Golden Text
“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction.” (1 Corinthians 1:10, BSB) · Read in the Bible
Isaac prayed to the Heavenly Father asking for a baby for Rebekah. God heard — and two came: Esau and Jacob. The lesson shows the little one that family is a gift from God and that the Heavenly Father is happy when siblings and friends play together.
This week's Nursery lesson is about a daddy who prayed and a Heavenly Father who heard. Isaac asked God for a baby for Rebekah. God answered — and sent two at once: Esau and Jacob, brothers born on the same day. The truth the little one takes home is simple: family is a gift from Heavenly Father, and Heavenly Father is happy when brothers and friends play together.
A word before you begin. The fight between Esau and Jacob is a conversation for the older classes. Here the story stops at the crib: the prayer, the joy, and the two little brothers close together. And remember that a little child does not sit through a lecture, but moves from one activity to the next — five to ten minutes for each moment.
I — Welcome and the verse
Welcome each family at the door with a smile and the baby's name on your lips. Greet daddy and mommy too, and invite the child to come in calmly — even if he or she arrives restless or crying. Before that, take a look around the room: soft floor, covered outlets, clean toys with no loose parts, nothing small within reach of the mouth.
Then, the verse. With the baby in your lap, take him or her to the verse corner, open the children's Bible, and recite slowly: be united (1 Corinthians 1:10). Then say, putting the child's name in the sentence: "It was Heavenly Father who made (name). It was He who made your friends and your brothers and sisters. That is why He does not like to see fighting. Heavenly Father is happy when all friends play together."
With the one- and two-year-olds, seat the little group in a semicircle and repeat the verse three times, always the same way. Use the colorful cube from the quarterly, with pictures of children playing on each side: a child rolls the cube, you point to the picture facing up, and talk about it — "look, they are playing together; they are friends; friends do not fight." Repeat the process a few times. In the Nursery, repetition does not tire them: it is what teaches.
II — The story: two babies in Mommy Rebekah's tummy
Before telling the story, get the class truly ready: see who needs water, who needs a diaper change, hold anyone who arrived crying. An uncomfortable baby does not listen to a story. Then settle each one into the story corner and tell it like this:
"Look! This is Daddy Isaac. And this is Mommy Rebekah.
Daddy Isaac and Mommy Rebekah wanted a little baby very much. Do you know what Isaac did? He talked to Heavenly Father. Shall we do the same? Put your little hands together... close your little eyes...
And Heavenly Father heard! Heavenly Father answered!
Mommy Rebekah was going to have a baby. But look at the surprise: it was not one baby. It was two! Two babies in Mommy Rebekah's tummy.
The day arrived. The first one was born: Esau! And his little brother was born: Jacob! Both on the same day. What joy in that house!
The little brothers stayed close together. And Heavenly Father was happy."
❤ For the child's heart. Heavenly Father heard Isaac's prayer. He hears daddy's and mommy's prayers too. And your family — daddy, mommy, your brother or sister, your little cousin — is a gift from Heavenly Father.
III — Singing, playing, and having a snack together
Praise. Sing the lesson song, very simply and slowly: "In God's house I have many friends / But the best Friend is Jesus / He is a great Friend / A special Friend." Learn the song at home beforehand — singing with confidence calms the class. With a tiny baby, rock him or her in your arms; with one who can already hold his or her head up, clap gently holding the baby's little hands. The songs can be repeated while the children do the activities.
Playtime. Seat everyone on the floor in a circle, with soft music in the background. Show two cloth dolls: "this is Esau, this is Jacob — they are brothers." Make a little voice for each one and act out a short scene: both want the same toy, they feel awkward, then one says "sorry, little brother," and the two hold hands and hug. Finish with the bear hug: each child hugs himself or herself while you say, "Heavenly Father is happy when friends play together." Use large cloth dolls with no buttons, bows, or small parts that could come loose.
Snack. Talk with the parents beforehand about food restrictions and serve only what has been approved. Healthy options, cut into small pieces, nothing on a pointed stick. Ask the helpers to hand them out and stay with each child. Before eating, thank Heavenly Father in a single sentence.
Activity. With the babies, show one by one the pictures of children playing glued onto squares of poster board, holding the little one on your lap and always repeating the same sentence: "Heavenly Father likes to see brothers and sisters and friends close together." With the one- and two-year-olds, hand out the activity sheet and crayons of various colors for them to color the brothers playing together. Write each child's name on the sheet and hand it to the family at dismissal.
Christ in the Lesson
Isaac had a problem with no way out, and he did the opposite of what his household used to do: instead of coming up with his own solution, he prayed. "Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived." (Genesis 25:21). God heard, and the family was born out of a prayer.
That prayer points to Someone greater. Today we have a Priest who prays for us without ceasing: "Therefore He is able to save completely those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25). And the unity that the verse of this lesson asks for is not our own willpower — it comes from Him: "For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility" (Ephesians 2:14).
When the little one hears "Heavenly Father heard Isaac," the seed of this is being planted in him or her: there is Someone who listens, and that Someone has a name. Jesus.
Practical Application
A single sentence, always repeated the same way. "Heavenly Father is happy when friends play together."
A gesture that stays in the body. Little hands together to pray and, afterwards, the bear hug — hugging oneself while swaying gently. The baby takes the gesture home before taking the word.
Guide peace on the spot. When a toy is snatched, do not let it slide and do not scold. Get down to their eye level, help them say "sorry," join their hands together, and celebrate the hug.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You because You heard Isaac's prayer and gave a family to him and Rebekah. Thank You for the home of every child in this little room, for their parents, their brothers and sisters, and their little friends. Teach these little ones to talk to You and to live together in peace. In Jesus' name, amen.
Soli Deo Gloria — Scripture governs; everything else, on its knees.
Frequently asked questions about this lesson
How do I tell the story of Esau and Jacob without getting into their fight?+
In the Nursery, the story stops at the cradle. Talk about Isaac's prayer, the joy in the home, and the two little brothers who were born on the same day. The dispute between them is a topic for the older classes; here the little one keeps just one thing: it is good to be together.
My child is an only child. How does he do the task of the week?+
The same way, with you. At this age, disagreements happen with a cousin, a little friend from church, a neighbor — and with mom and dad. Wherever a toy is taken or there is a push, there is room for 'I'm sorry' and a hug.
My 1-year-old baby takes toys from others. Is he being mean?+
No. Before age 2, a child still does not know how to share, and that is natural for their age, not meanness. They learn through repetition and the example of an adult who guides them calmly — never through public scolding.
Is it worth teaching 'I'm sorry' before he understands the word?+
It is. The little one learns the gesture before the meaning: holding hands, the hug, the gentle tone of voice. When the word comes, the body will already know what it means.
I have a child with a disability in the class. What changes?+
The pace changes, not the Gospel. Talk with the family beforehand to learn their needs, adapt the material and the timing of each moment, and ensure the child participates together with the others. No limitation prevents teaching Jesus to a little one.
Teacher's Guide
Essence of the class
Isaac prayed, Heavenly Father heard and sent two little brothers — family is a gift from God, and He is happy when brothers and sisters and friends stay together.
Map of the class
| Time | Stage |
|---|---|
| 0–5 min | Welcome, each child's name |
| 5–12 min | Verse (1 Corinthians 1:10) with the colorful cube |
| 12–18 min | Praise with clapping and lap time |
| 18–25 min | Story: Isaac's prayer and the two babies |
| 25–32 min | Playtime with the dolls Esau and Jacob |
| 32–38 min | Snack |
| 38–45 min | Coloring, prayer, and dismissal |
Start like this
Sit on the floor at their level with a closed colorful box on your lap. Say in a whispery secret voice: "Guess what is inside here?" Count slowly — "one... two... three!" — and pull out the first little doll: "Look, it is a baby! Esau!" Make a face as if you are done, close the box, and open it again in surprise: "Wait! There is one more! Jacob!" Expect giggles, little fingers pointing, and children asking to hold them. Let them hold them. Then say: "Heavenly Father sent two babies to the home of Daddy Isaac and Mommy Rebekah."
Point 1 — Isaac prayed and Heavenly Father heard
- In the quarterly: the devotional moment and the Bible story (Genesis 25:19-27), with figure 8.1.
- What to teach: Isaac had a problem and took it to God in prayer, instead of coming up with his own way out. God heard and answered. In the Nursery, this is taught with the body: putting little hands together, closing little eyes, saying a short sentence — and the child discovers that we can talk to Heavenly Father.
- Anchor verse (BSB): "Later, Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. And the LORD heard his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived." (Genesis 25:21).
- Key question: "Shall we talk to Heavenly Father just like Isaac did? Put your little hands together!"
- Likely answers (+ going deeper): hands put together crookedly, eyes peeking, one child imitating you after a delay, another standing still and watching. Go deeper: "Very good! Heavenly Father hears (name) too."
- If no one speaks: do it yourself first, very slowly, and go from child to child helping whoever is willing to put their little hands together. At this age, imitating is already answering.
Point 2 — God gave two brothers, and brothers stay together
- In the quarterly: the verse moment (1 Corinthians 1:10) and the playtime moment, with figures 8.2 and 8.3.
- What to teach: two were born on the same day, Esau and Jacob, and the house was filled with joy. Heavenly Father made brothers and sisters and friends to stay together, not to fight. When someone makes a mistake, the way forward is to say sorry and go back to playing.
- Anchor verse (BSB): "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction." (1 Corinthians 1:10).
- Key question: "Who plays with you at your house?"
- Likely answers (+ going deeper): "bubba," "mommy," a little cousin's name, the dog's name, or a quiet smile. Go deeper: "Heavenly Father is happy when you play close together!"
- If no one speaks: say the names yourself — "Ana's brother, Théo's little cousin..." — pointing to each child affectionately. Hearing their own name opens a little one's mouth.
✝ Christ in the Lesson. Isaac prayed and God heard. Today we have Jesus, who lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25), and He is the One who makes both one, breaking down the dividing wall (Ephesians 2:14).
Class activity
- Goal: to see and feel, through play, that a brother says sorry and comes back together.
- Materials: two large cloth dolls with no buttons, bows, or small parts that could come loose, and a simple toy for both of them to "want."
- Step by step: everyone on the soft floor in a circle, with very gentle music in the background. Introduce the dolls: "this is Esau, this is Jacob — they are brothers." Make a voice for each one. Both want the same toy and feel awkward. Then one says "sorry, little brother," the two hold hands and hug — celebrate with clapping. No one is singled out to play the one who did wrong, no one loses, no one competes: anyone who does not want to join in watches and claps along. Repeat the scene two or three times; repetition is what teaches.
- Wrap-up: "Esau and Jacob were close together again. Heavenly Father is happy when friends play together (1 Corinthians 1:10)."
Wrap-up + challenge of the week
- Wrap-up: "Daddy Isaac talked to Heavenly Father, and Heavenly Father heard. He sent two little brothers to that home. Your family is also a gift from Him — and He is happy when you stay close together."
- Challenge: parents, do this together. This week, the first time a toy is snatched, or there is a push or crying from a fight — with a sibling, a little cousin, a little friend, or with you yourself — get down to your child's eye level, without scolding, and guide the three steps: help your child say "sorry," join little hands together, and finish with the bear hug, always saying the same sentence: "Heavenly Father is happy when friends play together." On Sunday, come back with the story.
Teacher's kit
- Beforehand: read Genesis 25:19-27 during the week until you are very familiar with the story; learn the lesson song; assemble the verse cube and check the toys in the room, removing anything broken or with loose parts. Ask the families about allergies and food restrictions.
- Bring: a cloth children's Bible, the colorful cube with the pictures of children playing, two cloth dolls, the lesson pictures glued onto sturdy poster board, crayons, the activity sheets, and the approved snack.
- Pray beforehand: ask the Lord for patience to repeat without growing tired and for attentive eyes for the safety and comfort of each baby.
Homework
Your mission for the week
Parents, do this together. The first time there is a fight this week — a snatched toy, a push, crying — get down to your child's eye level, without scolding, and guide the three steps: help your child say "sorry," join little hands together, and finish with the bear hug, always saying the same sentence: "Heavenly Father is happy when friends play together."
Why
Today's lesson says that God gave the family as a gift and wants brothers and sisters united: "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be united in mind and conviction." (1 Corinthians 1:10). At this age, making peace is learned through the gesture guided by the adult, not through explanation.
How to know you did it
There was at least one time this week when your child held hands and hugged after a disagreement — and heard the same sentence right afterwards.
On Sunday, come back with the story
Next week's class begins with the parents sharing: who said sorry? Who gave the bear hug?
