Ezekiel Eats the Scroll 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 words were sweet as honey.”
Ezekiel was a priest – a man who served God. His father was named Buzi. He lived far from home, in the land of Babylon. Many of God’s people had been taken there. They lived by a river called Chebar.
One day the sky opened, and Ezekiel saw God’s bright glory. It shone all around, like a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. And Ezekiel fell down on his face.
Then God said, “Son of man, stand on your feet. I will speak with you.” Son of man means a person, a human. And God’s Spirit set Ezekiel on his feet. Can you stand up tall, like Ezekiel?
God said, “I send you to the children of Israel.” God’s people had turned away from him. Ezekiel would tell them God’s words.
“Don’t be afraid of them, neither be afraid of their words,” said God. “You shall speak my words to them.” Maybe the people would listen. Maybe they would say no.
Then God said, “Open your mouth, and eat that which I give you.” Eat? What would God give him? What do you think?
Ezekiel looked. A hand was stretched out to him. In the hand was a scroll – a long roll of paper with writing. It was written on the front and on the back. Sad words were written on it.
“Son of man, eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So Ezekiel opened his mouth. And God gave him the scroll to eat. Can you open your mouth wide? Ahhh!
“Then I ate it,” said Ezekiel. “It was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” Mmm! Can you rub your tummy? God’s words were sweet as honey.
Now God’s words were inside Ezekiel. God said, “Receive in your heart and hear with your ears all my words.” God’s words were sweet as honey.
God said, “I have made your forehead as a diamond, harder than flint.” A diamond is a very, very hard stone. Can you tap your forehead? God made Ezekiel strong inside, so he would not give up.
Then God’s Spirit lifted Ezekiel up. Behind him he heard a great rushing voice. It said, “Blessed be the LORD’s glory from his place.” He heard the wings of the living creatures touching each other. Whoosh, whoosh! He heard the noise of wheels too. Rumble, rumble!
God took Ezekiel to his people by the river. Ezekiel sat there with them for seven days. Now he was ready to speak God’s words. God’s words were sweet as honey.
A song in the Bible says this. “How sweet are your promises to my taste, more than honey to my mouth!” Promises are things God says he will do.
God’s words are good for us, more than honey. God’s words were sweet as honey.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think a scroll that tastes like honey would be like?
- What is the sweetest thing you have ever tasted?
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 the hand holding out the scroll, and a jar of sweet honey.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“It was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” — Ezekiel 3:3 (sweet as honey → rub your tummy; in my mouth → point to your mouth and smile)
Dear God, thank you for your words. They are sweeter than honey. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God's Words Are Sweet
Memory verse: “Then I ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” — Ezekiel 3:3 · WEB
The Bible story
God gives young Ezekiel a shiny scroll and asks him to eat it, and something wonderful happens when it lands in his tummy!
Talk about it
- Where did Ezekiel live at the start of the story? — Beside a wide river
- Who called Ezekiel's name from the shining light? — God
- What special job did God have for Ezekiel? — To carry God's message
- What did the hand hold out to Ezekiel? — A rolled-up scroll
- Where was the writing on the scroll? — On both sides
- What did God ask Ezekiel to do with the scroll? — Eat it
Where is Jesus in this story?
Ezekiel ate God's scroll before he spoke, filling himself with God's words. When Jesus was hungry in the desert, he answered the devil with Scripture: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Jesus lived on God's words perfectly, and he invites you to take them in and let them feed your heart too.
What God wants to tell us
God shows us that his words are not scary or sour, but sweet and full of love, like honey on our tongue. When we fill our hearts with what God says, he helps us be brave and kind, even when things feel new or a little bit hard. And just like Ezekiel, we are never, ever alone, because God stays right beside us wherever we go.
Prayer
Dear God, thank you that your words are sweet like honey and full of love. Please fill my heart with your kind words, and help me be brave to share them with others. Thank you that you are always with me, wherever I go. Amen.
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