Old Testament Bible Lessons for Kids
Old Testament Bible stories are filled with powerful lessons about faith, courage, obedience, and God’s faithfulness, making them meaningful for children to learn and understand. From God calling Samuel to Gideon’s Army, Samson, Ruth and Naomi, Ruth and Boaz, the Fiery Furnace, and Solomon asking for wisdom, each story offers valuable truths that can be brought to life in engaging ways. Keep reading to find teaching ideas like hands-on crafts, interactive activities, and printable lesson plans designed to help children connect with these stories in a fun, memorable, and age-appropriate way. These lessons are perfect for Sunday school, homeschool, faith-based classrooms, or family devotions.
What is the Old Testament?
The Old Testament is the first part of the Bible and includes 39 books. It tells stories about things that happened before Jesus was born, including the history of God’s people, the Israelites. It also contains laws that God gave His people to help them know how to live and worship Him. The Old Testament includes poems, songs, wise sayings, and messages from prophets. Together, these books teach us about God, His people, His promises, and His plan to rescue the world through Jesus.
GIDEON’S ARMY - Judges 6-8
God can use small, unlikely numbers to accomplish great things, and this lesson is perfectly illustrated in the story of Gideon’s Army. Gideon and an army of 300 men were able to defeat their enemies, the Midianites.
Gideon’s Army Bible Lessons for Kids is loaded with ideas for teaching this story. Whether it’s flashlight games, making clay pots, or water relays, kids will enjoy learning about this story. And for a printable craft, kids will enjoy making torches. Preschoolers will enjoy making a torch using paper and colored tissue paper for the flames. Older kids will enjoy making a torch-and-jar craft where the jar splits open to reveal the torch hidden inside.
The story of SAMSON - judges 13-16
Samson is a favorite story of many children because of his great strength! More importantly, this story is about God’s strength, the importance of obedience, and the consequences of our choices. Samson is a great story to teach children about pride and making wise choices. Samson was set apart before he was born, and God promised to give Samson great strength so he could begin to defeat the Philistines. Unfortunately, Samson started doing things his way instead of God’s way, and it had dire consequences. But despite this, God kept His promises and used Samson to begin defeating the Philistines.
To help kids learn about this story, do a strength challenge or play a game where kids knock down a tower, like how Samson knocked down the temple. As a craft, create a lion mask to remind kids that Samson defeated a lion, or use yarn/strips of paper to give Samson a full head of hair. Older Kids will enjoy a torn puzzle craft, where they color a picture and then tear it into smaller pieces; then they glue it back together to show that while our actions have consequences, God can still work through our mistakes. For more details, check out Samson Bible Lessons for Kids.
RUTH AND NAOMI - ruth 1
The story of Ruth and Naomi is a fabulous way to teach loyalty and friendship. Kids practice being good friends all the time, so this story lends itself well to lessons on sticking by a friend even through tough times.
Making friendship bracelets is an easy craft that pairs well with this story. Or play a relay race where kids pretend to gather grain by collecting beanbags from around the room. Another great game is playing follow the leader, just like Ruth followed Naomi. For more ideas, including a printable craft for preschool and older kids, check out Ruth and Naomi Bible Lessons for Kids. Preschoolers will create a puzzle piece craft with two puzzle pieces, showing a picture of Ruth and Naomi and also a puzzle piece saying “I can be a loyal friend. I can show kindness by….” Older Kids will create a peas-in-a-pod craft to show that Ruth and Naomi were loyal and kind, and that we can be “peas in a pod” friends too by showing loyalty and kindness.
RUTH AND BOAZ - ruth 2-4
To continue learning about Ruth, check out Ruth and Boaz Bible Lessons for Kids. The relationship between Ruth and Boaz offers many lessons, including redemption, kindness, and God’s provision.
Many activities and crafts can be the same as the ones listed above, but you can also add options like a Kindness Challenge or a discussion on needs vs. wants that pair well with the story of Ruth and Boaz. For a printable craft, kids can create a bouquet of wheat, just like Ruth gathered wheat in Boaz’s field. Or they can create a spinner craft showing how God provides for all our needs. Ruth and Boaz Bible Lessons for Kids offers many fun ideas.
GOD CALLS SAMUEL - 1 samuel 3
The story God Calls Samuel is a beautiful story of obedience, listening to God’s voice, and how God can use children to carry His message. Samuel was a young boy serving in the temple when God first spoke to him. This story teaches that we are never too young to hear from God, and it is a great way to start a conversation about how God speaks to His children.
Many great activities pair with this story, like playing Telephone or a Sound Effect Guessing Game. Crafts like Praying Hands and Paper Cup Telephones are also fun ideas to help kids engage in the story. If you’re looking for a simple printable craft, you’ll love creating a mini poster of ways to hear from God, or a headband craft for younger kids. For more ideas, check out God Calls Samuel Bible Lessons for Kids.
SOLOMON ASKS FOR WISDOM - 1 kings 3
Solomon was known for his great wisdom, and teaching kids the story of Solomon helps them learn the importance of seeking God’s wisdom every day.
Through YouTube videos, crafts and activities, kids can learn this story in a fun way! Make and decorate crowns because Solomon was a king, and even kings need wisdom. Discuss and play games about wise and foolish choices. Create a beautiful hanging mobile to remind them what to do when seeking wisdom: pray, read our Bibles, and obey God. Or make a printable crown, perfect for preschoolers. For more details, be sure to check out Solomon Asks for Wisdom Bible Lessons for Kids.
THE FIERY FURNACE - daniel 3
The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego is a fantastic story about God saving three young men when they were thrown into the fiery furnace because they stood up for what was right. When they should have died, God rescued them and stood with them in the fire. This story is beloved by kids!
Check out The Fiery Furnace Bible Lessons for Kids for ideas on how to engage kids as they learn this story. You’ll find ideas like a wax-resist watercolor painting, a fiery object lesson, and a craft where kids will turn their handprints into the flames of the furnace. You’ll also find printable crafts like a fiery furnace scene for younger kids, and a flip-book fiery furnace craft for older kids.
There are many hands-on ways to engage kids in learning these beloved Bible stories, no matter how many times kids (or teachers) have heard them. Whether you’re a Sunday School teacher, parent, or work in a faith-based school, you’ll find some great ideas that work for your teaching context!
