My daughters are 3 and 4 and every night, as I tuck them into bed, they beg for stories and songs. After recounting a made-up tale of a princess exploring a new island on her magical flying unicorn, we settle in for a song or two. Recently they’ve been wanting “This Little Light of Mine” on repeat. I love to see their little fingers wave in the air as they boldly sing, usually at the top of their lungs, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine!” It encourages and challenges my heart to shine for Jesus in a dark world.
Today, I want you to pray that you would be a LIGHT wherever God has placed you. Jesus says, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (5:14-16)
When we spend time with the Lord we reflect His light and point others to Him, like a beacon of hope. John 8:12 says, “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
We can shine God’s light in our classroom, our Sunday School room, our home, etc. when:
— we choose to respond in love, instead of reacting in anger, when a student ruffles our feathers
–we give a kind and gentle answer to a belligerent parent–we choose to humbly ask for forgiveness when we’ve been wrong
–we stay a few minutes after work to listen to and encourage a coworker who’s struggling
–we give grace to someone, even when the world would say they don’t deserve it
–we offer wisdom and encouragement from the Bible instead of a pat “everything will work out” answer
–we stand firm in our convictions and don’t compromise on what God’s Word says is right and wrongI am praying for you, dear teachers!
I don’t need to tell you that believers in Jesus are waging a war against darkness in this world. But we do not despair! “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
We know the ending – Jesus, the King of Kings, will reign supreme on His throne and we will spend eternity worshipping Him. Fellow believer, I charge you to let your light shine while we wait!
But being called a Light to the World isn’t just for adults – Kids can learn about shining the light of Jesus too!
I have created a FREE Bible unit you can use when teaching children about the biblical concept of Jesus being the LIGHT OFTHE WORLD and our calling to be a LIGHT TO THE WORLD.
I’ve included activities for a variety of levels – you can pick and choose what will work best for your child(ren).
Here are the activities the unit includes:
I have written a short devotional to explain the biblical concept of the Light of the World. As the teacher (or mom), you can read it to young children and discuss it as you go. If you’re completing this unit with older children you can give them the devotional to read on their own.
The Bible verse for the unit is John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” I have included two versions of the poster – one in color to display and one in black and white for the kids to color as they review the verse.
There are a lot of Bible verses that discuss this concept of light. I chose two of them for the children to read, discuss, and learn. In addition to the weekly Bible verse listed above (John 8:12) I have also chosen Matthew 5:14-16 that reminds us of our role as Christians: “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). I have included two different versions for each verse – one in print and one in cursive. You can choose the appropriate worksheets based on the age and ability of your kids.
Then we have craft time! I have two fun crafts you can choose from as you discuss the devotional, practice the Bible verse, etc. The one for the younger kids has the children coloring a picture of Jesus and a lightbulb and an earth to help them remember the concept that Jesus is the light of the world. The other craft is a mosaic lightbulb that older kids can creatively color.
Next we have two comprehension/extension activities:
1. True or false fact sort. Give each student the activity sheet and have them color the thumbs-up or thumbs-down to demonstrate their comprehension of the lesson. Optional: Read the statements out loud and have the children respond by giving a thumbs-up or thumbs-down or by standing verses sitting.
2. Light vs. darkness sort. Give each student the activity sheet and have them color each picture and decide if the action is representing the light of Jesus or the darkness of sin. Optional: Have the children act out the scenarios and decide as a class if that action is demonstrating the light of Christ or darkness of sin.
To wrap up the unit we brainstorm ideas of how we can practically be a light wherever God has placed us. I give the kiddos “homework” – to be a light and share the light of God with someone! Remind them that God is glorified by our good deeds.
To wrap up the unit, I’ve compiled some fun ideas you can share with your little learners:
For a little treat you can get these lightbulb containers and fill them with candy or snacks.
You can also give each student a little something to take home to remind them of the message: I recommend these glow sticks or these little flashlights.*
*Note: These are affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission for sharing, at no cost to you
If you’re feeling very adventurous you can even get the supplies to make your own homemade candles with the children! I know they would think of this unit every time they lit it 🙂 I found a cute and easy tutorial on Pinterest.
Phew! Well thanks for sticking with me – I hope you got some ideas to help you plan your Bible unit and engage your students.
Download the printable activities here:
