This lesson teaches children that God is our Father and we are the clay He shapes, even when we have done wrong and need His help. It is written for children about 5 to 11 years old and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is our loving Father, and He is the potter who makes us, so we can always ask Him for help and forgiveness.
Memory Verse
Isaiah 64:8
But now, the LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you our potter. We all are the work of your hand.
(WEB)
Hold your hands out in front of you like they are holding a lump of soft clay. Slowly turn your hands around, pretending to shape the clay into a bowl. Say the verse together while you turn your hands, and then point up to God when you say “Father.”
The Story: Isaiah 64 for Kids
Long ago, the people of Israel lived in the city of Jerusalem. God had made them His special people, and He had done wonderful things for them. But over time, many of the people forgot about God and did things that were wrong. They did not love Him the way they should have.
The prophet Isaiah prayed for his people. He knew they were sad and sorry. He said, “We have all become like something dirty and ruined.” The people felt far away from God, and they wondered if He would still help them. Isaiah reminded them of who God is.
Isaiah said, “But now, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. We are all the work of your hand.” He reminded the people that God was not just their judge. God was also the one who had made them and who cared for them like a loving father.
The city of Jerusalem had been badly hurt. Its beautiful houses were burned, and the good places were broken. Isaiah asked God to look at His people and see them. He asked God not to stay angry forever. He asked God to remember that His people belonged to Him.
Isaiah prayed with trust. He knew God could make something new out of the broken pieces, just like a potter can make a new pot from clay that has been squished. Isaiah asked God to come near and help His people.
Read It Together
Isaiah 64:1
Oh that you would tear the heavens, that you would come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence.
(WEB)
Point out how Isaiah asks God to come down and be near His people. Explain that Isaiah was longing for God to act, and that children can talk to God about their needs too.
Isaiah 64:6
For we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteousness is like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
(WEB)
Tell the children that the people admitted they had done wrong. Explain that everyone makes mistakes, and it is good to be honest with God about them.
Isaiah 64:9
Don’t be furious, the LORD, and don’t remember iniquity forever. Look and see, we beg you, we are all your people.
(WEB)
Show the children that Isaiah asks God not to be angry forever and to look at His people again. Remind them that God is kind and wants to forgive us.
Talk About It
- What did the people of Jerusalem do that made them feel far away from God?
- How does it feel to think of God as a father who takes care of you?
- Why do you think God is compared to a potter who shapes clay?
- What can we say to God when we feel sorry for something we did?
- How can you remember that God can make new things out of broken things?
Activity Ideas
Clay Pot Craft
You will need play dough or modeling clay, a small piece of paper, and a marker. Let each child shape a small pot or bowl with the clay. While they work, talk about how God shapes us like a potter. Then have them write “God made me” on the paper and place it under the pot to take home.
Potter and Clay Game
Divide the children into pairs. One child is the clay and sits down with their eyes closed. The other child is the potter and gently shapes the clay child into a simple shape, like a bowl or a tall vase, using gentle hand movements. Then switch roles. Talk about how it feels to be shaped gently and how God cares for us in the same way.
Take-Home Reminder Card
You will need an index card, crayons, and tape or a paper clip. Have each child draw a picture of themselves or a simple pot on the card. Help them write the words “God is our Father” or draw a heart beside it. Tape the card to a bedroom mirror or fridge so they can see it each day and remember that God loves and shapes them.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Isaiah 64 is a prayer of honest confession and hope. The people admit their sin and their helplessness, yet they appeal to God as Father and Potter, trusting Him to restore them. The passage shows that God’s relationship with His people rests on His character and faithfulness, not on their perfection.
Avoid overstating to children that God always removes every hard thing right away. The chapter is a heartfelt plea, and the answer is not spelled out in detail here. Focus instead on the truth that God is our Father who hears us and cares for us.
A Prayer to Close
Father, thank You that You made us and that we are the work of Your hands. We are sorry when we do wrong. Please help us remember that You love us and can make us new. Help us to trust You every day. Amen.
