This lesson teaches children that when people turn away from wrong and back to God, God sees their change of heart and shows mercy. It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God sees when we turn from doing wrong, and He is kind and ready to forgive us. We can always choose to turn back to Him.
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)
Ask children to cup both hands together, then slowly turn them around and open them wide, like a book turning its pages. Say the verse together while you turn your hands, so the motion of turning matches the word “turned.”
The Story: Jonah 3 for Kids
God spoke to Jonah a second time. God said, “Get up and go to Nineveh, that big city. Tell the people what I tell you.” This time Jonah obeyed. He got up and walked to Nineveh, and it was a very, very big city. It took three days to walk all the way across it.
Jonah walked into the city for one full day. Then he called out loudly, “In forty days, Nineveh will be destroyed!” That was the message God gave him. Jonah did not say anything else.
The people of Nineveh listened, and they believed God. Everyone, from the greatest person to the smallest child, stopped what they were doing. They put on rough sackcloth clothes and sat down in ashes to show they were sorry. They chose not to eat or drink for a while.
When the king heard the news, he stood up from his throne. He took off his fancy royal robe and put on sackcloth too. He sat in the ashes, showing he was humble before God. Then he made an announcement to the whole city.
The king said, “Everyone must turn away from their evil ways and stop doing violence. Maybe God will change His mind and not destroy us.” The people turned from their wrong ways. God saw what they did, and He was merciful. He did not send the disaster He had promised.
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 ran away earlier. Explain that God’s invitation to try again shows His patience and love for His servant.
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 right away, and how everyone joined in, young and old. Ask them to notice that belief led to action, not just words.
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 out the king’s words about turning from evil and hoping God would relent. Help children see that the king did not know for sure what God would do, but he was willing to humble himself and hope for mercy.
Talk About It
- What did the people of Nineveh do when they heard God’s message?
- Why do you think the king took off his royal robe and sat in ashes?
- What does it tell us about God that He saw the people turn from their wrong ways?
- Can you think of a time when you said you were sorry and tried to do better?
- How can you show God that you want to turn from doing wrong?
Activity Ideas
Paper Sackcloth Collage
You will need brown paper bags, scissors, glue, and cotton balls or torn tissue paper. Have each child cut a simple robe shape from a bag and glue on cotton balls or tissue as “ashes.” While they work, talk about how the people of Nineveh showed they were sorry. Let children display their finished robes on the wall.
Turn Around Relay
You will need a open space and a few cones or chairs to mark a start and finish line. Have children run to the finish line, then stop, turn all the way around, and run back to the start. Each time they turn, say, “God sees us turn from wrong!” This game helps children remember that turning back to God matters.
Take-Home Turning Card
You will need an index card, a pencil, and a pair of crayons. Ask each child to draw an arrow on one side that points away from a sad face and toward a happy face. On the other side, have them write or draw one thing they can turn from this week. Encourage them to show the card to a parent at home and talk about it together.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s mercy is real and responds to genuine repentance. It also shows how far God’s care reaches, even to a pagan city that had been a great enemy. The chapter invites us to see that God is patient and willing to forgive those who turn back to Him.
With children, avoid suggesting that they can earn God’s forgiveness by their own efforts or that God always changes His mind when people ask. The king hoped God might relent, but the chapter presents God’s mercy as His own choice, not something people can demand.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for seeing us and for being kind when we turn back to You. Help us turn away from anything wrong and trust Your love. We want to follow You every day. Amen.
