Free Bible lesson for kids · Letters to the Churches
Timothy Learns the Scriptures
Paul reminded young Timothy of the faith of his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and that he had known the Holy Scriptures since he was a child.
- Bible passage
- 2 Timothy 1:1–5 · 3:14–17
- Big idea
- It is never too early to know God’s Word.
- Memory verse
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Timothy 3:16 (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
Paul wrote a letter to Timothy and called him “my dearly beloved son” (2 Timothy 1:1–2). Paul thanked God for Timothy and prayed for him night and day. He longed to see him again (2 Timothy 1:3–4). Paul remembered Timothy’s true faith. That faith lived first in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, and now it lived in Timothy too (2 Timothy 1:5).
Paul told Timothy to keep on in the things he had learned, remembering who had taught him (2 Timothy 3:14). Since he was a child, Timothy had known the holy Scriptures. They made him wise about how to be saved through faith in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” It teaches us, shows us our wrongs, corrects us, and trains us to do right (2 Timothy 3:16). God’s Word prepares us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17).
Read it in the Bible: 2 Timothy 1:1–5 (KJV)
1Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus, 2To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.
Questions to ask
Who were Timothy’s grandmother and mother?
Lois and Eunice.
How long had Timothy known the Scriptures?
From a child.
Where does all Scripture come from?
It is given by inspiration of God.
What this story teaches
- Every part of the Bible is given by God (2 Timothy 3:16).
- The Bible shows us how to be saved through faith in Jesus (2 Timothy 3:15).
- Even children can know and learn God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:15).
- God uses families to pass faith on to children (2 Timothy 1:5).
- God’s Word teaches, corrects and trains us to do right (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
Jesus Is the Living Word
Timothy learned God’s written Word. Jesus is the Word who became a man and lived among us, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Thank God for people who teach us the Bible. |
|---|---|
| 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: “It is never too early to know God’s Word.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say 2 Timothy 3:16 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 8 minutes
Pass It Down
You need: A Bible
- Kids line up as a family: grandma, mom, and on down the line.
- Pass the Bible over your head, then under your legs, all the way to the end.
- The last child opens it and reads a verse with a leader’s help. Then the line flips.
Timothy’s grandmother Lois and mother Eunice passed their faith down, and he knew the Scriptures from a child.
For youth group · activity · indoors or out · about 30 minutes
Interview an Elder
You need: Older believers from your church who agree to be interviewed, question lists
- In pairs, interview an older believer: how they came to faith, a hard season, a verse that carried them.
- Record or write their answers.
- Share highlights with the group next week.
Faith gets passed from one generation to the next. Learn from the Lois and Eunice in your church.
Pray
Thank God for people who teach us the Bible.