Golden Text
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” (Psalm 34:8, BSB) · Read in the Bible
In Genesis 48, Grandpa Israel hugs, kisses, and blesses his little grandsons Manasseh and Ephraim. The truth of the lesson for the babies is simple: Father God made grandpa and grandma, and they are a gift full of love.
In the Nursery, teaching comes through a warm lap, a gentle voice, and colorful pictures — not through many words. And today's lesson holds one of the tenderest truths of the quarter: Father God Made Grandpa and Grandma. That wrinkled hand that strokes gently, that tight and sweet-smelling hug, that lap that tells stories — God prepared all of this with love.
The story comes from long ago, from the book of Genesis, when a very old grandpa named Israel receives a visit from his little grandsons. In this class, the baby will not understand dates or difficult names — but will feel, in the rhythm of the voice and the teacher's affection, that being loved by a grandpa and a grandma is a gift from God.
The story: Grandpa Israel hugs his little grandsons
Back in the Bible, in the book of Genesis, there was a very, very old grandpa named Israel. He could barely see anymore, but his heart was full of love. One day, a special visit arrived: his son, Joseph, brought his two little grandsons to meet grandpa. The boys were named Manasseh and Ephraim.
Grandpa Israel was so happy! He called his little grandsons close, opened his arms, and gave them a big, tight hug. He kissed both of their little faces. And then he did something beautiful: he placed his hands on the boys and prayed, asking Father God to bless his grandsons.
What a wonderful meeting! Grandpa loved his little grandsons, and that love was a way for Father God to take care of them.
❤ For the child's heart. Father God made your grandpa and your grandma — or someone who takes care of you like a grandparent. They hug, kiss, and love you. You are very, very special, and Father God takes care of you too!
Moment by moment: the class script
In the Nursery, the class happens in short little pieces. A young child does not sit through a whole class — he or she moves from one moment to another. Here is the path, in the order of the quarterly.
Welcome
Receive each baby with a hug and a smile. A safe and affectionate environment is already the first lesson. Check beforehand that the room has nothing sharp, pointed, or with small parts within reach — at this stage, everything goes into the mouth.
Praise
Sing simple and joyful songs about Father God — for example, "Three Little Words Only", "Father God Is Good", and "I Praise and Worship the Creator". Use your voice, clap your hands, make funny faces: music captivates the baby and plants the joy of the truth.
The verse (Psalm 34:8)
With a cloth Bible, hold the baby on your lap and say: "Let's read the Bible, the Word of God." Recite: "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8). With the 1- and 2-year-olds, give rhythm and gestures to the verse: point your little fingers up when saying "the Lord" and bring your little hands to your chest when saying "is good". Repeat it several times — at this age, the gesture helps them keep it in their hearts even before they understand.
The story with pictures
Settle the children in the story corner. Show the picture of Grandpa Israel: "This is Grandpa Israel! Let's say 'hello, grandpa!'" Tell them, in very short sentences, that the little grandsons arrived and grandpa hugged them, kissed them, and prayed for them. Close with the child's name: "Father God made grandpa and grandma to love baby (name)."
The prayer corner
Prepare a little place to pray. Put your hands together, close your eyes, and pray a short sentence thanking God for grandparents. Prayer here is taught through gesture: the baby imitates the little hands together before understanding the words.
Snack time
Always offer something healthy — small pieces of fresh fruit, baby puree, or natural juice. Colorful skewers of soft fruit are a big hit (paying attention to the size of the pieces and to the dietary restrictions agreed upon with the parents). Beforehand, thank Father God for the food.
Playtime and activity
With the babies, hand them a little cloth book and let them turn the pages: "Look, this is the Bible, Father God's book!" With the 1- and 2-year-olds, make joyful movements — "whoever knows that Father God loves us, give a little jump for joy!" — and offer the activity sheet to color with crayons, lovingly repeating that grandpa and grandma love their little grandchild very much.
Christ in the Lesson
Grandpa Israel blessed his grandsons because love does not come only from people — it comes from God, who is the source of all care and who, as we saw in the study on Father God who made the family, prepared every bond with love. When a grandpa hugs, when a grandma prays, Father God is using that family — with daddy and mommy whom He Himself gave — to wrap the child in love. And this is the same God who sent Jesus to bring us into His family (John 1:12). Teaching a baby that "Father God Made Grandpa and Grandma" is planting the first idea of a good, present, and loving Father — the Father who, in Christ, calls us His children.
🕊 Our reading. The care the baby receives on grandpa's lap and in grandma's hug is a tiny reflection of God's care. Family is not an accident: it is a gift from the Creator, and it points to the greatest of all gifts — Jesus, who came to care for us and save us.
Practical Application
- Welcome each child as a gift from God. The hug upon arrival, the name spoken with affection, the safe lap — all of this teaches, before any word, that he or she is loved.
- Value grandparents before the family. When talking with parents, encourage moments with the grandparents (or with whoever cares for the child with that affection): a visit, a phone call, a prayer together. That is where the lesson becomes life at home.
- Teach gratitude from an early age. Even without understanding everything, the baby learns the atmosphere of gratitude. Every short little prayer of "thank You, Father God" is already a seed.
Closing Prayer
Father God, thank You for making grandpa and grandma, and for caring for each baby in this little room through the love of family. Bless the grandparents, the parents, and every child who is here. May they grow up from infancy feeling Your care and knowing that they belong to Your great family. In Jesus' name, amen.
Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture governs; everything else, on its knees.
Frequently asked questions about this lesson
What is the central truth of Nursery Lesson 5?+
That Father God made grandpa and grandma. The story comes from Genesis 48, when aged Israel (Jacob) welcomes his little grandsons Manasseh and Ephraim, hugs and kisses them, and prays for them. For the babies, the message is very simple and tender: grandparents are a gift from God, and He also cares for us through them. The verse is Psalm 34:8.
How do you teach about grandparents to babies and children ages 1 to 2?+
With affection, large pictures, and repetition. Show the picture of Grandpa Israel, say 'hello, grandpa!' and tell them, in short sentences, that he hugged and kissed his little grandsons. Repeat: 'Father God made grandpa and grandma to love you.' Use a cloth Bible, sing a simple song, and finish with a short prayer thanking God for grandparents.
What is the biblical basis for the story 'Father God Made Grandpa and Grandma'?+
Genesis 48:8-16. Already very old and with dim eyesight, Israel (Jacob) receives a visit from his son Joseph and his two grandsons, Manasseh and Ephraim. He asks them to come closer, hugs and kisses them, and blesses the boys. It is a scene of reunion, tenderness, and blessing — the portrait of a grandfather who loves and passes that love on to his grandchildren.
How should you do prayer and snack time in the Nursery for this lesson?+
In the prayer corner, fold their little hands together and pray a short sentence: 'Father God, thank You for my grandpa and my grandma. In Jesus' name, amen.' At snack time, offer something healthy — small pieces of fresh fruit, baby food, or natural juice — always with gratitude to God and attention to the dietary restrictions agreed upon with the parents.
What about a child who does not have grandparents? How should you lead the lesson?+
With sensitivity. Speak of grandpa and grandma, but include 'or someone who cares for you with the affection of a grandparent' — an uncle, a neighbor from church, a caregiver. The truth of the lesson does not depend on the child having living grandparents: the point is that Father God places people in our lives to love us, and He Himself always cares for us.
Teacher's Guide
Essence of the class
Father God made grandpa and grandma, and cares for the baby through their love.
Map of the class
| Time | Stage |
|---|---|
| 0–5 min | Welcome (hug, lap, room safety) |
| 5–12 min | Praise + verse with gestures (Psalm 34:8) |
| 12–20 min | Story with pictures (Grandpa Israel) |
| 20–27 min | Class activity: the surprise box |
| 27–32 min | Prayer corner |
| 32–38 min | Snack time |
| 38–45 min | Playtime and free activity |
Start like this
Hold the picture of Grandpa Israel hidden behind your back or inside a box. Show it slowly, in a high, cheerful voice: "Look who arrived! Who is this? It's grandpaaa!" Wave "hello" with your hand and wait a few seconds, smiling, looking at the babies — in that pause they respond with a babble, a smile, or by pointing. That is how interaction begins at this age: you give, and you give the child time to give back.
Point 1 — Grandpa Israel hugs and kisses his little grandsons
- In the quarterly: the Bible story of the lesson, in Genesis 48:8-16 (Grandpa Israel receives his grandsons).
- What to teach: a very old grandpa full of love receives his little grandsons, hugs them, kisses them, and prays for them. The emotion that remains is safety and joy — the baby feels the affection through your voice and your gesture, not through the details of the story.
- Anchor verse (BSB): "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8).
- What to say to the little ones: "Grandpa gave a big, tight hug! Shall we hug too?" — and you yourself make the hugging gesture, slowly.
- What to expect from them: babbles, smiles, imitation of the hug or of the "hello". Imitation is how learning happens at this stage — celebrate every gesture: "very good!"
- If the baby does not react: do not force it. Make the gesture first, repeat it gently, and give it time. Loving repetition, class after class, is what makes it stick.
Point 2 — Father God Made Grandpa and Grandma
- In the quarterly: the closing of the story, connecting grandpa's love to the Creator ("Father God made grandpa and grandma to love you").
- What to teach: grandpa and grandma's love comes from God. He made the family and cares for the baby through it — and cares directly too.
- Anchor verse (BSB): "Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!" (Psalm 34:8).
- What to say to the little ones: say each child's name — "Father God made grandpa and grandma to love (name)!" — smiling and pointing with affection.
- What to expect from them: attention when hearing their own name, a smile, coming closer. Hearing their name anchors the message in their little heart.
- If the baby gets distracted: change position or activity. At this age, attention lasts only a few minutes — changing moments is normal and expected.
Class activity
- Goal: to hold their attention and teach, through play, that the Bible holds a story of love (and to work on object permanence — the notion that something continues to exist even when hidden, a foundation that will one day support trust in a God who cares without being seen).
- Materials: a sturdy, lightweight box (thick cardboard), with no loose small parts, and a cloth Bible inside it.
- Step by step: show the closed box in wonder — "what could be inside here?". Tap lightly on the box: "knock, knock, knock" and invite the older ones to knock in the air too. Count to three and open it, revealing the cloth Bible. Hold it up with joy: "It's the Bible! The Word of Father God!" Point upward when saying "Father God".
- Wrap-up (back to the text): "The Bible tells the story of Grandpa Israel, who loved his little grandsons very much. Father God made grandpa and grandma to love you."
Wrap-up + challenge of the week
- Wrap-up: "Grandpa Israel hugged and prayed for his little grandsons. Father God made grandpa and grandma to take care of you — and He Himself takes care of you all the time."
- Challenge (for parents to take home): choose a moment with grandpa and grandma this week — a visit, a video call, a voice message — and, at night, pray with the baby thanking God for them. On Sunday, come back and tell us about it.
Teacher's kit
- Before: calmly read Genesis 48:8-16 and pray asking for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Prepare the pictures and the surprise box without leaving anything for the last minute — in early childhood education there is no room for improvisation.
- Bring: a Bible, a cloth Bible, the box for the class activity, the pictures of Grandpa Israel, crayons, and the activity sheets. Make sure the toys are clean and have no small parts.
- Pray beforehand: the closing prayer of this lesson can be used here, entrusting each baby and each family to the Father's care.
Homework
Your mission for the week
Parents, choose one moment with grandpa and grandma this week — a visit, a video call, or an affectionate voice message — and help the baby blow a kiss or say "hi" to them. At night, pray together, with the child's little hand in yours: "Thank You, Father God, for my grandpa and my grandma." (If there are no grandparents nearby, do this with someone who cares for the baby with a grandparent's affection.)
Why
Today's lesson is that Father God made grandpa and grandma to love us, and cares for us through them — just as Grandpa Israel blessed his little grandsons (Genesis 48:15-16). Bringing the family into contact and thanking God for them turns the truth of the class into something the baby lives out at home.
How to know you did it
There was a real moment with grandpa and grandma (or with whoever represents them) and a short prayer of gratitude at night. If your baby received that affection and you thanked God for it, mission accomplished.
On Sunday, come back with the story
The next class begins with parents sharing: how did the time with grandpa and grandma go? We want to hear about it!
