Trick or Truth Curriculum: Bible Videos on God’s Truth for Kids

Big idea: God's word is always true. Adam and Eve believed a lie instead, and God still came looking for them and promised a Rescuer.

Memory verse: John 14:6 (BSB), "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Say it together once near the end of the Bible story, pointing to the memory verse poster. In Preschool, the class says only the first part, "I am the way and the truth and the life.", during Bible Story and Prayer.

Before Sunday

• Read all of Genesis 3:1–24. The lesson prints verses 1–6, 8–9 and 15 and tells the rest in its own words.
• Print the Teacher Edition and the memory verse poster (Series Overview, page 5) once. For each child, print the coloring page, the puzzle page (Level 1 and Challenge), the tracing page and the take-home page.
• Write TRICK on one sheet in orange and TRUTH on another in green, and tape them low on opposite walls for the opening game. For the object lesson, fill two clear cups with water, stir a spoonful of salt into one, and mark that cup with a small dot underneath.
• For the Truth Treat Bag you need paper lunch bags (one per child, plus one for the sample), copy paper, and crayons or markers. Tear the paper into three strips per child, cut the tracing pages on the dotted lines, and make one sample.

Small-church tip: Mixed ages? Give younger writers the tracing strips instead of blank ones, as the lesson says.

Preschool: The Sneaky Snake in the Garden. God's words are always true, and I can trust them.

Big idea: God knows the truth about every story, and He wants His people to ask Him before they decide.

Memory verse: John 14:6 (BSB), "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Say it together once at the end of Truth Talk, pointing to the memory verse poster. In Preschool, the class says only the first part, "I am the way and the truth and the life.", during Bible Story and Prayer.

Before Sunday

• Read all of Joshua 9:3–27. The lesson prints verses 3–8 and 12–16 and tells the rest in its own words.
• Print the Teacher Edition and the memory verse poster (Series Overview, page 5) once. For each child, print the coloring page, the puzzle page (Level 1 and Challenge), the tracing page and the take-home page.
• For the opening game, leave a roll out from Wednesday (or toast a slice hard) and bag it. Put the three props (the bagged bread, a worn-out shoe and a crumpled plastic water bottle) on a chair, and have a hat ready for you to wear. For the object lesson, eat three of four matching wrapped candies (twist-wrapped, nut-free), wrap each empty wrapper around a taped paper wad, and keep the fourth sealed. Nothing is eaten or handed out in class.
• For the Look Closer Magnifier you need paper plates and craft sticks (one each per child, plus one each for the sample), tape and markers. Cut the tracing pages on the dotted lines and make one sample.

Small-church tip: With older kids in the room, let one of them give the Traveler's speech in round two of Far or Near?, as the lesson suggests.

Preschool: The Travelers with the Moldy Bread. Before I believe something, I can ask God first.

Big idea: God chooses the true King, even when the crowd picks someone else, and Jesus is the King God chose.

Memory verse: John 14:6 (BSB), "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Say it together once at the end of Truth Talk, pointing to the memory verse poster. In Preschool, the class says only the first part, "I am the way and the truth and the life.", during Bible Story and Prayer.

Before Sunday

• Read 2 Samuel 15:1–14, 30. The lesson prints verses 1–6, 10 and 30 and tells the rest in its own words. It leaves out Ittai's part in 15:19–22, so read that too if you have time.
• Print the Teacher Edition and the memory verse poster (Series Overview, page 5) once. For each child, print the coloring page, the puzzle page (Level 1 and Challenge), the tracing page and the take-home page.
• The King Says needs no supplies. For the object lesson, put a paper napkin in one paper bag, then wrap that bag in foil and tie a ribbon around it. Write "the real king" on a sticky note and drop it in the plain bag. Set both bags on the floor, three big steps apart.
• For the True King Pennant you need copy-paper triangles and drinking straws or craft sticks (one each per child, plus one each for the sample), tape, and markers including purple, orange and green. Cut copy paper corner to corner (one cut makes two triangles), cut the tracing page in half, and make one sample.

Small-church tip: If you have an older kid, let one take a turn making the King's calls in the opening game, and let an older kid make the "Knock, knock!" call in the object lesson.

Preschool: The Prince Who Wanted to Be King. Even when lots of people pick the wrong way, I can follow God's true King.

Big idea: God's gift (His Spirit, His forgiveness) can't be bought or earned. He gives it free to anyone who asks Him.

Memory verse: John 14:6 (BSB), "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Say it together once at the end of Truth Talk, pointing to the memory verse poster. In Preschool, the class says only the first part, "I am the way and the truth and the life.", during Bible Story and Prayer.

Before Sunday

• Read Acts 8:9–25. The lesson prints verses 9–10, 18–19, 20–22 and 24 and tells the rest in its own words. Read the Response Moment note too, in case a child prays with you.
• Print the Teacher Edition and the memory verse poster (Series Overview, page 5) once. For each child, print the coloring page, the puzzle page (Level 1 and Challenge), the tracing page and the take-home page.
• For the opening game, write "FREE GIFT: God's gift" on an index card for each child, plus spares, and drop them in a gift bag. Each child also needs one sheet of scrap paper to tear into coins. For the object lesson, write $1,000,000 on a sticky note and keep it in your pocket until the game is over.
• For the Free Gift Tag you need index cards (one per child plus one for the sample, in addition to the game's), yarn cut into one-foot lengths, markers, and a hole punch for the room. Cut the tracing pages on the dotted lines, make one sample, and punch a hole at the top of each card and tag.

Small-church tip: Plan to help younger children with the knot on their Free Gift Tag, as the lesson notes.

Preschool: The Man Who Tried to Buy God's Gift. God's gift is free, and I can say "Thank You, God!"

Big idea: God gives His people His own armor, truth named first, because the devil's tricks are real and God is stronger.

Memory verse: John 14:6 (BSB), "Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" Say it together once at the end of Truth Talk, pointing to the memory verse poster. In Preschool, the class says only the first part, "I am the way and the truth and the life.", during Bible Story and Prayer.

Before Sunday

• Read Ephesians 6:10–20. The lesson prints verses 10–11 and 13–18 and tells the rest in its own words. Read the Halloween week note at the top of the lesson, too. It gives you two lines to have ready for kids who arrive in costume.
• Print the Teacher Edition and the memory verse poster (Series Overview, page 5) once. For each child, print the coloring page, the puzzle page (Level 1 and Challenge), the tracing page and the take-home page.
• For Armor Up, set six items at the far wall (a scarf, a hand towel, a pair of shoes, a pot lid or paper plate, a mixing bowl and a wooden spoon) and put one chair in the middle. Tape up the memory verse poster. For the object lesson, bring a bike helmet, an oven mitt and a pair of sunglasses.
• For the Truth Shield you need dinner-size paper plates, 12-inch sheets of foil and 1-by-8-inch copy paper strips (one each per child, plus one each for the sample), tape, and markers. Tear the foil, cut the paper strips, cut the tracing pages on the dotted lines, and make one sample.

Small-church tip: With few kids, the same children fetch twice in Armor Up, as the lesson allows. Everyone still puts on every piece.

Preschool: God's Shiny Armor. When a trick comes, I can stand strong with Jesus.