In this lesson, children learn that God can use people who serve faithfully and care for others, even when no one is watching. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God notices people who work hard to help others, and He can use them to bring good news. When we serve our friends and family faithfully, we are doing what pleases God.
Memory Verse
Esther 10:3
For Mordecai the Jew was next to King Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted by the multitude of his brothers, seeking the good of his people, and speaking peace to all his descendants.
(WEB)
Teach the children to place both hands on their hearts, then slowly open their arms wide, as if they are giving a big hug to everyone around them. Say the verse together while you move your arms. Repeat it three times, getting a little softer each time.
The Story: Esther 10 for Kids
Long ago, there was a great king named Ahasuerus who ruled a huge land. His kingdom stretched across many countries and even out to islands in the sea. The king made rules that everyone had to follow, and he collected money from the people to keep his kingdom running.
Living in the king’s city was a man named Mordecai. He was a Jew, and he loved God and cared deeply about his people. Because Mordecai was wise and kind, the king gave him an important job, and Mordecai became one of the most respected men in the whole kingdom.
Mordecai did not use his new position to make himself rich or proud. Instead, he worked hard to look after his own people, the Jews. He wanted good things for them and spoke words of peace to everyone in his family line. People trusted him, and they liked him very much.
The king’s great deeds were written down in a big book, and the story of Mordecai’s greatness was written there too. Think of it like a record that remembers every faithful thing a person does. Nothing that God’s people do for others is ever forgotten.
When you tell this story, pause and ask the children to imagine being Mordecai. Ask them what they might do if they had an important job and could help many people. Let them share their ideas before you move on.
Read It Together
Esther 10:1
King Ahasuerus laid a tribute on the land, and on the islands of the sea.
(WEB)
Point out that the king had a big kingdom and collected money from many lands. Explain that even powerful rulers are not in charge of everything. Remind the children that God is the true King over all the earth.
Esther 10:2
All the acts of his power and of his might, and the full account of the greatness of Mordecai, to which the king advanced him, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
(WEB)
Show the children that God remembers the good things people do, even when others forget them. Explain that the book of records was a way of keeping track of faithful service. Tell them that God keeps the best record of all.
Talk About It
- What kind of job do you think Mordecai had, and how did he treat the people around him?
- How did Mordecai help his people, and what are some ways you can help the people in your own family?
- Why do you think the king wrote down the story of Mordecai’s good work?
- What does it mean to seek the good of others, and who is one person you could help this week?
- How can we speak words of peace when our friends or siblings are upset with each other?
Activity Ideas
Peace Kindness Cards
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Have each child fold a sheet of paper into fourths and cut out four small cards. On each card, the child draws a picture of a way to help someone and writes or dictates a short word of peace, such as “I can help you carry that.” Let them keep the cards to give away during the week.
Faithful Servant Relay
You will need two bowls, a handful of dry beans or pom poms, and a spoon for each child. Divide the children into two teams and have them carry the beans from one bowl to the other using only the spoon, one at a time. Between turns, call out a way that Mordecai served his people, such as caring for others or speaking peace. The team that finishes first gets to share a kind word with the group.
Helper Jar at Home
You will need an empty jar, paper strips, and a pen. Ask each family member to write one helpful action they will do for someone else on a strip of paper and drop it into the jar. Set aside a few minutes each evening to read one slip aloud and thank God together for the chance to serve. Keep the jar on the kitchen table as a reminder that faithful helping counts.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this short chapter shows that Mordecai’s rise to a place of honor was a result of God’s providence and his own faithful character. He used his influence to seek the welfare of his people, and the chapter closes with his good name remembered in the royal records. The lesson for grown-ups is that faithfulness in ordinary service matters to God, whether or not it earns public recognition.
Avoid overstating to children that doing good always brings a reward or that God will make us famous for helping. The point is that God sees and remembers faithful service, and He may use it in ways we cannot predict. Keep the focus on serving others out of love for God rather than on earning praise.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for seeing every kind thing we do. Help us to care for our family and friends and to speak words of peace. Show us how to serve others faithfully, just as Mordecai did, and help us trust You with the results. Amen.
