The King Burns the Scroll — Baruch Writes It Again Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God’s word stands forever.”
Jeremiah was a prophet – a man who told people God’s words. For many years, God had spoken to him. One day the LORD said to him, “Take a scroll of a book. Write in it all the words that I have spoken to you.” A scroll is a long roll of paper.
Why did God want this? God hoped his people would hear and turn back to him. God said, “That I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.” God wanted to forgive!
So Jeremiah called his helper Baruch. Baruch was a scribe – a man who could write well. Jeremiah said the words out loud. And Baruch wrote them down with ink, word by word. Scratch, scratch went his pen. Can you pretend to write with a pen? God’s word stands forever.
Jeremiah could not go into the LORD’s house. So Baruch went there. It was a special day when all the people came to pray. Baruch read the scroll in a room by the new gate. All the people could hear.
A man named Micaiah heard all the words. He went down to the king’s house. The leaders were sitting there. Micaiah told them everything.
The leaders sent for Baruch. “Sit down now, and read it to us,” they said. So Baruch read it again. When they heard it, they were afraid. They looked at each other. “We will surely tell the king of all these words,” they said.
“How did you write all these words?” they asked. Baruch said, “He said all these words to me. I wrote them with ink in the book.”
Then they told Baruch, “You and Jeremiah go hide.” God’s word stands forever.
It was winter. The king sat in his warm winter house. A fire was burning in a fire pot in front of him. Brr, it was cold outside! Can you warm your hands by a pretend fire?
A man named Jehudi read the scroll to the king. Jehudi read three or four columns. Columns are blocks of writing, side by side. Then the king cut off that piece with a little knife. And he threw it into the fire! Again and again, until the whole scroll was burned up. But God’s word stands forever.
Three men begged the king not to burn the scroll. Their names were Elnathan, Delaiah and Gemariah. But the king would not listen. The king and his helpers were not afraid of God’s words.
The king wanted to catch Jeremiah and Baruch. But the LORD hid them. Shh! Can you hide behind your hands?
Then the LORD said to Jeremiah, “Take again another scroll. Write in it all the former words that were in the first scroll.” Former means the ones from before.
So Jeremiah took another scroll. And Baruch wrote all the words again, word by word. Many more words were added too!
The fire burned the scroll, but it could not stop God’s word. God’s word stands forever.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Baruch felt when he heard the scroll was burned?
- Why do you think God told Jeremiah to write it all again?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw Baruch writing the new scroll.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“The word of our God stands forever” — Isaiah 40:8 (the word of our God → hands open like a book; stands forever → stand up tall and stay still)
Dear God, thank you for your word. Thank you that it lasts forever. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God's Word Never Burns Away
Memory verse: “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God stands forever.” — Isaiah 40:8 · WEB
The Bible story
A powerful king thought fire could destroy God's message, but one faithful helper picked up his pen to prove that God's words never burn away.
Talk about it
- Who did God give His special message to first? — Jeremiah
- Who was Jeremiah's friend that wrote the words down? — Baruch
- What did Baruch write God's words on? — A scroll
- Where did Baruch read the scroll out loud? — In the Temple
- What did the king's helpers tell Baruch and Jeremiah to do? — Go and hide
- What season was it when the king heard the scroll? — Winter
Where is Jesus in this story?
King Jehoiakim cut up God's words and burned them, but God simply had Baruch write them all again. Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matthew 24:35). People have tried to destroy the Bible many times, yet God's words, and Jesus himself, the living Word, can never be burned up or stopped.
What God wants to tell us
Even a powerful king could not destroy God's message with fire. This story shows us that God's words are stronger than anything, and His promises last forever. When someone tries to stop what is good and true, God always finds a way to keep His love shining. We can trust that whatever God says will come true, no matter what happens.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that Your words can never be burned or taken away. Help me to listen when You gently show me what is good and true. Thank You for always keeping Your promises and for loving me every day. Please help me to be faithful like Baruch. Amen.
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