The Vine and the Branches 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: “The branches stay on the vine.”
One evening, Jesus was with his friends. They had eaten supper together. Soon Jesus would go back to his Father in heaven. He wanted to tell them something important.
Jesus said, “Arise, let’s go from here.” Then Jesus talked to them about a vine.
A vine is a plant where grapes grow. It has a strong middle part, like a little trunk. Long branches grow out from it. And on the branches, the grapes grow. When they are ripe, they are sweet and juicy. Big bunches of grapes! Yum!
In the land where Jesus lived, there were many vineyards – gardens full of vines. Everyone knew what a vine looked like.
Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.” The farmer takes care of the vine. He wants lots of grapes. The branches stay on the vine.
Jesus told them about the farmer. “Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” To prune means to trim. The farmer cuts off little extra bits. Then the branch can grow more grapes. Snip, snip! Can you snip with your fingers like scissors?
Let’s be a vine! Stand up tall and strong. Now stretch your arms out wide – those are the branches. Wiggle your fingers – those are the grapes!
Jesus said, “Remain in me, and I in you.” That means: Stay close to me, and I will stay close to you. Then Jesus said, “I am the vine. You are the branches.” He meant his friends. They were like the branches.
Can a branch grow grapes all by itself, lying on the ground? No! Jesus said it like this. “The branch can’t bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine.” Remains means stays. The branches stay on the vine.
Jesus said, “He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit.” Fruit means good things growing in our lives, like love and joy.
A branch stays on the vine all day and all night. It never lets go. Can you hug yourself tight, like a branch on the vine?
Then Jesus said something beautiful. “Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.” The branches stay on the vine.
Jesus told them all this for a reason. “That my joy may remain in you,” he said, “and that your joy may be made full.” Full of joy – like a cup filled up to the top!
And Jesus said, “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” A commandment is something God tells us to do.
Jesus loves his friends, and he stays close to them. The branches stay on the vine.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- Why do you think the grapes need the vine?
- What makes you full of joy?
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 vine with long branches full of grapes.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“I am the vine. You are the branches.” — John 15:5 (I am the vine → stand tall and strong; You are the branches → stretch your arms out wide)
Dear Jesus, thank you that you love me. Thank you that I can stay close to you. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Stay Close and Grow
Memory verse: “I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 · WEB
The Bible story
On His last evening with His friends, Jesus points to a leafy vine and shares a gentle secret about staying close to Him and growing sweet, happy fruit.
Talk about it
- When did Jesus tell His friends about the vine? — After supper with His friends
- Jesus said, "I am the true..." what? — Vine
- Who did Jesus say the gardener is? — His Father, God
- In the story, who are the branches? — Jesus' friends
- What did Jesus ask the branches to do? — Stay close to Him
- What did Jesus say we can do apart from Him? — Nothing
Where is Jesus in this story?
When Jesus said "I am the true vine," He was telling us something amazing about Himself. He is the source of real life and love, and He wants to share it with us. Soon after this supper, Jesus would give His whole life on the cross so that nothing could ever separate us from God's love. He is the vine who holds us, feeds us, and never lets us go, so that we can always be joined to Him and grow.
What God wants to tell us
Jesus shows us that we are never meant to grow all on our own. Just like a little branch needs the vine, we need Jesus. When we stay close to Him, talking to Him, listening to Him, and trusting His love, His goodness flows right into us and beautiful things begin to grow: kindness, patience, and joy. You do not have to try hard to make fruit all by yourself. You simply stay close to Jesus, and He does the growing in you.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for being like a loving gardener who cares for me. Help me stay close to Jesus, the true vine, every single day. Let Your love flow into me so that kindness and joy can grow in my heart. Thank You that You will never let me go. Amen.
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