Do Not Worry — The Birds and Lilies 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 cares for the birds, and for you.”
Jesus sat on a mountain and taught the people. Many people listened. Long ago, many people had just enough food for one day. Maybe some of them worried a lot. What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?
Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious for your life.” Anxious means worried. Worried is when your tummy feels tight, and you keep thinking: What if? What if?
Jesus said, “Isn’t life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”
Then Jesus said, “See the birds of the sky.” Look up! Can you see them flying? Tweet, tweet!
Jesus said the birds “don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns.” Birds don’t plant seeds. They don’t pick crops. They have no barns full of food. But Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father feeds them.”
Then Jesus asked, “Aren’t you of much more value than they?” Yes! You are worth much more to God. God cares for the birds, and for you.
Can you flap your arms like a little bird? Flap, flap, flap!
Jesus asked another question. “Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?” That means: Worrying does not give you one more minute. Worry can’t make you taller or stronger.
Then Jesus said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow.” Lilies are beautiful flowers. Jesus said, “They don’t toil, neither do they spin.” They don’t work hard. They don’t spin thread to make cloth for clothes.
King Solomon was a very rich king. He had the most beautiful clothes. But Jesus said this. “Even Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of these.” God makes the flowers more beautiful than a king!
Jesus said God even dresses the grass of the field. Grass is here today. Tomorrow it is dry, and people burn it in the oven. Jesus said, “Won’t he much more clothe you?”
Can you be a flower? Hold your hands closed, like a bud. Now open them slowly. God cares for the birds, and for you.
Jesus said, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” He knows about your food. He knows about your clothes. He knows all about you! God cares for the birds, and for you.
Jesus said, “Seek first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness.” Seek means look for. Look for God first! His righteousness means what is right and good. And Jesus said, “All these things will be given to you as well.”
Jesus said, “Don’t be anxious for tomorrow.” Tomorrow will come, and God will be there too. Tomorrow can take care of itself.
God is our Father in heaven, and he knows what we need. Now the birds rest in their nests. You can rest too. God cares for the birds, and for you.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you see the birds doing outside?
- What do you sometimes worry about?
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 birds flying in the sky and lilies growing in the field.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” — Matthew 6:32 (your heavenly Father → point up; knows → tap your head; all these things → spread your arms wide)
Dear God, thank you that you feed the birds and dress the flowers. Thank you that you take care of me. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God takes care of you
Memory verse: “Your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” — Matthew 6:32 · WEB
The Bible story
On a sunny hillside Jesus points to little birds and bright wildflowers to show worried hearts that God, our loving Father, always takes care of us.
Talk about it
- What did Jesus say life is more important than? — Food and clothes
- What did Jesus say the birds do NOT do? — Plant or store up food
- What did Jesus tell the people to look at first? — The birds of the air
- Who feeds the little birds every day? — God
- How much are you worth to God, compared to the birds? — Much more than the birds
- What did Jesus point to next, after the birds? — The lilies of the field
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus said that if God feeds the birds and dresses the wildflowers, He will surely take care of you (Matthew 6:30). The Bible later uses the same kind of reasoning about Jesus: God “did not spare his own Son” but gave Him for us all, so He will also give us everything we truly need (Romans 8:32). The cross is our proof that God cares.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus used tiny birds and bright flowers to teach us a big, gentle truth: God is a loving Father who takes care of everything He has made. If He remembers to feed each little sparrow and dress each wildflower in beauty, then you can be sure He is caring for you too. When worries feel big, you can hand them to God and trust Him. You are precious to Him, and He will always give you what you truly need, one day at a time.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for caring for the little birds and the bright flowers, and for caring for me even more. When I feel worried, help me to remember that You are close and You love me. Please help me to trust You each day. I put my hand in Yours. Amen.
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