This lesson teaches children that God sends a messenger to prepare the way, that He is faithful to His people even when they forget Him, and that He wants them to come back to Him. It suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God never changes, and He always wants His children to come back to Him and bring Him the best of what they have.
Memory Verse
Malachi 3:6
“For I, the LORD, don’t change; therefore you, sons of Jacob, are not consumed.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out flat in front of you, palms up, then slowly turn them over and back again, as if showing that your hands never change. Say “God does not change” each time you turn them.
The Story: Malachi 3 for Kids
A long time ago, God spoke to His people through a prophet named Malachi. The people of Judah and Jerusalem had been back in their land for a while, but their hearts had drifted far from God. They still went through the motions, yet they were not living the way God asked them to live.
God told them something wonderful. He said He would send a messenger to get the way ready, and then the Lord they were looking for would come to His temple. The people asked, “How can we come back to you?” God answered them kindly. He said, “Come back to me, and I will come back to you.”
Then God pointed to a problem. The people had been holding back what belonged to Him. Each year God asked for a tenth of their harvest and gifts, but they kept it for themselves. God said, “Bring the whole tenth into the storehouse, so there will be food in my house.” He invited them to test Him and see whether He would not open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings on them.
God also reminded the people that He is faithful. He said that because He does not change, they were not wiped out completely. He promised that those who feared Him and honored His name would be His own special possession. A book of remembrance was written down to keep track of them.
At the end, God told the people that they would see the difference between the good and the bad, between those who serve God and those who do not. God loves the people who choose to follow Him, and He keeps His promises every time.
Read It Together
Malachi 3:7
From the days of your fathers you have turned away from my ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Armies. “But you say, ‘How shall we return?’
(WEB)
Point out that God does not wait for people to be perfect before He invites them back. Ask the children what it feels like to be welcomed home after doing something wrong, and connect that to God’s open arms.
Malachi 3:10
Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house, and test me now in this,” says the LORD of Armies, “if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there will not be room enough for.
(WEB)
Show the children that God invites His people to test Him and see how generously He blesses those who trust Him. Explain that giving back to God is a way of trusting Him with what we have.
Malachi 3:16-17
16 Then those who feared the LORD spoke one with another; and the LORD listened, and heard, and a book of memory was written before him, for those who feared the LORD, and who honored his name. 17 They shall be mine,” says the LORD of Armies, “my own possession in the day that I make, and I will spare them, as a man spares his own son who serves him.
(WEB)
Point out that God hears the conversations of people who love Him and writes their names in His book of memory. Remind the children that they are God’s own treasure and that He remembers them.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means that God does not change, and why is that good news for us?
- Why do you think the people in the story stopped giving God what He asked for?
- How can you show God that you are coming back to Him when you have made mistakes?
- What is one way you can give something back to God, like your time, your money, or your kindness?
- How does it make you feel to know that God remembers the people who love Him?
Activity Ideas
Treasure Book Craft
You will need paper, crayons, glue, and a small box or envelope. Have each child draw a picture of something they love about God and glue it onto a page to make their own book of memory. Then let them decorate the cover and place it in the box, explaining that God keeps track of His children in a special book.
Messenger Relay Game
Set up two cones or chairs at one end of the room and a finish line at the other. Have children take turns carrying a folded note from one side to the other as quickly as they can, like a messenger preparing the way. Afterward, talk about how the messenger got things ready for someone important who was coming.
Storehouse Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar with a lid and some small coins or paper slips. Ask each child to place one coin or slip in the jar each week as a reminder of giving back to God. Explain that this is a way to show God that they trust Him with what they have, and encourage them to bring the jar to church when it is full.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Malachi 3 speaks to a community that had grown weary and doubtful, and God answers them with a call to return and a promise that He does not change. The passage also gives a clear picture of generosity as an act of trust, and it assures believers that God keeps a faithful record of those who honor Him.
Be careful not to promise children that giving will always bring them material rewards. The passage speaks of God’s faithfulness and blessing, but it is better to focus on God’s character and love than on a guaranteed exchange.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You never change and that You always keep Your promises. Help us come back to You when we wander, and help us give You our best with glad hearts. Thank You for remembering us and loving us each day. Amen.
