Free Bible lesson for kids · Revelation
Jesus Knocks at the Door
Jesus told the church at Laodicea that He stands at the door and knocks. Whoever hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in.
- Bible passage
- Revelation 3:14–22
- Big idea
- Jesus invites us to open our hearts to Him.
- Memory verse
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 3:20 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
Jesus sent a message to the church in Laodicea. He called Himself “the faithful and true witness” (Revelation 3:14). He said the people were lukewarm, “neither cold nor hot” (Revelation 3:15–16). They thought they were rich and needed nothing, but they were really poor and blind (Revelation 3:17). Jesus told them to come to Him for true riches, white clothes and eyesalve so they could see (Revelation 3:18).
Jesus said, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten” (Revelation 3:19). He told them to repent and turn from their sin (Revelation 3:19). Then He gave a wonderful promise: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock” (Revelation 3:20). If anyone hears His voice and opens the door, Jesus will come in and share supper with him (Revelation 3:20). Everyone who overcomes will sit with Jesus on His throne (Revelation 3:21).
Read it in the Bible: Revelation 3:14–22 (KJV)
14And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; 15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. 20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. 22He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
Questions to ask
Where does Jesus stand?
At the door, knocking.
What must a person do?
Hear His voice and open the door.
What does Jesus promise?
To come in and sup with him.
What this story teaches
- Jesus knows our works, and He always tells the truth (Revelation 3:14–15).
- Without Jesus we are poor, even if we have much (Revelation 3:17–18).
- Jesus corrects the people He loves (Revelation 3:19).
- Jesus calls us to repent and turn from sin (Revelation 3:19).
- Jesus comes in to everyone who hears and opens the door (Revelation 3:20).
Jesus Wants to Come In
Jesus knocks, and He waits for us to open. Everyone who receives Him and believes on His name becomes a child of God.
John 1:12
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Invite Jesus to be first in our hearts. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Jesus invites us to open our hearts to Him.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Revelation 3:20 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes
Who’s Knocking?
You need: A door or a screen
- One child goes behind the door and knocks.
- They call out in a disguised voice, “Open the door!”
- The group guesses who it is, then opens the door wide to welcome them.
Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in.”
For youth group · activity · outdoors · about 45 minutes
Door Hanger Invites
You need: Cardstock door hangers, markers, event details, adult leaders
- Design door hangers inviting neighbors to church or a youth event.
- Go out in groups with leaders and hang them on doors.
- Pray for each house as you go.
Jesus knocks on the door of every heart. We get to knock on doors to invite people to know Him.
Pray
Invite Jesus to be first in our hearts.