Self-Control Bible Lesson

Thanks to the Kidologist and the Kidology Cookbook, I am able to quickly come up with different ways to tell a Bible story that are fun and easy to learn. If you stand in front of kids that are varied in ages with all kinds of varied attention spans and just talk, talk, talk; (I call it bobbing head) you aren't going to engage them for very long.  You'll have discipline problems for sure, but mostly they won't internalize what it is you want them to know.  

Here is a story I wrote, with help from a friend, for an upcoming lesson on self-control.

For this story, we are going to make an acrostic using each letter in the word "Self-Control". The focus is on Peter as he makes mistakes that he was sure he would not make.  But the good news is Jesus still loves him and forgives him even though he knew that Peter was going to mess up before it even happened.

Isn't Jesus awesome! I thank Him today for doing the same for me! He died on that cross even though he knew that I would sin and He loved me anyway.  Thank you Jesus!

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Self-Control Bible Lesson

Peter Matt 26:31-34, 69-75, John 21:15-17

Use large cut out letters that will spell out SELF-CONTROL.  Hold each letter up and post on the board as you go through the story.  Each letter will stand for a different word as you tell the story.

Note: This could be done on a PowerPoint but I wanted something tangible not just pictures this week.

Open your Bible to Matthew 26.

Today we are learning about the last fruit of the Spirit and that is Self-Control.  This is one many kids have trouble with but according to the Bible we can have self-control through the Spirit. God can help us if we ask Him.  Let me tell you about a man who didn’t have self-control. He would sometimes say things without thinking and that would get him into a bit of trouble. But Jesus helped him. Let’s find out how.

[Hold up the “S” ask the kids to identify the letter. Do this with each letter as you hold it up.]

S – stands for Shepherd.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Tonight all of you will desert me. God will strike the Shepherd and the sheep will scatter.”  Jesus means that he’s about to go to the cross and all the disciples, who are like his sheep, will run away.

If you'd like to see the rest of the story download a pdf file here.

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Some other ways to engage kids would be to have them hold the letters up as you go, or hide them around the room and have them find them and bring them up one at a time.  It depends on the size of your group and your space. Be creative!