This lesson teaches children that God gives every believer a place in his family, and that the people who help others are important to him. Children ages 5 to 11 can learn it in about 20 to 30 minutes, using a simple list of names and a few hands-on activities.
Big Idea
Every person who loves Jesus has a job to do, and God notices and remembers each one of them.
Memory Verse
Romans 16:2
That you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.
(WEB)
Have children hold both hands out, palms up, like they are receiving a gift, then bring them together in a clap at the word “receive.” Repeat the verse together three times, adding a small wave on each repetition so the movement sticks.
The Story: Romans 16 for Kids
Near the end of a long letter, the apostle Paul began saying hello to many friends. He was writing to the church in Rome, a city far away, and he wanted those believers to know he cared about each person. Paul did not have a phone or a computer, so he trusted a helper named Tertius to write down every word as Paul spoke it. Tertius even wrote his own greeting at the end.
First Paul told the Romans about a woman named Phoebe. She had traveled to help people in her church, and Paul asked the Romans to welcome her and help her with whatever she needed. Next he named Priscilla and Aquila, a married couple who worked alongside Paul. Paul said they had risked their own lives to protect him, and he was very thankful for them. Their house was also a place where the church met to pray and worship together.
Paul kept going, naming many people one by one. Some were men, some were women, and some were friends he had known for years. He called Mary a hard worker, and he described Persis, Tryphena, and Tryphosa as people who worked hard for the Lord. Each name was a way of saying, “I see you, and I thank God for you.” Paul did not skip anyone who had helped him or the church.
Then Paul gave a warning. He told the Romans to watch out for people who caused arguments and tried to lead others away from what they had learned about Jesus. Paul said those people were not really serving Christ. He told the Romans to stay close to the truth and to be wise about what is good.
Paul ended by saying that God is a God of peace, and that peace would one day win over the enemy. He sent greetings from friends who were with him, and he closed by wishing the whole church God’s kindness. The letter ended with the same words of grace that Paul often used to end his letters.
Read It Together
Romans 16:1-2
1 I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, 2 that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.
(WEB)
Point out that Paul called Phoebe a sister and a helper. Ask children what kinds of helping they see at home or at church, and note that God values every kind of help, even the small ones.
Romans 16:20
And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
(WEB)
Show children that this verse says God is the one who brings peace and final victory. Explain that the verse is a promise of God’s power, so they can trust him when they feel scared or unsure.
Talk About It
- What is one thing a helper did for someone else this week?
- Why do you think Paul took the time to name so many people?
- How can you show someone at church that you care about them?
- What might happen if people argue and stop listening to what God has taught?
- How do you feel knowing that God remembers the things you do for him?
Activity Ideas
Paper Chain of Friends
You will need strips of colored paper, markers, and tape. Ask each child to write the name of someone who has helped them, then decorate the strip. Tape the strips together into one long chain and hang it in the classroom or at home. Explain that each link is a person God gave you, just as Paul named many friends in Romans 16.
Hands That Help Game
You will need a few small objects like cups, blocks, or crayons. Have children pass the objects around the circle while you say a name of someone who helps, such as “teacher,” “mom,” or “neighbor.” Whenever you say “stop,” the child holding the object tells one way that person helps. This shows children that many people serve others in different ways.
Thank-You Card Takehome
You will need paper, crayons, and an envelope for each child. Have children draw a picture of a person who helps them and write or dictate a short thank-you note. Encourage them to deliver the card to that person during the week. Explain that Paul sent greetings to people he loved, and children can do the same.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Romans 16 shows that the church is built on real relationships, not only big ideas. Paul’s long list of names reminds us that God uses ordinary people who work quietly, support others, and risk something for the sake of the gospel. The chapter also reminds us to watch for teaching that divides believers and to stay anchored in the truth.
Avoid suggesting to children that God rewards helpers with special treatment or that serving guarantees easy lives. The passage teaches that God sees and values faithful service, and that God is a God of peace, but it does not promise that hard things will never happen.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank you for giving each of us a place in your family. Help us to notice the people who help us and to help others too. Help us to stay close to what is true and good. Thank you that you see every single thing we do for you. Amen.
