This lesson teaches children that when people turn away from wrong and back to God, God is ready to forgive them. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God is always ready to forgive us when we stop doing wrong and turn back to Him. He listens to people who are sorry, and He is kind to them.
Memory Verse
Jonah 3:10
God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way. God relented of the disaster which he said he would do to them, and he didn’t do it.
(WEB)
Teach children to turn slowly in a full circle with their arms out, then stop and fold their hands. Each time they turn, they are showing that turning around means turning back to God. Repeat it together three times until everyone can say it.
The Story: Jonah 3 for Kids
God spoke to Jonah a second time. Jonah had run away from God before, and this time God gave him another chance. God told him to go to the great city of Nineveh and tell the people what God wanted them to hear. This time, Jonah got up and went.
Nineveh was a huge city, so big that it would take three days to walk across it. Jonah walked into the city for one day. He called out to everyone he met, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” That was his whole message, and it was a serious one.
The people of Nineveh listened and believed God. They stopped what they were doing. They put on rough, scratchy cloth called sackcloth to show they were sorry, and they stopped eating and drinking for a while. Everyone, from the biggest person to the smallest child, joined in.
When the king heard the news, he stood up from his fancy throne. He took off his royal robe, wrapped himself in sackcloth, and sat down in the ashes. Then he made a rule for the whole city. He said that people and animals must not eat or drink, and that everyone must turn away from their bad ways and cry out to God.
The king hoped that God might change His mind. He said, “Who knows? Maybe God will turn and stop being so angry, and we will not be destroyed.” God saw that the people had turned away from their wrong ways. He changed His plan and did not destroy the city.
Read It Together
Jonah 3:1-2
1 The LORD’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.”
(WEB)
Point out that God gave Jonah a second chance after he had run away. Ask children what it means that God does not give up on people, even when they make mistakes.
Jonah 3:5
The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least.
(WEB)
Show children how the people of Nineveh believed God and showed it by their actions. Explain that believing God means trusting Him and choosing to listen to what He says.
Jonah 3:8-9
8 But let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
(WEB)
Point to the king’s words about turning from evil and hoping God would relent. Help children see that God’s kindness is something we can hope for when we turn back to Him.
Talk About It
- What did God ask Jonah to do the second time, and how was that different from the first time?
- How did the people of Nineveh show that they were sorry for their wrong choices?
- Why do you think the king took off his royal robe and sat in ashes?
- What is one wrong thing you can stop doing and turn away from this week?
- How do you feel knowing that God is ready to forgive people who turn back to Him?
Activity Ideas
Paper Sackcloth Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw the city of Nineveh on one side of the paper, with houses and people. On the other side, have them draw a picture of one thing they want to turn away from and one thing they want to do instead. Talk together about how turning around looks in real life.
Turn Around Game
Gather the children in an open space and call out a direction, like “Turn to the left.” Then call out “Turn back to God!” and have everyone turn to face the front. Play a few rounds, and tell the children that turning back to God is always possible. Make it fun by playing music and letting them move freely between calls.
Take-Home Reminder Card
You will need an index card, a marker, and a rubber band for each child. Have each child write Jonah 3:10 on the card and draw a small arrow pointing back toward a heart or a cross. Encourage them to keep the card in a pocket or on their nightstand. Ask them to share with a family member what the card reminds them of.
Teacher Notes
This chapter shows that God responds to genuine repentance, and it reminds adults that God’s patience and mercy are real and wide. It also reminds us that Jonah himself was frustrated that God forgave Nineveh, so God’s mercy is not always what we expect. The story invites us to trust God’s character and to turn back to Him ourselves.
Avoid suggesting that children can earn God’s forgiveness through their own sorrow or good behavior. Keep the focus on God’s willingness to forgive and His kindness toward people who turn back to Him, rather than on what the people of Nineveh did to deserve it.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You listen when we are sorry and turn back to You. Help us stop doing wrong things and choose to follow You. Thank You that You are kind and ready to forgive us. We love You. Amen.
