In this lesson, children learn that God wants people to seek Him and do what is right, not just go through religious motions. This is a 20 to 30 minute lesson for children ages 5 to 11, and it works well for a Sunday school class or a family devotion at the kitchen table.
Big Idea
God wants us to seek Him and to be fair and kind to others. Going to church or singing songs is not enough if we treat people unfairly.
Memory Verse
Amos 5:14
Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so the LORD, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you say.
(WEB)
Have the children hold both hands out in front of them, palms up, as if they are carrying something heavy, then turn their hands over and point up to the ceiling. Say “Seek good” as they lift their hands, and “live” as they point up. Repeat it three times together.
The Story: Amos 5 for Kids
A shepherd named Amos lived in the land of Judah, but God sent him to speak to the people of Israel in the north. Amos was not a priest or a king. He was an ordinary man who took care of sheep and grew fig trees. God gave him a message that was hard to hear, and Amos spoke it out loud in the busy cities and at the places where people worshiped.
The message was a sad song. Amos said that the beautiful young city of Israel had fallen and that no one was there to lift her up again. The people of Israel had been strong and proud, but they had forgotten the Lord who made the stars and the seas. Instead, they had gone to special places like Bethel and Gilgal to offer sacrifices, but their hearts were far from God.
God told the people through Amos, “Seek me, and you will live.” Seeking God means looking for Him, asking Him to show us the way, and trusting Him every day. But God also said that the people were treating the poor unfairly. Rich people were taking money from the needy and turning away those who asked for help in the courts. God did not like that at all.
Then God spoke a very direct word through Amos. He said, “Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts.” God wanted His people to be fair and kind, and to stand up for those who had no one else to help them. That is what it means to live the way God wants.
Sadly, many people did not listen to Amos. They thought the special feasts and songs would make God happy, even while they cheated and hurt others. God told them, “I hate, I despise your feasts.” He wanted justice to roll on like a river that never runs dry. He wanted their hearts to match their worship.
Amos gave the people a warning, and he gave them hope too. If they turned back to God, seeking Him and doing what was right, they could live. The choice was theirs, and the path was clear.
Read It Together
Amos 5:4-6
4 For the LORD says to the house of Israel: “Seek me, and you will live; 5 but don’t seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and don’t pass to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. 6 Seek the LORD, and you will live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel.
(WEB)
Point out that God begins with a simple invitation: “Seek me, and you will live.” Ask the children what it feels like when someone invites them to come close. Explain that seeking God means turning our hearts toward Him every day, not just on Sunday.
Amos 5:24
But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.
(WEB)
Use the picture of a river or a stream running strong and never stopping. Ask the children to imagine how good it would be if fairness and kindness flowed like that all the time, in their homes, at school, and on the playground.
Amos 5:21
I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can’t stand your solemn assemblies.
(WEB)
Explain gently that God cares more about our hearts than about how loud or fancy our worship is. Point out that God wants our actions to match what we say we believe, so that our songs and our kindness come from the same place.
Talk About It
- What does it mean to seek God, and how can we do that during an ordinary day?
- Why do you think God cared so much about how the people treated the poor?
- What is one way you could show fairness to a friend or classmate this week?
- Can you think of a time when you did something good, but your heart was not in it? What helped you do better?
- What does it look like to “hate evil and love good” in a way a child can practice?
Activity Ideas
Draw a River of Justice
You will need a long strip of blue paper or a sheet of blue construction paper, crayons or markers, and some glue sticks. Ask each child to draw one kind or fair thing they can do this week, such as sharing a toy or helping someone who is left out. Glue these drawings along the blue strip so they flow together like a river. Hang the finished river on the wall as a reminder that justice should roll on like water.
Seek and Find Game
Hide a few small objects around the room, like a pencil, a sock, or a paper heart. Explain that seeking God is like looking for something important that we know is there. Let the children search for the hidden items while you remind them that God is always near. When each item is found, ask the child to say one way they will seek God that day.
Justice Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, some paper strips, and a pen. Each day for one week, have your child write down one fair or kind action they did and drop the strip into the jar. At the end of the week, read the notes together and thank God for helping them act justly. This activity turns a simple habit into something the family can see and celebrate together.
Teacher Notes
For adults, Amos 5 is a call to examine whether our worship matches our daily lives. God is not impressed by religious activity that ignores injustice toward the poor and the vulnerable. The chapter reminds us that seeking God and pursuing justice belong together, and that faithful living includes how we treat others in public and private life.
When teaching children, avoid suggesting that God is angry with them or that they must earn His love by being perfect. The message is that God invites them to seek Him, that He loves fairness and kindness, and that He is always ready to help them live well. Keep the focus on God’s welcoming character rather than on fear.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Lord, we want to seek You every day. Help us to be fair and kind to everyone, especially to people who are left out or treated unfairly. Let our hearts match our words and our actions. Teach us to love what is good and to hate what is wrong. Help us to live the way You want us to live. Amen.
