God loves us and saves us no matter what, but He wants us to live out our faith by valuing and serving other people. It’s one thing to read God’s word and know what it says, but it’s also important to understand the Lord’s instructions and do what He says. James 1 reminds us that we are to be “doers of the word” by caring for those around us. We cannot merely read or know in our heads what God says; we need to act in order to make things happen. We can demonstrate the love of Christ when we obey His teachings and help people.
This passage focuses on the importance of our actions, but it’s important to emphasize to students that our works do not earn God’s love or win us salvation. Eternal life is a free gift available to all. However, because of the wonderful blessings and gifts God has given us, we should naturally want to pass love onto others. The Lord gives us good things in order that we can use them to serve others and honor Him. We can imitate His care when we find ways to reach out to His people.
Sunday School Lesson on James 1:17-27 for Children: Every Good and Perfect Gift
Target Audience: Children Kindergarten-6th grade (Adjustable according to audience)
Materials Needed: Recipe or box mix; ingredients; board game; gift box; cupcake liners; markers/crayons; ribbon; pipe cleaners; construction paper; tape; scissors; decorative supplies; Bibles
Lesson Opening: This lesson focuses on what it means to truly follow God’s instructions and live out our faith by serving others. Start off with some activities to get your students thinking. Here are some suggested ideas:
- Good gifts relay: have several boxes and gift bags set up, each with a Godly gift inside (a spiritual gift or talent, etc.). Have students team up and race to bring a gift back to the line for the next person to open. After the race, discuss what the different gifts mean and how “every good and perfect gift comes from above” (James 1:17).
- Tools to serve: There are many ways to serve the Lord and others. Provide a tool box of some sort (household tools, gardening, cooking implements, etc.) and explain how all of the different tools have special uses. Describe different tools God gives us to help, such as time, talents, resources, and care. Have students take turns picking out a tool to look at and naming one of their God-given “tools.”
- Follow the instructions (or don’t): Show students a board game or recipe with directions for playing or cooking. What happens if you pay no attention to the instructions? Play the game without following directions, or talk about what would happen if you ignored the recipe. We need to not only read/listen to things, but follow what they say to do!
- Take care of the neglected: The James passage specifically mentions helping orphans and widows, but there are plenty of people who can use our help! Identify people who might be lonely or in need of encouragement (within or outside of the congregation). These might be widows, veterans, college students, or others. Have students create cards or care packages to send or give to them.
- Actions speak louder than words: play a game of charades to allow students to act out what they would normally say. For extra story relation, offer ways to help others for the students to act out.
Explain that the Bible passage for this lesson focuses on how we can live out our faith and show others Christian care by obeying God’s Word and demonstrating love for others.
Bible Lesson: James 1:17-27 Explained for Children – Be doers of the word
This passage is from the book of James. As an epistle, it’s not one that is easily acted out, but still important to discuss and pretty easy to understand. Have older students take turns reading, or read out loud for younger ones. Pause at intervals to discuss what the verses mean.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. -James 1:17-18
This is an important and beautiful passage to remember. God gives us all good things. He is never-changing and always wants what is best for us. People are God’s most precious and beloved creation, and He is glad to bestow on us good gifts. We should remember this with gratitude and thank God for the many wonderful things He provides.
Ask: What are some of the gifts that God has given you?
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
-James 1:19-21
Sin can poison and “infect” our souls. It’s easy to develop negative sinful habits like gossip, anger, and cruel language. Here we are reminded that God wants us to be mindful of others, quick to listen and slow to speak. “Think before you speak” is a popular adage that many grow up hearing. Most of us could probably do well to listen a little more and talk a little less. We enjoy giving quick answers or sharing our own stories, but letting others have a turn allows us to connect with people and help them.
Ask: How can you remind yourself to be “quick to hear and slow to speak”? What should you do if you feel angry?
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. -James 1:22-25
James admonishes us not to simply know the Bible, but to do something with it. It’s one thing to hear God’s word at church, but being “doers” means that we follow what God says in the Bible. The specific mirror analogy might be a little difficult to understand, but it points out how silly it would be to ignore the Lord’s teaching after we hear it. It would be like looking in a mirror and instantly forgetting what you look like! If we say one thing on Sunday morning and act completely differently the next day, it shows that we might not truly be paying attention or caring about what the Bible says. The good news is that James promises blessing for those who act on their faith. This doesn’t mean life will always be easy, but that living out what we believe will have benefits.
Note: it’s important to point out that we are not saved by good works or earning some sort of “Heavenly points” by doing things for others. We should do it because people need our help and as Christians, we want to serve God by caring for His people.
Ask: How can we demonstrate care for others and be “doers” of faith?
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. –James 1:26-27
Here is another practical example of what it means to be “doers.” We are called to take care of those in need. Note that orphans and widows aren’t the only ones we ought to care for. That’s merely an example of types of people that might be (especially in former days) helpless and need extra love. We are still called to these and other people. Anyone can “talk a good game” or make a show of going to church, but the genuine understand God’s heart for the lonely and lost. We should seek those people and focus on how we can look outside of ourselves to help others.
Ask: Can you think of people in our community who are in need? How can we help them?
Encourage students to identify ways of caring for others and live out this passage. Again, the idea is not to enforce guilt or emphasize good deeds, but to consider how we can obey Scripture by how we live our lives and serve others.
Close with prayer and thank God for all of our good gifts. Ask for His help in caring for those around us.
“Every Good and Perfect Gift from God” Activities for Children
https://ministry-to-children.com/bible-puzzle-hidden-bible-verse-james-122
https://ministry-to-children.com/all-people-matter-lesson