Free Bible lessons for kids · 12 lessons
Bible lessons about God’s love for kids
God is love, and He showed His love by sending His Son to die for our sins. Because He first loved us, we love God and love the people around us.
These free Bible lessons for kids all teach God’s love. Each one comes with an animated story film told word for word from the King James Version, a coloring page, a class sheet, a teacher guide with a 45-minute plan, questions with answers and a game.
“We love him, because he first loved us.”1 John 4:19 (KJV)
- Lessons
- 12
- Passages
- Genesis 4:1–16, Genesis 43:1–44:34, Ruth 1:1–22, 1 Samuel 18:1–4, John 3:1–21, Luke 10:25–37, and more
- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Each lesson
- Story film (KJV), coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
- Cost
- Free: no subscription, no cost per child, no sign-up to teach
Bible stories that teach God’s love
Cain and Abel
Genesis 4:1–16 · story film
Adam and Eve’s sons were Cain, a tiller of the ground, and Abel, a keeper of sheep. Abel brought God the firstlings of his flock by faith (Hebrews 11:4), and the LORD had respect unto his offering; but Cain grew angry, did not rule over the sin lying at his door, and killed his brother. God asked, “Where is Abel thy brother?” and sent Cain away, yet in mercy set a mark upon him so that no one would kill him.
Big idea: God sees our hearts, and He wants us to love one another.
Memory verse:
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:11 (KJV)Ask: What did Cain and Abel each bring to the LORD? Cain brought the fruit of the ground, and Abel brought the firstlings of his flock (Genesis 4:3–4).
Game: Find Your Brother (about 10 minutes)
The Silver Cup
Genesis 43:1–44:34 · story film
When the food ran out, Judah promised his father, “I will be surety for him,” and the brothers took Benjamin down to Egypt. Joseph wept in secret when he saw his younger brother, feasted them all in his house, and then had his silver cup hidden in Benjamin’s sack to test them. When the cup was found, Judah, who had once helped sell Joseph, begged to stay as a servant in Benjamin’s place so that the lad could go home to his father.
Big idea: God can change our hearts so that we put others before ourselves.
Memory verse:
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13 (KJV)Ask: What did Judah promise his father Jacob about Benjamin? That he would be surety for him: if he did not bring Benjamin back, he would bear the blame for ever (Genesis 43:9).
Game: Grain Sack Race (about 10 minutes)
Ruth and Naomi
Ruth 1:1–22 · story film
When there was a famine, Naomi’s family went to live in Moab, and there her husband and her two sons died. Naomi decided to go home to Bethlehem and told her daughters-in-law to return to their own mothers’ houses. Orpah kissed her goodbye, but Ruth clave unto her and said, “Whither thou goest, I will go… thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God,” and the two came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest.
Big idea: Real love stays loyal, and Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s God.
Memory verse:
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
Ruth 1:16 (KJV)Ask: Why did Naomi’s family go to Moab? There was a famine in the land (Ruth 1:1).
Game: Step in My Steps (about 10 minutes)
David and Jonathan
1 Samuel 18:1–4 · 20:1–42 · story film
After David beat Goliath, the soul of Jonathan, King Saul’s son, was knit with the soul of David, and the two friends made a covenant. When Saul grew jealous and sought David’s life, Jonathan warned him with a secret sign: arrows shot beyond a little lad in the field. The friends kissed one another and wept, and Jonathan sent David away in peace, trusting the LORD to be between them for ever.
Big idea: A true friend is loyal and loves at all times.
Memory verse:
A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)Ask: What did Jonathan give David when they made a covenant? His robe, his garments, his sword, his bow and his girdle (1 Samuel 18:4).
Game: Friends Stick Together (about 10 minutes)
Nicodemus Comes by Night
John 3:1–21 · story film
Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, came to Jesus at night. Jesus told him that he must be born again, and that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.
Big idea: God loves the world so much that He gave His Son.
Memory verse:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16 (KJV)Ask: When did Nicodemus come to Jesus? By night.
Game: Night Verse Hunt (about 10 minutes)
The Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25–37 · story film
A lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbour?” Jesus told of a man beaten by thieves. A priest and a Levite passed by, but a Samaritan stopped, bound his wounds and cared for him.
Big idea: Be a neighbour to anyone who needs help.
Memory verse:
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
Luke 10:27 (KJV)Ask: Who passed by the hurt man without helping? A priest and a Levite.
Game: Good Samaritan Bandage Relay (about 12 minutes)
Jesus Blesses the Children
Mark 10:13–16 · Matthew 19:13–15 · Luke 18:15–17 · story film
Parents brought their little children to Jesus, but the disciples tried to send them away. Jesus was displeased, took the children in His arms and blessed them.
Big idea: Jesus loves children and wants them to come to Him.
Memory verse:
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:14 (KJV)Ask: Who tried to keep the children away? The disciples.
Game: May I Come? (about 8 minutes)
Feed My Sheep
John 21:15–19 · story film
Three times Jesus asked Peter, “Lovest thou me?” Three times Peter said yes, and Jesus told him to feed His sheep and follow Him.
Big idea: Jesus forgives and gives us work to do for Him.
Memory verse:
He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
John 21:17 (KJV)Ask: How many times did Jesus ask Peter if he loved Him? Three times.
Game: Peter, Lovest Thou Me? (about 10 minutes)
The Church Shares Everything
Acts 2:42–47 · Acts 4:32–37 · story film
The believers met together, learned from the apostles, prayed, ate together with glad hearts and shared what they had so that no one was in need.
Big idea: God’s family loves and shares.
Memory verse:
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Acts 2:42 (KJV)Ask: Name the four things the church continued in. The apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayers.
Game: Share the Rainbow (about 10 minutes)
Nothing Can Separate Us
Romans 8:28–39 · story film
Paul wrote to the church in Rome that God works all things together for good for those who love Him, and that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.
Big idea: Nothing can separate us from God’s love.
Memory verse:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)Ask: Who did Paul write this letter to? The church in Rome.
Game: Stuck Together (about 10 minutes)
Love Is Patient and Kind
1 Corinthians 13 · story film
Paul wrote that without love, even great gifts are nothing. Love (charity) is patient and kind, it does not envy or boast, and it never fails.
Big idea: Love is the greatest gift.
Memory verse:
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV)Ask: What word does the King James Bible use for love in 1 Corinthians 13? Charity.
Game: Love Is… Charades (about 10 minutes)
God Is Love
1 John 4:7–21 · story film
John wrote that love comes from God, because God is love. God showed His love by sending His Son, so we should love one another.
Big idea: We love because God first loved us.
Memory verse:
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19 (KJV)Ask: What does John say God is? Love.
Game: Pass the Heart (about 8 minutes)
Tips for teaching God’s love
- Preschool: Make a heart craft and say, “God loves me, and I love others.”
- Elementary: Ask: how did God show His love? How can we show love to someone this week?
- Preteens: Read 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 and ask what each part of love looks like at home and at school.
8 weeks of lessons on God’s love
| Week 1 | Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1–16). God sees our hearts, and He wants us to love one another. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | The Silver Cup (Genesis 43:1–44:34). God can change our hearts so that we put others before ourselves. |
| Week 3 | Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:1–22). Real love stays loyal, and Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s God. |
| Week 4 | David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1–4). A true friend is loyal and loves at all times. |
| Week 5 | Nicodemus Comes by Night (John 3:1–21). God loves the world so much that He gave His Son. |
| Week 6 | The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37). Be a neighbour to anyone who needs help. |
| Week 7 | Jesus Blesses the Children (Mark 10:13–16). Jesus loves children and wants them to come to Him. |
| Week 8 | Feed My Sheep (John 21:15–19). Jesus forgives and gives us work to do for Him. |
Each week: welcome and pray, show the story film, talk through the questions, learn the memory verse, then color the page or do the class sheet.
Verses to learn: God’s love
“For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.”
1 John 3:11 · Cain and Abel
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
John 15:13 · The Silver Cup
“And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:”
Ruth 1:16 · Ruth and Naomi
“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 17:17 · David and Jonathan
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16 · Nicodemus Comes by Night
“And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.”
Luke 10:27 · The Good Samaritan
“But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
Mark 10:14 · Jesus Blesses the Children
“He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17 · Feed My Sheep
Questions people ask
What does the Bible teach kids about God’s love?
God is love, and He showed His love by sending His Son to die for our sins. Because He first loved us, we love God and love the people around us. “We love him, because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, KJV)
Which Bible stories teach God’s love?
Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1–16), The Silver Cup (Genesis 43:1–44:34), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:1–22), David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1–4), Nicodemus Comes by Night (John 3:1–21), and 7 more on this page.
How do I explain God’s love to kids?
Start with John 3:16: God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son. Then show how Jesus loved people in the Gospels, and how we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).
How do I teach God’s love to preschoolers?
Make a heart craft and say, “God loves me, and I love others.”
Are these lessons free?
Yes. Every lesson, film, coloring page, class sheet and game is free for churches, families and schools, with no subscription, no cost per child and no sign-up needed to teach.
Which Bible translation is used?
The films and memory verses show the King James Version word for word. In the lessons you can switch the verses to the Berean Standard Bible, the ESV or dozens of other English Bibles, every verse is labelled with its translation, and tapping a verse on the film opens its whole chapter.
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