In Luke 6:17–26, Jesus teaches true blessing in a way that surprises many people. Instead of saying blessings come from wealth or popularity, Jesus explains that real blessings come from trusting God and following His ways.
This Sunday school lesson helps children understand how Jesus teaches true blessing in Luke 6:17–26 and why God’s definition of blessing is different from the world’s. It fits perfectly into an Epiphany series focused on learning who Jesus is and what He teaches us.
Bible Focus: Jesus Teaches True Blessing in Luke 6:17–26
Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17–26
In this passage, Jesus teaches His disciples and the crowd that God is close to people who are poor, hungry, sad, or treated unfairly. Jesus teaches true blessing by showing that trusting God matters more than having money, power, or praise from others.
Jesus teaches true blessing by showing us that trusting God leads to real joy and hope.
Bible Story
Jesus gathered with His disciples, and many people came to hear Him speak. As Jesus talked to the crowd, He explained that God blesses people who trust Him, even when life feels hard.
In Luke 6:17–26, Jesus teaches true blessing by reminding everyone that God’s love does not depend on how much we have. Instead, blessing comes from staying close to God and caring for others.
Discussion Questions
- What are some things people think will make them happy?
- Why does Jesus teach true blessing differently than the world?
- How can we trust God this week?
- How can we help people who are hurting?
Moral Lessons
1. God loves us, and we can trust Him.
God is always with us and takes care of us, just like a loving parent, so we can trust Him no matter what.
2. God cares when people are sad or hurt.
When someone feels sad, hungry, or lonely, God sees them and loves them very much.
3. Jesus is better than having lots of stuff.
Toys and things are fun, but Jesus’ love lasts forever and makes our hearts happy.
4. Jesus wants us to be kind and help others.
Jesus teaches us to share, help, and be gentle with the people around us.
5. Following Jesus makes us truly happy.
When we listen to Jesus and do what He teaches, our hearts feel full of joy and peace.
Memory Verse
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”
— Luke 6:20 (NRSV)
Activity Ideas
Blessed Hearts Craft
Give each child a paper heart. Ask them to draw or write:
- One way they can trust God
- One way they can show kindness to others
God’s Way vs. the World’s Way
Read pairs aloud and let kids respond:
- Being kind vs. being mean
- Sharing vs. keeping everything
- Trusting God vs. trusting money
Why This Story Matters
When Jesus teaches true blessing in Luke 6:17–26, He helps children understand that God’s love and favor are not based on how much we have or how important we seem. This story matters because kids are already learning messages from the world that say happiness comes from being popular, rich, or successful. Jesus gently turns that idea upside down and teaches that God’s blessing is found in trusting Him, caring for others, and living with compassion. By learning this story, children begin to see that following Jesus leads to a deeper kind of joy that lasts, even when life feels hard.
Read More:
- Jesus Is Our Light: John 1:10–18
- Baptism of Jesus: Luke 3:22
- Come and See Jesus: John 1:29–42
- Following Jesus: Mark 1:14–20
- Jesus Has Authority and Power: Luke 4:31–37
- Jesus Calls Us to Follow Him: Luke 5:1–11