“God gave you your family. Jesus loves your family and is always with you.”

“Jesus, thank You for my family and for Your love.”

Ephesians 6:1; simple family emphasis.

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.”

Pick 2–3 songs, repeat them often through the year.

Song 1 – “The B-I-B-L-E”
Motions:

• Hold hands like a book on “The B-I-B-L-E”.
• Hug the “book” on “Yes, that’s the book for me”.
• Step forward and stomp gently on “I stand alone on the Word of God”.

Song 2 – Creation chant (simple)
“God made the sky up high (reach up),
God made the water low (reach down),
Thank You God for sky and water,
Jesus loves me so.”

Add easy reach-up/reach-down motions.

Song 3 – “Thank You for My Family”
(Tune: “If You’re Happy and You Know It”)

“Thank You, God, for my family, clap your hands (clap clap)
Thank You, God, for my family, clap your hands (clap clap)
Thank You, God, for those who care,
For the love we always share,
Thank You, God, for my family, clap your hands (clap clap).”

Add verses: “stomp your feet,” “give a hug,” etc.

Sit kids in a circle. Have simple pictures of different kinds of families (mom/dad, single parent, grandparents, siblings, etc.).

a) Show family pictures
Hold up a family picture.

• “Look at this family. A family is a group of people who live together and love each other—like moms, dads, brothers, sisters, grandparents, and more.”

Show several different family types.

• “All families look different. Some are big, some are small, but God makes families and gives them to us to love and help us.”

b) Short lesson paragraphs
Use a simple idea from Genesis (God giving Adam a helper and a family) or from general teaching “God made families.”

• “The Bible tells us that God made people and He made families. God knew it was not good for people to be alone, so He gave them others to be with. In families, people can love each other, help each other, and take care of each other.”
• “God gave you your family—your parents, your brothers and sisters, your grandparents or the people you live with. Your family is a special gift from God.”

d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:

• “God gave me a family. Jesus loves my family.”

Motions:

• Point up on “God.”
• Point to self on “me.”
• Spread arms wide around the circle on “family.”
• Point up (Jesus) then sweep hand over kids on “loves my family.”

Say it several times: loud, whisper, while pretending to “hug” the group.

e) Optional short video (4–8 minutes)
Show a preschool video about God giving us families or a “God made families” lesson.

After the video, ask:
“Who gives us our families?” (God!)
“What does your family do for you?” (Helps me, loves me, cooks, plays.)
“Who loves your family?” (God, Jesus!)

Repeat: “God gave me a family. Jesus loves my family.”

c) Jesus connection
Hold a family picture close to your heart.

“The Bible also tells us about an even bigger family—God’s family. When we trust Jesus and follow Him, we become part of God’s family. Jesus loves your family, and He invites us to be in His forever family too. Jesus loves every person in your family.”

Goal: 

• Children create a simple picture of their family with a clear God/Jesus line.
  

Steps

• Give each child a paper.
• Invite them to draw the people in their family (who lives with them, or people they love like grandparents).
• Adults or helpers can ask: “Who is this?” and label under each person (Mom, Dad, etc.).
• Add the phrase at the top or bottom:
  • “God gave me a family. Jesus loves my family.”
• If some children struggle to draw people, let them draw happy faces or hearts and help label with family member names.

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)

• “This is a picture of your family. God gave you these people to love you and take care of you. Your family is a gift from God. Jesus loves every person in your family and wants them to be part of His big family too.”

Have children hold up their sky pictures and say:

• “God gave me a family. Jesus loves my family.”