Love the Lord — The Shema 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 on our hearts, all day long.”
God’s people were camping near a new land. Soon they would go in and live there. Moses, their leader, called them all together. He had something very important to tell them.
First Moses told them about the new land. It was a land flowing with milk and honey! That means a land with lots of good food. Can you rub your tummy and say, “Mmm”?
Then Moses said, “Hear, Israel: The LORD is our God. The LORD is one.” There is only one true God. Can you hold up one finger? Just one!
Then Moses said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart. With all your soul. And with all your might.” Might means strength. So we love God with everything we are. Let’s put our hands on our hearts.
“These words shall be on your heart,” Moses said. “You shall teach them diligently to your children.” Diligently means carefully, again and again. God’s words on our hearts, all day long.
When should families talk about God’s words? Moses said, “Talk of them when you sit in your house. When you walk by the way. When you lie down, and when you rise up.”
Let’s do it together! Sit down. Walk, walk, walk. Lie down. Now jump up! Morning and night, inside and outside, God’s words can be with us.
“You shall bind them for a sign on your hand,” Moses said. To bind means to tie. It was like tying a little note to your hand. God wanted his words to be close to them, all the time.
Moses said, “You shall write them on the door posts of your house.” Door posts are the sides of a door. Everyone who came in or went out would see God’s words. God’s words on our hearts, all day long.
Then Moses told them about the good things in the new land. There would be big cities they did not build. There would be houses full of good things. There would be grapevines and olive trees they did not plant. And they would eat and be full.
But Moses said, “Beware lest you forget the LORD.” Beware means be careful. When we have lots of good things, we can forget who gave them.
Someday the children would ask, “What do God’s words mean?” Then their moms and dads should tell them, “We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.” Slaves are people who are not free. Can you make a strong, mighty fist?
“He brought us out from there, that he might bring us in,” they would say. God took them out of a hard place. And God brought them into the good land he had promised.
God’s words were for his people’s good. They were like a mom’s words when she says, “Hold my hand.” She says it because she loves you. God’s words on our hearts, all day long.
The LORD had saved his people with his mighty hand. And he gave them his good words to keep.
Now it is time to lie down, just like Moses said. And as you lie down, God’s words can stay with you. God’s words on our hearts, all day long.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Where in our home could we talk about God together?
- What would you tell a friend about God?
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 your front door. Ask a grown-up to help you write “Love God” on it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart” — Deuteronomy 6:5 (love → hug yourself; the LORD your God → point up; with all your heart → both hands on your heart)
Dear God, you are the one true God. Thank you for your words. Please put them in my heart. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Love God with all you are
Memory verse: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.” — Deuteronomy 6:5 · WEB
The Bible story
Come and hear the most important words Moses ever shared with God's people — a gentle secret about loving God with all your heart, soul and strength.
Talk about it
- Who gathered God's people to share God's important words? — Moses
- Where were the people standing as Moses spoke? — Near the land God promised
- What is the name of God's most important words that Moses shared? — The Shema
- What does the word 'Shema' mean? — Listen
- How did Moses say to love God? — With all your heart, soul and strength
- Where did Moses say to keep God's loving words? — In your heart
Where is Jesus in this story?
Many years later, someone asked Jesus which command was the most important of all. Jesus answered with these very words from the Shema: to love God with all your heart, soul and strength. Jesus lived out that perfect love for us, and He showed us how to love others too. Through Jesus, God's rescuing love reaches every child, gently inviting us to love Him back.
What God wants to tell us
God doesn't want just a tiny bit of our love — He wants all of it, because He loves all of us. When we love God with our heart, our soul and our strength, that love spills out into everything we do: how we play, how we speak, and how we treat the people around us. And the very best part is that we get to love God because He loved us first, gently and forever.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for loving me first. Help me to love You with all my heart, all my soul and all my strength. Please keep Your words safe inside me, and help me share Your love wherever I go today. Amen.
Read the story · Coloring page 1 · Coloring page 2 · Quiz · All lessons
Home · All stories · Topics · Coloring pages · Quizzes · Sunday school lessons
