Curriculum

Yes, You Can!

Yes, You Can! Go to Curriculum multi-week pack

Bible Background

What Kids Will Learn

When Jeremiah was young, God gave him an important job as a prophet— telling God’s people to turn back to God. And God gave Jeremiah the words to say.

Scripture Summary

The prophet Jeremiah wrote this book to plead with God’s people to turn from their wicked ways and back to Him. Jeremiah served under five kings of Judah (Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah).

God created Jeremiah and knew him before He appointed him as a prophet. God was aware of his strengths, weaknesses, and experiences that all helped shape Jeremiah’s response to God. Jeremiah listened to God and knew that this new role was too much for Jeremiah to do on his own.

When God appointed Jeremiah as a prophet, Jeremiah objected and listed how he was unqualified. God addressed each point Jeremiah made and provided just what Jeremiah needed to complete the task. In his insecurity, Jeremiah argued that he was too young and didn’t know what to say to God’s people. God said, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’” And by touching Jeremiah’s mouth, God gave him the words to say.

God didn’t promise to protect Jeremiah from trouble, but He did promise to rescue Jeremiah when he needed it. God’s constant presence was a gift and a guide as Jeremiah followed God’s calling.

Why Is This Important

God can ask us to do bold and uncomfortable things—things for which we may feel unqualified. But that doesn’t stop God. When He calls us to do something, He’ll also provide the way to do it.

Teacher Devotion

Scripture

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23)

In the movie “Return to Me,” Carroll O’Connor plays the role of Marty O’Reilly, an Irish-Italian restaurant owner and grandfather to Grace. Grace willingly works as a waitress at Marty’s restaurant, and the two share an apartment above the downtown eatery. One night after the restaurant has closed, Grace is getting ready for bed and sees her grandfather still working, cleaning tables. When she offers to help, Marty simply replies, “I am blessed with work.”

That line struck me the first time I saw the movie and continues to make an impact decades later. For when I am cleaning a table, or a toilet, or my car, I rarely have that response.

But I, too, am blessed with work.

I’m not talking about the catchy #blessed response here. God has given me a job to do, ministry responsibilities, a home that came with chores, and a family that provides countless opportunities to serve them each day.

My heart isn’t always willing, and my attitude isn’t always pleasant. May God continue to work in and through me to realign my perspective.

I’ve pondered some ways to intentionally focus on the blessing of work (without being too cutesy).

  • When I am dreading a task, I consider what it would be like if I didn’t actually have the thing (a refrigerator to clean out or a yard to mow) that required the chore.
  • Before beginning my list of chores for the day, I take the time to list three things for which I’m thankful.
  • On chore day (okay…every day), our family listens to music while we work.

Prayer

Dear God, thank You for giving me work to do. Please help me complete my work with joy as I serve You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Get the full Sunday school lesson plan

  • Bible Memory Verse
  • Interactive Bible Experience
  • Animated video with companion questions

Bible Memory Verse

You’ll Need: Bibles, Dry-erase board, Dry-erase markers

Get Ready: Before class, write today’s Bible memory verse on the dry-erase board.

“But the Lord said to me, ‘Do not say, “I am too young.” You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,’ declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:7-8)

Lead kids in these steps to learn today’s Bible memory verse:

  • Invite kids to open their Bibles to Jeremiah 1:7-8.
  • Have several kids read aloud the verse for repetition.
  • Turn kids’ attention to the dry-erase board and read the verses out loud together as a class.
  • After each round, erase a word or phrase from the dry-erase board.
  • Lead kids in repeating the Bible verse, and erase a word or phrase each time until the whole verse is erased.

SAY: You did a great job recalling the Bible memory verse! Today we’re going to learn more about the important instructions God gave Jeremiah, and how to trust Him when He says to do or say something.

Interactive Bible Experience

You’ll Need: Bibles, Toothpicks, Mini marshmallows

  • Invite kids to open their Bibles to Jeremiah 1:4-10.
  • Read aloud the passage.
  • Give each child a handful of toothpicks.
  • Explain that kids will need to build something using the toothpicks. It can be a house, a figurine, or whatever their minds lead them to, but they can only use toothpicks.
  • Give kids several minutes to try building something using only the toothpicks.

SAY: It’s hard to build something using only toothpicks, isn’t it? How many of you felt like giving up? Did anyone say, “I just can’t do it”? I’m going to give you a little bit longer to build something with your toothpicks, but this time, you’ll have some extra supplies.

  • Give each child a handful of mini marshmallows and more toothpicks if they need them.
  • Invite kids to build something using toothpicks and mini marshmallows.

ASK:

  • Tell about a time you needed help or extra instructions to do something.
  • How does it make you feel to know that God wants to work through you?

SAY: Great job building your toothpick creations. In this activity, you needed some extra resources to complete the task I gave you. When God calls you to do something, He will always provide just what you need to get the job done.

Snack

Snack Stack Challenge

You’ll Need: Paper plates, Napkins, Goldfish crackers, Pretzels, M&M’s candies

Get Ready: Have kids clean their hands.

Follow these steps for the “Snack Stack Challenge” snacks:

  • Give each child a paper plate, a napkin, a small scoop each of goldfish crackers and pretzels, and five M&M’s candies.
  • Invite kids to try stacking each kind of snack as high as they can.
  • Enjoy!

ASK:

  • Which snack was the hardest to stack? Which was the easiest?
  • Jeremiah made excuses to avoid God’s calling. Have you ever made an excuse to avoid doing something hard?

SAY: God loves us and has a purpose for each one of us. We might not have all the answers or feel like we are able to do what He tells us to. But when we trust in Him, God will guide our words and our way with purpose.

Game

Call Waiting

To play the “Call Waiting” game, have kids follow these steps:

  • Invite kids to sit in a large circle.
  • Explain that you’re going to play a game.
  • Choose one child to silently come up with a difficult task or activity— something that would make them say, “I just can’t do it.”
  • Invite the child to start the game by whispering the task in the ear of the child to their left.
  • Have kids whisper the message until it gets back to the child who started it. Invite him or her to reveal what the original task was.
  • Play several rounds as time allows.

ASK:

  • Why do you think Jeremiah was quick to make an excuse?

SAY: In this game, you were given words to speak to your friends, hoping they would turn out to be the right ones. You didn’t know what the end result was supposed to be, or how the game would turn out. When God calls us to do something we feel unsure about, He always gives us the words to speak and the tools to do the task. We can trust Him to guide us even when we can’t see the end result.

Craft

Yes, I Can Box

You’ll Need: Small cardboard boxes, Construction paper, Markers, Scissors, Stickers, Tape

Have kids follow these steps to make the “Yes, I Can Box” craft:

  • Give each child a small cardboard box and a piece of construction paper.
  • Invite kids to write “Yes, I can!” on their construction paper along with any tasks or activities that are personally hard for them.
  • Have kids decorate the rest of their construction paper using markers and stickers.
  • Help kids cut their construction paper (if needed) and use it to wrap their empty box. Tape it in place.

SAY: God had a big job for Jeremiah before he was even born. In your life, God will have big jobs for you, too. Take these boxes home to collect prayers, and remember that when God tells you to do something, you can do it.

Prayer

Box Prayers

You’ll Need: “Yes, I Can Box” craft, Slips of paper, Pens

Follow these steps to lead kids in the “Box Prayers” activity.

  • Invite kids to sit in a circle.
  • Give each child a slip of paper and a pen.
  • Have kids each write something that is hard for them on the slip of paper (without their name on it).
  • Collect the slips of paper, then redistribute them so each child has someone else’s difficult task to pray over.
  • Invite kids to add the slip of paper to their box and silently pray.
  • Close in prayer.

PRAY: Dear God, thank You for calling us to do big, hard things. We know You will never leave us alone in the tasks You call us to. Help us respond with obedience, not excuses, when you call us to something. In Jesus’ name, amen.