This lesson teaches children that God sees wrong things people do, even when others do not, and that he cares about how people treat one another. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, questions and a short activity.
Big Idea
God sees every wrong thing people do, and he cares about how we treat each other. He is fair, and he never forgets what is right.
Memory Verse
Amos 1:2
He said: “The LORD will roar from Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the pastures of the shepherds will mourn, and the top of Carmel will wither.”
(WEB)
Have children stand up tall, then slowly lift both arms above their heads and wiggle their fingers like a roaring lion when you say “The LORD will roar.” Repeat the motion together three times until the verse feels like a song.
The Story: Amos 1 for Kids
A shepherd named Amos lived in a small town called Tekoa, south of Jerusalem. He took care of sheep and also picked figs from trees. One day God gave him a message to share with the people of nearby nations and with the people of Israel. Amos was not a king or a priest, but God chose him to speak.
Amos first told the people that God would roar from Jerusalem like a lion. The green pastures where the shepherds worked would mourn, and even the tops of the tall hills would dry up. Everyone listening knew this meant something big was coming from God. It made people stop and pay attention.
Then God began to name the nations one by one. He spoke about Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, and Ammon. For each nation God said, “They have done wrong, and I will not forget it.” Each nation had hurt other people, and God saw every bit of it. He said he would send fire on their walls and palaces.
God said that some of these nations had been cruel to their neighbors and had even broken promises to family. They had caught people and sold them as slaves. God was not pleased with that kind of behavior. He wanted people to be kind and fair to one another.
Amos spoke these words so that everyone would understand God’s heart. God sees what people do, and he takes wrong things seriously. Amos was telling people that God is not blind to injustice.
Even though the message was serious, it shows us that God cares about people who are hurt. He wants the wrong things to stop. Children can learn that God notices when we are unkind, and he also wants us to do what is right.
Read It Together
Amos 1:3
The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Damascus, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron…
(WEB)
Point out the words “For three transgressions… for four.” Explain that this is a way of saying that the wrong had piled up many times, and God did not forget any of it. Ask children what it feels like when someone keeps doing something unkind.
Amos 1:11-12
11 The LORD says: “For three transgressions of Edom, yes, for four, I will not turn away its punishment; because he pursued his brother with the sword, and cast off all pity, and his anger raged continually, and he kept his wrath forever; 12 but I will send a fire on Teman, and it will devour the palaces of Bozrah.”
(WEB)
Show children that Edom had chased his own brother with a sword and had no pity. Ask them to think about what it means to be kind to family, even when they are upset. Help them see that God wants us to show care instead of anger.
Amos 1:14-15
14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it will devour its palaces, with shouting in the day of battle, with a storm in the day of the whirlwind; 15 and their king will go into captivity, he and his princes together,” says the LORD.
(WEB)
Help children notice that God says he will act, and he sees who is in charge. Explain that God is powerful and fair, and that he does not let wrong go unnoticed. Remind them that God can be trusted to do what is right.
Talk About It
- What is one thing that makes you sad when someone else does it?
- Why do you think God saw everything that the nations were doing?
- How can you show kindness to a brother, sister, or friend this week?
- What does it tell you about God that he cares when people are hurt?
- When you do something wrong, what can you do to make it right?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Shepherd’s Hill
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons, and a pencil. Ask them to draw a green hill with a shepherd and sheep, then add a tall tree on top. Talk about how the hill was an important place where God’s voice would be heard. Let children name one kind thing they can do for someone at home.
Lion Roar Game
Gather the children in a circle and choose one child to be the lion. The lion walks in the middle and roars loudly. The other children freeze like statues and then tiptoe back to their seats when the lion stops. Repeat with different children taking turns, and talk about how God’s voice is strong and clear.
Kindness Reminder at Home
Give each child a small paper card and a marker. Ask them to write or draw one way they will be kind to someone this week. Help them tape the card to a bedroom door or the bathroom mirror. Encourage families to check the cards together at dinner and celebrate the kind acts they noticed.
Teacher Notes
Amos was a shepherd and fig farmer who spoke for God to nations that were not his own. This passage shows that God holds all peoples accountable for justice and mercy, not just his own people. Adults can see that God’s justice is serious and that he cares deeply about how people treat one another.
Be careful not to suggest that every hard thing that happens to a child is God’s punishment. Keep the focus on God’s fairness and his care for people, and avoid making children feel that they must earn God’s love.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, thank you for seeing everything we do and for caring about what is fair. Help us to be kind to our family and friends, and help us to do what is right even when no one else is watching. Thank you for being strong and faithful. Amen.
