This lesson teaches children that giving to others brings a special blessing, and that God’s love and care can help us through hard goodbyes. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
Jesus said it is better to give than to receive. When we help others, we are doing what Jesus taught, and God is pleased with us.
Memory Verse
Acts 20:35
In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold out both hands cupped together, as if offering a gift. Then open them wide and say the verse together. Each time you say “give,” have them pretend to hand something to a friend.
The Story: Acts 20 for Kids
Paul was a missionary who loved Jesus very much. He had traveled to many towns, teaching people about God and helping them grow in faith. Now it was time for him to go to Jerusalem, and he wanted to say goodbye to his friends in the church at Ephesus. He sent for the elders, the older leaders of the church, to come and meet him.
When they arrived, Paul reminded them how he had served the Lord with a humble heart. He had worked hard, shared the good news, and even cried over the hard times he faced. He told them, “I did not hold back from telling you anything that would help you.” Paul wanted them to remember that they had to take care of one another.
Paul knew that some hard days were ahead for him. The Holy Spirit had warned him that chains and troubles were waiting. But Paul was not afraid. He said he was ready to finish his race with joy and to keep telling people about God’s grace.
Before leaving, Paul knelt down and prayed with everyone. His friends cried and hugged him tightly. They were very sad to say goodbye, because they knew they would not see his face again. Then they walked with him all the way to the ship.
Later in the chapter, Paul spent a long time talking with believers in Troas. A young man named Eutychus fell asleep in a window and tumbled down to the ground. Everyone thought he was gone, but Paul went down, hugged him, and said, “Don’t be troubled, his life is in him.” Eutychus was alive, and everyone was greatly comforted.
Read It Together
Acts 20:17-18
17 From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly. 18 When they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you all the time…
(WEB)
Point out that Paul called the leaders together before he left. Ask the children why it might be important to say goodbye well to people we love, and how we can show care to our friends and family.
Acts 20:24
But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
(WEB)
Show the children that Paul did not treat his own life as more important than his mission. Explain that he trusted God to take care of him, even when the road was hard and unknown.
Acts 20:36-38
36 When he had spoken these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. 37 They all wept a lot, and fell on Paul’s neck and kissed him, 38 sorrowing most of all because of the word which he had spoken, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him to the ship.
(WEB)
Point out how the people wept, hugged Paul, and walked him to the ship. Talk about how God uses loving friendships to help us feel supported when we say goodbye.
Talk About It
- What is one way you can give something to someone this week?
- How do you think Paul felt when he said goodbye to his friends?
- Why did Paul’s friends cry when he left them?
- What did Paul do to help the young man who fell down?
- When do you feel the happiest when you help someone else?
Activity Ideas
Handprint Gift Cards
You will need paper, washable paint or markers, and crayons. Have each child trace their hand on paper and decorate the outline to look like a gift. Write “It is more blessed to give” on the card. Let the children give their cards to a neighbor, a family member, or a classmate as a reminder to share God’s love.
Pass the Blessing Game
Gather the children in a circle and place a small object, like a soft ball or a stuffed animal, on the floor in the middle. Play music while they walk around the circle. When the music stops, the child holding the object says one way they can help someone, then passes it to a friend. Keep playing until everyone has had a turn to share.
Kindness Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper slips, and a pen. Each day, invite your child to write one kind thing they did for someone on a slip of paper and place it in the jar. At the end of the week, read the slips together and thank God for the chances to give and help others.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows how the Christian life is built on serving others humbly, speaking truth with courage, and trusting God with the future. Paul’s farewell to the Ephesian elders reflects a faithful heart that cares more for God’s work than for personal comfort. The passage also reminds us that the church is a family that supports one another through hard goodbyes and surprising moments of grace.
Be careful not to suggest to children that God will always rescue them from danger or that obedience guarantees a happy ending. Paul faced real suffering, and the story is about faith and love, not a promise of easy outcomes. Focus on God’s presence and care rather than on rewards.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for loving us and for giving us people to care for. Help us to be kind, to share what we have, and to help others when they need it. Help us trust you when we say goodbye or when things are hard. We love you, and we pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
