Older Primary Lesson Plan

Opening Connection

Hold up a flashlight and a book of scriptures. Ask, “If your room was dark, which of these would help you?” Let the children answer that the flashlight gives light. Then say that this week we will learn about two kings who needed light from the Lord, Hezekiah needed help when things felt scary, and Josiah needed help knowing how to lead his people back to God.

Connect it to their world by asking, “Have you ever felt unsure about what to do, maybe with a friend, at school, or when you were afraid?” Explain that the Lord helps us in those moments through prayer and through the scriptures.

Scripture Discovery

Start with Hezekiah in 2 Kings 18:5–6. Read these verses together, letting children take turns reading a phrase.

“He trusted in the Lord God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him.

For he clave to the Lord, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the Lord commanded Moses” (2 Kings 18:5–6).

Ask: “What made Hezekiah strong?” Help them find the phrases “trusted in the Lord” and “departed not from following him.”

Then move to Josiah in 2 Kings 22:8–11. Explain simply that the book of the law was found in the temple, and when Josiah heard it, he knew the people needed to change. Read 2 Kings 23:3 together:

“And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul” (2 Kings 23:3).

Invite children to listen for action words: “walk,” “keep,” and “with all their heart.”

Core Gospel Principles

First, we can trust the Lord when life feels scary. Hezekiah had a real problem, but instead of giving up, he prayed and turned to the Lord (2 Kings 19:14–19).

Second, the scriptures help us know what to do. Josiah heard God’s word and let it change him (2 Kings 22:8–11).

Third, keeping covenants means more than saying good words. It means choosing to follow the Lord with our whole heart, in our actions and choices (2 Kings 23:3).

Interactive Learning Activities

Activity 1: Spread It Before the Lord

Type: Object Lesson

Materials: Small paper slips, pencils, a box or tray labeled “The Lord”

Instructions:

1. Give each child a small slip of paper.
2. Ask them to write or draw one worry kids might have: being left out, a hard test, feeling afraid, family worries.
3. Explain that Hezekiah received a threatening letter and took it to the temple and “spread it before the Lord” (2 Kings 19:14).
4. Invite each child to place the paper in the box or tray as a symbol of giving worries to the Lord.
5. Say together: “I can trust the Lord.”

Connection to scripture: This helps children remember Hezekiah’s prayerful trust in 2 Kings 19:14–19.

Discussion questions:

• What can we do when we feel worried?
• Why does prayer help us trust the Lord?
• What do you think Hezekiah felt after he prayed?

Activity 2: Find the Lost Scripture

Type: Game

Materials: A set of scriptures or paper scripture card

Instructions:

1. Before class, hide the scriptures somewhere in the room.
2. Tell the children that something important was lost and then found in Josiah’s day.
3. Let them search together.
4. When they find the scriptures, gather and explain what happened in 2 Kings 22:8–11.
5. Ask one child to pretend to be the messenger bringing the book to King Josiah, and another to be Josiah listening carefully.

Connection to scripture: This reenacts the finding of the book of the law and helps children feel the joy and importance of having scriptures.

Discussion questions:

• How would life be different without scriptures?
• What do the scriptures teach us about following Jesus Christ?
• How can we show that the scriptures matter to us?

Activity 3: Walk After the Lord Path

Type: Physical Activity

Materials: Paper footprints, tape, crayons

Instructions:

1. Tape paper footprints on the floor in a path.
2. On each footprint, write a simple choice: pray, tell the truth, read scriptures, help at home, be kind, obey parents.
3. Let children take turns walking the path.
4. As they step on each footprint, they read the choice out loud.
5. At the end, invite them to place a hand on their heart and repeat part of 2 Kings 23:3: “to walk after the Lord.”

Connection to scripture: This makes Josiah’s covenant active and memorable.

Discussion questions:

• What does it mean to “walk after the Lord”?
• Which footprint choice is easiest for you?
• Which one do you want to work on this week?

Life Application Bridge

Help the children connect the lesson to real life. At school, trusting the Lord might mean praying before a hard day or choosing the right when friends do not. At home, it might mean obeying quickly, speaking kindly, or reading scriptures with your family. Following Jesus usually happens in small, steady choices, just like walking one step at a time.

Testimony Time

Invite the children to quietly think about one thing they learned from Hezekiah or Josiah. Then ask, “When have you felt helped by prayer or by the scriptures?” Let a few children share if they would like. Bear simple testimony that the Lord can be trusted and that His word leads us back to Him, as it did for Hezekiah and Josiah.

Take-Home Challenge

Challenge each child to do one “walk after the Lord” step this week: read one scripture at home and then do one act of obedience or kindness because of what they read. Invite them to tell their family about either Hezekiah trusting the Lord or Josiah listening to the scriptures.

Teacher Tips

If children are energetic, use the walking path activity earlier to help them move before discussion time. If some children do not like reading aloud, let them draw their answers or have a partner help them read the scripture phrases.