Before class, print out enough bookmarks on cardstock so that each of your students has at least one. The template (found here) contains three bookmarks designed with flowers and three with space motifs. Print enough so that your students can choose or can make one of each style. Cut the bookmarks apart. (If your class is meeting online, email the template for families to print and cut ahead of time. Invite students to bring printouts and pens/pencils/markers with them to class.)

In our lesson today, Nicodemus struggled to understand how he could become a part of Jesus’ family. Since he wasn’t born into Jesus’ family or related to Jesus in any way, he didn’t think that being a part of Jesus’ family was an option.  He didn’t understand right away that he could become a member of Jesus’ family through a spiritual birth.

There are different ways we can become part of a family. Many of us are born into our families. Others of us become part of our families through adoption.

• What is adoption? (Allow students to respond. If any students in the class have been adopted themselves or have an adopted sibling, allow them to share their understanding of what adoption is.)

Adoption allows a family to provide a permanent home to someone who doesn’t have one. It gives a child with no family the opportunity to have a “forever family.” It’s a choice made by moms and dads all over the world to share their love with a child who may not have a mom or dad.   

If any of your families have walked through the adoption process or know a family who has, you know that it can be a very, very long journey for a family. There are all kinds of steps to take, details to understand, and tasks to accomplish before the family can welcome a new member into its home. When God puts the idea of adoption on the hearts of a family, they know that they are starting an adventure in which they will have to trust God’s plan each step of the way.   

Adoption is a lot like the spiritual birth that Nicodemus learned about in our lesson today. God loves us so much that He wants us to be in His family. Becoming a part of God’s family isn’t a long process full of paperwork and waiting. God is always, always ready and waiting for us to put our faith in Him. 

Our memory verse for today is a familiar one. It tells us very clearly and simply how much God wants us to be in His family. Have a volunteer read the memory verse. Write the memory verse on the whiteboard (or display it on the screenshared document) so that students can reference it.

Distribute the “I’m a Child of God” bookmarks and pens/pencils and markers/crayons.  Give students time to color their bookmark and write their memory verse on the back.

While students work on their bookmarks, the following music video may be played [4:35]:
Third Day – Children of God – with Lyrics

When students finish their bookmark, come back together as a group.

This bookmark can be a very simple but powerful reminder of who God wants you to be—His child. If you’re already a part of God’s family, keep this bookmark as a reminder of how much God loves you and how thankful He is to have you as His child. If you haven’t taken that step yet, this bookmark can be an encouragement of what God offers all of us—the chance to be a part of His family. 

Assure students that you are available to talk and pray with anyone who might have questions about joining God’s family; help in sharing the Gospel with this age group is found in your teacher’s guide.

Close together in prayer, thanking God for His love for us, the gift of His Son, and the opportunity to be part of His family forever.