This Sunday School lesson will teach kids the importance of sharing about Jesus with others. It’s based on John 1:29-42, where John’s disciples become disciples of Jesus. Print the lesson plan below. We’ve included crafts, coloring pages, games, worksheets, and a children’s message.
“Go Make Disciples” Sunday School Lesson
John 1:29-42 – Sharing Jesus with Others
Students are likely familiar with the concept of sharing things, but they may be a bit more uncertain about the idea of sharing Jesus. This lesson uses the concept of sharing in a general sense, as well as in a sense of telling others great news. The ideas focused on here are meant to communicate to children how wonderful and exciting it is to spread God’s love and gospel to others around us.
Lesson focus: The love of Jesus is a wonderful part of who we are as Christians. God wants us to share the good news of the Gospel of Christ, and also to share with others who Jesus is and what He has done for us. We should be eager to do that, and glad to serve God by making more disciples!
Passage: John 1:29-42
Memory Verse: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… -Matthew 28:19 ESV (compare other translations on BibleHub)
Target Audience: Kindergarten-6th grade
Materials Needed: (note options) Dominoes, photos of celebrities, small multi-player game, pipe cleaners, decorative materials, paper, scissors, stickers, Bibles.
More Teaching Ideas (included in the download)
- See the craft direction video (flexible for all age groups)
- See our children’s message on Sharing Jesus
- D is for Disciples Coloring Page (preschoolers)
- JESUS word puzzle worksheet (younger elementary)
- Learn about Jesus worksheet (middle elementary)
Extend the Lesson
- See our Great Commission object lesson with dominoes
- “Show and Tell” crossword and worksheet from Sermons 4 Kids
- Compare the John 1:29-42 children’s sermon from Rfour.org
Worship Song “Go” Matthew 28:19
Try this worship song from Seeds Family Worship. It’s word-for-word from the memory verse we recommend in this lesson plan.
Lesson Introduction Games
Lesson Opening: Start off by doing a couple of activities with the kids that demonstrate the importance of sharing. Many times, there are things much better done in conjunction with other people than done alone. Additionally (or instead), show how things can spread quickly once they get going!
- Dominoes: Have students help in setting up a Dominoes course around the room. Watch how one domino knocked over starts a whole line-up falling down. Explain that today you will be talking about sharing and spreading something that can start small and have a huge impact.
- Explain to kids that you are going to be showing them how to play a game, such as catch, ping-pong, or tic-tac-toe…as you “demonstrate”, emphasize the fact that it’s pretty tough to do this on your own. Invite students to help you, and explain how important it is to share things with one another.
- Good news charades: have students take turns acting out something that they might want to tell people about. Pretend they have great news to share, but must do so without making any noise.
- Telephone: play a game of telephone, observing how a message moves around the room.
- Snack sharing: bring in a homemade treat, and explain how thrilled you are that it came out delicious. Show students that you have several extra treats and they are too good to keep to yourself, so they must be shared. Pass the treats around the room (or wait until the end of the lesson to share).
Explain to students that today they will be
talking about sharing the good news of Jesus. When we tell or show others how
much God loves us, they will hopefully want to pass that on, as well. We can
spread the hope and joy of our faith to those around us!
Sunday School Lesson (John 1:29-42) Go Make Disciples
Hold up several pictures of famous icons that students might be familiar with. Do they recognize these people? If they were to see them out in the neighborhood, what might they do?
Explain that if students were to see a celebrity, they would likely be excited. They might point out the person’s presence and be eager to share the sighting with others. Well, that is exactly what happened in the Gospel of John here. John the Baptist noticed Jesus, and He knew who He was. He couldn’t wait to tell others about Him:
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.” -John 1:29-34
John wanted others to know who Jesus was. He explained how he had seen the Holy Spirit with Jesus, making sure others knew that his claims were validated. John had seen the Lord, and couldn’t keep the knowledge to himself.
He shared with his own disciples who Jesus was. Yes, John had disciples too! But he was willing to let them go, in favor of the most important person in the world…He told his friends about Jesus, and they were intrigued enough to follow Him…
The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. -John 1:35-39
What did these men do after their friend John pointed out who Jesus was? They eagerly followed after Him, even asking to spend the night! These disciples quickly and readily followed Jesus. But the story doesn’t end there.
They were so delighted and excited to find the Messiah that they wanted others to know about Him. One of the new disciples shared the good news with his brother. These were the first people to find and follow Jesus. They shared His appearance with others, too excited to keep the good news to themselves. When something great happens, you should want to announce it and share it!
One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John. You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter). –John 1:40-42
So the first few disciples were excited about finding and identifying Jesus as the Messiah. What about us? Can we learn something from these people?
Our job is to share the love of Christ with one another. Our goal, as children of God, is to tell others about Him. We want to spread the good news of the Gospel and make more disciples. In fact, Jesus told us to do this! It’s called “The Great Commission”:
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit… -Matthew 28:19
Close with prayer and thank God for Jesus. Ask for His help in sharing the good news of the Gospel with others, and for help in caring for one another.
Craft: Sharing and Caring…
There are several fun crafts that can remind students of the blessings that come with sharing God’s love and telling others about Jesus. Additionally, you might also consider a craft that goes along with the calling of the disciples, adding to it as you learn about other disciples. Here are a few crafty potentials either way:
- Make disciple puppets with paper bags or popsicle sticks (decorate and “name” them).
- Sharing game: create a simple game that must be shared, but that students can play together. Consider a tic-tac-toe board with bent pipe cleaners as playing pieces.
- Bracelets: create bead bracelets with colors that represent important faith elements. Using string or pipe cleaner, add beads of red for Christ’s blood, white for purity, black for sin, green for new life, and yellow for Heaven. Students can wear them to share the gospel, or they can give their bracelets to others as well.
- Sharing cards: create a special note to share and pass along faith…have students decorate envelopes. Inside each one, they can place several note cards with verses or caring messages like “God loves you and I do, too! Pass it on!” Or “Smile…it’s contagious!” Include stickers or small treats, if the envelopes are large enough. Students can give the cards out to people, and encourage them to spread the good news around to others.
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Very useful. Thank you for sharing