Free Bible lessons for kids · 12 lessons
Bible lessons about making good choices for kids
Every day we choose whether to follow God. Joshua said, “choose you this day whom ye will serve,” Daniel purposed in his heart, and Jesus used God’s Word to say no to temptation.
12 Bible stories, one subject: making good choices. Teach them as a series or one at a time; each lesson has its film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and game, all free.
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”Joshua 24:15 (KJV)
- Lessons
- 12
- Passages
- Genesis 13:1–18, Genesis 26:12–33, Genesis 39:1–23, Joshua 24:1–31, Ruth 1:1–22, 1 Samuel 24:1–22, 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
The lessons: 12 stories about making good choices
Abram Lets Lot Choose
Genesis 13:1–18 · story film
Abram and his nephew Lot had so many flocks, herds and tents that the land could not hold them both, and their herdmen began to quarrel. Abram said there should be no strife between them, “for we be brethren,” and he let Lot choose first; Lot chose the well-watered plain of Jordan. Then God told Abram to look northward, southward, eastward and westward, and promised all that land to him and his seed for ever.
Big idea: Peacemakers put others first and trust God to take care of them.
Memory verse:
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (KJV)Ask: Why could Abram and Lot not dwell together? Their substance was so great that the land could not bear them, and their herdmen had strife (Genesis 13:6–7).
Game: Stand Up Together (about 10 minutes)
Isaac Digs the Wells
Genesis 26:12–33 · story film
The LORD blessed Isaac so much that the Philistines envied him and stopped up the wells his father Abraham had dug. Each time Isaac’s servants found water, the herdmen of Gerar said, “The water is ours,” so Isaac moved on and dug again, until he found a well no one fought over and called it Rehoboth: “For now the LORD hath made room for us.” At Beer-sheba God promised to be with him, and even King Abimelech came to make peace.
Big idea: God makes room for those who choose peace.
Memory verse:
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (KJV)Ask: What did the herdmen of Gerar say when Isaac’s servants found water? “The water is ours” (Genesis 26:20).
Game: Dig and Move On (about 10 minutes)
Joseph in Potiphar’s House
Genesis 39:1–23 · story film
In Egypt Joseph was bought by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. The LORD was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper, so Potiphar put him over all his house; and when Potiphar’s wife wanted him to do wrong, Joseph refused and said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” She told lies about him and he was put in prison, but even there the LORD was with Joseph.
Big idea: The LORD is with us, so we can choose to do right even when it is hard.
Memory verse:
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:2 (KJV)Ask: Who bought Joseph in Egypt? Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard (Genesis 39:1).
Game: Flee! (about 8 minutes)
Choose You This Day
Joshua 24:1–31 · story film
When Joshua was old, he gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and reminded them of everything God had done for them, from Abraham to the good land they now lived in. He said, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The people promised to serve the LORD and obey His voice, and Joshua set up a great stone under an oak as a witness.
Big idea: Every day we can choose to serve the LORD.
Memory verse:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15 (KJV)Ask: Where did Joshua gather all the tribes of Israel? At Shechem (Joshua 24:1).
Game: This or That (about 8 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 Spares Saul
1 Samuel 24:1–22 · story film
Jealous King Saul took three thousand men to hunt David upon the rocks of the wild goats. Saul went into the very cave where David and his men were hiding, and David’s men told him to harm the king, but David only cut off the skirt of Saul’s robe, and even that troubled his heart. He would not lift his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and when he called after Saul and bowed before him, Saul wept and said, “Thou art more righteous than I.”
Big idea: God helps us to return good for evil.
Memory verse:
Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Romans 12:21 (KJV)Ask: Where was David hiding when Saul came in? In the sides of a cave in the wilderness of En-gedi (1 Samuel 24:1–3).
Game: Snip the Robe (about 10 minutes)
Daniel Purposes in His Heart
Daniel 1:1–21 · story film
King Nebuchadnezzar took young men from Jerusalem to Babylon, among them Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, to be trained for his palace on the king’s meat and wine. Daniel purposed in his heart not to defile himself, and he politely asked for ten days of pulse and water instead. At the end of ten days the four looked healthier than all the rest, and God gave them knowledge and wisdom, so the king found them ten times better than all his magicians and astrologers.
Big idea: Even when we are young and far from home, we can choose to honour God.
Memory verse:
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV)Ask: What did Daniel purpose in his heart? That he would not defile himself with the king’s meat or the wine which he drank (Daniel 1:8).
Game: Veggie Taste Test (about 10 minutes)
John Prepares the Way
Matthew 3:1–12 · Mark 1:1–8 · Luke 3:1–18 · story film
John the Baptist preached in the wilderness, calling people to repent and be baptized in the Jordan River. He told them that One mightier than he was coming.
Big idea: Getting ready for Jesus means turning from sin.
Memory verse:
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Matthew 3:3 (KJV)Ask: Where did John preach? In the wilderness of Judaea.
Game: Make the Path Straight (about 10 minutes)
Jesus Is Tempted
Matthew 4:1–11 · Luke 4:1–13 · story film
After forty days in the wilderness, the devil tempted Jesus three times. Each time Jesus answered with the Word of God, and the devil left Him.
Big idea: God’s Word helps us say no to temptation.
Memory verse:
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4 (KJV)Ask: How long was Jesus in the wilderness? Forty days and forty nights.
Game: It Is Written! (about 10 minutes)
Mary and Martha
Luke 10:38–42 · story film
Martha was busy serving while her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His word. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the good part.
Big idea: Time with Jesus is the most important thing.
Memory verse:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Luke 10:42 (KJV)Ask: What was Martha doing? Serving, and she was cumbered about much serving.
Game: Busy Martha, Listening Mary (about 8 minutes)
Seven Helpers Are Chosen
Acts 6:1–7 · story film
Some widows were being missed when food was handed out. The apostles had the church choose seven men full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom to serve, so the apostles could keep praying and teaching.
Big idea: Everyone in God’s family has a way to serve.
Memory verse:
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 (KJV)Ask: Who was being neglected? Widows, in the daily handing out of food.
Game: Nobody Missed Relay (about 10 minutes)
In the Garden of Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36–56 · Mark 14:32–50 · Luke 22:39–53 · John 18:1–11 · story film
Jesus went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray. He asked Peter, James and John to watch with Him, but they fell asleep. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done,” and then He was arrested.
Big idea: Jesus chose to obey His Father, even when it was hard.
Memory verse:
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41 (KJV)Ask: What was the garden called? Gethsemane.
Game: Prayer Garden (about 15 minutes)
Teaching making good choices at every age
- Preschool: Hold up two pictures and ask, “Which choice pleases God?”
- Elementary: Talk through a real choice kids face and look for a Bible verse that helps.
- Preteens: Read how Jesus answered temptation with Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11) and memorize one verse to use.
Plan it as a series: 8 weeks
| Week 1 | Abram Lets Lot Choose (Genesis 13:1–18). Peacemakers put others first and trust God to take care of them. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | Isaac Digs the Wells (Genesis 26:12–33). God makes room for those who choose peace. |
| Week 3 | Joseph in Potiphar’s House (Genesis 39:1–23). The LORD is with us, so we can choose to do right even when it is hard. |
| Week 4 | Choose You This Day (Joshua 24:1–31). Every day we can choose to serve the LORD. |
| Week 5 | Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:1–22). Real love stays loyal, and Ruth chose to follow Naomi’s God. |
| Week 6 | David Spares Saul (1 Samuel 24:1–22). God helps us to return good for evil. |
| Week 7 | Daniel Purposes in His Heart (Daniel 1:1–21). Even when we are young and far from home, we can choose to honour God. |
| Week 8 | John Prepares the Way (Matthew 3:1–12). Getting ready for Jesus means turning from sin. |
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.
Memory verses about making good choices (KJV)
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:9 · Abram Lets Lot Choose
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”
Matthew 5:9 · Isaac Digs the Wells
“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
Genesis 39:2 · Joseph in Potiphar’s House
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15 · Choose You This Day
“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
“Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:21 · David Spares Saul
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12 · Daniel Purposes in His Heart
“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”
Matthew 3:3 · John Prepares the Way
Questions people ask
What does the Bible teach kids about making good choices?
Every day we choose whether to follow God. Joshua said, “choose you this day whom ye will serve,” Daniel purposed in his heart, and Jesus used God’s Word to say no to temptation. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15, KJV)
Which Bible stories teach making good choices?
Abram Lets Lot Choose (Genesis 13:1–18), Isaac Digs the Wells (Genesis 26:12–33), Joseph in Potiphar’s House (Genesis 39:1–23), Choose You This Day (Joshua 24:1–31), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:1–22), and 7 more on this page.
How does the Bible help kids make good choices?
God’s Word shows what is right and gives strength to choose it. Jesus answered every temptation with Scripture (Matthew 4:1–11).
How do I teach making good choices to preschoolers?
Hold up two pictures and ask, “Which choice pleases God?”
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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