This lesson teaches children that God gave His people ten clear words to show them how to love Him and love others. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the Bible reading, and the activity.
Big Idea
God loves us, so He gave us His good rules to help us love Him and the people around us. His rules are not meant to take fun away. They are a gift that keeps us safe and happy.
Memory Verse
Deuteronomy 5:6
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(WEB)
Teach children to hold both hands up in front of their faces, then slowly open them wide like a book. Say “I am the LORD your God” as you open your hands, and “who brought you out” as you lift them up high, helping children remember that God is the one who rescued His people.
The Story: Deuteronomy 5 for Kids
A long time ago, God’s people, the Israelites, were camped near a huge mountain called Horeb. Moses was their leader, and he climbed up to talk with God. Moses told the people that God wanted to make a special promise with them, a promise that was not just for their grandparents but for them too, right there that day.
Then God spoke to the people from the middle of a fire on the mountain. There was smoke, there was thick dark cloud, and there was a very loud voice. The people were scared. They even asked Moses to go up the mountain for them, because they did not want to hear God’s voice so close.
God gave the people ten important words. The first words said, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt.” God wanted His people to remember that He had set them free from being slaves. Then came the rules: do not worship other gods, do not make idols, do not use God’s name carelessly, remember the Sabbath day to rest, honor your father and mother, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not tell lies about your neighbor, and do not want what belongs to someone else.
God wrote these ten words on two stone tablets and gave them to Moses. Moses later brought the tablets down to the people. God’s words were carved in stone so they would last a very long time.
The people said they would listen to God and obey. They told Moses, “Go near, and hear all that the LORD our God shall say, and tell us.” God was happy with their words, and He wished their hearts would always stay close to Him.
God told Moses to teach these words to the people so they could live them out in the land God was giving them. God wanted His people to walk in His ways, so that life would go well for them and their children.
Read It Together
Deuteronomy 5:1
Moses called to all Israel, and said to them, “Hear, Israel, the statutes and the ordinances which I speak in your ears today, that you may learn them, and observe to do them.”
(WEB)
Point out that Moses called the whole nation together and said, “Hear, Israel.” Ask children what it means to really listen. Explain that God’s words were meant to be heard and then lived out every day.
Deuteronomy 5:7-9
7 “You shall have no other gods before me. 8 “You shall not make a carved image for yourself, any likeness of what is in heaven above, or what is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 9 You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them; for I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me…
(WEB)
Show children that the first commandments are about putting God first and not making idols. Explain that God wants to be the most important one in our hearts, above toys, games, or anything else we might love too much.
Deuteronomy 5:16
“Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God commanded you; that your days may be long, and that it may go well with you, in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
(WEB)
Point out that this rule is about respecting parents. Help children see that God gives this promise of blessing to families who honor one another, and connect it to everyday ways children can help and listen at home.
Talk About It
- What do you think it felt like for the people to hear God’s voice from the mountain?
- Why do you think God reminded His people that He had rescued them from Egypt before giving them the rules?
- Which of the ten words do you think is the hardest to keep, and why?
- How can keeping God’s rules help us be kind to our friends and family?
- What is one way you can show God He is first in your life this week?
Activity Ideas
Ten Words Stone Craft
You will need ten smooth stones or paper circles, markers or paint, and a small basket. Have each child write or draw one of the ten words on a stone, such as a simple picture for “do not steal” or “rest on the Sabbath.” Let them place their stones in the basket and talk about which word they are choosing to remember this week.
Mountain Listen Game
You will need an open space and a chair or stool to act as the mountain. Have the children take turns being Moses, climbing to the chair and calling out a simple rule, while the rest of the group stands still and repeats it back. Then let them move like the people walking back to their tents, reminding them that God wants us to listen and then do what He says.
Ten Words Family Card
You will need index cards, a pen, and a place on the fridge or by the front door. Write the ten words in simple language on separate cards, one per card. Each day at breakfast or bedtime, have the family read one card aloud and share one way they can live it out, such as saying kind words to a sibling or helping clean up without being asked.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Deuteronomy 5 shows that God’s law is rooted in His relationship with His people. The ten words begin with God’s rescue from Egypt, so obedience flows from gratitude and trust, not from a need to earn God’s love. The command to rest and the command to honor parents also show that God cares about daily life, from work and family to justice and truth.
Avoid overstating to children that obeying the rules always brings a good life in an easy, guaranteed way. The chapter promises blessing within a covenant relationship, but children should also hear that God loves them even when they struggle to keep His words, and that He forgives and helps them grow.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for rescuing us and for giving us Your good words to help us live well. Help us to listen to You, to put You first, and to love the people around us. Please help us remember that Your rules are a gift from a Father who loves us very much. Amen.
