Before You Teach
A prep snapshot before the full lesson flow.
Isaiah tells sad, scared people that God still loves them and will never forget them. Even when things feel hard, Jesus is close. God says, "thou art mine" (Isaiah 43:1) and "I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands" (Isaiah 49:16). The big feeling this week is comfort: you are loved and never forgotten.
The people were far from home and very sad. They wondered if God had forgotten them. Then God gave Isaiah kind words to share. God said, "Do not be afraid. I am with you. I will hold your hand." He said He remembers each person, even more than a mother remembers her baby. God said He has our names written right on His hands. That means He will never, ever forget us.
Little children feel big feelings and sometimes feel scared or left out. Keep it simple and warm: Jesus knows their name and always remembers them. Let them hear "Jesus loves me" and "Fear not" again and again. Use hugs, hands, and happy actions so the love feels real.
Full Lesson Flow
Use the sections below as a menu. Swap cards and activities to keep the class interactive.
Option 1 (default): Wave and smile. Say: "Everybody wave your hands high! Now show me your hands. God says our names are written right on His hands. That means He never forgets us!" Have each child hold up both hands and wiggle their fingers. Say together: "Jesus never forgets me!"
Option 2: Peek-a-boo hearts. Hide a paper heart behind your back. Say, "Where did the heart go? Is it gone forever?" Pop it out. "It came back! Jesus never goes away. He always loves us."
Gather the children close. Use a baby doll or a stuffed animal as a prop, and your own two hands.
Say: "A long time ago, God's people were far from home. They felt sad. They felt scared. Can you make a sad face?" (Let them.) "They thought, 'Maybe God forgot about us.'"
"But God had a kind message. He said, 'Fear not!' That means, 'Do not be afraid.' Can you say it with me? Fear not!" (Say it together, brave and strong.)
Fear thou not; for I am with thee (Isaiah 41:10)
Say: "God said, 'I am holding your hand. I am right here.'" (Reach out and gently hold a child's hand, or have them hold hands in a circle.)
Hold up the baby doll. "Does a mommy forget her little baby? No! She loves her baby so much. God said He loves us even more than that. He will never forget us."
Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands (Isaiah 49:16)
Say: "God wrote our names right on His hands! Look at your hands. Every time God looks at His hands, He remembers you." (Have children look at their palms.)
Ask: "How do you think the people felt when they heard God loves them? Happy? Safe?" (Let them answer and show faces.)
Say it, and have them say it back, all lesson long:
"Jesus loves me and never forgets me."
Pick one to run in class. The others are for later or to send home.
Activity options
Default
Movement game. Lay a "path" on the floor with tape, ribbon, or paper footprints.
Default
Movement game. Lay a "path" on the floor with tape, ribbon, or paper footprints.
Materials: a beanbag or soft ball.
Materials: paper, crayons. (Never draw a cross.)
Show "Jesus Christ" with children, or "Jesus Washing the Apostles' Feet", best pick: a picture of Jesus with children (Gospel Art Book), or "Jesus the Christ." A child praying also works well.
Ask:
Sing "Jesus Said Love Everyone" or "I Feel My Savior's Love" (Children's Songbook).
Simple actions:
Sing it slow and happy. Let them do the actions with you.
Sit close together. Go around and let each child finish one sentence:
Help shy children with a soft prompt: "Jesus loves you when you wake up, when you play, and when you sleep. He never forgets you."
This week: give someone in your family a big hug and say, "Jesus loves you and never forgets you." Look at your hands and remember your name is on Jesus's hands.
