Free Bible lessons for kids · 12 lessons
Bible lessons about obedience for kids
Obeying God means doing what He says because we love and trust Him. Noah did all that God commanded, Samuel listened when God spoke, and Jesus Himself obeyed His Father.
12 Bible stories, one subject: obedience. Teach them as a series or one at a time; each lesson has its film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and game, all free.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”John 14:15 (KJV)
- Lessons
- 12
- Passages
- Genesis 6:5–22, Genesis 39:1–23, Joshua 6:1–27, 1 Samuel 3:1–21, 1 Kings 17:1–7, 2 Kings 5:1–19, and more
- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Each lesson
- Story film (KJV), coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
- Cost
- Free: no subscription, no cost per child, no sign-up to teach
The lessons: 12 stories about obedience
Noah Builds the Ark
Genesis 6:5–22 · story film
The earth was filled with violence, but Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD and walked with God. God told Noah to make an ark of gopher wood, three hundred cubits long, with a window above and a door in the side, and to bring in his family and two of every living thing. Noah did everything God commanded him, even before he saw a drop of rain (Hebrews 11:7).
Big idea: Noah trusted God and did all that He commanded.
Memory verse:
Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
Genesis 6:22 (KJV)Ask: What does the Bible say about Noah? He found grace in the eyes of the LORD; he was a just man, and he walked with God (Genesis 6:8–9).
Game: How Big Was the Ark? (about 15 minutes)
Joseph in Potiphar’s House
Genesis 39:1–23 · story film
In Egypt Joseph was bought by Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s guard. The LORD was with Joseph and made all that he did to prosper, so Potiphar put him over all his house; and when Potiphar’s wife wanted him to do wrong, Joseph refused and said, “How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” She told lies about him and he was put in prison, but even there the LORD was with Joseph.
Big idea: The LORD is with us, so we can choose to do right even when it is hard.
Memory verse:
And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
Genesis 39:2 (KJV)Ask: Who bought Joseph in Egypt? Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard (Genesis 39:1).
Game: Flee! (about 8 minutes)
The Walls of Jericho
Joshua 6:1–27 · story film
God told Joshua to march around Jericho with the priests carrying the ark and seven trumpets of rams’ horns: once a day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day. When the priests blew the trumpets and all the people shouted with a great shout, the wall fell down flat. Rahab and her family were saved, and the LORD was with Joshua.
Big idea: When we trust God and obey Him, He does what we could never do.
Memory verse:
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
Hebrews 11:30 (KJV)Ask: How many times did Israel march around Jericho? Once a day for six days, then seven times on the seventh day (Joshua 6:3–4, 15).
Game: March Around Jericho (about 10 minutes)
Speak, LORD
1 Samuel 3:1–21 · story film
The child Samuel served the LORD in the temple at Shiloh with old Eli the priest. One night, as he lay down where the ark of God was, the LORD called, “Samuel!” Three times Samuel ran to Eli, until Eli understood and told him to answer, “Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth.” Samuel listened, and as he grew the LORD was with him and made him a prophet to all Israel.
Big idea: God speaks to us, and even children can listen and obey.
Memory verse:
And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
1 Samuel 3:10 (KJV)Ask: Where was Samuel lying down when the LORD called? In the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was (1 Samuel 3:3).
Game: Samuel! Samuel! (about 10 minutes)
Ravens Feed Elijah
1 Kings 17:1–7 · story film
Elijah told wicked King Ahab that there would be no dew nor rain for years, but according to God’s word. Then the LORD sent Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith, and every morning and every evening the ravens brought him bread and flesh, and he drank of the brook. God took care of His servant in a lonely place, just as He had promised.
Big idea: God takes care of those who trust and obey Him.
Memory verse:
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (KJV)Ask: What did Elijah tell King Ahab? There would be no dew nor rain these years, but according to his word (1 Kings 17:1).
Game: Raven Delivery (about 10 minutes)
Naaman Is Healed
2 Kings 5:1–19 · story film
Naaman, the great captain of Syria, was a leper, and a little maid from Israel told her mistress that God’s prophet could heal him. Elisha sent word to wash in Jordan seven times; Naaman was angry at first, but he listened to his servants, dipped seven times, and his flesh came again like the flesh of a little child. Jesus Himself remembered Naaman to show that God’s mercy reaches every nation (Luke 4:27).
Big idea: God graciously heals and saves those who humbly trust His word.
Memory verse:
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Jeremiah 17:14 (KJV)Ask: Who told Naaman’s wife about the prophet in Samaria? A little maid from Israel who waited on her (2 Kings 5:2–3).
Game: Seven Dips (about 10 minutes)
The Fiery Furnace
Daniel 3:1–30 · story film
King Nebuchadnezzar set up a golden image and commanded everyone to bow down to it or be cast into a burning fiery furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego would not bow, and they told the king their God was able to deliver them, “But if not,” they still would not serve his gods. The king saw four men walking loose in the fire, and the three came out without even a hair of their heads singed.
Big idea: We can trust God and obey Him, and He is with us even in the fire.
Memory verse:
If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
Daniel 3:17 (KJV)Ask: What did the king command everyone to do when the music played? Fall down and worship the golden image (Daniel 3:5).
Game: We Will Not Bow (about 8 minutes)
Escape to Egypt
Matthew 2:13–23 · story film
An angel warned Joseph in a dream that King Herod wanted to harm Jesus. Joseph rose that night and took Mary and the young child to Egypt, and later God brought them home to Nazareth.
Big idea: God protects and guides His people.
Memory verse:
And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.
Matthew 2:15 (KJV)Ask: Who wanted to harm the young child? King Herod.
Game: Quiet Night Journey (about 8 minutes)
Jesus Is Baptized
Matthew 3:13–17 · Mark 1:9–11 · Luke 3:21–22 · story film
Jesus came to the Jordan to be baptized by John. As He came up out of the water, the Spirit of God came down like a dove, and a voice from heaven spoke.
Big idea: God the Father loves His Son, and He is well pleased with Him.
Memory verse:
And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Matthew 3:17 (KJV)Ask: Which river was Jesus baptized in? The Jordan.
Game: Keep the Dove Flying (about 8 minutes)
An Angel Opens the Prison
Acts 5:12–42 · story film
The apostles were put in the common prison, but the angel of the Lord opened the doors by night and told them to go and speak in the temple. When questioned, they said they ought to obey God rather than men.
Big idea: We obey God first.
Memory verse:
Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:29 (KJV)Ask: Who opened the prison doors? The angel of the Lord.
Game: Jailbreak Tag (about 10 minutes)
Doers of the Word
James 1:19–27 · story film
James wrote that it is not enough to hear God’s Word. We must do what it says, not be like a man who looks in a mirror and then forgets what he saw.
Big idea: Hearing God’s Word means doing it.
Memory verse:
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22 (KJV)Ask: What should we be quick to do and slow to do? Swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.
Game: Mirror, Mirror (about 8 minutes)
In the Garden of Gethsemane
Matthew 26:36–56 · Mark 14:32–50 · Luke 22:39–53 · John 18:1–11 · story film
Jesus went to a garden called Gethsemane to pray. He asked Peter, James and John to watch with Him, but they fell asleep. Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but thine, be done,” and then He was arrested.
Big idea: Jesus chose to obey His Father, even when it was hard.
Memory verse:
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Matthew 26:41 (KJV)Ask: What was the garden called? Gethsemane.
Game: Prayer Garden (about 15 minutes)
Teaching obedience at every age
- Preschool: Play a listening game, then talk about listening to God and to parents first.
- Elementary: After each story ask: what did God say, and what did this person do?
- Preteens: Talk about obeying when it is hard, like Jesus in Gethsemane: “not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).
A 8-week series on obedience
| Week 1 | Noah Builds the Ark (Genesis 6:5–22). Noah trusted God and did all that He commanded. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | Joseph in Potiphar’s House (Genesis 39:1–23). The LORD is with us, so we can choose to do right even when it is hard. |
| Week 3 | The Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:1–27). When we trust God and obey Him, He does what we could never do. |
| Week 4 | Speak, LORD (1 Samuel 3:1–21). God speaks to us, and even children can listen and obey. |
| Week 5 | Ravens Feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:1–7). God takes care of those who trust and obey Him. |
| Week 6 | Naaman Is Healed (2 Kings 5:1–19). God graciously heals and saves those who humbly trust His word. |
| Week 7 | The Fiery Furnace (Daniel 3:1–30). We can trust God and obey Him, and He is with us even in the fire. |
| Week 8 | Escape to Egypt (Matthew 2:13–23). God protects and guides His people. |
Each week: welcome and pray, show the story film, talk through the questions, learn the memory verse, then color the page or do the class sheet.
Verses to learn: obedience
“Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.”
Genesis 6:22 · Noah Builds the Ark
“And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.”
Genesis 39:2 · Joseph in Potiphar’s House
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.”
Hebrews 11:30 · The Walls of Jericho
“And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.”
1 Samuel 3:10 · Speak, LORD
“But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 · Ravens Feed Elijah
“Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”
Jeremiah 17:14 · Naaman Is Healed
“If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.”
Daniel 3:17 · The Fiery Furnace
“And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
Matthew 2:15 · Escape to Egypt
Questions people ask
What does the Bible teach kids about obedience?
Obeying God means doing what He says because we love and trust Him. Noah did all that God commanded, Samuel listened when God spoke, and Jesus Himself obeyed His Father. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15, KJV)
Which Bible stories teach obedience?
Noah Builds the Ark (Genesis 6:5–22), Joseph in Potiphar’s House (Genesis 39:1–23), The Walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:1–27), Speak, LORD (1 Samuel 3:1–21), Ravens Feed Elijah (1 Kings 17:1–7), and 7 more on this page.
Why should kids obey God?
Because God is good and loves us, His commands are for our good. Jesus said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
How do I teach obedience to preschoolers?
Play a listening game, then talk about listening to God and to parents first.
Are these lessons free?
Yes. Every lesson, film, coloring page, class sheet and game is free for churches, families and schools, with no subscription, no cost per child and no sign-up needed to teach.
Which Bible translation is used?
The films and memory verses show the King James Version word for word. In the lessons you can switch the verses to the Berean Standard Bible, the ESV or dozens of other English Bibles, every verse is labelled with its translation, and tapping a verse on the film opens its whole chapter.
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