Our Focus Today Helping children make sense of the new thoughts and feelings that come with growing up, especially around friendships, fitting in, and comparison, and encouraging them to let God’s truth guide the way they see themselves and others.
Key Truth I can bring my thoughts and feelings back to what God says is true.
Bible Passages Proverbs 29:25 and Isaiah 43:1
Memory Verse “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1 (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
As children grow, they begin noticing more. They notice what their friends have, who is sitting with whom, what other people are wearing, where they fit in, and what others might think of them. Those thoughts and feelings are a normal part of growing up, but children need help learning that not every thought that enters their mind is true. As you lead today, help children see that they don’t have to be afraid of their thoughts or feelings. They can learn to notice them, bring them to God, and let His truth have the final word.
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 Lobster clasp keychain with attached string/cord Beads (See Lesson Activity for specifics) Printed Charm Bar cards
Prep Ahead Highlight today’s Bible passages in your Bible. Write the following thoughts on individual sticky notes for today’s Truth in Action: –Why wasn’t I invited? –I wish I had what she has. –Do they like me? –Everyone else has one. –What if I don’t fit in? –She’s better at that than me. –Why did she sit with her instead? –I wish I looked more like her. –What if they think that’s weird? –I want them to notice me. Prepare one additional sticky note that says WHAT GOD SAYS IS TRUE. Gather and organize the charm bar supplies for your group(s) A completed sample charm keychain
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 Which truth did you choose for your keychain? Why? Which bead or charm did you choose just because you liked it? Have you ever really wanted something because you saw that someone else had it? Have you ever changed your mind about something because of what your friends thought?
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 Proverbs 29:25 and Isaiah 43:1 directly from your Bible.
Connect today’s Bible passages to the story by explaining that as we grow, we start noticing more about ourselves and the people around us. We notice what other people have, what they’re good at, who they’re friends with, and what they think. Sometimes those things can begin to shape the way we think about ourselves. God’s Word gives us something steady and true to come back to when our thoughts and feelings get confusing.
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.
“When you were really little, you probably didn’t spend much time wondering what everyone else was doing. There is actually a child development term about this called parallel play and it’s when people play next to one another without interacting with the other person or trying to influence each other.”
“You liked the shirt you liked or didn’t even notice it. You played what you wanted to play. If your best friend sat by someone else, you might not have thought much about it.”
“But as we get older, we start noticing more.”
Place a sticky note on the mirror. “We notice what other people have.”
Add another. “We notice who is friends with who.”
Add another. “We notice what everyone is wearing.”
Add another. “We notice when we’re included and we definitely notice when we’re not.”
Continue adding several of the prepared sticky notes.
“We might start wondering:“ -Does she like me? -Why did she choose her to sit by? -Should I have that too? -Am I good at this? -Do I fit in?
Show the covered mirror. “None of those thoughts are strange or even unexpected. Growing up means you’re going to start noticing new things.But there’s something we need to learn to do with all those thoughts.”
Hold up the mirror. “Because if every thought gets to stick…”
Point to the covered reflection. “…pretty soon, it can become hard to see clearly.”
“So what do we do?“
Catch It Choose one sticky note from the mirror. Read: Why did she sit with her instead? “Maybe I notice that my friend is spending lots of time with someone else.” “That’s a thought. I noticed it.” “I don’t have to pretend I didn’t think it. I cancatch it.”
Check It Hold up the Bible. “Then I cancheck it.” “Is my thought telling me something that’s actually true? Does it hold up against God’s Word?”
Point to the note. “Does my friend sitting with someone else mean she doesn’t like me anymore?”
Pause. “Not necessarily.” Remove the note.
Choose another: I wish I had what she has.
Check it: “Does someone else having something good mean God hasn’t given good things to me?” Remove it.
Choose: She’s better at that than me. “Maybe sheisreally good at it! We don’t have to pretend she isn’t.” Check it: “But does her being good at something make me less valuable?” Remove it. “No.”
Change It Point to the remaining notes. “This is where wechangewhat gets to stick.”
Remove: “Why wasn’t I invited?” “I can feel disappointed without deciding it means nobody likes me.”
Remove: “I wish I looked more like her.” “I can notice something beautiful about someone else without deciding something is wrong with me.”
Remove: “I want what she has.” “I can enjoy what someone else has and still be thankful for what God has given me.”
Continue removing the remaining notes until the mirror is clear.
Bring It Back to God Hold up the clear mirror and then the Bible. “God isn’t asking you to stop noticing things. You’re going to notice friendships. You’re going to notice clothes and talents and parties and compliments and what other people have. You’re going to have moments when you feel left out, jealous, unsure, or like you really want to fit in a certain way. The question is:What will you do with those thoughts when they come?“
Open to Isaiah 43:1. “God gives us something steady to come back to.” Read: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.“
Place the sticky note that says WHAT GOD SAYS IS TRUE along the edge of the mirror. “Before I let a thought stick, I can bring it back to what God says.” “I am known.” “I belong to Him.” “I can trust Him.” “I can be thankful for what He’s given me.” “And I can let His truth guide the way I see myself and others.”
Ask What are some things you notice more now than you did when you were younger? Is it wrong to notice that someone has something you want? What can happen if we keep comparing ourselves to other people? If a friend spends time with someone else, what might your brain immediately tell you? What else could be true? How can you be happy for someone else when they get something you wanted? What can you do when a thought starts to “stick”?
Wrap Up “You don’t have to believe every thought that pops into your head. You cancatch it. You cancheck itagainst what God says. And when it doesn’t match His truth, you canchange it. Growing up means you’re going to notice more and more about the people and world around you. So let’s learn now to letGod’s truth be what sticks.”
Open Your Bible
Time: 10–15 minutes
Activity 1 Complete Activity 1: Thought Catcher — What Stuck?
Invite children to look up Philippians 4:8 in their Bibles.
Have them circle or underline the words that describe the kinds of things God wants us to think about. Then invite children to look at the “sticky thoughts” on the page and decide whether each one is a good thought or needs a reset. If it needs a reset, encourage them to write a better thought instead.
Complete the Catch, Check, Change section at the bottom of the page.
Have a child read the Truth Tidbit aloud.
Ask Why do you think it is important to notice the thoughts that get stuck in our minds? What can help you decide if a thought is true or needs a reset? What is one way you can change a sticky thought into a thought that is true?
Activity 2 Complete Activity 2: Who Gets the Last Word?
Invite children to look up Proverbs 29:25 and Isaiah 43:1 in their Bibles.
For Proverbs 29:25: Underline what can trap us. Circle what keeps us safe. Complete the question about what the verse teaches. Draw a place that helps you feel close to God.
For Isaiah 43:1: Underline what God does. Circle what God says about you. Use the provided words to complete the statements on the page.
Children may complete the remaining questions independently, with a partner, or in small groups.
Have a child read the Truth Tidbit aloud.
Ask What can happen when we worry too much about what other people think? What does Isaiah 43:1 remind you is true about you? How can remembering what God says help when you feel left out, jealous, or unsure of yourself?
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 enemy can steal all that God has destined us to become if welose sight of our identity in Christ. -Dayna Mager
