PRETEEN LESSON ON SHARING YOUR FAITH

Here’s a free preteen ministry lesson on sharing your faith or sharing the good news of Jesus. It’s based on John 1:40-45.

The big ideas:

• Choosing to follow Jesus is a big moment in someone’s life.
• When you share your faith with others, you set in motion the “domino effect”.

A few months ago, I wrote this lesson for the 4th-6th graders at my church. The students were really engaged, so I decided to post it online for everyone to use.

Enjoy the lesson!

Nick Diliberto, Ministry to Preteens

Looking for preteen curriculum? Check out the…

PRETEEN BACK TO SCHOOL BUNDLE – Save 61% on $254 worth of preteen curriculum for back back to school & beyond. 

PRETEEN LESSON ON SHARING YOUR FAITH

Note: This lesson is in outline form, rather than being written out word for word.

Play this opening video about following Jesus.

Point #1: Choosing to follow Jesus is a BIG moment in someone’s life.

• People in the video all made a decision to follow Jesus, which made a huge difference in their lives. 

• Leader note: Talk about how deciding to follow Jesus was a big moment in your life.

• You probably have friends who have never made that decision.

Point #2: When you share your faith with others, you set in motion the “domino effect”.

• Setup a row of dominos on a table nearby. Ask a preteen to come up front to knock over the first domino, which will eventually knock them all down.

• I call this the “domino effect” – Every piece in a row of dominos is a link to the next one tipping over.

• Similarly, when you share Jesus with a friend, the “domino effect” is set in motion. Let’s see how this happened in the Bible.

• Have a preteen read John 1:40-42 – “Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.”

• Ask a different preteen read John 1:43-45 – The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

• Ask – How is this like the domino effect?

• When you share the good news of Jesus with others, you set in motion the domino effect. Some of those people will surrender their lives to Jesus and share the message with others. It could be now, or in the future. Throughout their lifetime, they’ll share Jesus with others. Some of those people will decide to follow Jesus as well. And the “domino effect” will go on and on.

• So, how do you share your faith with others? Through your words and actions!

• Examples: Pray for a friend. Stick up for someone that’s being picked on. Say something encouraging to a classmate. When a friend asks you why you go to church, talk about your relationship with Jesus. Etc.

• Ask – Can you think of some other examples?

• When you speak and act different than everyone else, others will notice. This opens up the door for you to share the good news of Jesus with others.

Dismiss preteens to small groups of 6-8.

Small Group Dominos Activity: 

• Supplies – A small pack of dominos for each small group.

Have preteens work together to create multiple rows of dominoes that all connect. Use all of the dominoes in the pack. The more creative, the better. The goal is to tip over one piece, and all the dominos fall over. If students fail at their first attempt, continue until they’re successful.  

Small Group Discussion Questions:

1. How is this activity LIKE sharing what it means to have a relationship with Jesus with others? 
2. How is this activity NOT LIKE it?
3. On a scale of 1-10, how difficult is it for you to share about Jesus with friends? (1 = REALLY EASY & 10 = REALLY DIFFICULT) Explain your answer. 
4. In today’s passage (John 1:40-45), how is Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip and Nathanael’s decision to follow Jesus like “the domino effect”? 

END LESSON

Looking for preteen curriculum? Check out the…

PRETEEN BACK TO SCHOOL BUNDLE – Save 61% on $254 worth of preteen curriculum for back back to school & beyond.