This lesson teaches children that God gave His people the Ten Commandments because He loves them and wants them to live well together. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses, and the activity.
Big Idea
God is our Lord who rescued us, and His rules show us how to love Him and love other people.
Memory Verse
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)
Put your hands on your heart when you say “Honor” and then raise your arms wide as you say “long life.” Say the verse out loud together three times while you do the motions.
The Story: Exodus 20 for Kids
God’s people, the children of Israel, had been slaves in the land of Egypt for a very long time. God heard their cries and sent Moses to lead them out into freedom. Now they were camped near a big mountain in the desert, far away from Egypt. Moses had gone up the mountain to meet with God.
Then God began to speak, and His words were powerful. He said, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” God wanted His people to remember that He had rescued them before He told them anything else. Then He gave them rules to help them live well.
God said that they should have no other gods before Him, and that they should not make idols to bow down to. He said they should not use His name carelessly. He asked them to remember the Sabbath day, a day of rest, because God Himself rested after He made the sky, the land, and the sea. God wanted His people to rest too.
God’s rules also showed how to treat other people. He told them to honor their father and mother. He said they should not murder, steal, lie about their neighbor, or be unfaithful to their husband or wife. He told them not to want what belongs to someone else.
When the people saw the thunder, the lightning, and the smoke on the mountain, they were frightened. They stood far back and said to Moses, “You speak to God for us, and we will listen.” Moses told them, “Don’t be afraid. God has come so that you will respect Him and not sin.” Then God gave more instructions about how to worship Him properly.
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 has done for them. Ask the children why it matters that God rescued them before He gave the rules.
Exodus 20:8-11
8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 You shall labor six days, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. You shall not do any work in it, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your livestock, nor your stranger who is within your gates; 11 for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and made it holy.
(WEB)
Show the children how God’s rule about the Sabbath includes rest for everyone in the household, even animals. Explain that God rested after making the world, and He invites us to rest too.
Exodus 20:13-16
13 “You shall not murder. 14 “You shall not commit adultery. 15 “You shall not steal. 16 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
(WEB)
Point out that these rules protect people’s lives, families, belongings, and words. Talk about how each rule helps us treat our friends and neighbors kindly.
Talk About It
- What did God remind the people about before He gave them any rules, and why do you think that was important?
- Why do you think God wants us to take a day to rest and remember Him?
- How does honoring your mom and dad show that you love God?
- Which of God’s rules is the hardest for you to keep, and what could help you keep it?
- When the people were scared of God’s thunder and smoke, what did Moses tell them, and how can you remember that God is not trying to hurt us?
Activity Ideas
Ten Stone Tablets Craft
You will need paper plates or cardboard cut into tablet shapes, markers, and tape. Have each child draw a simple picture of one commandment on their tablet, such as a sleeping face for the Sabbath or a heart for honoring parents. Tape the tablets to the wall in two rows of five to make a family “mountain” display.
Mountain Rest Game
Set a pillow or blanket on the floor as the mountain and have children walk around it like the people stayed at a distance. Call out a commandment, and children do a matching movement, such as bowing for “worship God alone” or sitting still for “rest.” Blow a kazoo or ring a bell as the trumpet sound when you change the movement.
Rule Card Take-Home
Cut index cards or sticky notes and write one simple sentence for each child to take home, such as “God rescued me, so I can love Him.” Include a small line about one way to keep a rule this week. Give the cards with a rubber band or ribbon so families can read them together at the dinner table or before bed.
Teacher Notes
For adults, these commandments are not a ladder to climb to earn God’s love. They come after God declares Himself the one who rescued Israel from slavery, which means they are a response to grace. The Ten Commandments show what it looks like to live in a relationship with God and with others, with worship, rest, honor, and justice at the center.
Be careful not to overstate the details of the thunder, smoke, and fear to children, since the text focuses on the people’s sense of awe and distance. Also avoid making the lesson about rules alone, because the chapter is about a loving God who saved His people first and then taught them how to live.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for rescuing us and for loving us so much. Help us remember You first, rest on the day You made, and treat our families and friends with kindness. Thank You for helping us live Your good way. Amen.
