Mother’s Day Kids Bible Lesson with a Story
- Eljoh Hartzer, MTh
- 1 hour ago
- 6 min read
This free Mother’s Day Kids Bible Lesson is packed with a joyful activity, a fun story, a Bible memory verse, a creative response, and a worship song. The focus is on teaching kids the value and identity that they have in their Heavenly Father while also nurturing appreciation for earthly mothers. You can print this article and use it as a lesson plan or curriculum for your Sunday School this Mother’s Day.
Icebreaker for Mother’s Day Kids Bible Lesson
Energy level: Medium
Teacher: Welcoming
Kids: Stand in a circle
Supplies: Name tags, A ball or soft toy (object to throw)
Instructions:
Have each kid introduce themselves to the group. This might take up time, but it tells them: You are valued. You are welcome. We want you here.
Lesson Focus:
We are family!
Sunday School teachers, try saying:
Welcome to kids’ church! I see you’ve all got name tags. Do you know the most important name tag of all? It is one that was placed on you even before you were born, and nobody can take it off. It says: You are a child of God. Let’s go around and each one of us will say our name.
Optional: Say your name and your mom's / your mom's embarrassing nickname for you!
Storytime in Sunday School
Energy level: Low
Teacher: Inspiring
Kids: Sit down and listen, facing teacher
Supplies: Nothing
Instructions:
For this Mother’s Day Sunday School Lesson, we will use storytelling as a teaching tool. Stories are often associated with earthly mothers who read to their kids and tuck them into bed at night. Use the story below to teach kids in your Sunday School class about a mother's love.
This story combines Psalm 121 (God gives shade), Luke 15 (the Prodigal Son), and John 15 (the vine and the branches)
Mother’s Day Lesson Focus:
What is love? (John 15: The Greatest Love)
Try saying:
Once upon a time, in a garden buzzing with bees, flowers flourishing, and tall trees giving shade, there was a little seedling. His name was Sprout. Sprout spent his days gazing up at the sun, playing with his other plant friends, and staying close to his Mama Tree because he loved her very much. (touch heart) He sprouted from one of her seeds...
One morning when Sprout woke up (yawn), he got out of his bed in the soil and lifted his head like he always did, but something felt wrong... The little seedling looked around to the left (turn left) and the right (turn right), but he could not place his finger on what was different. Hmmm... Something was definitely different, but what was it?
Sprout kept walking. He looked at the sun for answers (point up) and he talked to the ants (point down) to figure out what was missing. It was super hot for so early in the morning, and Sprout was beginning to feel faint.
"I know, my friend, owl will have the answer. He always does!" the little seedling said and wandered over to the big tree where the owl was sitting.
"Hoo hoo" the owl said. "Hoo, to you too!" Sprout greeted in return.
"And how did you find my tree, little seedling?" the owl asked from between the branches of the tree.
"What do you mean?" Sprout asked, surprised. He'd seen the owl maaaany times before and the owl never asked this question.
"Hoo hoo hoo, I always come to you! And to your Mama Tree!"
The Moment Sprout Realized What Was Wrong
Then Sprout looked up at the blazing sun again (look up), and he looked to his right (look right). What!? Sprout jumped high up in the air, he got such a fright. (jump) Where IS my mom!?
The little seedling had spent his whole life protected in his mother, the tall tree's shade. She covered him, sheltered him, and braved the hot sun so that he did not have to. She LOVED him.
Without realizing, Sprout had disconnected from his mom's safe space in his sleep. He was a big sprout now, but he was definitely not ready to go at it alone!
Sprout was sad and tearful (sad face). "How will I find my way home?" Sprout whispered as he wandered through the garden in the hot midday sun. He walked and walked and walked some more.
Then, he finally reached a cool space. A refreshing breeze rustled through his tiny leaves and he smiled. "That's better!"
Sprout looked up and saw that he had walked all the way back to his Mama Tree's shade. Yay! He ran over to her big tree trunk and gave her a big hug. (hug your shoulders)
Mama Tree tipped down one of her branches and stroked his face. She said: “Welcome home, my child. You are my joy! Nothing that you do can ever change that. You are always welcome back here with me.”
The End
Questions for Sunday School Kids:
If you and I are like Sprout the seedling, who do you think is like Mama Tree? God.
What does God do when we walk away from Him? He misses us, welcomes us back.
Do we need to be afraid to come back to God? No, He loves us.
Is God a good parent? The best!
How can you stay in God's shade? Spend time with Him, Live His way.
Did the kids respond well to learning through a story? Consider buying my story and the curriculum that goes with it about the Fruit of the Spirit and what it looks like to live in God's Kingdom.
Bible memory verse for Mother’s Day
Energy level: Medium – High
Teacher: Fun
Kids: Stand up, facing teacher
Supplies: A Bible (yes, the book!)
Instructions:
Psalm 121 verses 5 to 8 (Make with hands: P 1 2 1 5 8)
The Lord is your Protector.
(Point up / Hug your shoulders)
The Lord stands by your side, (Slide to the left) shading and protecting you. (Cover head)
Lesson Focus:
Teaching kids about the Bible at church helps them grow in their confidence to read it when they’re older.
Now that we understand the story about Mothers, let’s memorize a Bible verse. We’re going to do this a few times until we get it just right! Do you know how much God loves you? The love of God is so great that He calls you His children. This is good news!
Art and Crafts for Mother’s Day Sunday School Lesson
Energy level: Medium – Low
Teacher: Encouraging
Kids: Sit at tables or on the floor
Supplies: Construction paper + drawing supplies
Instructions:
Kids are going to make a simple letter for their mothers. Encourage the children that there is no “specific way” or “right thing” here. They can make something that is true to themselves. Older kids can be encouraged to make something with its future use in mind… This will go on:
Mom’s desk
The fridge
Mom’s bedside table
Challenge the older kids to design a card that can stand by itself, or that has a hidden message.
Lesson Focus:
We can bless our moms with words of God's love.
Try saying:
Now that we understand God as the perfect parent, we can appreciate our earthly moms so much more. Let’s make a card where we tell them how much we love them this Mother’s Day.
Worship song for Mother’s Day
Energy level: Low – Medium
Teacher: Loving
Kids: Lay down on the floor
Supplies: A speaker or phone & access to the internet
Instructions:
Play the following song as soaking worship music over the kids.
Lesson Focus:
We can dwell on the idea that our identity is found in who God is.
Try saying:
You guys have listened so well, now, let’s listen to what this song says about God. Stand up and stretch a bit. Then, find a spot to lay down on the floor. Listen to this song and talk to God about what you hear. When we’re done, we’re going to dance until it’s time for you to go home – Are you ready?
Reflecting on the Mother’s Day Sunday School Lesson
This Mother’s Day Lesson was written with a broad audience in mind – as much as possible – but there is an elephant in the room. Every child will not experience the ‘Happy Mother’s Day’ we have in mind. Think of single dads or kids who do not have loving mother figures…
I don’t know the kids in your children’s ministry, but as a Sunday school teacher, you get to know them. A good example is to do an information form a few weeks before something like Mother’s Day comes up where you ask about family dynamics.
Even children who know their human mothers might carry wounds because of them. Mother’s Day might be an excellent time for you to teach kids the important lesson about forgiveness. Or, equip them to pray for change in their own families.
If you are still unsure of how to go about it all, shift the focus to God being their Heavenly Father - the prefect parent. There are lots of curriculum materials out there about the great love that God has for his children.
If you’ve come to the end of this post, your Sunday school class is in good hands. May God’s Holy Spirit inspire you to teach with love, grace, and peace!
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