Free Bible lesson for kids · The Church Begins
Seven Helpers Are Chosen
Some widows were being missed when food was handed out. The apostles had the church choose seven men full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom to serve, so the apostles could keep praying and teaching.
- Bible passage
- Acts 6:1–7
- Big idea
- Everyone in God’s family has a way to serve.
- Memory verse
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
Galatians 6:2 (KJV)- Ages
- Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
- Time
- About 45 minutes
- Included, free
- Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game
The story
The church in Jerusalem was growing, but the Greek-speaking believers complained that their widows were being missed when food was handed out each day (Acts 6:1). The twelve apostles said it was not right for them to stop teaching God’s word to serve tables (Acts 6:2). They told the believers to “look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom” (Acts 6:3).
Then the apostles would give themselves “continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:4). This plan pleased everyone, and they chose seven men, including Stephen, “a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost,” and Philip (Acts 6:5). The apostles prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6). With everyone serving, the word of God spread, and the number of disciples grew greatly, even many priests (Acts 6:7).
Read it in the Bible: Acts 6:1–7 (KJV)
1And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 2Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 3Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 4But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. 7And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.
Questions to ask
Who was being neglected?
Widows, in the daily handing out of food.
How many helpers were chosen?
Seven.
What did the apostles keep doing?
Prayer and the ministry of the word.
What this story teaches
- God cares about widows and people in need (Acts 6:1–3).
- Serving others is important work in God’s family (Acts 6:2–3).
- Church leaders need time to pray and teach God’s word (Acts 6:4).
- God’s helpers should be honest and full of His Spirit (Acts 6:3).
- When God’s people serve together, His word spreads (Acts 6:7).
Jesus Came to Serve
The seven helpers served tables for others. Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life for many.
Mark 10:45
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to show us how we can serve at church. |
|---|---|
| 10 min | The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next. |
| 10 min | Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “Everyone in God’s family has a way to serve.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Galatians 6:2 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone. |
| 10 min | Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions). |
| 5 min | Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week. |
- Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
- Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
- Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.
Game time
For kids · game · indoors · about 10 minutes
Nobody Missed Relay
You need: Chairs scattered around the room, paper “bread” for each team
- The chairs are widows waiting for food.
- Teams race to deliver one piece of bread to every chair. No chair can be missed!
- A leader checks each chair at the end.
Some widows were being missed, so the church chose seven helpers full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom.
For youth group · activity · indoors · about 30 minutes
Serve Team Tryouts
You need: Leaders from different church teams (greeters, tech, kids, setup)
- Leaders each explain their team in two minutes.
- Teens rotate and try a job at each station.
- Each person picks one team to serve on this month.
Every job in the church matters. The seven served, and “the word of God increased.”
Pray
Ask God to show us how we can serve at church.