Free Bible lesson for kids · On the Way to Jerusalem
Mary and Martha
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.
- Bible passage
- Luke 10:38–42
- 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)- 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
As Jesus traveled, He came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house (Luke 10:38). Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His word (Luke 10:39). But Martha was “cumbered about much serving” (Luke 10:40). She was busy and worried about getting all the work done. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” (Luke 10:40).
Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her (Luke 10:40). Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41). He meant she was full of worry about many things. Then Jesus said, “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42). Serving is good, but listening to Jesus matters most.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 10:38–42 (KJV)
38Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. 40But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Questions to ask
What was Martha doing?
Serving, and she was cumbered about much serving.
What was Mary doing?
Sitting at Jesus’ feet, hearing His word.
What did Jesus say Mary had chosen?
That good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
What this story teaches
- Listening to Jesus is the most important thing we can do (Luke 10:42).
- Jesus cares about us even when we are worried (Luke 10:41).
- Busy work can pull our hearts away from Jesus (Luke 10:40).
- Time spent with Jesus is never wasted or lost (Luke 10:42).
- Jesus welcomes all who sit and learn from Him (Luke 10:39).
Jesus Has Words of Life
Mary chose to listen to Jesus. His words are worth more than anything, because He has the words of eternal life.
John 6:68
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to help us make time to listen to Him. |
|---|---|
| 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: “Time with Jesus is the most important thing.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Luke 10:42 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
Busy Martha, Listening Mary
You need: Nothing
- When the leader calls “Martha!”, everyone rushes around pretending to sweep, stir and set the table.
- When the leader calls “Mary!”, everyone hurries to sit quietly at the leader’s feet.
- The last one sitting helps call the next round.
Martha was busy, but Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened. Jesus said Mary chose the good part.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 15 minutes
Distraction Challenge
You need: Bibles, a timer
- Read Luke 10:38–42 together, slowly, twice.
- Then try five minutes of silence with no phones, just listening to God and praying.
- Talk: what pulls you away from time with Jesus? What could you change this week?
“One thing is needful.” Time with Jesus is the good part that can’t be taken away.
Pray
Ask God to help us make time to listen to Him.