Gaius, the Man Who Opened His Home 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: “Gaius opened his door to the travelers.”
Gaius loved Jesus. In his day, some brothers in Jesus were traveling from town to town. They told people about Jesus. They took nothing from the people they taught. So they needed help on their way.
The travelers came to Gaius. Some of them he did not know. They were strangers. But Gaius welcomed them, and he helped them. Gaius opened his door to the travelers.
Knock, knock! Who is there? Can you open a pretend door and say, “Welcome!”?
Later, the travelers came to the church of an old leader. He called himself “the elder.” They told everyone in the church how loving Gaius had been to them.
The elder was very glad. He wrote Gaius a letter. It is a very short letter. It is in our Bible, and it is called 3 John.
The elder began, “The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth.” Beloved means very, very loved.
Then the elder wrote a kind prayer for Gaius. “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy.” That means: I pray that all goes well for you. And I pray that you stay strong and well.
“Beloved, you do a faithful work,” he wrote. Faithful means you keep on doing good. Gaius had helped brothers and strangers too. Gaius opened his door to the travelers.
“I have no greater joy than this,” the elder wrote. “To hear about my children walking in truth.” Walking in truth means living God’s way, every day.
The elder asked Gaius to help the travelers again. He should send them on their way with what they needed. That is “a way worthy of God.” The elder wrote, “We therefore ought to receive such.” Then we all help God’s work together!
But there was a man named Diotrephes. He loved to be first. He did not welcome the traveling brothers. He did not let others welcome them either.
So the elder wrote this. “Don’t imitate that which is evil, but that which is good.” Imitate means copy. Can you copy me? Clap, clap, clap! The elder wrote, “He who does good is of God.” Gaius opened his door to the travelers.
There was another man, named Demetrius. Everyone said good things about him. Can you count the names in this letter? Gaius, Diotrephes, Demetrius. One, two, three!
The elder had many more things to say. But he did not want to write them with ink and pen. Ink is the colored water people write with. He hoped to see Gaius soon. “Then we will speak face to face,” he wrote.
At the very end he wrote, “Peace be to you. The friends greet you. Greet the friends by name.” That means: say hello to each friend for me. Can you say good night to your friends and family? Say one name at a time.
God sees every open door and every kind welcome, and he is glad. Gaius opened his door to the travelers.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the travelers felt when Gaius welcomed them?
- How can your family welcome a guest?
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 the right name.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Beloved, you do a faithful work” — 3 John 1:5 (Beloved → hug yourself; you do → point to a friend; a faithful work → hold out your helping hands)
Dear God, thank you for people like Gaius who welcome others. Thank you that doing good comes from you. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Kindness Opens Doors
Memory verse: “Beloved, you do a faithful work in whatever you accomplish for those who are brothers and strangers.” — 3 John 1:5 · WEB
The Bible story
When travelers who served Jesus needed a place to stay, kind Gaius opened his door wide, and his warm welcome became a story God still remembers.
Talk about it
- What kind of man was Gaius? — Faithful and loving
- What did John call Gaius in his letter? — My dear friend
- What were the traveling helpers doing? — Telling people about Jesus
- Gaius helped the travelers even though they were...? — Strangers to him
- What did Gaius do when the strangers came? — Welcomed them in
- What did the travelers tell the church about Gaius? — How loving he was
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus told His disciples, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me” (Matthew 10:40). When Gaius opened his home to traveling teachers, he was really welcoming Jesus Himself. And Jesus promised that He is preparing a place for His friends in His Father's house (John 14:2). The One who will welcome you there loves it when you welcome others here.
What God wants to tell us
God shows us through Gaius that we do not need to be famous, rich, or grown up to do something wonderful. When we open our hearts and share what we have, even a cup of water or a warm welcome, we are helping God's love travel to other people. Every small kindness matters to God, and He remembers each one with joy.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for kind Gaius who opened his door. Help me to be warm and welcoming to others, to share what I have, and to remember that even my small kindnesses make You smile. Amen.
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