Welcome (5–10 minutes)
Set out:
As kids arrive, say simple lines:
- Free play: dolls/people figures, stuffed animals, blocks.
- Table: heart-themed coloring page (child with a heart, or “God loves me” words) and crayons.
As kids arrive, say simple lines:
- “Today we will hear that God loves you.”
- “God loves you when you are happy and when you are sad.”
- “Jesus shows us how much God loves us.”
Opening Prayer (echo prayer)
Children repeat after you:
“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
“Dear God,
Thank You for loving us.
Thank You for Jesus.
Thank You for the Bible,
Your special book.
Help us listen and obey.
In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Songs (5–10 minutes)
Pick 2–3 songs, repeat them often through the year.
Song 1 - “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions:
Song 2 - “The B-I-B-L-E”
Kids hold pretend Bible (hands together like a book), then step forward on “I stand alone…”
Song 3 – Simple “God Loves Me” chant
“God loves me, God loves me,
Every day and night.
God loves me, God loves me,
Jesus is my light.”
Clap hands on “God loves me,” point to self on “me,” point up on “God” and “Jesus.”
Song 1 - “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions:
- Point to self on “me.”
- Hug yourself on “loves.”
- Hands like a book on “for the Bible tells me so.”
Song 2 - “The B-I-B-L-E”
Kids hold pretend Bible (hands together like a book), then step forward on “I stand alone…”
Song 3 – Simple “God Loves Me” chant
“God loves me, God loves me,
Every day and night.
God loves me, God loves me,
Jesus is my light.”
Clap hands on “God loves me,” point to self on “me,” point up on “God” and “Jesus.”
Lesson
Sit kids in a circle. If you can, have a small mirror and a soft heart pillow or paper heart.
a) Object: mirror and heart
Let each child briefly see themselves in the mirror.
Show the heart pillow or a large paper heart.
b) Short lesson paragraphs
Pick a very simple verse idea such as “God is love” (1 John 4:8) or “God loves us.”
Share in preschool words:
d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:
Motions:
Say this many times: loud, whisper, with eyes closed, standing and sitting.
e) Optional short video (4–8 minutes)
If you have a short preschool video about God’s love / Jesus loves children, show it.
Afterwards, ask:
“Who loves you?” (God! Jesus!)
“Does God stop loving you?” (No!)
“Who did God send to show His love?” (Jesus!)
Repeat the phrase: “God loves me. Jesus loves me.”
a) Object: mirror and heart
Let each child briefly see themselves in the mirror.
- “Look at this face in the mirror. That is you. God made you. God sees you, and God loves you very much.”
Show the heart pillow or a large paper heart.
- “This heart reminds us of love. God’s love is bigger than this heart. God’s love is bigger than the whole room.”
b) Short lesson paragraphs
Pick a very simple verse idea such as “God is love” (1 John 4:8) or “God loves us.”
Share in preschool words:
- “The Bible tells us that God is love. That means love comes from God. God loves the whole world. God loves your family. God loves your friends. And God loves you.”
- “God does not stop loving you when you are sad or mad. God loves you when you obey and when you forget. God’s love never, ever stops.”
d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:
- “God loves me. Jesus loves me.”
Motions:
- Point up on “God.”
- Point to self and hug on “loves me.”
- Then point up (Jesus) and hug again on “Jesus loves me.”
Say this many times: loud, whisper, with eyes closed, standing and sitting.
e) Optional short video (4–8 minutes)
If you have a short preschool video about God’s love / Jesus loves children, show it.
Afterwards, ask:
“Who loves you?” (God! Jesus!)
“Does God stop loving you?” (No!)
“Who did God send to show His love?” (Jesus!)
Repeat the phrase: “God loves me. Jesus loves me.”
c) Jesus connection
Hold the heart close to your chest.
“The Bible shows us God’s love by telling us about Jesus. God sent His Son, Jesus, to this world because He loves us. Jesus came to be close to us, to help us, and to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus came back to life and is alive today. Jesus loves you all the time.”
Hold the heart close to your chest.
“The Bible shows us God’s love by telling us about Jesus. God sent His Son, Jesus, to this world because He loves us. Jesus came to be close to us, to help us, and to die on the cross for our sins. Jesus came back to life and is alive today. Jesus loves you all the time.”
Craft – “God Made Me”
Goal: Give each child a heart craft that clearly says God loves them and points to Jesus.
Steps
Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
When children are finished, have them hold up their hearts and say:
Steps
- Give each child one large paper heart.
- Help them glue on small hearts or heart stickers all over the big heart.
- Add the phrase at the center or bottom:
- “God loves me. Jesus loves me.”
- Let them draw themselves in the middle, or glue a little foil square as a “mirror” spot and say “This is you!”
Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
- “We are making a big heart to remind us that God loves you. All these little hearts can remind you that God’s love is big and full. Jesus shows us God’s love.
When children are finished, have them hold up their hearts and say:
- “God loves me. Jesus loves me.”
Supplies
- Large paper heart shapes (cardstock if possible).
- Smaller paper hearts in different colors OR heart stickers.
- Glue sticks.
- Crayons or markers.
- Printed/handwritten phrase: “God loves me. Jesus loves me.”
- Optional: small mirror sticker or foil square for “me.”
