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New Year Bible Lessons for Kids

Five Bible stories about fresh starts with God, for the first Sundays of the year.

A new year feels like a fresh start, but the Bible's fresh starts always come from God. These five lessons show God leading His people into a new land, a young king and a whole city turning back to God's Word, an enemy of the church given a brand-new life, and the promise that one day Jesus will make everything new.

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The lessons, in teaching order 5 lessons

Teach one lesson a week through January, starting the first Sunday of the year. Jesus Makes All Things New is a good place to finish.

A new land
Crossing the JordanJoshua 3:1–4:24After forty years in the wilderness, God's people came to the Jordan River. It was flooding! When the priests carrying the ark stepped into the water, God stopped the river, and everyone crossed on dry ground. They stacked twelve stones so their children would ask about it. God is faithful, so we remember what He has done.Old TestamentFaithfulness
Back to God's Word
Josiah Finds God’s Word2 Kings 22:1–23:25; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33Josiah became king when he was only eight. Years later, workers fixing the temple found God's Word, which had been lost. When Josiah heard it, he was sorry for how his people had disobeyed. He read it to everyone, promised to obey it with all his heart and led the people back to God.Old TestamentObedience
A city hears God's Word
The Joy of the LORD: Ezra Reads God’s WordNehemiah 8:1-18After God's people came home from exile and rebuilt Jerusalem's wall, they all gathered in the square by the Water Gate. They asked Ezra to bring the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra read God's Word aloud from early morning until noon, and the Levites helped everyone understand it. When the people heard it, they wept. But the leaders said, "Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." The people went home to eat, drink and share food with those who had nothing, and they celebrated with great joy because they understood God's Word.Old TestamentJoy
A brand-new life
The Church BeginsSaul Meets JesusActs 9:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:17Saul was trying to hurt Jesus' followers. But on the road to Damascus, the risen Jesus stopped him with a bright light and spoke to him. Saul turned around, followed Jesus, and became one of His greatest messengers.New TestamentRepentance
Everything made new
The Church BeginsJesus Makes All Things NewRevelation 21:1-7; Revelation 22:1-5, 20; Genesis 2:8-10God showed John a vision of the future. Jesus will make a new heaven and a new earth, with no more tears, sickness or death. God will live with His people forever, and they will see His face.New TestamentHope

Every lesson includes

A Teacher Guide with a 45-minute class plan
Preschool, K–2nd, 3rd–4th and 5th–6th grade versions
Printable activity sheets and a take-home page
A Christ Connection: how the story points to Jesus

Included in every membership

Every seasonal lesson comes with your membership, along with the full library of Bible lessons for the rest of the year.

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Free printables

Questions

What Bible stories are good for New Year's?

Stories of fresh starts that God gives: Israel crossing the Jordan into the promised land (Joshua 3–4), King Josiah finding God's Word (2 Kings 22–23), Ezra reading God's Word to the people (Nehemiah 8), Saul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9) and the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21). Each one is a full lesson here.

Do these lessons talk about New Year's resolutions?

They point kids to something better: the real new start comes from God, not from trying harder. Three of the lessons are about God's Word, which makes them a natural fit for a family or class Bible-reading plan for the year.

What ages are these lessons for?

Preschool through 6th grade. Every lesson comes in four versions (Preschool, K–2nd, 3rd–4th and 5th–6th grade) with one Teacher Guide.

Are the lessons free?

The lessons are included in a Teach Them Jesus membership. You can try a full lesson for free, and our coloring pages and other printables are free for everyone.