The Mother Who Wouldn’t Give Up 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: “She would not give up.”
Jesus went to a place far from home. It was near the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Those cities were by the sea, in another land. He went into a house. He did not want anyone to know he was there. But people found out.
A mother heard about Jesus. Her little girl was very sick. A bad spirit was troubling her. Maybe the mother was very worried. The mother was not from Israel. She was from that land – a Canaanite woman.
She came to Jesus. She cried out loudly, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David!” Mercy means kindness and help. Son of David was a name for the King God had promised. She said, “My daughter is very sick with a bad spirit!”
At first, Jesus did not answer her a word. The mother waited. Would Jesus help her?
His disciples came to Jesus. “Send her away,” they said, “for she cries after us.” But the mother kept on calling. She would not give up.
Jesus said, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Lost sheep are sheep that wandered away from their shepherd. God’s people Israel were like that. God sent Jesus to them first.
But the mother came and fell down at Jesus’ feet. She worshiped him and said, “Lord, help me.” It was a very short prayer – just three words. Can you fold your hands and count them with me? Lord – help – me! She would not give up.
Jesus said to her, “Let the children be filled first. It is not appropriate to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” Appropriate means right.
Jesus’ words were like a picture. In a house, the children eat first at the table. The pet dogs wait under the table. Jesus had come first for the people of Israel. They were like the children at the table.
But the mother did not go away. She answered, “Yes, Lord. Yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.” She would not give up.
Crumbs are tiny bits of bread that fall on the floor. Can you pick up tiny crumbs with your fingers? The mother meant: Even a tiny bit of your help is enough!
Jesus said, “Woman, great is your faith!” Faith means trusting Jesus. And he said, “Go your way. The demon has gone out of your daughter.” A demon is a bad spirit.
What do you think the mother found at home?
The mother went home. Her little girl was lying on the bed. The bad spirit was gone! Her daughter was well, from that very hour.
Jesus had mercy on the mother and her little girl. His help was for her too, even though she came from another land. He heard her when she asked. She would not give up.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the mother felt on her way home?
- Why do you think the mother kept on asking Jesus?
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 a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Lord, help me” — Matthew 15:25 (Lord → point up high; help me → fold your hands)
Dear Jesus, thank you that I can always come to you. Thank you that you hear me when I ask. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Never Stop Trusting God
Memory verse: “You shall seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13 · WEB
The Bible story
A brave mother travels far to find Jesus, and when her little girl is sick, she will not stop asking, hoping, or believing in His kindness.
Talk about it
- Where was Jesus resting at the start of the story? — In a house near Tyre
- Where did the brave mother come from? — The town of Tyre
- Why was the mother so worried? — Her girl had an evil spirit
- How had the mother heard about Jesus? — People told her about Him
- What did the mother do when she found Jesus? — She fell at His feet and begged
- What did the mother say about the little dogs? — Dogs eat the crumbs that fall
Where is Jesus in this story?
Long before, God promised Abraham, “All the families on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:3). This mother was not from Israel, yet Jesus, Abraham's great descendant, healed her daughter and said, “Woman, you have great faith!” (Matthew 15:28). It was a small sign of a very big promise: Jesus came to bless people from every nation, including you.
What God wants to tell us
This brave mother teaches us something wonderful. Even when things felt hard and hopeless, she kept coming to Jesus, kept asking, and kept believing He was kind. God loves it when we bring Him our worries and do not give up. He cares about every single one of us, no matter where we come from or how small we feel. His love is big enough for everyone, and He always hears us when we call.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that You always hear me when I call. Help me to be brave and to keep trusting You, even when things feel hard. Thank You that Your love is big enough for everyone, everywhere. Please help me never to give up on You. Amen.
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