Lesson

Lazarus Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Lazarus Sunday school lesson (John 11:1–44) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story, questions, memory verse and take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

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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: John 11:1–44
Bible story: Jesus Raises Lazarus

What you need

A Bible (mark John 11:25 and John 11:35)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
6 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
Paper hearts cut from construction paper, one per child (kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (3rd grade and up)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Lazarus word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Lazarus Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Jesus has power over death, and that Jesus cares. When Lazarus died, Jesus told Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25). He wept with His friends (11:35), and then He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth," and "he that was dead came forth" (11:43–44). 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 ("I am the resurrection, and the life") with a motion, and a drawing of Lazarus coming out.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: a name-calling wake-up game, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Six Strips memory verse game, and Jesus Cares Hearts.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: a Say It Plainly game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story ("Our friend Lazarus sleepeth," "I am the resurrection," "Jesus wept," "Loose him, and let him go"), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 4 pages: students read John 11:1–44 out loud themselves, then discuss God's timing, how Jesus met Martha and Mary, and "Believest thou this?" Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (John 11:25 and John 11:26).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: John 11:1–44
Main point: Jesus has power over death, and Jesus cares about us.
Memory verse: John 11:25 (KJV), with John 11:26 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about hearing your name called, or about saying things plainly.
Bible story: Lazarus is sick (John 11:1–3), Jesus waits two days (11:6), "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth" (11:11), four days in the grave (11:17), "I am the resurrection, and the life" (11:25), "Jesus wept" (11:35), "Take ye away the stone" (11:39), "Lazarus, come forth" (11:43), and "Loose him, and let him go" (11:44). 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 John 11:25.
What this means for us: Jesus is stronger than death and cares when we are sad, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Lazarus craft, Jesus Cares Hearts, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching Lazarus

Tell the death of Lazarus simply and gently, and keep the hope big: Jesus called him out alive. Each level has a short note for a child who is grieving.
Read "Jesus wept" (John 11:35) straight from the Bible. It is the shortest verse in the King James Bible, and it shows kids that Jesus cares.
Use the King James words: "sleepeth," "come forth," "graveclothes" and "Loose him, and let him go." Each level explains the old words.
Jesus waited two days on purpose, "for the glory of God" (11:4) and "to the intent ye may believe" (11:15). Older kids can talk about waiting on God.
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 Lazarus 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 Lazarus for kids?

Jesus has power over death, and Jesus cares. Jesus told Martha, "I am the resurrection, and the life" (John 11:25). He wept with His friends (11:35), and then He called, "Lazarus, come forth," and Lazarus came out of the grave alive (11:43–44).

How do you teach the death of Lazarus to young children?

Simply, gently and with hope. Say that Lazarus got very sick and died, and his body was laid in a cave with a stone on it (John 11:14, 11:38). Then tell how Jesus cried with His friends (11:35) and called Lazarus out alive (11:43–44). Jesus is stronger than death, and He cares when we are sad.

Why did Jesus wait two days before going to Lazarus?

Jesus said, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God" (John 11:4), and He told His disciples, "I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe" (11:15). Jesus waited so that people would see the glory of God and believe in Him.