This lesson teaches children that God wants our whole heart, and that loving Him and loving others are the most important things we can do. It suits children aged 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
God wants all of you. We show love to God by loving Him with everything we have and by loving the people around us.
Memory Verse
Mark 12:30
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.
(WEB)
Have the children place one hand on their heart and then stretch both arms out wide while saying the verse together. Repeat it slowly three times, then faster, so the words and the motion stick.
The Story: Mark 12 for Kids
One day Jesus told a story to the people in the temple. A man planted a vineyard, which is a field of grapevines, and he rented it to some farmers. Then he went away to another country. When it was time for fruit, he sent a servant to collect his share, but the farmers beat the servant and sent him away with nothing.
The man sent servant after servant, and the farmers treated each one badly. At last he sent his own dear son. The farmers said to each other, “This is the heir. If we get rid of him, the vineyard will be ours.” They did something very wrong to him.
Jesus asked the people what the owner would do. Then He reminded them of a verse from their Scriptures about a stone that the builders threw away, which later became the most important stone of the building. The story showed that God keeps His promises even when people refuse to listen.
Next, some leaders tried to trap Jesus with a question about paying taxes to the Roman emperor. Jesus asked them whose face was on a coin. They said, “Caesar’s.” Jesus answered, “Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” Everyone was amazed by His wise answer.
Then some Sadducees, who did not believe in resurrection, asked a tricky question about marriage after death. Jesus told them they were mistaken, because God is the God of the living. A scribe, a teacher of the law, then asked Jesus which command was the greatest. Jesus gave a clear answer that we will talk about next.
Finally, Jesus watched people put money into the temple treasury. Many rich people gave large sums. A poor widow gave just two tiny coins. Jesus told His friends that she had given more than anyone, because she gave everything she had.
Read It Together
Mark 12:31
The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
(WEB)
Point out that the second great command is about loving our neighbor as ourselves. Ask the children to name one person they can show kindness to this week, such as a sibling, classmate, or neighbor.
Mark 12:41-44
41 Jesus sat down opposite the treasury, and saw how the multitude cast money into the treasury. Many who were rich cast in much. 42 A poor widow came, and she cast in two small brass coins, which equal a quadrans coin. 43 He called his disciples to himself, and said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, this poor widow gave more than all those who are giving into the treasury, 44 for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
(WEB)
Show the children how the widow gave something small but gave all she had. Explain that God looks at the heart, not the size of the gift, and that giving from a generous heart pleases Him.
Mark 12:34
When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.” No one dared ask him any question after that.
(WEB)
Help the children see that the scribe understood what really matters to God. Explain that Jesus said he was not far from God’s kingdom because he answered with a thoughtful and honest heart.
Talk About It
- What is one thing you love to do, and how could you show God that you love Him while you do it?
- Who is someone in your life that is hard to love, and what is one kind thing you could do for them?
- Why do you think the poor widow gave her two coins even though they were not much money?
- How can you tell that someone loves God with their whole heart by the way they treat other people?
- What do you think it means to give God the things that belong to Him, like our time, our kindness, and our hearts?
Activity Ideas
Heart Collage Craft
You will need paper, crayons or markers, scissors, and glue. Have each child trace a large heart on paper and fill it with drawings of things they love and people they want to love better. Ask them to share one picture with the group and explain why it matters.
Neighbor Tag Game
Choose one child to be “it” and have them chase the others. When someone is tagged, they must stop and wait until another child gives them a high five or a hug, as a picture of loving a neighbor. Play for a few minutes, then ask the children how it felt to be cared for by their friends.
Two Coins Take-Home Jar
You will need a small jar or box, a few coins, and a decorated label. Give each child two coins and encourage them to put them into the jar this week as a reminder that God values faithful giving. Ask them to bring the jar back next class and share one way they showed love to someone.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that loving God and loving others are at the center of faithful living, and that Jesus is the faithful son who was rejected yet honored by God. The passage also reminds us that God sees the heart behind every act of worship and giving, whether it is large or small.
Be careful not to overstate the details of the parable to children, since the vineyard story is an allegory about Israel’s leaders and Jesus’s coming death. Keep the focus on God’s love and the call to love Him and others, rather than turning the story into a lesson about specific people being guilty.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, we want to love You with all our hearts, minds, and strength. Help us to love the people around us too, especially those who are hard to love. Thank You for loving us first and for caring about every small gift we bring. Amen.
