This lesson teaches children that God wants us to keep praying, speak with kindness, and treat others well, because we all serve a Master in heaven. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is always listening, so we can pray every day, speak kindly to everyone, and help our friends and neighbors because Jesus is our Lord.
Memory Verse
Colossians 4:2
Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving…
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup both hands together in front of their chest like they are holding a little bowl, then lift the bowl up toward the ceiling as they say the verse. The motion reminds them that prayer lifts our hearts up to God every day.
The Story: Colossians 4 for Kids
Paul was writing a letter to his friends in the city of Colossae. He was in prison at the time, but he still cared deeply about the people who followed Jesus. He wanted them to know that they had a Master in heaven, so they should treat the people who worked for them fairly and kindly.
Paul asked the believers to keep praying without giving up. He also asked them to pray for him, that God would open a door so he could tell others about Jesus. Paul knew that words have power, so he wrote, “Let your speech always be with grace.” He wanted their words to be kind and helpful to everyone they met.
Paul then shared the names of friends who were traveling with his letter. There was Tychicus, a faithful helper who would tell the church how Paul was doing. There was Onesimus, a dear brother who came along with him. Paul wanted the people to know these friends were trusted and loved.
Paul sent greetings from several other friends too. Luke was a doctor who cared for people, and Epaphras was always praying hard for the believers. Epaphras wanted them to stand strong and grow in everything God wanted for them.
Finally, Paul gave a small message to a man named Archippus. He reminded him to finish the work God had given him. Then Paul signed his letter with his own hand and asked them to remember that he was still suffering for Jesus.
Read It Together
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
(WEB)
Point out how Paul talks about our words. Ask the children what it means to have speech that is seasoned with grace, and talk about how a little salt makes food taste better, just as kind words make others feel better.
Colossians 4:7-9
7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord. 8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts, 9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
(WEB)
Show the children how Paul names his friends and calls them faithful and beloved. Explain that God uses ordinary people, like helpers who carry messages, to encourage others and bring comfort to hearts that are sad or worried.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
(WEB)
Point out that Epaphras kept praying for his friends. Remind the children that they can pray for their family, church friends, and teachers, asking God to help them grow strong in following Jesus.
Talk About It
- What is one way you can pray to God during your day, even when you are at school or playing?
- Why do you think Paul wanted people to talk to each other with kindness?
- How can you show respect to people who help you at home or at school?
- Who is someone you could pray for this week, and what would you ask God to do for them?
- What is one thing you learned about Jesus being our Master, and how does that change the way you treat others?
Activity Ideas
Prayer Hands Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to trace their own hand on the paper, then write a short prayer inside the outline for a person they love. Encourage them to decorate the hand with colors and hearts, and explain that their drawing is a reminder to keep praying every day.
Kindness Relay Game
You will need two cups, a bowl of dry beans or cotton balls, and a spoon. Divide the children into two teams and have them pass a spoonful of beans from one cup to another, one child at a time. Each time a child finishes their turn, they must say one kind word to the next child, reminding everyone that our speech should always be full of grace.
Encouragement Card to Take Home
You will need index cards, stickers, and a marker. Have each child write a short encouraging note on one card for a family member, then decorate it with stickers. Ask them to give the card to that person at home and say a prayer for them that night. This helps children practice serving others and remembering God’s care through everyday acts.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that faith shapes how we pray, speak, and treat those around us. Paul calls believers to steady prayer, wise conduct, and gracious words, all grounded in the truth that everyone answers to a Master in heaven. It also shows the value of ordinary people who encourage and support the work of God.
Be careful not to overstate what the chapter says about specific details of Paul’s imprisonment or the exact identities of each named friend, since the text does not describe these things at length. Keep the focus on prayer, kind words, and faithful service, which the chapter clearly teaches.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for listening to us every day. Help us to pray without stopping, to speak with kindness, and to treat everyone with fairness and love. Thank you that you are our Master in heaven and that you care about us. Amen.
