Free Bible lessons for kids · 7 lessons
New Year Bible lessons for kids
The new year is a time to look back at God’s faithfulness and look ahead with courage, choosing again to serve the LORD.
7 Bible stories, one subject: New Year. 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.
“It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”Lamentations 3:22–23 (KJV)
- Lessons
- 7
- Passages
- Joshua 1:1–9, Joshua 24:1–31, Genesis 12:1–9, Joshua 3:1–4:24, Acts 9:1–19, Revelation 21:1–7, 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
7 Bible lessons about New Year
Be Strong and of a Good Courage
Joshua 1:1–9 · story film
After Moses died, the LORD spoke to Joshua: “Arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them.” God promised, “As I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee,” and told Joshua to keep the book of the law in his mouth and meditate on it day and night. Three times God told Joshua to be strong and courageous, because the LORD his God would be with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9).
Big idea: We can be brave, because the LORD our God is with us wherever we go.
Memory verse:
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
Joshua 1:9 (KJV)Ask: What did the LORD tell Joshua to do after Moses died? To arise and go over Jordan with all the people, into the land God was giving them (Joshua 1:2).
Game: Be Strong Course (about 12 minutes)
Choose You This Day
Joshua 24:1–31 · story film
When Joshua was old, he gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and reminded them of everything God had done for them, from Abraham to the good land they now lived in. He said, “Choose you this day whom ye will serve… but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” The people promised to serve the LORD and obey His voice, and Joshua set up a great stone under an oak as a witness.
Big idea: Every day we can choose to serve the LORD.
Memory verse:
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Joshua 24:15 (KJV)Ask: Where did Joshua gather all the tribes of Israel? At Shechem (Joshua 24:1).
Game: This or That (about 8 minutes)
God Calls Abram
Genesis 12:1–9 · story film
The LORD told Abram to leave his country, his kindred and his father’s house and go to a land He would show him. God promised to make him a great nation and to bless all the families of the earth through him, a promise that came true in Jesus (Galatians 3:8, 16). Abram obeyed, travelled with Sarai and Lot into the land of Canaan, and built altars to the LORD along the way.
Big idea: When God calls, we can trust Him and go.
Memory verse:
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Hebrews 11:8 (KJV)Ask: What did God tell Abram to do? Get out of his country, from his kindred and from his father’s house, unto a land God would shew him (Genesis 12:1).
Game: Pack Up and Go (about 10 minutes)
Crossing the Jordan
Joshua 3:1–4:24 · story film
Joshua told the people, “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you,” and the priests went first, carrying the ark of the covenant. The Jordan was overflowing all its banks at harvest time, but as soon as the priests’ feet were dipped in the water, the waters stood up in a heap far away, and all Israel passed over on dry ground. They set up twelve stones at Gilgal, so that when children asked, “What mean these stones?” their fathers could tell them how God had made a way.
Big idea: God makes a way for His people, and we remember and tell what He has done.
Memory verse:
The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.
Psalm 114:3 (KJV)Ask: Who went first into the river Jordan? The priests bearing the ark of the covenant (Joshua 3:6, 15).
Game: Twelve Stones (about 10 minutes)
Saul Meets Jesus
Acts 9:1–19 · Acts 22:6–16 · story film
Saul was on his way to Damascus to arrest Christians when a light from heaven shone around him and Jesus spoke to him. Saul was blind for three days until Ananias came, and then he was baptized.
Big idea: Jesus can change anyone’s heart.
Memory verse:
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)Ask: Where was Saul going? To Damascus, to bind any Christians he found.
Game: Opposite Day (about 8 minutes)
A New Heaven and a New Earth
Revelation 21:1–7 · story film
John saw a new heaven and a new earth and the holy city coming down from God. God will live with His people and wipe away all tears.
Big idea: God is making all things new.
Memory verse:
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
Revelation 21:4 (KJV)Ask: What did John see coming down from God? The holy city, new Jerusalem.
Game: Build the Holy City (about 15 minutes)
Behold, I Come Quickly
Revelation 22:1–21 · story film
John saw the river of the water of life and the tree of life. The Bible ends with Jesus’ promise that He is coming quickly, and John’s answer: “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Big idea: Jesus is coming again, and we can be ready.
Memory verse:
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Revelation 22:20 (KJV)Ask: What river did John see? A pure river of water of life.
Game: Ready When He Comes (about 8 minutes)
A 7-week series on New Year
| Week 1 | Be Strong and of a Good Courage (Joshua 1:1–9). We can be brave, because the LORD our God is with us wherever we go. |
|---|---|
| Week 2 | Choose You This Day (Joshua 24:1–31). Every day we can choose to serve the LORD. |
| Week 3 | God Calls Abram (Genesis 12:1–9). When God calls, we can trust Him and go. |
| Week 4 | Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1–4:24). God makes a way for His people, and we remember and tell what He has done. |
| Week 5 | Saul Meets Jesus (Acts 9:1–19). Jesus can change anyone’s heart. |
| Week 6 | A New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21:1–7). God is making all things new. |
| Week 7 | Behold, I Come Quickly (Revelation 22:1–21). Jesus is coming again, and we can be ready. |
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.
Memory verses about New Year (KJV)
“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
Joshua 1:9 · Be Strong and of a Good Courage
“And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:15 · Choose You This Day
“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.”
Hebrews 11:8 · God Calls Abram
“The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back.”
Psalm 114:3 · Crossing the Jordan
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 · Saul Meets Jesus
“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 · A New Heaven and a New Earth
“He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Revelation 22:20 · Behold, I Come Quickly
Questions people ask
What Bible lessons fit New Year?
The new year is a time to look back at God’s faithfulness and look ahead with courage, choosing again to serve the LORD.
Which Bible stories teach New Year?
Be Strong and of a Good Courage (Joshua 1:1–9), Choose You This Day (Joshua 24:1–31), God Calls Abram (Genesis 12:1–9), Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:1–4:24), Saul Meets Jesus (Acts 9:1–19), and 2 more on this page.
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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