New Years Sunday School Lesson (Luke 18:18-27)

Use this New Year’s Bible Lesson for Sunday School or Children’s Church. It helps kids focus on their relationship with Jesus as the most important one thing as they start the new year. The printable PDF download includes bonus activities and coloring pages to help you prepare for Sunday.

Don’t miss our All Things NEW:4-Week Sunday School Curriculum to teach in January. Click here to download lesson #1 as a free sample.

“One Thing” Sunday School Lesson for Children

Luke 18:18-27 New Year’s Bible Lesson for Kids on Putting Jesus First

At the beginning of each year many people reflect upon their life and what they can do to improve it.  We see slogans everywhere motivating people to “be the new you” through weight loss programs, financial planning, exercise regiments and home organization.  Yet most of us find by the end of the year we have slipped back into some of our old habits once again.  This occurs because people are striving for change in their own strength without seeking the help of the Lord.

In this lesson, children will be encouraged to examine their life and identify one thing they need to give up at the start of this new year.  What is the one thing in their life that is holding them back from having a closer walk with the Lord or having a relationship with him at all?  They will learn that this change they seek cannot be found on their own, but can only be made possible with God’s help. God loves us and wants us to pray and talk to him!

About this “New Year” Sunday School Lesson

Text: Luke 18:18-27

Learning Objective: The children will examine their life to identify one thing they are holding on to which is keeping them from having a closer walk with God.

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Target Age: K-5^th grade children (can be adapted easily for youth and adults)

Time Needed: 30-45 minutes

Materials Needed:

• Make copies of a large “number one” This can be either hand written or typed from a computer.
• scissors, and pencils if you choose to do the supplemental activity
• New Year’s coloring page and January Calendar Coloring page (included in the printable lesson download)
• New Year’s Resolutions for Kids – Printable

Bonus Lesson Ideas: More ideas for celebrating the New Year in Children’s Church

• New Years Object Lesson (Matthew 5:14) Sparklers or Candles
• Salvation Object Lessons for the New Year
• Balloon Game for New Years
• New Year’s Party Activities and Games
• Even more ideas for planning your New Years Sunday School lesson

“One Thing” Sunday School Lesson for New Year

Lesson Introduction (HOOK)

1. “What is special about the month we are now in?”  It is the first month of a new year!
2. “What year is it?”
3. “Have you heard about making a new year resolution?  What is a resolution?”
4. “A resolution is a goal.  Something you want to do or be by the end of the year.”
5. “Do you have some ideas for a resolution you could make?”  Take input from the kids.
6. “Did you know a resolution can be something you choose to give up, too?  For example, you can resolve or make a goal to give up eating candy because it is not good for your teeth.  Or you could give up playing video games after dinner because sometimes you end up staying up too late.”

Biblical Content (BOOK)

1. “Jesus spoke to a man in the Bible and asked him to give something up so the man could follow Jesus with his whole heart.  Jesus wanted the man to resolve to give up this thing so he could fully follow Jesus.  Can you guess what that one thing was?” Take input from the kids.
2. “Let’s look at the passage where Jesus talks with this man and find out what the one thing is Jesus asked him to give up.”
3. “Open your Bibles to Luke 18:18-27 and let’s read the passage together.”
4. Read the passage out loud.

Scripture Application (LOOK)

1. “What is the question the man asked Jesus?”  How can I have eternal life?
2. “How did Jesus answer his question?”  Reread verses 19-20.
3. “First, Jesus reminded the man that no one is good and that all people have sinned.”
4. “What was the man’s reply?”  He said he had kept all the laws Jesus listed and was a good man.
5. “Yet what did Jesus tell the man he still needed to do?”  Reread verse 22.
6. “Jesus told the rich man to give up everything he owned to follow Jesus.  This is the ‘one thing’ the man had left to do before he could have eternal life.”
7. Reread verse 23.  “How did the man feel about giving up everything he owned?”  He was sad because he was very rich and he did not want to give all of his possessions up to follow Jesus. How did this man put God first in his life?
8. “Now something I want to make clear to you is that Jesus does not give us a list of things to do in order to get into heaven.  There is no to-do list to check off.  But you might wonder then why did Jesus ask this man to do something to receive eternal life?  Jesus knew that this wealthy man was being held back by his many possessions.  His great wealth was the ‘one thing’ that was keeping his heart hard.  Jesus knew this man’s heart would not want to follow Jesus until his possessions had been given away.”
9. “Jesus says in verse 24-25,” Reread these verses.
10. “To be a true follower of Christ and receive eternal life we must give our whole heart to Him.  This rich young ruler was willing to give most of his heart and life to Jesus, but not all of it.  His wealth was the ‘one thing’ keeping him from following Jesus with his whole heart.”
11. How can we make time every day to put God first. He wants us to talk to HIM each and every day.

Life Application of this Lesson (TOOK)

1. “Is there one thing holding you back from following Jesus with your whole heart?  Maybe you are not a follower of Jesus yet because you do not want to give up your sin and repent?  The ‘one thing’ you need to resolve to do this new year is to give up your sin and believe in Jesus’ death on the cross to save you.  Your ‘one thing’ to give up is your sin.  This new year may be the year you choose a new life in Christ!”
2. “For those of you who know Christ with saving faith.  You have already turned from your sin, believed in the saving work of Jesus death on the cross, and you are seeking to live your life in the way Jesus would want you to live.  Yet, you may still have ‘one thing’ in your life that is holding you back in your relationship with Him.  Maybe there is something your heart is clinging to which you think is more important than Jesus.  Is it getting the lead role in the school play?  Is it becoming the player to score the most goals on your soccer team?  Is it sneaking extra food from the kitchen at home when no one is looking?  Is it not following what your parents say because you think you know better?  All of these things can hold you back from having the closest relationship you can have with Jesus.”
3. “So what is your ‘one thing’ today?  For the rich young ruler it was holding on to his wealth, which meant he did not receive eternal life.  What is your ‘one thing’?” God loves us and wants us to make time for prayer and to talk with HIM.
4. “Let’s close with one final word from Jesus.” Reread verse 27.
5. “Jesus does not leave us to give up that ‘one thing’ all on our own and by our own strength.  He knows we cannot do it on our own, but we need his help.  Ask Jesus for help to give up your ‘one thing’ to Him.  Pray for God to help you give up your ‘one thing’ this year, so that you can have a relationship with Him or so you can have a closer relationship with him.  None of us can give up our ‘one thing’ all on our own.  We need His help every day.”

New Year’s Activity for Sunday School:

1. Copy an outline of a block number one.  There should be one for each child.  This can be hand drawn with space in the middle for the children to write.
2. The children will write in the middle their “one thing” they need to give up this year so they can follow Jesus with their whole heart.
3. The children will cut their number one out and keep it between the pages of their Bible as a reminder to them throughout the year.
4. In this activity, it is important to dialogue with each child about their “one thing.”  Help them to understand why that thing is a hindrance to growth in their relationship with God and how they will need His help to overcome it.

Printable New Year’s Coloring Page for Children