Building Godly Character - Bible-Based Character Education for Kids

Teaching godly character traits helps children grow in faith while learning how to navigate everyday life with wisdom and love. Through Bible-based lessons, engaging crafts, printable activities, and meaningful discussions, kids can explore essential traits like contentment, perseverance, self-control, kindness, honesty, forgiveness, and courage, discovering how God’s Word guides their choices and shapes their hearts.

Why is teaching godly character traits important?

God calls us to live in the world, but not of it. We are called to be distinct and set apart. When someone looks at us and sees our actions, are we pointing to Jesus and acting in a way that would be honoring to God? 

Teaching kids about the importance of character traits like perseverance, self-control, kindness, honesty, forgiveness, and courage will help them understand how God wants us to live and be distinct. Many of these character traits are also highly valued by the secular world and are taught through TV shows, books, and in schools. But we also have a responsibility to teach them Bible stories associated with these traits and how God desires these characteristics in His children. 

PERSEVERANCE

Perseverance is not giving up on something, even if it’s really hard. God calls us to persevere through hard things, like when learning something new is taking a long time or when a situation we are going through feels really hard.

It’s easy to become frustrated when things become hard, so brainstorm strategies that can help when children (and adults) don’t want to show perseverance. These could include praying, asking for help and taking a break. Build a paper cube with these ideas on it as a visual reminder. For a template for the perseverance cube and many other ideas, check out Perseverance Bible Lessons for Kids. You will also find ideas for teaching kids about the story of Noah, which pairs perfectly with the character trait of perseverance.

HONESTY

Honesty is important because it reflects God’s character and honors Him. Honesty is telling the truth, even when it’s hard. This can be both the words we say and the actions we take. Dishonesty, by extension, is choosing to lie. There are several stories in the Bible about people who chose to be dishonest, including the story of Ananias and Sapphira. 

To help kids learn about honesty, take time to read this Bible story and do an activity to connect with it. Some other ideas include playing two truths and a lie (in a modified fashion), doing a lying object lesson using ice cream and salt, and creating honest self-portraits where kids draw and color their self-portrait and add a phrase about the importance of honesty. For instructions on all these and printable templates for the self-portrait craft, check our Honesty Bible Lessons for Kids.

CONTENTMENT

Contentment is being thankful and satisfied with what you have, without wanting more. This is a beautiful trait, especially in a world that tells us we should always want more. God calls us to be content and trust Him to provide for our needs. The story of the Israelites receiving manna in the desert pairs well with the topic of contentment.

There are many ideas for teaching kids about contentment, including reading the story of Manna in the Desert and doing activities that connect to it. Some other ideas include making a gratitude jar, making contentment bracelets, and completing a gratitude journal. For instructions on all these ideas and more, check out Contentment Bible Lessons for Kids.

FORGIVENESS

One of the central messages of the Bible is forgiveness. God loves us so much that He made a plan to redeem the world through Jesus. We have forgiveness of sins because of Jesus. God calls us to forgive because He forgave us. This means choosing to let go of bad feelings towards someone who has hurt you.

There are several great ways to teach kids about forgiveness. Read the story of the Prodigal Son and do activities that connect with the story. Do a simple object lesson, such as an illustration of a whiteboard eraser, where you write different sins on the whiteboard and then erase them, symbolizing how Jesus washes our sins away. Complete forgiveness envelopes by writing a time when someone else’s actions hurt you; seal them in the envelope and pray over them. For instructions on all these, and more ideas, check out Forgiveness Bible Lessons for Kids. You’ll also find printable lessons and crafts to go with the Prodigal Son story. 

SELF-CONTROL

Self-control is a Fruit of the Spirit. The Bible talks a lot about self-control, especially in our relationships with others and when we face temptation. Self-control is about slowing down, thinking, and making a good choice before you act.

Self-control can be tricky to put into practice, especially for young kids who are still learning to regulate their emotions. To help them learn about self-regulation, make self-control jars using water and glitter. Brainstorm places where kids should show self-control, and have them complete a printable booklet about it. Read the story of Jesus Tempted in the Desert and talk about how Jesus was able to combat temptation by using Scripture. Check out Self-Control Bible Lessons for Kids for more ideas as well as printable activity ideas. 

COURAGE

Courage is choosing to bravely do what is right, even if you are afraid. It’s not a feeling; it’s a choice. There are many stories in the Bible in which people had to show courage amid great challenges. One of these people was David, who fought Goliath. 

There are some great ways to teach kids about courage, including reading a story like David and Goliath. Check out Courage Bible Lessons for Kids for ideas, including a printable craft where kids make a church with the words “I do not have to be afraid, because God is with me!” 

KINDNESS AND EMPATHY

Kindness is being genuinely friendly, generous, and considerate towards others. Empathy is thinking about how another person might feel. Jesus set a perfect example of kindness and empathy towards others, and we need to follow his example. 

There are lots of great ways to teach kids about kindness and empathy. Set aside a day to complete a project that demonstrates kindness, like cleaning up a playground or reading books to younger children. Learn about kindness by reading the Bible story of the Good Samaritan and by doing activities that connect with it. Challenge kids to a kindness bingo where they complete random acts of kindness outlined in a simple bingo worksheet. For these printable activities and more ideas, check out Kindness Bible Lessons for Kids.