A Second Chance for Mark 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: “Mark got a second chance.”
Mark’s mother, Mary, had a house in Jerusalem. Many friends of Jesus came there to pray together. Mark had two names. He was called John, and he was also called Mark. Barnabas was his cousin.
One day Paul and Barnabas set off on a big trip. They wanted to tell people far away about Jesus. And Mark went with them! The Bible calls him their attendant. That is a helper who serves.
They sailed across the sea to the island of Cyprus. Can you rock from side to side, like a boat on the waves? Mark helped Paul and Barnabas there. They told people God’s word.
Then they sailed on to a new land. But there, in the middle of the trip, Mark left them. He went back home to Jerusalem. The Bible does not tell us why. Paul and Barnabas went on without him.
Some time later, Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s return now and visit our brothers, to see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them again.
But Paul did not think that was a good idea. Mark had left them before. He had not stayed with them to do the work.
Paul and Barnabas could not agree. Paul said no. Barnabas said yes. They argued so much that they went different ways. Barnabas took Mark with him. They sailed away to Cyprus. Barnabas did not give up on his cousin. Mark got a second chance.
And Paul chose a new helper named Silas. Paul and Silas went to other towns. They helped the friends of Jesus grow strong. Now there were two teams telling the good news! Can you count the teams on your fingers? One, two!
Many years went by. Paul was in prison because he told people about Jesus. From there he wrote letters to his friends. And who was with him? What do you think? Mark!
In one letter, Paul told a church about Mark. He reminded them, “if he comes to you, receive him.” That means: if Mark comes to you, welcome him! Mark got a second chance.
Paul called Mark one of his fellow workers. A fellow worker is someone who works side by side with you. Paul said these helpers had been a comfort to him. A comfort is someone who helps you feel better when you are sad.
Later Paul wrote a letter to his young friend Timothy. Paul was in prison again. Only Luke was with him. Paul wrote, “Take Mark and bring him with you. For he is useful to me for service.” Useful means a big help. Mark got a second chance.
Paul wanted Mark by his side again. Can you give yourself a big hug, like good friends?
Many Bible teachers think this Mark later wrote down the Gospel of Mark. That is a book in the Bible all about Jesus.
God was not finished with Mark. God still had good work for him to do. Mark got a second chance.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Mark felt when Barnabas took him along again?
- What could you say to a friend who wants to try again?
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 did it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Take Mark and bring him with you” — 2 Timothy 4:11 (Take Mark → reach out your hand; bring him → wave someone toward you; with you → hug yourself)
Dear God, thank you that you give second chances. Thank you that you still have good work for us to do. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God gives second chances
Memory verse: “Take Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.” — 2 Timothy 4:11 · WEB
The Bible story
When two best friends had a big argument about giving young Mark a second chance, God turned their disagreement into something surprisingly good.
Talk about it
- What did Paul and Barnabas love to do together? — Tell people about God's love
- Who did Barnabas want to bring on the new journey? — Mark
- How was Mark related to Barnabas? — His cousin
- Why was Paul unsure about bringing Mark? — Mark had left them last time
- What did Barnabas want to give Mark? — Another chance
- What happened because the friends could not agree? — They split into two teams
Where is Jesus in this story?
Mark once left Paul's team, yet he got another chance. Peter knew that kind of grace well. After Peter said three times that he didn't know Jesus, the risen Jesus met him by the lake, asked three times, “Do you love me?” and gave him work to do again (John 21:15–17). Jesus doesn't give up on people who stumble, and He won't give up on you.
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes we make mistakes, and sometimes our friends do too. But God is a God of second chances! Just like Barnabas believed in Mark, God believes in you and never gives up on you. When someone lets us down, we can choose to be kind and give them a fresh start. And even when things go wrong, God is clever enough to turn our sad moments into something good.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for always giving me a second chance when I get things wrong. Help me to be kind and to forgive my friends, just like Barnabas forgave Mark. Thank You that You never give up on me. Amen.
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