This lesson teaches children that God is holy and wants His people to honor Him with what they bring and how they live, in one sentence a child can repeat: “God is holy, so we honor Him.” It suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the reading, and the activity.
Big Idea
God is holy and special, and He asks His people to treat what belongs to Him with care and respect. When we honor Him, He makes us holy too.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 22:32
You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who makes you holy…
(WEB)
Hold both hands up over your head, then slowly bring them down and fold them over your heart. Do this together each time you say the verse, so children connect the words with the motion of honoring God.
The Story: Leviticus 22 for Kids
Long ago, God spoke to Moses and told him to pass a message to Aaron and his sons, the priests. God said, “Tell them to be careful with the holy things of Israel. Those gifts belong to Me, and they must not be treated carelessly.” The priests were chosen to serve God in a special way, so they had an important job to do.
God gave the priests rules to help them remember how holy He is. A priest who was unclean, meaning he was not ready to serve God, could not eat the holy food until he was made clean again. Washing with water and waiting until evening were part of becoming clean. Children, notice that God cares about the details of how His people come to Him.
God also said that the animals brought to Him had to be the best. “Bring a male animal with no defect,” God told them. An animal that was blind, hurt, or sick was not acceptable, because God deserves the very best of what we have. Giving Him our best shows that we honor Him.
God told the people that when they brought a thank-offering, they should eat it on the same day and not save any until morning. Then God reminded them, “I am the LORD who makes you holy. I brought you out of Egypt to be your God.” God rescued His people from slavery, and that is why they could trust Him and honor Him.
So God gave His people a clear message: remember that I am holy, and live in a way that honors My name. God wanted His people to keep His commands, and He promised to make them holy as they followed Him.
Read It Together
Leviticus 22:2
“Tell Aaron and his sons to separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to me, and that they not profane my holy name. I am the LORD.
(WEB)
Point out that God’s holy things are His, and His name is holy. Ask children what it might mean to be careful with something that belongs to someone we love and respect.
Leviticus 22:31-33
31 “Therefore you shall keep my commandments, and do them. I am the LORD. 32 You shall not profane my holy name, but I will be made holy among the children of Israel. I am the LORD who makes you holy, 33 who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. I am the LORD.”
(WEB)
Show children that God reminds His people who He is and what He has done for them. Help them see that obeying God comes from remembering that He rescued them and made them His own.
Leviticus 22:21
Whoever offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the LORD to accomplish a vow, or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it shall be perfect to be accepted. It shall have no defect.
(WEB)
Explain that God wanted the best from His people when they gave to Him. Talk about how we can give God our best effort in school, at home, and in how we treat others.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means that God is holy?
- Why do you think God wanted the people to bring Him their very best?
- How did God remind His people that He had rescued them from Egypt?
- What is one thing you can do this week to honor God?
- How can we show respect for God’s name when we talk and pray?
Activity Ideas
Best Gift Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and scissors. Ask each child to draw or cut out a picture of something they would give God as their best gift, such as a favorite toy, a kind action, or a song. Let them explain their picture to the group and tie it to honoring God with what is good.
Holy Freeze Game
You will need an open space and a timer or a clap signal. Call out a command like “Hop on one foot” or “Touch your nose,” and have children obey quickly. When you say “Holy,” everyone freezes and bows their head for three seconds. Talk afterward about how God’s people listened carefully to Him.
Honor Jar at Home
You will need a jar, slips of paper, and a pencil. Each day, children write one way they honored God or someone else and drop it in the jar. At the end of the week, read the notes together and thank God for each one. This helps families build the habit of honoring God daily.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s holiness shapes every part of worship and daily life, from how gifts are offered to how people are cleansed and set apart. The New Testament teaches that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice, so believers now offer themselves as living sacrifices in gratitude. Keep the focus on God’s character and His faithfulness, not on the ritual details.
Avoid suggesting that children must earn God’s favor by being perfect or that a single mistake makes them unacceptable to Him. Keep the message centered on God’s holiness and His grace in making His people holy.
A Prayer to Close
Holy God, we thank You that You are special and good. Help us to honor Your name in how we speak, how we act, and what we give You. Thank You for rescuing us and making us Your own. Help us remember that You are holy every day. Amen.
