This lesson teaches children that God wants us to look out for other people, returning what belongs to them and helping when they are in trouble. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the memory verse and one activity.
Big Idea
God cares about how we treat other people. When we find something that belongs to a friend, or see someone who needs help, we should take care of it and help them.
Memory Verse
Deuteronomy 22:1
You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them again to your brother.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, palms up, as if you are carrying something back to a friend. Then gently lower your hands, saying “Bring it back” slowly with the motion. Do this together three times.
The Story: Deuteronomy 22 for Kids
God gave His people, the Israelites, many rules to help them live well together. They were camping in the wilderness, getting ready to live in a new land. God wanted them to be a family that cared for each other, not just for themselves.
One rule was about lost things. If you saw your brother’s ox or sheep wander away, you could not just walk past and pretend you did not see it. You had to bring it back to him. If he lived far away, or you did not even know who he was, you were to take the animal home and keep it safe until its owner came looking for it.
God said the same was true for a donkey, a coat, or anything else a neighbor lost. If you found it, you should not hide it or keep it for yourself. Return it. And if you saw an animal fall down on the road, you should help lift it back up, instead of turning away from its trouble.
God also taught the people to be thoughtful when they built new homes. A flat roof was a place where people walked and sat, so God told them to build a railing around it. “Make sure no one falls and gets hurt,” was the idea. Keeping people safe was an important part of loving them.
Some of the other rules in this chapter were about keeping things fair, kind and clean among the people. God wanted His people to treat one another with respect and honor, and to stand up for those who were being treated unfairly.
Read It Together
Deuteronomy 22:1-2
1 You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them again to your brother. 2 If your brother isn’t near to you, or if you don’t know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother comes looking for it, and you shall restore it to him.
(WEB)
Point out the words “bring them again to your brother.” Ask the children what it would feel like to lose a favorite toy and have a friend return it. Explain that God wants us to care for things that belong to other people in the same way.
Deuteronomy 22:4
You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.
(WEB)
Show how this verse is about helping someone who is in trouble. You might talk about a time when a friend fell down and needed a hand to get up. Help the children see that noticing and helping is what God asks of us.
Deuteronomy 22:8
When you build a new house, then you shall make a railing around your roof, so that you don’t bring blood on your house if anyone falls from there.
(WEB)
Explain that God wanted His people to protect others from harm. Ask the children to name a rule at home or school that keeps people safe, and point out that rules like these come from caring about each other.
Talk About It
- What is something that belongs to someone else that you would want back if you lost it?
- How could you show that you care about a friend who has lost something?
- Why do you think God wants us to help people who are in trouble?
- What is one way you could help someone at school or at home this week?
- How do you feel when someone helps you when you need it?
Activity Ideas
Lost and Found Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a few small items such as a button, a sock or a pencil. Have each child draw a picture of something they would want back if it were lost. Then talk about how they would feel and how they would want a friend to return it.
Help Me Up Game
Pair up the children and have one child sit on the floor pretending to be an animal that has fallen down. The partner gently helps them stand up by holding their hands. Switch roles so everyone practices lifting and being lifted, and talk about how helping feels good.
Take-Home Helper Card
Give each child a small index card or piece of paper. Ask them to write or draw one way they will look after someone else’s things or help a person this week. Encourage them to show the card to a parent at home and share how they plan to do it.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s concern reaches into everyday life. Returning lost property, helping someone in difficulty, and protecting others from harm are all ways of loving our neighbor. Many of the rules in the chapter are about honoring the dignity of other people and treating them with fairness.
When teaching children, avoid overstating or applying the more difficult laws in this chapter directly to their lives. Keep the focus on the clear lessons of caring for others, returning what belongs to them, and helping those in need.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for caring about us and for teaching us how to care for others. Help us to notice when someone needs help, and help us to return what belongs to our friends. Make us kind and thoughtful every day. Amen.
