This lesson teaches children that God wants us to trust Him and to be honest, even when the people around us are not. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is honest and fair, and He wants us to trust Him and tell the truth instead of trusting our own tricks or lying to our friends.
Memory Verse
Jeremiah 9:24
But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for I delight in these things,” says the LORD.
(WEB)
Teach the children to cup both hands over their heart on the words “I am the LORD,” then open their hands wide and lift them up on “who exercises loving kindness.” Repeat the motions three times together until the children can say the verse with you.
The Story: Jeremiah 9 for Kids
Long ago, a prophet named Jeremiah lived in the city of Jerusalem. God had given him a job to tell the people of Judah what was happening in their land. Jeremiah loved his people, so when he saw how they were behaving, his heart felt very heavy. He said he wished his eyes were a spring of tears so he could cry all day and all night.
The people had become very sneaky. They spoke sweet words to their neighbors but planned to trick them in secret. They could not even trust their own brothers. Their words were like sharp arrows that hurt others. God saw all of this, and He said He would test them and melt away their pride so they could learn the truth.
God was sad about how His people had turned away from Him. They had forgotten His law and followed false gods that their parents had taught them to worship. Because of this, the land would become dry and empty, and the people would have to leave their homes. Even the wise, the strong, and the rich could not save themselves.
Then God told the people something important. He said, “Let the wise man not brag about his wisdom. Let the rich man not brag about his money.” Instead, God wanted His people to boast about one thing: knowing Him. God is the one who shows love, does what is right, and brings goodness to the earth. God delights in these things, and He wants His people to delight in them too.
Read It Together
Jeremiah 9:23-24
23 The LORD says, “Don’t let the wise man glory in his wisdom. Don’t let the mighty man glory in his might. Don’t let the rich man glory in his riches. 24 But let him who glories glory in this, that he has understanding, and knows me, that I am the LORD who exercises loving kindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth; for I delight in these things,” says the LORD.
(WEB)
Point out that the people were trying to find their safety in being smart, strong, or rich. Ask the children what they like to brag about, and then show them that God says the best thing to brag about is knowing Him. Notice that God chooses love, justice, and righteousness as His delights.
Jeremiah 9:4-5
4 “Everyone beware of his neighbor, and don’t trust in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go around with slanders. 5 Everyone will deceive their neighbors, and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. They weary themselves commiting iniquity.
(WEB)
Explain to the children that these verses describe friends who could not be trusted, where people lied to their neighbors and family. Help them see how lying hurts others and makes trust disappear. Point out that God wants His people to speak the truth.
Jeremiah 9:7-8
7 Therefore the LORD of Armies says, “Behold, I will melt them and test them; for how should I deal with the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart, he waits to ambush him.
(WEB)
Show the children how the people used their words like arrows, speaking kindly on the outside while hiding bad plans in their hearts. Talk about how God knows our hearts even when others cannot see what we are thinking. God’s word is always true.
Talk About It
- What did the people of Jerusalem do with their words that hurt their neighbors?
- How do you feel when someone tells you a lie, and how does it change your trust in them?
- What is something you might be tempted to brag about, and how can you remember that knowing God matters most?
- Why do you think God wants us to be honest even when it is hard?
- What can you do this week to show love and fairness to someone in your family or class?
Activity Ideas
Heart Collage Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Ask each child to draw a large heart on the paper and write or draw one thing that God loves, such as kindness, fairness, or truth. Let them cut the heart out and glue it to a sheet of construction paper. Talk together about how God delights in these good things.
Arrow or Truth Game
You will need a soft ball and a few chairs. Have the children stand in a line and pass the ball, saying one honest, kind sentence about a friend before passing. If a child says something untrue or unkind, the group gently calls out “That’s an arrow!” and the child sits down for one round. Keep the game light and joyful.
Take-Home Promise Card
You will need index cards, a pen, and a small piece of tape. Write the words “God delights in kindness, justice, and truth” on each card and let the children decorate it with stickers or drawings. Encourage them to tape it to their bedroom door or lunchbox so they can read it each day. Ask families to talk about the card at dinner that week.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows a people who trusted their own cleverness, wealth, and traditions more than God, and it warns that broken trust in one another flows from a heart turned away from Him. God is the one who sees clearly and judges fairly, yet He also grieves over the sin of His people. The chapter ends by pointing to a true source of security: knowing God and reflecting His love, justice, and righteousness in daily life.
Avoid overstating the judgment and warnings in this chapter to children. Keep the focus on God’s delight in kindness and fairness and on the call to honest, loving living, rather than on frightening images of destruction or death.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, help us to trust You and to tell the truth every day. Teach us to be kind and fair to our friends and family. Help us to know You more than anything else. Thank You for loving us and for delighting in what is good. Amen.
