Jesus Sends Out the Seventy-Two 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: “Two by two, they told the good news.”
Jesus had many followers. One day he chose seventy of them. He had a big job for them. He would send them ahead of him. They would go to all the towns where he was going to come next.
Jesus sent them out two by two. Nobody had to go alone! Find a partner and march together! Left, right, left, right. Two by two, they told the good news.
Jesus said, “The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few.” A harvest is when farmers bring in the crops. Laborers are workers. So many people needed to hear God’s good news. And there were not enough helpers!
Jesus said, “Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers.” The Lord of the harvest is God.
Jesus said, “Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves.” Lambs are small and gentle. They would need God to take care of them.
Jesus said, “Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals.” No money bag, no extra bag, no extra shoes! God would take care of them. And they should not stop to chat on the way.
Jesus said, “Into whatever house you enter, first say: Peace be to this house.” Let’s say it together: Peace be to this house!
If the people in the house loved peace, God’s peace would stay with them. Jesus told his helpers to stay in that house. They should eat and drink what the people gave them.
Jesus said, “Heal the sick who are there. Tell them: God’s Kingdom has come near to you.” God’s Kingdom is where God is King. And now it was very near! So off they went. Two by two, they told the good news.
Seventy helpers, walking two by two! Let’s count the first few pairs: two, four, six, eight, ten! And there were many, many more.
Later the seventy came back. Maybe their feet were tired from walking. But they came back full of joy! “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” they said. The bad spirits had to obey when they used Jesus’ name. Two by two, they told the good news.
Jesus said, “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.” Flash! Satan is God’s enemy. He had lost, and he fell fast, like lightning. Jesus said to his helpers, “Nothing will in any way hurt you.”
Jesus said, “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” Rejoice means to be very glad. Their names were written in heaven, with God. That was the best thing of all!
Then Jesus was full of joy in the Holy Spirit. He prayed, “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth.” He thanked God for showing these things to “little children.”
God showed his good news to simple, little people, like children. Jesus sent his helpers, and God knew each one by name. Two by two, they told the good news.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Who would you like to go with, two by two, to tell good news?
- How do you think the helpers felt when they came back to Jesus?
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)
Count the helpers two by two: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10! Color them.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” — Luke 10:20 (rejoice → clap your hands; your names are written → write in the air with your finger; in heaven → point up high)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you know my name. Thank you for the good news of God’s Kingdom. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Loves Willing Helpers
Memory verse: “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” — Luke 10:20 · WEB
The Bible story
Jesus picks seventy-two friends and sends them two by two, with no bags and no worries, to share peace and good news in every town He plans to visit.
Talk about it
- How many special helpers did Jesus choose to send out? — Seventy-two
- How did Jesus send the helpers out? — Two by two
- Jesus said the harvest was big, but there were only a few what? — Workers
- What did Jesus tell the helpers to ask the Lord of the harvest to do? — Send more helpers
- What did Jesus tell the helpers NOT to take along? — Money or extra sandals
- What kind greeting were the helpers to say when they entered a home? — Peace to this home
Where is Jesus in this story?
Jesus told his helpers that the best joy is not doing powerful things but having their “names written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Near the end of the Bible, this list is called “the Lamb's book of life” (Revelation 21:27). It belongs to Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave his life to make us his own. If you belong to Jesus, your name is safe with him.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus did not choose the strongest or the cleverest people. He chose ordinary friends who were simply willing to go. God can use you too, just as you are, to share His peace and kindness with the people around you. And best of all, God is not only glad about what we do; He is glad about who we are. Your name is precious to Him, written safely in heaven, where nothing can ever rub it out.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me and for writing my name in heaven. Help me to be a willing helper who shares Your peace and kindness with everyone I meet. Thank You that I never have to go alone, because You are always right beside me. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
