This lesson teaches children that God chose them and blesses them through Jesus, and they can repeat that in one sentence: “God loves me and gave me big gifts in Jesus.” It is written for children about ages 5 to 11 and takes 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God has given every child who belongs to Jesus a gift that can never be taken away. God chose us, loves us, and makes us part of his family.
Memory Verse
Ephesians 1:3
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ…
(WEB)
Place both hands on your chest, then open them wide and lift them up like you are receiving a present. Do this each time you say the verse together, so the motion helps the words stick.
The Story: Ephesians 1 for Kids
A man named Paul wrote a letter to the friends in the city of Ephesus. Paul was an apostle, which means he had been sent out to tell people about Jesus. He wanted his friends to know how much God cared for them.
Paul started by saying something happy. He told them that God had blessed them with every good gift that comes from heaven, and those gifts come through Jesus. Before the world was even made, God had already chosen the people who would belong to him. He wanted them to be holy and loved.
Paul explained that God gave his people a special seal, a promise that they belonged to him. This is the Holy Spirit, who helps us know we are God’s own family. Paul said it like this in simple words: “God’s Spirit is like a promise that more good things are coming.”
Then Paul did something kind. He said he never stopped thanking God for these friends. He prayed that God would give them wisdom and help them understand how great his love and power really are. Paul wanted them to see that the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is working for them.
Paul ended by reminding them that Jesus is above everything and is the head of the church, which is his body. Every part of the church belongs to Jesus, and Jesus fills everything with himself.
Read It Together
Ephesians 1:4-5
4 Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love; 5 having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire…
(WEB)
Point out that God chose us before we did anything good. Ask the children to find the words that say we are God’s children and let them tell you what that means to them.
Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…
(WEB)
Explain that forgiveness is a gift from God’s kindness, not something we earn. Show the children how a gift is something we receive, not something we pay for.
Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In him you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.
(WEB)
Point to the promise of the Holy Spirit as a seal, like a stamp that shows something belongs to someone. Help children see that God’s Spirit is with them to remind them they are his.
Talk About It
- What is one gift from God that you think is the most special, and why?
- How did it feel to know God chose you before you ever did anything for him?
- What is something you can do this week to thank God for forgiving you?
- How can you tell that a person belongs to Jesus’s family?
- When you feel worried or alone, what can you remember about the promise God made to you?
Activity Ideas
Gift Box Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a small box or an envelope. Ask each child to draw a gift box on paper and write or draw one blessing God has given them, such as family, friends, food, or forgiveness. Let them tuck the drawing inside the box as a reminder that God’s gifts are always with them.
Blessing Hands Game
Have the children stand in a circle. Explain that when you say “God blessed us,” they should put both hands out palms up, and when you say “in Jesus,” they should clap once. Speed up slowly, then play a round where they must stay still until they hear the word “chosen.” This helps them listen and enjoy the idea of God’s blessings.
Seal of Promise Take-Home
You will need a sheet of paper for each child, a crayon, and a piece of tape or a sticker. Have each child write “I belong to God” on the paper and then press a sticker or thumbprint in one corner as their family’s seal. Encourage them to tape it to a mirror or their bedroom door so they see it each day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is a rich picture of God’s grace from start to finish. It shows that God planned our salvation, that Jesus secured our forgiveness, and that the Holy Spirit gives us a living promise of our inheritance. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians also shows that understanding these truths is a gift God gives, not something we achieve on our own.
With children, avoid overstating how much they can grasp about predestination or the deep theology of the passage. Focus on the simple truths that God chose them, loves them, forgives them, and keeps his promise, and let the rest be something they will grow into over time.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you that you chose us and love us very much. Thank you for forgiving our wrong things and giving us your Holy Spirit to remind us we belong to you. Help us remember your gifts every day and thank you for them. Amen.
