin to understand that the Bible writers wrote words about God.  We can lead them to thank and praise God for the Bible. 

Kids will be learning about Psalm 104. This psalm describes and praises God as Creator. We can lead kids to explore what this psalm says about God, His power, His dominion over all the earth. This session is a good bridge between the last unit (about God) and this one about the Bible.Preschoolers will begin to understand that all the stories in the Bible are true and really happened. We can lead them to know that the Bible is God's message to people. The words of the Bible are God's words. The Ten Commandments are the words God gave to Moses. 

Samuel obeyed God and followed God's plan to anoint a new king. God's choice was unexpected–the youngest son, David. God knows what is best; He sees and knows beyond what people do. David submitted to the plan God had for his life. This session we can lead kids to understand that God's power extends to knowing all things. Help the kids know that they can rely on what God says and does.

Early in his reign as king, Saul made choices that disobeyed God. Saul's disobedience led to God taking the kingdom from Saul's family. This session we can lead kids to understand that people choose to follow God or choose to disobey God (sin). Help kids know that God deserves our obedience and that people are responsible for the choices they make. Each choice has consequences, and the kids are responsible for the choices they make.