Preschool Bible Lessons on Sharing

Many preschoolers need to learn how to share. Teachers in Sunday school, private Christian schools and in Christian families may turn to the Bible for stories that demonstrate the blessings of sharing. Many Bible stories proclaim how love and faith in God motivate individuals to share with friends, family and those who have needs. The stories may encourage the preschoolers to share as a loving response.

On two separate incidents, Jesus fed a large gathering with shared resources. In Mark 8:1-9 and Matthew 15: 32-39, the disciples share their resources of seven loaves and a few fish with 4,000 men and their families. The overflow filled seven baskets. In Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:5-15, a young boy shares his five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men and their families and the disciples recovered 12 small baskets full of leftovers. Either story demonstrates that God provides enough for all when people are willing to share what they have. Encourage preschoolers to practice sharing snacks after the lesson.

In Leviticus 19:9-10 and Leviticus 23:22, God commands the Israelites not to harvest the corners of the field or pick up what falls on the ground. He declares that the poor and the stranger can have the food in these areas so they will have a sufficient amount to eat. The owners of the field or vineyard share their harvest with those who have no such resources. In Ruth 2:1-23, Boaz allows Ruth to gather barley left behind by the harvesters, but also shares food and drink with her so she and her mother-in-law might have food because their husbands had died. Ask preschoolers what it feels like to be hungry and alone. Allow them to demonstrate sharing other resources people need, such as clothing or a blanket. Alternatively, read the story of the widow at Zarephath in 1 Kings 17:7-16 and explain how God provides for her family because she shared what little she had.

In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus tells the story of the Good Samaritan. The Samaritan man finds a Jewish man who has been beaten, robbed and left for dead. He shares his wine and supplies to care for the man’s wounds, places the hurt man on his donkey and takes him to an inn where the Samaritan pays the innkeeper to care for the man. Allow preschoolers to act out the lesson and share with one another. Alternatively, ask how they might feel if they found someone needing help and how to get an adult to share resources in a compassionate manner.

Believers in the early church shared their resources so all would have enough, according to Acts 4:32-37. The apostles of Jesus took the resources provided and divided them fairly. Have the preschoolers practice dividing toys or crayons so everyone has what she needs. Alternatively, ask them how they feel when someone shares with them or how they feel when sharing.