This lesson teaches children that God gave His people the Ten Commandments as good rules that show how to love Him and love others. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is our Lord who rescued us, and His good rules help us love Him and love the people around us.
Memory Verse
Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before me.
(WEB)
Hold up one finger as you say the verse slowly. Then point up to the sky, showing that God is the one we put first in our hearts.
The Story: Exodus 20 for Kids
God’s people, the Israelites, had been slaves in Egypt for a long time. God rescued them and brought them out into the wilderness. Now they had come to a big mountain called Sinai, where God wanted to speak with them. Moses was the leader God chose to help the people.
God spoke to the people from the mountain. The sky was full of thunder and lightning, and smoke covered the mountain. The people were scared and stayed far away. They said to Moses, “You talk to God for us, and we will listen.”
God gave them ten important rules to help them live well. The first rules told them how to love God. God said they should have no other gods before Him and should not make idols to bow down to. They should also treat God’s name with respect and remember to keep the Sabbath day holy, a day to rest and honor Him.
The other rules told them how to treat people. God said to honor your father and mother. He said not to hurt or kill another person, not to steal, and not to tell lies about your neighbor. He also said not to want what belongs to someone else.
Moses told the people not to be afraid. He said God had come so they would respect Him and not do wrong. Then Moses went close to the thick darkness where God was. God told Moses to tell the people that they had seen God speak to them from heaven.
Read It Together
Exodus 20:2
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
(WEB)
Point out that God begins by reminding the people who He is and what He did for them. Ask children what God rescued His people from, and remind them that God’s rules come after His rescue, not before it.
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
(WEB)
Show children that this is the rule about how we treat our parents. Talk about simple ways they can honor their mom and dad at home, like listening the first time or saying thank you for help.
Exodus 20:20
Moses said to the people, “Don’t be afraid, for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you, that you won’t sin.”
(WEB)
Explain that Moses told the people not to be afraid even though God is powerful. Let children know God’s power is a reason to trust Him, and that He wants us to respect and obey Him because He loves us.
Talk About It
- What did God do for the Israelites before He gave them the rules?
- Which of the ten rules do you think is the most important, and why?
- How can you show God that He is first in your heart this week?
- What is one way you can treat a friend or family member the way God’s rules describe?
- Why do you think God wants us to tell the truth and not take things that belong to others?
Activity Ideas
Ten Rules Drawing Cards
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Divide the paper into ten squares and have each child draw a simple picture for one rule, such as a family at dinner for honoring parents or a sun for the day of rest. Let children explain their picture to you, then hang the cards on the wall as a reminder.
Follow the Leader Rules Game
Choose one child to be Moses and have the others stand in a line. Moses calls out a simple rule, like “Put God first” or “Don’t steal,” and the children act out what it looks like to follow that rule, such as lifting one hand high or standing still with their hands at their sides. Play a few rounds so every child gets a turn.
Rules at Home Chart
You will need a sheet of paper, a pen, and a sticker for each child. Write the ten rules in simple words on the chart and post it on the refrigerator. Each day, children can place a sticker next to a rule they practiced, and you can talk together about how that rule helped the family that day.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Exodus 20 shows that God’s commandments come from a relationship of rescue and love. The law is given to a people God already freed, so obedience flows from gratitude rather than an effort to earn His favor. The chapter also reveals God’s holiness and the seriousness of how we treat Him and one another.
Be careful not to suggest that children must earn God’s love by keeping rules perfectly. Make clear that God loves them first and that His rules are gifts for living well, not a checklist that determines whether He cares for them.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for rescuing us and for giving us good rules to help us love you and love others. Help us put you first in our hearts and treat the people around us with kindness and respect. Help us tell the truth, keep our promises, and honor the people who care for us. We love you, God. Amen.
