Free kids Bible lessons
Bible lessons for preteens
Preteens are ready to read the Bible for themselves, ask harder questions and see how the whole story fits together. Every Heart Turn Kids lesson has preteen tips and a youth group game.
Each of these free lessons 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, so one teacher can lead the whole class.
- Lessons
- 8
- Passages
- Genesis 39:1–23, Daniel 1:1–21, Esther 4:1–5:3, Matthew 16:13–20, Acts 9:1–19, Acts 17:10–15, 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
Read the text
Let preteens read the passage straight from the Bible, before and after the verses, and see how it fits the whole story.
Ask why
Each lesson’s questions come with answers from the passage; push further with “why does this matter?”
Youth group games
Every lesson includes a game for youth group as well as one for younger kids.
Point to Jesus
Show how every story points to His death, burial, resurrection and return.
Lessons to start with
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)
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)
Queen Esther
Esther 4:1–5:3 · 7:1–6 · story film
Wicked Haman had the king make a law to destroy all the Jews, so Mordecai cried out and urged Queen Esther to go to the king for her people. Going in uncalled could cost her life, so Esther asked all the Jews in Shushan to fast for her three days and said, “If I perish, I perish.” The king held out the golden sceptre, and at her banquet Esther bravely named Haman as the enemy, and God used her to save her people.
Big idea: God puts us where we are for His purposes, and He gives us courage to do right.
Memory verse:
What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.
Psalm 56:3 (KJV)Ask: What did Mordecai say Esther might have come to the kingdom for? “For such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Game: Crown Toss (about 10 minutes)
Peter’s Great Confession
Matthew 16:13–20 · Mark 8:27–30 · Luke 9:18–21 · story film
Jesus asked His disciples who people said He was, and then, “But whom say ye that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Big idea: Everyone must answer: who is Jesus?
Memory verse:
And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
Matthew 16:16 (KJV)Ask: What question did Jesus ask His disciples? “Whom say ye that I am?”
Game: Who Am I? (about 10 minutes)
Saul Meets Jesus
Acts 9:1–19 · Acts 22:6–16 · story film
Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians when a light from heaven shone around him and Jesus spoke to him. Saul was blind for three days until Ananias came, and then he was baptized.
Big idea: Jesus can change anyone’s heart.
Memory verse:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)Ask: Where was Saul going? To Damascus, to bind any Christians he found.
Game: Opposite Day (about 8 minutes)
The Bereans Search the Scriptures
Acts 17:10–15 · story film
In Berea the people received the word gladly and searched the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul taught was true. Many of them believed.
Big idea: We check everything by God’s Word.
Memory verse:
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Acts 17:11 (KJV)Ask: What did the Bereans do every day? They searched the Scriptures.
Game: Bible Detective (about 12 minutes)
Taming the Tongue
James 3:1–12 · story film
James compared the tongue to a small bit that turns a horse, a small rudder that steers a ship and a little fire that can burn a forest. Our words matter.
Big idea: God helps us use our words for good.
Memory verse:
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 (KJV)Ask: What small thing steers a great ship? A very small helm (rudder).
Game: Toothpaste Trouble (about 10 minutes)
Behold, I Come Quickly
Revelation 22:1–21 · story film
John saw the river of the water of life and the tree of life. The Bible ends with Jesus’ promise that He is coming quickly, and John’s answer: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Big idea: Jesus is coming again, and we can be ready.
Memory verse:
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20 (KJV)Ask: What river did John see? A pure river of water of life.
Game: Ready When He Comes (about 8 minutes)
Questions people ask
What Bible stories are good for preteens?
Stories about choosing God when it is hard work well: Joseph in Potiphar’s house, Daniel purposing in his heart, Esther, and the Bereans searching the Scriptures.
How do I keep preteens engaged in Bible class?
Let them read the text themselves, ask honest questions, and lead parts of the class. Every lesson also has a youth group game.
Should preteens use their own Bibles?
Yes. Have them find each passage in their own Bibles and read the verses before and after it.
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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