Bible Lesson On How Children Can Set Goals for the New Year
Children’s Bible Lesson: “Setting Goals for the New Year”
Theme: Setting Goals for the New Year with God’s Guidance
Bible Verse: Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)
“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
Objective:
- Teach children the importance of setting goals for the New Year.
- Help children understand that God wants us to set goals that align with His will.
- Encourage children to work hard, trust God, and press on toward their goals with faith.
1. Opening Activity (10 minutes)
Goal Setting with a Fun Twist!
Start by asking the children:
- “What is a goal? Can you think of something you want to accomplish this year?”
Write some of their answers on a whiteboard (e.g., learning to read, being kind to others, helping at home).
Discussing the Goal:
Explain to the children that a goal is something we want to achieve in the future. You can set goals for school, friendships, or even how to be more like Jesus.
2. Bible Story: Pressing Toward the Goal (10 minutes)
Story Overview: Read Philippians 3:13-14. Share the story of how the apostle Paul teaches us to “press on toward the goal.” Paul knew that following Jesus was the most important goal of all. He kept his eyes on the prize of eternal life with God and kept working hard for God’s Kingdom, no matter what obstacles came his way.
Activity to Reinforce the Lesson: Give each child a small “goal” to accomplish during the lesson. For example:
- “Jump 5 times”
- “Say something kind to someone”
- “Find a Bible verse”
Once they complete the task, they can share how it felt to “achieve their goal.”
3. Discussion (10 minutes)
Ask the children:
- “What do you think is the most important goal in life?”
- “How can we make sure that our goals please God?”
Encourage them to think about goals that help them grow in their faith and become more like Jesus.
Key Points to Discuss:
- God wants us to set goals that are kind, loving, and good.
- It’s important to pray and ask God for help in reaching our goals.
- When we set goals, we should keep Jesus as our example.
Big Book of Bible Games for Elementary Kids4. Craft: Goal-Setting with Jesus (15 minutes)
Materials:
- Paper, markers, stickers, crayons
- Scissors
- String (optional)
- Glue or tape
Activity: Help each child create a “Goal Tree.”
- Draw or print out a simple tree shape on a piece of paper.
- Write the Bible verse “Press on toward the goal” at the top (Philippians 3:14).
- Ask the children to think of one goal they want to achieve this year and write it on a leaf or paper shape.
- Decorate the leaves with colors, stickers, and drawings.
- Attach the leaves to the tree.
For younger children, you can pre-cut the tree and have them focus on coloring and adding their goals.
5. Prayer (5 minutes)
End with a prayer, asking God to help everyone set good goals for the New Year and to give them the strength and wisdom to achieve them.
Example Prayer: “Dear God, thank You for this new year and the chance to set new goals. Help us to make goals that please You, like being kind, loving others, and following Jesus. Give us the strength and wisdom to work hard and trust You as we press on toward our goals. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
6. Closing Activity: “Goal Race” (Optional, 10 minutes)
If you have space, do a fun “Goal Race.” Line up the children and have them race to a designated finish line. Along the way, they must complete a small challenge (e.g., jump 3 times, say a Bible verse). This will remind them that achieving goals takes effort, but they can do it with God’s help.
Takeaway:
Remind the children that setting goals is important, and God is with them every step of the way. Help them reflect on how they can grow closer to God this year by setting spiritual goals, like praying daily or helping others.