These lessons reminds us that God uses people to do His work. We are charged with passing Christ’s love and service on to others, just as the Great Commission invites us to be part of God’s plan. The story that occurs in Matthew 25 reminds us that Jesus endured hunger and shame while He was on Earth. We obviously do not live in first century Middle East, and cannot change the life of Jesus as a human. However, when we take care of others, we do it as though we do it for Christ, because it is for Him! This message invites kids to love and serve the Lord by what they do for other people.
Use these free Bible lesson to teach kids in your Sunday School class this important message from the Parable of the Sheep and Goats. We’ve included complete teaching plans, game suggestions, craft ideas, and bonus coloring page. Simply download the PDF files below.
Matthew 25:31-46 Sunday School Lessons
More Teaching Ideas on the Sheep and Goats
- Get a free copy of the clipart for this lesson
- Compare “The Parable of the Sheep and Goats” from Ministry Spark
- Compare “Sheep and Goats” from Sermons4Kids
- Compare Matthew 25:31-46 Children’s Sermon from rfour.org
- You can watch a teaching demonstration of this children’s sermon on our YouTube
- Don’t miss the Bible craft ideas for this same passage
- See our full Sunday School Lesson on Matthew 25:31-46
“Sheep and Goats” Craft Demonstration on Serving Others
The lesson accompanying these crafts is based on the story of judgment and the separation of the sheep and the goats, referenced in Matthew 25. While it might seem a bit works-based or worrisome, the emphasis of the message is that we want to serve and love others as a response to the love Christ shows us. When we do that, we honor God and ultimately serve Him. Two of these crafts serve as prompts to help and serve other people, as the treat bag is meant to give away and the plate is intended as a decorative reminder to care for others. The puppet is a nod to the story itself, recognizing that we should aim to be “sheep” and not “goats.”
Children’s Sermon on Matthew 25:31-46
This children’s message is taken from the parable of the sheep and the goats, found in Matthew 25. The emphasis is on looking for ways that we can help others around us, and in so doing, honor God. Through discussion and images, communicate the critical importance of this idea with young believers.
Bible Verses/story to Reference: Matthew 25:31-36
“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44 Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ 45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
-Matthew 25:31-46