Jesus Loves the Little Children Sunday School Lesson for Kids

This free Jesus loves the little children Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Jesus loves them and everyone is welcome to come to Him. When His disciples rebuked those who brought young children, Jesus was "much displeased" and said, "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not" (Mark 10:14). Then He took them up in His arms and blessed them (10:16). 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 come-sit-with-me name game, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("Suffer the little children to come unto me") with a motion, and a Jesus-loves-me heart drawing.
• Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Come to Me game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Come in Order memory verse game with eight paper strips, and a Pass the Heart circle game.
• 3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a let-them-through game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story ("much displeased," "forbid them not," "as a little child"), 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 10:13–16, Matthew 19:13–15 and Luke 18:15–17 out loud themselves, then discuss what it means to receive the kingdom of God as a little child and how not to stand in a younger kid's way. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (Mark 10:14 and Mark 10:15).

Lesson at a glance

• Bible passage: Mark 10:13–16; Matthew 19:13–15
• Main point: Jesus loves kids, and everyone is welcome to come to Him.
• Memory verse: Mark 10:14 (KJV), with Mark 10:15 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 welcome, like "Come to Me."
2. Bible story: people bring young children to Jesus "that he should touch them" (Mark 10:13), the disciples rebuke them, Jesus is "much displeased" and says, "Suffer the little children to come unto me" (10:14), "as a little child" (10:15), and Jesus takes them up in His arms and blesses them (10:16). 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 10:14.
5. What this means for us: no one is too young to come to Jesus, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
6. Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Jesus loves the little children craft, a Pass the Heart game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
7. Prayer.

Tips for teaching Jesus and the children

• Explain the King James word right away: in "Suffer the little children," suffer means let. It has nothing to do with hurting.
• Keep to what the Bible says: "they brought young children" (Mark 10:13). It doesn't say who brought them or why the disciples rebuked them, so the lessons don't guess.
• Read Mark 10:16 straight from your Bible. Jesus "took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them." Let every child hear that Jesus loves kids.
• Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.