Our Focus Today Helping children recognize that God’s ways are always good, even when they don’t always make sense.
Key Truth God’s ways are always good, even when they don’t always make sense.
Bible Passage Isaiah 26:3
Memory Verse “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
At A Glance
Approximate Lesson Time: 45–60 minutes Welcome, Snack & Lesson Activity • 10–15 minutes Gather Around God’s Word • 10–15 minutes Read the Story • 10–15 minutes Truth in Action • 5–10 minutes Open Your Bible • 10–15 minutes Closing Prayer & Clean-Up • 2–3 minutes
Leader Encouragement
Children don’t need perfect leaders. They need caring adults who are willing to show up, open God’s Word, ask good questions, and remind them of God’s great love. Today, don’t worry about saying everything perfectly. Trust that God is working through every story you read, every question you ask, and every conversation you share.
The story God is writing in a child’s heart is always bigger than the lesson on the page.
Leader Preparation
Lesson Supplies Study books Pens Highlighters White canvases Paint pens Sharpies
Teaching Supplies Bible Ping-pong balls
Prep Ahead Highlight today’s Bible passage in your Bible. Gather the supplies for today’s Truth in Action. Set out the lesson activity supplies for each group. A completed sample of today’s lesson activity.
Volunteer Roles
Lead Teacher Welcome the group and guide each part of the lesson. Read the Bible passage and story aloud. Lead the Truth in Action, discussion, and closing prayer.
Small Group Leaders Welcome children and encourage conversation. Support children throughout the lesson. Answer questions, encourage participation, and offer extra help as needed.
Floater Welcome families and direct children to their groups. Help with transitions and assist wherever needed throughout the lesson.
Leading the Lesson
Welcome, Snack & Lesson Activity
Time: 10–15 minutes Welcome children, help them get settled, and enjoy the time together as they complete today’s lesson activity.
Instructions Welcome children as they arrive. Invite them to begin today’s lesson activity. Encourage conversation while everyone enjoys a snack. As children finish, encourage them to continue chatting with their group until it’s time to begin.
Conversation Starters What has been the best part of your week? What are you excited about today? Has anyone ever had a day that felt a little “whirly and swirly?”
Gather Around God’s Word
Time: 10–15 minutes
Transition Give children a two-minute warning before beginning. Invite everyone to simply set aside today’s lesson activity and grab only their study book, Bible, and pen. There is no need to clean everything up. Children can return to the activity later if time allows or take home any remaining supplies to finish.
Opening Prayer Begin with a simple prayer, inviting God to prepare hearts and minds to learn from His Word.
Bible Reading
Read Isaiah 26:3 directly from your Bible.
Connect today’s Bible passage to the story by explaining that God never changes. Even when life feels confusing or overwhelming, He remains steady, trustworthy, and always with us.
Read the Story
Today’s Stair-Step Reading
Lesson 1 Read Lesson 1 aloud while children follow along.
Engage Children By… -Announcing page turns for younger readers. -Reading speech bubbles together. -Asking observation questions. -Pointing out humorous moments. -Inviting predictions as the story unfolds.
Truth In Action
Time: 5–10 minutes
Supplies Ping-pong balls A sturdy tree (or another large, immovable object)
Let’s Begin Scatter the ping-pong balls across the ground and invite each child to pick one up.
“Have you ever had a day that felt a little whirly and swirly? Sometimes life can feel a lot like these ping-pong balls…thoughts, opinions, fears, and distractions can seem to come from every direction.”
Point to the tree.
“This tree reminds us of God. Unlike these ping-pong balls and the whirly-swirly thoughts they represent, God never changes. His love is steady and firmly rooted. Nothing can shake Him.”
Invite everyone to throw their ping-pong ball at the tree.
“Did the tree move?“
“God’s love is like this tree. It doesn’t move, it doesn’t change, and it never leaves us. Our whirly-swirly thoughts don’t stand a chance.”
Invite everyone to gently lean against the tree.
“When life feels overwhelming, we can lean on God.”
What are some ways we can lean on God? *Encourage responses such as: talking to God in prayer, reading the Bible, talking with trusted adults, and asking God for help.
Wrap Up “When life feels whirly and swirly, God never changes. His love is steady and we can always trust Him.”
Open Your Bible
Time: 10–15 minutes
Activity 1 Complete Activity 1.
Invite children to discuss their answers with their small groups before sharing with the whole group.
Activity 2 Complete Activity 2.
Invite children to look up today’s Bible verses and highlight them in their Bibles. Depending on the age of your group, you may choose to look up the verses together or assign one verse to each small group before inviting them to share what they discovered.
Bible Verses 1 John 3:4 Romans 3:23 Romans 5:12 James 4:17
Ask What did these verses teach us about sin? Why do we all need Jesus? How does today’s Key Truth help us this week?
Closing Prayer
Pray the prayer at the end of Lesson 1.
Clean-Up
Invite children to: -Organize their supplies. -Throw away trash. -Help tidy their small group area. -Continue working on today’s lesson activity if time remains or take home any remaining supplies to finish later.
The pause is not weakness; it is wisdom guided by the spirit. -Charles Swindoll
