Father’s Day Bible Lesson for Sunday School Kids

This free Father’s Day Sunday School Lesson is packed with a joyful activity, a fun story, a Bible memory verse, a creative response, and a worship song. The focus is on teaching kids the value and identity that they have in their Heavenly Father while also nurturing appreciation for earthly fathers. You can print this article and use it as a lesson plan or curriculum for your Sunday School this Father’s Day.

Icebreaker for Father’s Day Lesson

Energy level: Medium 

Teacher: Welcoming

Kids: Stand in a circle

Supplies: Name tags, A ball or soft toy (object to throw)

Instructions:

Have each kid introduce themselves to the group. This might take up time, but it tells them: You are valued. You are welcome. We want you here.

Lesson Focus:

We are family!

Sunday School teachers, try saying:

Welcome to kids’ church! I see you’ve all got name tags. Do you know the most important name tag of all? It is one that was placed on you even before you were born, and nobody can take it off. It says: You are a child of God. Let’s go around and each one of us will say our name.

Storytime in Sunday School

Energy level: Low

Teacher: Inspiring

Kids: Sit down and listen, facing teacher

Supplies: Nothing

Instructions:

For this Father’s Day Sunday School Lesson, we will use storytelling as a teaching tool. Stories are often associated with earthly fathers who read to their kids or tell jokes around the campfire. Use the story below to teach kids in your Sunday School class about the greatest dad ever (God). 

Father’s Day Lesson Focus:

What is a good father? (Luke 15: The Prodigal Son)

Try saying:

Once upon a time there was a big bear. His name was Jolly because, well, he was always jolly. The bear loved his life. He spent his days sleeping on big rocks in the sun, fishing for dinner, and gazing at the stars at night. Jolly had a deep-seated joy in his heart that never went away. (touch heart)

One morning when Jolly the bear woke up (yawn), this joy was gone! (gasp) In its place was another feeling: Jolly the bear felt lonely for the first time ever. He went about his day and did all the things that usually made him happy, but none of it was working…

So, the bear knew he needed to find a family. He went on a long journey over high mountaintops (point up) and into deep valleys (point down) to find his one true love. When he found Holly, he was really happy. They had a son together and called him Wolly. 

One day, Wolly the young boy bear came to his dad and said: (hands on hips) “I want to go on an adventure. I’m leaving! The mountains call my name. I want to see what other kids of fish there are. I am bored and I want to leave.” Jolly the bear could not believe his ears. His shoulders drooped low. But he let his son go, because he loved him. 

It did not take long for Wolly the young bear to realize life alone is not easy. He felt lonely for the first time ever. Wolly tried to eat LOTS of fish to make the feeling to away, but it was not working… (rub tummy)

The Prodigal Son returns to his Father

As he gazed up at the twinkling stars above the wilderness (look up), he thought about his mom and dad and how much they loved him. So, he knew he needed to find a way back to his family.

Wolly the young bear was crushed. His dream failed. He felt ashamed and like he would get in trouble… (sad face) But when he came close to his home, his dad saw him from a distance. “Uh-oh,” Wolly said as he saw his dad running toward him. 

But Jolly the dad bear wrapped his son in a big hug and said: “Welcome home, my child. You are my joy! Nothing that you do can ever change that. You are always welcome back here with me.”

​Questions for Sunday School Kids:

• If you and I are like Wolly the young bear, who do you think is like Jolly the dad bear?

• What does God do when we walk away from Him?

• Do we need to be afraid to come back to God?

• Is God a good father?

Bible memory verse for Father’s Day

Energy level: Medium – High

Teacher: Fun

Kids: Stand up, facing teacher

Supplies: A Bible (yes, the book!)

Instructions:

Isaiah                                       

(Show a letter ‘I’ with your hands)

64                                            

(Show a 6 and then a 4 with your fingers)

verse 8                                    

(Show an 8 with your fingers)

Lord, you are our Father;        

(Point arms up and look up to God)

we are the clay,                       

(Cup your hands as if you are holding clay)

and you are our potter;                  

(Move your hands as if you are shaping the clay)

we are all the work of your hand.  

(Clap your hands on every word!)

Lesson Focus:

Teaching kids about the Bible at church helps them grow in their confidence to read it when they’re older.

Try saying:

Now that we understand the story about Fathers, let’s memorize a Bible verse. We’re going to do this a few times until we get it just right! Do you know how much God loves you? The love of God is so great that He calls you His children. This is good news! 

Art and Crafts for Father’s Day Sunday School Lesson

Energy level: Medium – Low

Teacher: Encouraging

Kids: Sit at tables or on the floor

Supplies: Construction paper + drawing supplies

Instructions:

Kids are going to make a simple letter for their fathers. Encourage the children that there is no “specific way” or “right thing” here. They can make something that is true to themselves. Older kids can be encouraged to make something with its future use in mind… This will go on:

• ​Dad’s desk

• The fridge

• Dad’s bedside table

Challenge the older kids to design a card that can stand by itself, or that has a hidden message. 

Lesson Focus:

We can bless our dads with words of love.

Try saying:

Now that we understand God as the perfect Father, we can appreciate our earthly dads so much more. Let’s make a card where we tell them how much we love them this Father’s Day.

Worship song for Father’s Day

Energy level: Low – Medium

Teacher: Loving

Kids: Lay down on the floor

Supplies: A speaker or phone & access to the internet

Instructions:

Play the following song as soaking worship music over the kids. 

Lesson Focus:

We can dwell on the idea that our identity is found in who God is. 

Try saying:

You guys have listened so well, now, let’s listen to what this song says about God. Stand up and stretch a bit. Then, find a spot to lay down on the floor. Listen to this song and talk to God about what you hear. When we’re done, we’re going to dance until it’s time for you to go home – Are you ready?

Reflecting on the Father’s Day Sunday School Lesson

“The most fundamental flaw in society is fatherlessness.”― Cassie Carstens

This Father’s Day Lesson was written with a broad audience in mind – as much as possible – but there is an elephant in the room. Every child will not experience the ‘Happy Father’s Day’ we have in mind. Think of single moms or kids who do not have loving father figures…

I don’t know the kids in your children’s ministry, but as a Sunday school teacher, you get to know them. A good example is to do an information form a few weeks before something like Father’s Day comes up where you ask about family dynamics. 

Even children who know their human fathers might carry wounds because of them. Father’s Day might be an excellent time for you to teach kids the important lesson about forgiveness. Or, equip them to pray for change in their own families. 

If you are still unsure of how to go about it all, shift the focus to God being their Heavenly Father. There are lots of curriculum materials out there about the great love that God has for his children. 

If you’ve come to the end of this post, your Sunday school class is in good hands. May God’s Holy Spirit inspire you to teach with love, grace, and peace!

This post was originally written for GodsVerse.org https://godsverse.org/a-fathers-day-sunday-school-lesson-celebrating-fathers-and-fathers-to-be/