Summary
Kids learn to quickly find the “ends” of the Bible (Genesis and Revelation, Old Testament beginning and end, New Testament beginning and end).
They see that from the first page to the last, the Bible is one big story about God’s plan through Jesus.
They see that from the first page to the last, the Bible is one big story about God’s plan through Jesus.
Verse
Revelation 22:13 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”
Action idea:
Action idea:
- “First” – hold up one finger.
- “Last” – spread all fingers, then point back behind you.
- “Beginning and End” – draw a big line in the air from left to right.
Movement: “Ends of the Room”
Label four walls or corners:
Call out prompts like:
Once there, have them shout a short line:
- “Genesis – First Book”
- “End of Old Testament”
- “Matthew – Start of New Testament”
- “Revelation – Last Book”
Call out prompts like:
- “Where does the Bible start?” (kids move to Genesis).
- “Where does the whole Bible end?” (Revelation).
- “Where does the New Testament begin?” (Matthew).
Once there, have them shout a short line:
- At Genesis: “In the beginning, God created!”
- At Matthew: “Jesus has come!”
- At Revelation: “Jesus wins and makes all things new!”
Lesson: “First and Last Books” (Large group)
Focus on simple navigation and story arc:
Show them in a real Bible:
Connect the story in kid language:
Tie to the verse:
Show them in a real Bible:
- Open to Genesis 1: “This is the very first book and page.”
- Flip to Revelation: “This is the very last book.”
- Then show Matthew (start of New Testament) and the last book before it (end of Old Testament).
Connect the story in kid language:
- Genesis: God creates, people sin, God promises to rescue.
- Old Testament end: people are still waiting for the Savior.
- Gospels (Matthew etc.): Jesus comes, dies, rises.
- Revelation: Jesus finishes the story and makes everything new.
Tie to the verse:
- “Jesus calls Himself the First and the Last. He is there at the beginning of the Bible and at the end—and He is with us right now in the middle, too.”
Small Groups: “Four Corners in My Bible”
Goal: hands-on finding the “ends.”
Each child with a Bible:
1. Leaders help them find and bookmark four spots:
2. On a folded half-sheet with four boxes, kids write/draw:
Younger groups can draw simple symbols: world, hourglass/waiting, cross, shining city.
Each child with a Bible:
1. Leaders help them find and bookmark four spots:
- Genesis 1
- Last book of the Old Testament (Malachi)
- Matthew 1
- Revelation 21 or 22
2. On a folded half-sheet with four boxes, kids write/draw:
- Box 1: “Genesis – God begins His story.”
- Box 2: “Malachi – Waiting for the Savior.”
- Box 3: “Matthew – Jesus has come.”
- Box 4: “Revelation – Jesus makes everything new.”
Younger groups can draw simple symbols: world, hourglass/waiting, cross, shining city.
Closer Game: “First or Last?”
Quick-response game to reinforce “beginning/end” language and navigation:
Tell kids:
Say things like:
Then switch to Bible drill style:
Each time they find one, have them say together:
Tell kids:
- stand for “FIRST,” sit for “LAST.”
Say things like:
- “Genesis is the _____ book of the Bible.” (FIRST)
- “Revelation is the _____ book of the Bible.” (LAST)
- “Matthew is the _____ book of the New Testament.” (FIRST)
- “The last book of the Old Testament comes right before Matthew.” (LAST)
Then switch to Bible drill style:
- “Find the first book!” (Genesis)
- “Find the last book!” (Revelation)
- “Find the first book of the New Testament!” (Matthew)
Each time they find one, have them say together:
- “From first to last, the Bible is God’s story about Jesus!”