Week 20 – God Gives the Ten Commandments

Welcome
Songs
Craft
Opening prayer
Lesson
Closing Prayer

Lesson

“God showed His people how to live. Jesus always obeyed God and forgives us when we don’t.”

Prayer

“Jesus, help me obey You and say sorry when I don’t.”

Passage

Exodus 20 (focus on “God shows us the best way to live”).

Welcome (5–10 minutes)

Set out:
  • Free play: blocks, people figures, toy mountain (block pile), toy sheep.
  • Table: coloring page of Moses with two stone tablets and crayons.

As kids arrive, say simple lines:
  • “Today we’ll hear how God gave His people special rules.”
  • “These rules are called the Ten Commandments.”
  • “They show us the best way to live. Jesus obeyed them perfectly.”

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.”

Songs (5–10 minutes)

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 – “Jesus Loves Me”
Motions: 
  • point to self on “me,” 
  • hug on “loves,” 
  • hands like a book on “Bible tells me so.”

Song 3 – “God Made Me, God Loves Me” chant
“God made me (point to self),
God loves me (hug self),
The Bible tells me so (book hands).
Jesus came,
Knows my name,
He’s with me where I go (walk in place).”

Repeat 2–3 times.
The B-I-B-L-E Song
Jesus Loves Me
I am a Child of God

Lesson

Sit kids in a circle. Have two large “stone tablets” cut from cardboard or paper, and a picture of a mountain.

a) Moses on the mountain
Show the mountain picture.
  • “The Bible tells us about a man named Moses. Moses was the leader of God’s people. One day God told Moses to come up on a big mountain.”
Hold up the “tablets.”
  • “On the mountain, God gave Moses ten special rules called the Ten Commandments. God wrote them on stone tablets. These rules were to help God’s people know the best way to live.”

b) Simple summary of the Commandments (age-appropriate)
Explain in very simple “heart” language instead of listing all ten:
  • “God’s rules said things like:
    • Love God first.Don’t worship other gods.
    • Use God’s name with respect.
    • Take a special rest day for God.
    • Obey your parents.
    • Don’t hurt others.
    • Don’t steal.
    • Don’t lie.
    • Don’t be jealous of what others have.”
    • “These rules show us how to love God and how to love other people. God’s way is the best way.”

d) Key phrase with motions
Teach and repeat:
  • “God’s rules are good. Jesus helps me obey.”

Motions:
  • Hands like holding tablets on “God’s rules.”
  • Thumbs up on “good.”
  • Point up (Jesus) then to self on “helps me obey.”

Say it several times: loud, whisper, standing, sitting.
c) Our problem and Jesus connection
Hold the tablets, then place a hand on your heart.

“God’s rules are good, but sometimes we do not obey them. Sometimes we don’t listen to our parents, or we say mean things, or we want what someone else has. That is called sin—when we don’t do what God says.”

Place your hand on the Bible or a cross picture.

“The Bible tells us that Jesus came to help us. Jesus always obeyed God’s rules perfectly. He never sinned. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and came back to life. When we say sorry and trust Jesus, He forgives us and helps us obey God’s good way.”

I Love God's Family
Scenario Inspector Tanakh

Craft – “Two Tablets: Love God, Love People”

Goal: 
  • Very simple version of the Ten Commandments on two “stone tablets,” with a Jesus phrase.

Steps
  • Give each child either:
    • Two separate tablet shapes, plus a background paper to glue them onto; or
    • One page with two tablet outlines.
  • Help them color the tablets gray/brown to look like stone.
  • On one tablet, write “Love God.” On the other, write “Love people.”
  • At the bottom of the page, write:
    • “God’s rules are good. Jesus helps me obey.”
  • Let them add a little heart near each word “Love.”

Craft talk (short paragraph as they work)
  • “These tablets remind us of the Ten Commandments. God’s rules can be summed up like this: love God and love people. That is God’s good way. We don’t always get it right, but Jesus forgives us and helps us obey. We can ask Jesus to help us love God and love others.”

  • When finished, invite them to “read” their booklet by pointing at each page while you say:
    • “God’s rules are good. Jesus helps me obey.”
Supplies

  • Gray or brown paper cut into two tablet shapes per child, or one paper with two tablet outlines.
  • Crayons/markers.
  • Glue stick (if gluing tablets to a background).
  • Short phrases you or helpers can write:
    Tablet 1: “Love God.”
    Tablet 2: “Love people.”
  • At bottom: “God’s rules are good. Jesus helps me obey.”

Closing Prayer (echo prayer)

Gather kids in a circle, each holding their little “Bible.”
“Dear Jesus, Thank You for God’s good rules.
Thank You for always obeying them. I am sorry for the times I do wrong.
Thank You for forgiving me. Please help me love God and love people. Amen.”