Jesus Is Tempted in the Wilderness 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: “Jesus said no to the devil.”
Jesus had just been baptized in the Jordan River. A voice from heaven had said, “This is my beloved Son.” Beloved means very, very loved. And the Spirit of God had come down on Jesus like a dove.
Then the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness. The wilderness is a wild, empty land of rocks and sand. Wild animals lived there too.
Jesus ate nothing there for forty days and forty nights. That is a long, long time! Then he was very hungry. Can you rub your tummy, like someone who is hungry?
The devil came to Jesus. The devil is God’s enemy. He wanted to trick Jesus into doing wrong. That is called tempting.
The devil said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But Jesus answered, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone. But by every word that proceeds out of God’s mouth.” That means: we need God’s words even more than we need bread.
“It is written” means: God’s book says so. Moses had written these words long before. He wrote them for God’s people in the desert. There God had fed them with manna, bread from heaven. Jesus said no to the devil. That was one trick. Hold up one finger!
Then the devil took Jesus to the holy city, Jerusalem. He set him up high, on the very top of the temple. So high! “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down,” he said. The devil even used words from God’s book. He said the angels would catch him.
But the devil used God’s words the wrong way. Jesus said, “Again, it is written: You shall not test the Lord, your God.” To test God means to do something dangerous. You do it just to see if God will help. Jesus said no to the devil. That was two tricks. Hold up two fingers!
Then the devil took Jesus up a very, very high mountain. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world. He showed him their gold and their beautiful things.
The devil said, “I will give you all of these things, if you will fall down and worship me.” To worship means to bow down and say, “You are the greatest.”
What do you think Jesus said?
Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written: You shall worship the Lord your God. You shall serve him only.” Only God is the greatest. Only God should be worshiped. Jesus said no to the devil. That was three tricks. Hold up three fingers!
Then the devil left him. And look! Angels came and took care of Jesus.
Each time, Jesus said, “It is written.” He used the words God had given. Can you say it with Jesus? “It is written!”
Jesus is the Son of God. He held on to God’s word, every single time. And because Jesus was tempted too, he can help us when we are tempted. Jesus said no to the devil.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Jesus felt after forty days without food?
- Why do you think Jesus answered with God’s words each time?
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)
“Man shall not live by bread alone” — Matthew 4:4 (Man shall not live → shake your head; by bread alone → hold up a pretend loaf of bread)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you always said no to wrong things. Thank you for God’s good words. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God's words make us strong
Memory verse: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God's mouth.” — Matthew 4:4 · WEB
The Bible story
After His baptism, Jesus goes into a lonely desert where a sneaky voice tries three clever tricks, but Jesus stays strong and true to God.
Talk about it
- Where did God's Spirit lead Jesus after He was baptized? — Into the wilderness
- How many days and nights did Jesus go without eating? — Forty days and nights
- What did the tempter want Jesus to turn into bread? — Stones
- What did Jesus say people truly live by? — Every word from God
- Where did the tempter take Jesus to say 'jump down'? — The top of the temple
- What did Jesus say about testing God? — You must not test God
Where is Jesus in this story?
Long ago, the very first people gave in when a sneaky voice tricked them in a garden. But Jesus, God's own Son, did not give in — He stayed perfectly faithful in the desert. Jesus came to do everything right for us and to rescue us with His love. Because Jesus was strong when we are weak, He can help us say no to wrong and yes to God every single day.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus was tired and hungry, yet He did not give in to the sneaky tricks. Every time, He remembered God's true words and held on to them. God shows us that we do not have to be big or strong to say no to wrong things. When something tries to pull us the wrong way, we can remember what God says, ask Him for help, and He will make our hearts brave and strong, just like Jesus.
Prayer
Thank You, God, that Jesus was brave and true in the desert. When tricky voices try to pull me the wrong way, please help me remember Your words and stay close to You. Make my heart strong and full of Your love. Amen.
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