Jairus' Daughter Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free Jairus' daughter Sunday school lesson teaches kids to trust Jesus instead of being afraid. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, begged Jesus to come to his dying daughter. On the way a woman who had been sick twelve years touched His garment and was healed. When word came that the girl was dead, Jesus said, "Be not afraid, only believe" (Mark 5:36), took her by the hand, and she arose and walked (5:41–42). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

• Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a Wake Up! game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("Be not afraid, only believe") with a motion, and a drawing of the girl standing up with her parents.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: a Shiver or Smile game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Five Strips memory verse game, and an Arise! game.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: an Interrupted! game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the woman in the press, "Be not afraid, only believe," "Talitha cumi"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
• Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read Mark 5:21–43 out loud themselves, then discuss humility, Jesus stopping for one person, "too late" thinking, and believing when others laugh. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Mark 5:36 and Mark 5:34).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: Mark 5:21–43
• Main point: Don't be afraid. Only believe Jesus.
• Memory verse: Mark 5:36 (KJV), with Mark 5:34 added for preteens
• Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

1. Opening game: a short game about being afraid, waking up, or being interrupted.
2. Bible story: Jairus falls at Jesus' feet (Mark 5:22–23), the woman sick twelve years touches His garment and is healed (5:25–34), word comes that the girl is dead (5:35), "Be not afraid, only believe" (5:36), Jesus takes her by the hand, "Talitha cumi" (5:41), and the twelve-year-old girl arises and walks (5:42). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
3. Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
4. Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn Mark 5:36.
5. What this means for us: trust Jesus instead of fear, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Jairus' daughter craft, an Arise! game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching Jairus' daughter

• Read Mark 5:36 straight from the Bible: "Be not afraid, only believe." It is the heart of the lesson.
• Tell the girl's death simply and gently, and keep the hope big: she arose and walked (5:42). Each level has a short note for a child who is grieving.
• The two halves of the story both have a twelve: the woman was sick twelve years (5:25), and the girl was twelve years old (5:42).
• The Bible doesn't say what the girl was lying on, so don't add a bed. It only says Jesus went in "where the damsel was lying" (5:40).
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.