Leviticus 3 teaches children that a peace offering was a gift people brought to God to show thankfulness and friendship with Him. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God wants us to be friends with Him, and bringing Him our best gifts is one way to show we are thankful and close to Him.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 3:1
“‘If his offering is a sacrifice of peace offerings; if he offers it from the herd, whether male or female, he shall offer it without defect before the LORD.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out in front of you, palms up, like you are offering a gift. Then bring them together over your heart. Say “A gift for God” each time you do it.
The Story: Leviticus 3 for Kids
God gave Moses a set of rules for worship, and this chapter explains one special kind of gift called a peace offering. A peace offering was a way for a person to thank God and to celebrate being close to Him. The gift had to be healthy and without any flaws, because God deserves the very best.
The person who brought the gift would place a hand on the animal’s head. This was a way of saying, “This gift is mine, and I give it to God.” Then the animal was taken to the Tent of Meeting, where God’s presence was, and the gift was prepared the way God had said.
The priests, who were Aaron’s sons, had important jobs. They splashed the blood around the altar and burned some of the fat on the altar as a pleasing smell to the Lord. The fat was considered God’s special portion, so it was given to Him by fire.
The chapter describes three kinds of animals a person could bring: a cow, a sheep, or a goat. The steps were the same for each one, which showed that God welcomed every family who came to Him with a heart full of thanks. Whatever animal someone brought, the message was the same: we belong to God and we want to be close to Him.
At the end of the chapter, God gives a rule that the people must never eat the fat or the blood of these animals. He said this would be a rule for all their generations, because the blood and fat belonged to Him in a special way.
Read It Together
Leviticus 3:2
He shall lay his hand on the head of his offering, and kill it at the door of the Tent of Meeting: and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood around on the altar.
(WEB)
Point out how the person placed a hand on the animal’s head. Explain that this was a way of saying the gift was theirs to give to God, and ask children what it might look like to give something to God today.
Leviticus 3:16
The priest shall burn them on the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma; all the fat is the LORD’s.
(WEB)
Point out the phrase “a pleasing aroma to the Lord.” Explain that God was pleased when His people gave their gifts with a thankful heart, and that He cares about our hearts more than our gifts.
Leviticus 3:17
“‘It shall be a perpetual statute throughout your generations in all your dwellings, that you shall eat neither fat nor blood.’”
(WEB)
Point out that God gave these rules to help His people remember how holy and special He is. Explain that God’s rules are given to help us, and that we can trust Him even when we do not understand every detail.
Talk About It
- What is something you could give to God to say thank you for what He has done for you?
- Why do you think God wanted the animals to be healthy and without flaws?
- How do you think the people felt when they brought their gift to the Tent of Meeting?
- What is one thing you like about spending time with your friends, and how is that like being friends with God?
- How can you show God you are thankful for Him this week?
Activity Ideas
Paper Peace Offering Drawing
You will need paper, crayons or markers, and a pencil. Ask each child to draw a gift they would like to give to God, such as a drawing of their family, their favorite toy, or a picture of something God made. Let them write or say one sentence about why they want to give it to Him. Display the drawings on the wall as a reminder of thankful hearts.
Gift Carry Relay
You will need a small box or basket, a few soft toys or balls, and an open space. Divide the children into two teams and have them carry a gift in the box from one side of the room to the other, placing it carefully on a “altar” spot. Say that carrying the gift carefully shows respect for God. Let each team take turns, and finish by saying a short thank you prayer together.
Thankful Heart Jar
You will need a jar or cup, slips of paper, and a pencil. Each day this week, invite the child to write one thing they are thankful for on a slip of paper and put it in the jar. At the end of the week, read the notes together and thank God for each one. This helps children practice giving their thanks to God regularly at home.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that worship in the Old Testament was built around gifts that expressed thankfulness and fellowship with God. The peace offering points forward to Jesus, who gave Himself as the perfect offering for our sins and makes peace between us and God. Adults can see in this passage the seriousness of coming to God and the joy of being accepted by Him.
With children, avoid overstating the details about animals, blood and fat, which can be confusing or frightening. Focus on the heart behind the gift, that God wants His people to be thankful and close to Him, and let children ask questions about the sacrifices without giving them more than they need.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You for loving us and wanting to be friends with us. Help us to give You our thankful hearts every day. We know You care about what is inside us, and we want to show You how much we love You. Thank You for always listening to us. Amen.
