Lesson

Jehoshaphat Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Jehoshaphat Sunday school lesson (2 Chronicles 20) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions and a take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

Jehoshaphat Sunday School Lesson for Kids

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:1–30
Bible story: Jehoshaphat and the Singers

What you need

A Bible (mark 2 Chronicles 20:12, 20:15 and 20:21)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
7 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A heavy box (books or blocks inside) that you cannot lift alone (preschool)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Jehoshaphat word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Jehoshaphat Sunday school lesson teaches kids that the battle is the LORD's. When a great multitude came against Judah, King Jehoshaphat was afraid, but he sought the LORD first and prayed, "neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chronicles 20:12). God answered, "the battle is not yours, but God's" (20:15), and the singers went out before the army praising Him. 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 too-big-for-me box game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("for the battle is not yours, but God's") with a motion, and a praise parade.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Eyes on Me game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Seven Strips memory verse game, and a Singers Go First game.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a what-comes-first game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the king's prayer, Jahaziel, the wilderness of Tekoa, the valley of Berachah), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read 2 Chronicles 20 out loud themselves, then look closer at fear and faith, praying from who God is, standing still and still going out, and praise before the victory. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (2 Chronicles 20:15 and Psalm 56:3).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: 2 Chronicles 20:1–30
Main point: The battle is the LORD's. When we are afraid, we pray first, praise God, and trust Him to help us.
Memory verse: 2 Chronicles 20:15 (KJV), with Psalm 56:3 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about looking to God first.
Bible story: a great multitude comes (2 Chronicles 20:1–2), Jehoshaphat seeks the LORD and proclaims a fast (20:3), his prayer "our eyes are upon thee" (20:12), "the battle is not yours, but God's" (20:15), "stand ye still" (20:17), the singers before the army (20:21), the LORD fights for Judah (20:22), and the valley of Berachah (20:26). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn 2 Chronicles 20:15.
What this means for us: pray first, praise God, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Jehoshaphat craft, a singers-go-first game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Jehoshaphat

Read 2 Chronicles 20:12 straight from your Bible. "Neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" is a prayer every child can pray.
The singers went out before the army (20:21), and God acted "when they began to sing and to praise" (20:22). Let your class sing a praise song before you pray for their needs.
Tell the battle gently: the LORD set ambushments and the enemies fought one another (20:22–23). The lessons leave out the dead bodies and the spoil (20:24–25) for younger kids.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this Jehoshaphat lesson take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What is the main point of the story of Jehoshaphat?

The battle is the LORD's. When a great multitude came against Judah, King Jehoshaphat was afraid, but he sought the LORD first and prayed, "neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee" (2 Chronicles 20:12). God answered, "the battle is not yours, but God's" (20:15). The singers went out praising, and the LORD fought for Judah (20:21–22).

What does "the battle is not yours, but God's" mean for kids?

It means God was the One who would win the fight, not Judah's army. Judah did not have to fight at all (2 Chronicles 20:17). For kids, it means that when a problem is too big for us, we can pray, trust God and praise Him, because God is bigger than any problem.

How do I teach the battle part of this story gently?

Say what the Bible says, simply: the LORD set ambushments against the enemies, and they fought one another instead of Judah (2 Chronicles 20:22–23). The lessons leave out the dead bodies and the gathering of the spoil (20:24–25) for younger kids. Each level has a short teacher note if a child asks.