This lesson teaches children that God sees how people treat one another, and that He cares about fairness, honesty, and kindness to the poor. It is suited to children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God sees everything we do, and He cares about how we treat other people, especially those who are poor or in need.
Memory Verse
Amos 8:4
Hear this, you who desire to swallow up the needy, and cause the poor of the land to fail…
(WEB)
Cup your hands together like a little bowl, then slowly open them wide as you say the words “God sees.” Ask the children to copy you each time you say it, so the motion and the words stick together.
The Story: Amos 8 for Kids
God showed the prophet Amos a basket of summer fruit. The fruit was ripe and ready to eat, but it was also a picture of something God wanted Amos to understand. God said that the time had come for His people Israel to face what they had done. He said, “The end has come on my people Israel.”
Some people in Israel were cheating the poor. They could not wait for the special days of rest to end so they could go back to selling grain. They used small measures to sell less grain for more money, and they used crooked scales to trick people. Some even bought poor people as servants for a pair of shoes. God said He would never forget any of their wicked work.
God warned that the land would shake and that people everywhere would mourn. He said He would turn their happy feasts into sad times, and their songs into crying. The day would feel as dark as noon turned into night. It would be like the sad day when a family loses their only child.
God also said that a time would come when people would be hungry for His words. They would run from place to place looking for a message from the Lord, but they would not find it. The people who had turned away from Him would not be able to find their way back in time.
Read It Together
Amos 8:5-6
5 Saying, ‘When will the new moon be gone, that we may sell grain? And the Sabbath, that we may market wheat, making the ephah small, and the shekel large, and dealing falsely with balances of deceit; 6 that we may buy the poor for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes, and sell the sweepings with the wheat?’”
(WEB)
Point out how the people were tired of waiting for the rest days to end, so they could cheat others. Ask the children how it feels when someone is in a hurry to take advantage of us. This helps them see why God is not pleased with this kind of behavior.
Amos 8:9
It will happen in that day,” says the Lord the LORD, “that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day.
(WEB)
Show the children that God speaks of a day when the sun would go down at noon. Explain that this is a picture of how serious it is when people turn away from God. Let them know that God is powerful enough to bring such a day, and that He warns us so we can change our hearts.
Amos 8:11
Behold, the days come,” says the Lord the LORD, “that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the LORD’s words.
(WEB)
Explain that the greatest hunger God describes is not for bread or water but for His word. Point out that God’s words are good for our hearts. Encourage the children to think about how thankful they can be that God’s word is always near and always true.
Talk About It
- What did the people in the story do to the poor, and how do you think those poor people felt?
- Why do you think God saw everything the people did, even when no one else did?
- How can we be fair and honest when we buy, sell, or share things with our friends?
- What is one way we can help someone who is poor or left out this week?
- Why is God’s word more important than food or water, and how can we hear it every day?
Activity Ideas
Draw a Basket of Fruit
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons, and a pencil. Ask them to draw a basket and fill it with fruit, such as apples, grapes, or figs. While they draw, tell them that Amos saw a basket of summer fruit and that God used it to teach an important lesson. Let them write the words “God sees” at the bottom of their drawing.
Fair Share Game
Gather a bag of small snacks, such as crackers or raisins, and a few paper cups. Divide the children into two teams and give one team most of the snacks while the other gets very few. Ask how that feels, then redistribute the snacks fairly. Talk about how God wants everyone treated fairly and kindly.
Take-Home Promise Card
Cut index cards and give one to each child along with a marker. Ask them to write or draw one way they will be fair or kind this week. Encourage them to place the card on the kitchen table or by their bed so they remember that God sees what they do, and that He is pleased when they treat others well.
Teacher Notes
Amos spoke to a people who were prosperous but unjust. For adults, the passage shows that God pays close attention to how we treat the poor, how honestly we do business, and how sincerely we worship. It also reminds us that spiritual hunger is real, and that God’s word is the source of life.
When teaching children, avoid making the story about fear or punishment. The chapter does include warnings of judgment, but the main focus is God’s faithfulness and His desire for justice. Help children see that God warns us because He loves us and wants us to turn back to Him.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You for seeing everything we do. Help us to be fair, honest, and kind to every person, especially those who are poor or left out. Fill our hearts with a hunger for Your words, and help us listen closely each day. Amen.
