Father God Made Brothers and Sisters

Golden Text

“And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.” (1 John 4:21, BSB) · Read in the Bible

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were three siblings who loved Jesus and welcomed Him into their home. The lesson shows the baby that Heavenly Father gave brothers and sisters as a gift, to love one another.

This week's Nursery class is about a home full of love. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were three siblings, and Jesus liked being with them. The truth the little ones take home is simple: Father God gave brothers and sisters as a gift, to love one another.

Not every child has a brother or sister at home — always speak of brothers and sisters and of little cousins, little friends, and the little brothers and sisters at church, so that no one is left out. And remember: a young child does not sit through a lecture, he or she alternates. Five to ten minutes per moment.

I — Welcome and the verse

Welcome each family with joy and call the baby by name. A clean, airy room, a soft floor, nothing small within reach of the mouth.

Then, the verse. With the baby on your lap, let him or her hold the children's Bible and recite slowly: "And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well." (1 John 4:21). With 1- and 2-year-olds, put the Bible in each little hand and repeat the phrase three times, always the same. And say in a gentle voice: "Brothers and sisters play together. Brothers and sisters share. It is good to have a brother or sister."

II — The story: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Gather the little class in the Bible corner, with the picture in your hand. Tell it like this:

"Look! Martha. Mary. They are sisters. And they had a brother: Lazarus. Shall we say hi? Hi, Martha! Hi, Mary! Hi, Lazarus!

They lived in the same house. They loved one another. And they loved Jesus!

One day, Jesus came to visit their house. What joy! Mary sat very close to listen. Martha took care of the food and got tired. Jesus spoke tenderly to her: being close to Him is the best thing of all.

Father God gave brothers and sisters as a gift. To love. To play together, without fighting."

❤ For the child's heart. Do you have a brother or sister? Do you have a little cousin? Do you have a little friend? All of them are gifts from Father God to you. And you are also a gift to them!

III — Singing, playing, and having a snack together

Praise. Sing a simple song from your church's children's hymnal about the family being a gift from God. With a young baby, rock him or her gently; with a baby who already holds his or her head steady, clap hands while holding his or her little hands.

Playtime. Set up the little house close to the floor: cushions around it and a sheet stretched over a low, stable little table — never over chairs, which tip over — with the sides open and nothing loose above the baby's head. Stay right there the whole time and repeat: "At home we play with our brother and sister. Father God is the one who made your brother and sister."

Snack. Soft fruits, cut into small pieces, with the parents' consent and after checking the allergy form. No pointed toothpicks.

Activity. With the babies, gently sway their little bodies, saying softly: "Father God made brothers and sisters." With 1- and 2-year-olds, use the activity sheet with a glue stick and large pieces of colored paper — nothing smaller than the palm of the child's hand. Do not use pasta, grains, buttons, beads, or any small piece in the Nursery: at this age everything goes into the mouth, and the choking hazard is real. The teacher stays right beside them throughout the entire activity.

Christ in the Lesson

Jesus entered that house and loved those three siblings. He is the Friend who teaches us to love (John 13:34). When we tell the baby to love his or her brother and sister, we plant the seed of the love that came from the Lord: we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). And, in the church, He makes us all brothers and sisters.

Practical Application

Repeat often, and always the same way. The same short phrase: "a brother or sister is a gift from Father God."

Praise at the right moment. When the child hands over a toy, celebrate right away: "How lovely! You loved your little friend!"

Pray as a family. One short sentence, every night, in the father's or mother's voice.

Closing Prayer

Father God, thank You for brothers and sisters, for little cousins, and for little friends. Thank You because in Your church no one is left alone. Teach each child in this little room to love and to share. In Jesus' name, amen.

Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture governs; everything else, on its knees.

Frequently asked questions about this lesson

How can you teach a baby to love their brother or sister?+

Through loving repetition and by example. Use short phrases that are always the same — 'brothers and sisters are a gift,' 'brothers and sisters play together' — and praise the child when they hand over a toy.

What should you do when brothers and sisters fight?+

Separate them calmly, without yelling. Name the feeling ('you got angry'), show the way ('let's play together'), and praise them when they make up.

How do you talk about God to a 2-year-old child?+

Very short, concrete phrases, with lots of repetition. Use large pictures, gestures, music, and the child's name. The teacher's affection is part of the teaching.

What about the child who has no brothers or sisters — how do you include them?+

Broaden the word 'brother and sister': the child has little cousins, little friends, and little brothers and sisters at church. Call the class 'the brothers and sisters of our room.' No one leaves feeling left out.

Teacher's Guide

Essence of the class

Father God gave brothers and sisters as a gift, to love and play together.

Map of the class

Time	Stage
0–5 min	Welcome, each child's name
5–12 min	Verse (1 John 4:21)
12–18 min	Praise with gestures
18–25 min	Story: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus
25–32 min	Little house playtime
32–40 min	Snack
40–45 min	Activity and prayer

Start like this

Sit on the floor, at their level, with the picture face down. Say in a whispery secret voice: "Guess who came to visit our little room? A family!" Turn the picture over slowly: "Hi, Martha! Hi, Mary! Hi, Lazarus!" Clap your hands and sing. Expect giggles and little fingers pointing.

Point 1 — Brothers and sisters are a gift from Father God

In the quarterly: verse time, with the picture for lesson 6.
What to teach: it was God who gave us our family and our brothers and sisters. A sibling is not a rival: he or she is a gift. Whoever does not have a brother or sister at home has little cousins and the brothers and sisters at church.
Anchor verse (BSB): "And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well." (1 John 4:21)
Key question: "Who has a brother or sister here?"
Likely answers (+ going deeper): a raised arm, the sibling's name, silence, or "I don't have one." Go deeper: "What about a little cousin? What about a little friend? Here we are all brothers and sisters!"
If no one speaks: tell yours first — "I have a brother, his name is..." — and ask again, looking at each one in turn.

Point 2 — Jesus taught us to love

In the quarterly: story time (Luke 10:38-42; the three siblings appear together in John 11:1-2 and 12:1-2).
What to teach: Jesus visited the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Mary sat down to listen; Martha grew tired with the chores. Jesus corrected her tenderly: being close to Him is the best part. There, the One who taught them to love was Jesus Himself.
Anchor verse (BSB): "A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also must love one another." (John 13:34)
Key question: "Do you play with your brother or sister?"
Likely answers (+ going deeper): "I do," "he takes my toy," "I play by myself." Go deeper: "What if we play together? Together is much better!"
If no one speaks: take two dolls, have one hand a toy to the other, and narrate: "Look, he shared! How sweet!" A child imitates what he or she sees.

✝ Christ in the Lesson. Jesus visited the home of those three siblings because He loved them. He taught us to love like that — and, in the church, He makes us brothers and sisters to one another.

Class activity

Goal: to feel, through movement and music, that it is good to be together.
Materials: none — just hands and voice.
Step by step: everyone in a circle on the soft floor. Sing slowly, "my brother and sister are a gift from God," clapping little hands to the beat. Never force physical contact — anyone who does not want to join in can participate by watching. On each round, point to one child: "Father God, thank You for (name)!"
Wrap-up: "Each one here is a gift. Father God gave us brothers and sisters to love" (1 John 4:21).

Wrap-up + challenge of the week

Wrap-up: "Jesus loved that home of brothers and sisters. Father God gave your brother or sister, your little cousin, and your little friend as a gift. Let's love one another!"
Challenge: parents, do this together. Every night before bed, pray just one sentence: "Father God, thank You for my brother and sister." And once a day, help your child hand a toy to a sibling, cousin, or little friend: "Here, this is for you." On Sunday, come back with the story.

Teacher's kit

Before: read Luke 10:38-42 (Jesus' visit to Martha and Mary) and John 12:1-2 (the three siblings at the table with Him); glue the lesson picture onto sturdy poster board.
Bring: a cloth children's Bible, a sheet and cushions, two dolls, cut-up fruit.
Pray beforehand: ask the Lord for sensitivity to welcome each baby and each family.

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