This lesson teaches children that the words we say have real power, and that God’s name is a safe place to run to. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach.
Big Idea
Our words can hurt or help, so we should speak kindly and run to God when we need to be safe.
Memory Verse
Proverbs 18:21
Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
(WEB)
Have children cup both hands in front of their mouths, then slowly open them outward like a flower blooming, saying the first few words together. Repeat it three times, then have them slowly close their hands as if pulling words back in, showing that words can build up or tear down.
The Story: Proverbs 18 for Kids
Long ago, a wise king named Solomon wrote down many short sayings to teach people how to live well. In this chapter, he talked a lot about words. He noticed that some people like to argue and show off what they think, even when they do not understand the problem at all. Solomon said that fools love to share their own opinions more than they love to learn.
Solomon also talked about gossip. He compared a gossip’s words to a tasty treat that is easy to swallow and easy to remember. Once those words go into someone’s heart, they can be hard to forget. He wanted children to know that a careless mouth can cause a lot of trouble.
Then Solomon pointed people to a safe place. He said, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” Imagine a tall stone tower where you can hide when a storm comes. That is how God’s name works for the people who trust him. When we feel scared or hurt by mean words, we can run to God.
Solomon finished with a kind reminder about friends. He said some friends may let us down, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother. That friend is God, who never leaves us. When we remember that, we can speak with kindness, listen before we answer, and trust that we are never alone.
Read It Together
Proverbs 18:2
A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
(WEB)
Point out how a fool only wants to share his own opinion and does not care to learn. Ask children what it feels like when someone will not listen to them, and why good listening is a kind thing to do.
Proverbs 18:8
The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person’s innermost parts.
(WEB)
Explain that gossip sounds sweet but can hurt people deeply. Help children see that repeating unkind stories is a choice, and that they can stop the words before they spread to someone else.
Proverbs 18:10
The LORD’s name is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
(WEB)
Show children that God is a safe place we can always run to. Point out the picture of a strong tower, and ask them to name a time when they could run to God for help.
Talk About It
- What is one kind thing someone has said to you that made you feel happy?
- Why do you think it matters to listen before we answer someone?
- How can words sometimes hurt people even when we did not mean to hurt them?
- What might you do if you hear someone starting to gossip about a friend?
- When you feel scared or upset, what can you do to remember that God is a safe place?
Activity Ideas
Build a Paper Tower
You will need paper, tape, and crayons or markers. Have each child roll a sheet of paper into a tube and tape it closed to make a tower. Write the words “The LORD is a strong tower” on the side, then decorate it with bricks and windows. Let children stand their towers up and talk about how God keeps us safe.
Word Tug-of-War Game
You will need a jump rope or a long piece of yarn. Split the class into two teams and give each side one end of the rope. Call out a kind word like “encourage” or “thank you,” and the team that hears it pulls toward their side. Then call out an unkind word, and let children talk about why those words should not be spoken, then reset the game.
Kind Words Card for Home
You will need index cards, markers, and a small envelope for each child. Ask children to write or draw one kind thing they can say to a family member this week. Let them decorate the card and place it in the envelope to take home. Encourage them to give the card to someone and share how it made them feel.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that words carry real weight, because they can bring life or cause harm. It also points to God’s name as a secure refuge, which means trusting him gives real safety in hard moments. The chapter invites listening, humility, and honest speech in everyday relationships.
Be careful not to overstate the idea that every problem has a simple fix with the right words. Children may think that good speech always prevents conflict or that bad things only happen to people who say unkind things. Keep the focus on God’s faithfulness and encourage kindness without promising outcomes.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank you for giving us words to share with others. Help us to speak kindly, to listen carefully, and to stop before we say something that could hurt a friend. Thank you that your name is a strong and safe tower where we can always run. Keep us close to you every day. Amen.
