Have you been asked to take your turn teaching Sunday School? No need to be intimidated! While it's unlikely a child will strike up a deep discussion on biblical hermeneutics (um what?), it is good to have a starting point, a theme if you will. Here are 15 Sunday School lesson themes that will inspire participation while also planting great seeds of truth.
Theme: Jesus Hears Our Prayers
Passages: 1 Timothy 2:1-4; James 5:16; Philippians 4:6-7
Questions: How do you react when someone you hope to talk to starts a conversation with you? Have you had that happen — maybe with a sports figure, famous author or favorite teacher?
Activity: Using some effervescent tablets (monitor kids so they don't eat tablets or try to drink the water afterward!) and colored sparkling water to illustrate that our prayers get a reaction from God — like when the tablet goes into the water. He is excited to hear us pray because we are building a relationship with him.
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Theme: Jesus is Our Anchor
Passage: Hebrews 6:19a
Questions: Has anyone ever seen an anchor hanging off a boat? What does an anchor do when it is lowered into the water? What is something that makes you feel scared? Does it help when someone hugs you or holds you tight?
Activity: Tie a piece of string to a suction cup and attach to a plastic boat. Use a tile floor or smooth table to demonstrate how the boat doesn't go anywhere when the suction cup is put down. Have students take turns pushing the boat around and then attaching it with the "anchor." Explain that Jesus helps us not float away into sin by anchoring our soul to heaven.
Theme: Becoming a Fisher of Men
Passage: Luke 5:1-11
Questions: Have you been fishing and caught something besides a fish? How did you feel? In our Bible reading, was there someone who was disappointed with what they caught? What happened when Simon obeyed Jesus and let his net down?
Activity: Using a blue sheet or piece of large paper, have two volunteers hold it up high. Have students take fishing poles made of dowel rods, string, and paper clips and cast their lines over to the other side. A teacher can attach die cuts of people with words like "friend at school" or "person at store." When children catch a paper person, you can talk about how they can live out their faith so that person "catches" the idea of what it is like to be a Christian.
Theme: Convicted for Christianity
Passage: Acts 12:1-17
Questions: How can you tell someone is a Christian? What are the signs we are doing God's work? What do you say if someone asks you about your faith?
Activity: Being a Christian in the early days after Jesus' crucifixion was a dangerous proposition. Set up a fake court, with the premise of "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Divide into two teams with a pretend set of facts about a person. Have each side argue their case — whether the person should be convicted or acquitted.
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Theme: Take Time to Rest and Enjoy God
Passage: Genesis 2:2-3
Questions: What kinds of things do students like to do on vacation? What do you think God did when he rested? This verse just tells us what he didn't do. He didn't work or create anything. He just enjoyed his creation.
Activity: Fill a pillow case with four random items from home. Take time passing the items around the class, one at a time, and share the story behind each item or its unique qualities. Encourage your students to think of something they appreciate that gets overlooked most of the time such as a warm shower or a car to get to church. Remind them that God wants us to take time to rest and appreciate everyday things, people in our lives and circumstances that help us grow.
Theme: Me and My Big Mouth — Understanding Gossip
Passages: Proverbs 13:3; Proverbs 4:23; Luke 6:45; Matthew 12:35
Questions: What is gossip? Why do people gossip about each other? (Answer: To exalt themselves or to point out faults of others.)
Activity: Before teaching this lesson, brainstorm some conversation starters on index cards that are gossip, and some that are not. Ask a volunteer to come to the front of the class and read the cards. Have students clap when you are just sharing information and stomp their feet if it is gossip. For example: "Did you hear Alex came in last on the mile today?" (Stomp) versus "We ran the mile today and it was brutal!" (Clap) If someone asks who came in last, you can be honest, but that's all you need to say.
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Theme: Worrying about "Stuff"
Passages: Matthew 6:31-34; Luke 11:11; Matthew 7:9-11
Questions: Share a time when a sibling or friend was freaking out about a situation that you already knew was resolved. (A test got pushed back a day, your parents had already turned in a form, etc.) What good comes from worrying? How can we trust our heavenly father?
Activity: Bring in some home magazines or newspapers and search for ads that play into the worry syndrome (what to drink, eat and wear). Think of other ways our culture perpetuates worrying. If you have a stuffed or plastic snake, it might be fun to bring one in to illustrate Matthew 7.
Theme: Knowing the Holy Spirit
Passages: 1 Samuel 10:9-10; 1 Samuel 16:14; Luke 1:15; Luke 1:35
Questions: Who is the Holy Spirit? What jobs does he have in the Trinity? How do we know if the spirit is active in us?
Activity: Since the Holy Spirit comes to reside in us, put on a humorous skit about the Holy Spirit arriving to a messy room and needing to get it cleaned up for God — litter the class with junk before students arrive. After the lesson, have students brainstorm in groups what the Holy Spirit would want from us so He can live in us without hesitation (a Homeowner's Guide of sorts).
Theme: Less of Me, More of Christ
Passages: Luke 9:23; Matthew 16:24-25
Questions: Read verse 24 out loud and have students chew on it for a while. What is Jesus saying here? Is it "bad" to want to save ourselves? What does he mean when he says we have to lose our life to save it? How is it different to "lose our life for His sake," versus losing it for the sake of our own glory or fame? What does it look like to take up our cross daily?
Activity: Break this idea down on a white board to map out the concepts. Circle different parts of a stick figure body that you draw — the heart, head, soul, etc. Talk about how our different wants and needs can conflict in ways that are like this passage of the Bible.
Theme: Trusting God for the Outcome
Passages: Matthew 25:24-25; Psalms 32:8-10; Proverbs 3:5-6
Questions: What does it mean to trust someone? We know we can count on God, but honestly, why is it hard sometimes?
Activity: Fill a sandwich-size plastic sealable bag with water. Taking sharpened pencils, quickly poke them through the bag from one side to the other (make sure an adult is in charge of this demonstration). Amazingly, no water will leak out if you jab them quickly through the bag and keep them there. Each time you poke the bag, you can repeat the words, "We have to trust." You could even write words on the pencils such as "waiting," "listening" or "obedience."
Sunday School is a wonderful time to impart God's word and lessons for the next generation. Use these real world questions and activities to truly make a difference.
Julie David is married to a worship pastor and after 20 years in ministry together with three daughters, she is still developing the tender balance of thick skin and gracious heart. She currently leads a small group of high school girls.
