Happy Opening
Before class, hide a small stuffed animal (or a picture of an animal) somewhere in the room.
Greet each child with a big smile and say: "I have a secret! Something is hiding in our room today, just like something is hiding in our story! Can you help me find it?"
Let children look around until they find the hidden animal. Then say: "Hooray! You found it! Today we're going to learn about a man named Job who had LOTS of animals, and lots of hard days. But no matter what, he always said, 'I trust Jesus!' Can you say that with me? 'I trust Jesus!'"
Repeat it together two or three times with big, happy voices.
Simple Scripture Story
Gather children close. Hold up simple pictures or use your hands to act things out.
"A long time ago, there was a very good man named Job. He loved Heavenly Father SO much!" (hug yourself)
"Job had a big, happy family and lots and lots of animals." (make animal sounds together, moo, baa, hee-haw!)
"But one day... sad things happened. His animals were gone. He felt very sick." (make a sad face; have children copy)
"His friends came and sat right next to him." (scoot close together) "They wanted to help."
"But here is the most important part, even when Job felt SO sad, he said something amazing." (stand up tall)
"I know that my redeemer liveth."
, Job 19:25
"Job KNEW Jesus was alive and loved him. He kept trusting Jesus even on his hardest day."
"And guess what? Heavenly Father took care of Job. Job got to feel happy again!" (big smiles all around)
"Just like Job, WE can trust Jesus on our hard days too."
Big Idea
"I can trust Jesus, even on hard days!"
Write it on the board or a big paper. Point to it and say it together every time you transition to a new activity.
Wiggle and Learn Activities
"Job's Animal Parade!" *(Music & Movement)*
What to do:
- Play or sing a simple marching song (or just clap a beat).
- Call out an animal and have children move like that animal around the room: "Be a sheep! Be a camel! Be a donkey!"
- When you call "JOB TRUSTS JESUS!", everyone freezes and shouts, "I trust Jesus!"
What to say: "Job had so many animals! And even when they were gone, Job still trusted Jesus. Can YOU trust Jesus? Let's say it together, 'I trust Jesus!'"
Materials: Just your voices and some space to move!
"Job's Animal Parade!" *(Music & Movement)*
What to do:
- Play or sing a simple marching song (or just clap a beat).
- Call out an animal and have children move like that animal around the room: "Be a sheep! Be a camel! Be a donkey!"
- When you call "JOB TRUSTS JESUS!", everyone freezes and shouts, "I trust Jesus!"
What to say: "Job had so many animals! And even when they were gone, Job still trusted Jesus. Can YOU trust Jesus? Let's say it together, 'I trust Jesus!'"
Materials: Just your voices and some space to move!
"Sunshine Friends" *(Hands-On Craft)*
Connects to the story: Job's friends came to be with him when he was sad.
What to do:
- Give each child a yellow paper plate or a circle cut from yellow paper.
- Help them trace their hand around the edges to make sunshine rays.
- Write in the center (or let them draw): "I am a sunshine friend!"
What to say: "When Job was sad, his friends came and SAT with him. That is what good friends do, they stay close! YOU can be a sunshine friend. Who is someone you can help feel better this week?"
Materials: Yellow paper plates or circles, crayons, pencils for tracing.
"Hard Day / Happy Heart" *(Game, Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down)*
Connects to craft: now we practice being a sunshine friend with our choices.
What to do:
- Describe a scenario. Children show thumbs up or thumbs down.
- Scenarios:
- "Your friend fell down and you help them up." (thumbs up!)
- "Someone is sad and you walk away." (thumbs down)
- "You say a prayer when you feel scared." (thumbs up!)
- "You say 'I trust Jesus!' on a hard day." (thumbs up, and everyone cheers!)
What to say: "Job made good choices even on hard days. We can too! Every time we trust Jesus or help a friend, that is a thumbs-up choice!"
Materials: None, just wiggly thumbs!
"Trust Jesus" Commitment Card *(Creative Expression)*
Brings everything together before the closing.
What to do:
- Give each child a small card or half-sheet of paper.
- Have them draw their face in the middle (or their hand).
- Help them write or you write for them: "I trust Jesus!"
What to say: "This is YOUR card to take home. When you have a hard day, when you feel sad or scared or tired, look at this card and remember Job. Job said, 'I trust Jesus,' and YOU can say it too!"
Materials: Card stock or paper cut into small cards, crayons.
Picture Time
Use: Gospel Art Book, He Healed Them All by Michael Malm (referenced in the CFM manual, or any picture of Jesus with people He is helping)
Show the picture and ask:
- "What do you see in this picture? What is Jesus doing?"
- "How do you think these people feel when Jesus is near them?"
- "Job knew Jesus loved him even when he couldn't SEE Jesus. How do WE know Jesus loves us?"
Let children answer freely. Affirm every answer warmly.
Song and Actions
Song: "Did Jesus Really Live Again?" (Children's Songbook, p. 64)
Simple Actions:
- "Did Jesus really live again?", shrug shoulders with hands up, questioning
- "Yes!", jump up with both arms raised
- "After He was crucified?", cross arms over chest gently
- "He lives today, He showed the way", march in place
- "For everyone who's tried", point to each other and smile
Sing it twice, once slowly to learn, once with big energy and actions!
What to say: "Job said, 'I know that my redeemer liveth!' (Job 19:25), that means Job KNEW Jesus was alive! This song says the same beautiful thing. Let's sing it like we really believe it, because we DO!"
Jesus Loves Me Moment
Have children sit in a circle. Hold up their "I Trust Jesus" commitment cards.
Say softly: "Today we learned about Job. Job had really hard days. But he never stopped trusting Jesus, because he KNEW Jesus loved him and was alive."
"Jesus loves YOU just like He loved Job. Even on your hardest days."
Invite each child to finish one of these sentences (keep it light, no pressure!):
- "Jesus loves me because..."
- "On a hard day, I can..."
- "I can trust Jesus when..."
Close by saying together one final time: "I trust Jesus!"
Take-Home Hug
"This week, when something feels hard, a bad dream, a scraped knee, missing someone you love, hold your card, say a little prayer, and remember: 'I trust Jesus!' Then give someone at home a big hug and tell them Jesus loves them too."
Teacher Survival Tips
-
Keep "I trust Jesus!" as your reset phrase. Any time children get wiggly or distracted, hold up one finger and say it. Have them repeat it. It refocuses the room AND reinforces the big idea at the same time.
-
Let the animal parade run a little long if needed. Movement is medicine for 3–7 year olds. If the craft or card activity loses them, shift back to movement and return. The big idea travels in their bodies as much as their minds.
-
Don't rush the Picture Time. Little ones often say the most tender, true things when you simply show them a picture of Jesus and wait. Two or three quiet moments with that image can anchor the entire lesson better than any activity. Trust the Spirit to work in that stillness.
