The River from the Temple — Deeper and Deeper 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: “Deeper and deeper went the river.”
Ezekiel was a prophet – a man who tells God’s words. He lived far away from his home land, by a river. One day God showed him a vision. A vision is a picture that God shows to someone.
In the vision, God brought Ezekiel home to the land of Israel. He set him down on a very high mountain. There stood a man who shone like bronze – like a shiny brown-gold pot. In his hand he had a long line for measuring.
The man said, “Son of man, see with your eyes, and hear with your ears.” Son of man was the name he used for Ezekiel. So Ezekiel looked and listened.
The man took Ezekiel to God’s house, the temple. Look! Water was coming out from under the door. It was just a little stream. It ran toward the east, where the sun comes up in the morning.
They went out through a gate and walked all the way around the outside. Look again! There was the water, running out on the right side. Trickle, trickle!
Now the man walked east with the line in his hand. He measured a long way. Then he led Ezekiel into the water. Splish, splash! The water came up to his ankles. Can you touch your ankles?
Again the man measured. Again they walked into the water. Now it came up to his knees. Touch your knees! Deeper and deeper went the river.
Again the man measured. Now the water came up to his waist. Touch your tummy! Deeper and deeper went the river.
One more time the man measured. Now Ezekiel could not walk through. The water was too deep. It was water to swim in! Can you swim with your arms? Deeper and deeper went the river.
How many times did the man measure? Let’s count on our fingers: one, two, three, four! Each time the little stream was bigger.
The man said, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought Ezekiel back to the bank. The bank is the side of the river, where the ground is dry.
Ezekiel looked around. On the bank there were very many trees. There were trees on this side and trees on that side. What do you think grew on those trees?
Then the man told Ezekiel where the river would go. It would run down into the sea. That sea was very salty. Fish could not live in it.
But the man said, “The waters will be healed.” Healed water is fresh and good again. He said, “Everything will live wherever the river comes.”
There would be fish – very, very many fish! Fishermen would stand by the water. They would spread out their nets to catch fish. Can you throw a big net? Whoosh!
And the trees? They would grow fruit to eat – new fruit every month! Their leaves would never dry up. Why? Because the water came out of God’s house. The fruit would be for food, and the leaves would be for healing, to help people get well.
Close your eyes and think of God’s river. Think of the green trees, the sweet fruit, and the many fish. It all came from God’s house, because God gives life. Deeper and deeper went the river.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think Ezekiel felt when the water got deeper and deeper?
- What would you like to see living by God’s river?
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 God’s river with trees on both sides and many fish.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Everything will live wherever the river comes” — Ezekiel 47:9 (everything will live → wiggle your fingers like little fish; wherever the river comes → move your arm like flowing water)
Dear God, thank you for water, trees and fish. Thank you that you give life. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God's love grows deeper
Memory verse: “Everything will live wherever the river comes.” — Ezekiel 47:9 · WEB
The Bible story
In a vision, a prophet is led to God's temple, where a tiny trickle of water grows into a deep, dancing river that brings life everywhere it flows.
Talk about it
- Who saw a special vision from God in this story? — Ezekiel
- Who led Ezekiel around and measured the water? — A man shining like bronze
- Where did the sparkling water come from? — Out from the temple
- How deep was the water the first time Ezekiel stepped in? — Up to his ankles
- How deep was the water the second time? — Up to his knees
- How deep did the water get the third time? — Up to his waist
Where is Jesus in this story?
This lovely river points us all the way to Jesus. One day Jesus said that anyone who comes to Him would have rivers of living water flowing out of them, never running dry. Just like the water that brought life everywhere it went, Jesus brings us God's love that grows deeper and deeper, making tired hearts fresh and alive again forever.
What God wants to tell us
God shows us that His love is like that river from the temple. It may start as a tiny trickle, but the more we walk with Him, the deeper and wider His love becomes in our lives. And everywhere God's love flows, it brings new life, fresh joy, and green growing things. You never have to be afraid that God's love will run out, because it keeps flowing bigger and stronger forever.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your love that flows like a beautiful river. Please help it grow deeper and deeper in my heart every day, and let me share Your life and joy with everyone around me. Thank You that Your love will never run dry. Amen.
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