Jesus Gives Us His Goodness

Story Time

'Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?' And he said to him, 'Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good.' Jesus said to him, 'If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.'

— Matthew 19:16-17, 21

A man ran up to Jesus and asked, 'What good thing must I do to live with God forever?' Jesus told him that no one is good enough on their own, because only God is perfect. The man felt sad because he had tried very hard to be good. Jesus wanted the man to know that being right with God is a gift, not a prize we earn. When we trust Jesus, He gives us His perfect goodness, and that is enough.

Motion

Stand up and pretend to carry a very heavy backpack on your back. Now drop it and open your hands wide like you are receiving a big present. Say, 'Thank You, Jesus, for giving me Your goodness!' We cannot carry heavy goodness by ourselves—Jesus gives us His light and perfect gift.

Question

Is Jesus the only one who is perfectly good?

Coloring Page

Draw a picture of Jesus giving you a happy gift because He is the only one who is perfectly good.

Leader Notes

Delivery tone: Warm, gentle, and expressive. Use a calm, story-time voice and smile often. Sit at the children's eye level if possible.

Expected duration: 5 minutes.

What to do if a child gets restless: Invite the child to help you hold the Bible or lead the motion. If needed, skip straight to the motion and coloring to keep hands busy.

Expected answer: Yes. If a child answers no, gently say, 'Remember, the Bible tells us only God is perfectly good. That is why we need Jesus to give us His goodness.'

Time estimates: Scripture and story (2 minutes), motion (1 minute), question (1 minute), coloring transition (1 minute).