Opening song and prayer
2 minSing I Am a Child of God (Children's Songbook 2), then invite a child to offer the opening prayer.
The Potter's Hands
4 minHold up a lump of clay on a plate. Tell the class that Jeremiah watched a potter at work. When the pot was not turning out right, the potter did not throw it away. He squashed it down and started again.
Squash your clay flat, then roll it into a simple bowl or ball while you talk. Ask a child to try shaping their own piece. If it flops, show them how the potter can start over.
Explain that God told Jeremiah His people were like clay in His hands. He can help us change and become something better when we let Him.
- What did the potter do when the clay was not working?He reshaped it and tried again instead of throwing it away.
- Who is the potter in Jeremiah's lesson?The Lord. We are the clay.
- Does starting over mean God stopped loving the clay?No. Starting over is part of how the potter makes something good.
God knew Jeremiah before he was born
6 minJeremiah was young and did not think he could be a prophet. But the Lord said something amazing: before Jeremiah was born, before his mother even felt him kick, God already knew him and had chosen him for an important job.
That same truth applies to you. You lived with Heavenly Father before this life. He sent you here on purpose, with gifts and a mission only you can do.
- When did God say He knew Jeremiah?Before He formed him in the belly, before he was born.
- What does that teach us about premortal life?We existed as spirit children of Heavenly Father before we came to earth, and He knew us there.
- Jeremiah felt too young to speak for God. Did that stop the Lord from calling him?No. God promised to be with him and put His words in Jeremiah's mouth.
- What is one thing Heavenly Father might have sent you to earth to do?Let children answer. Be a good friend, help a sibling, learn a talent, stand for truth, bring peace to their family.
Jeremiah kept teaching when it was hard
6 minJeremiah told the people to repent and come back to God. Most of them did not listen. Some leaders got angry and threw him into a muddy pit so he could not speak.
That was scary and unfair. Jeremiah even cried out to the Lord about how hard it was. But he did not quit. He kept warning, kept praying, and kept trusting that God would fix things in the end, even when the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed.
- Did everyone cheer when Jeremiah taught the truth?No. Many people ignored him, and some leaders tried to stop him.
- What happened to Jeremiah when leaders were angry?They put him in a pit so he could not keep preaching. It was dangerous and lonely.
- Did Jeremiah stop loving God because life got hard?No. He struggled, but he kept obeying and speaking for the Lord.
- When is it hard for you to keep doing the right thing?Let children answer. When friends tease them, when nobody notices their good choices, when they feel alone at school.
Let God reshape you this week (optional)
optionalJeremiah saw a potter rework clay that had gone wrong. God can do that with us too. Repentance is not punishment. It is letting the Potter fix what is bent and make us new.
Pick one habit or attitude you want to change, and ask Heavenly Father to help you this week.
- In Jeremiah 18, what does the potter do with marred clay?He makes it into another vessel, as it seems good to the potter.
- What is one way we 'mar' our own clay?Let children answer. Being mean, lying, ignoring prayer, giving up when something is hard.
- Does God throw us away when we mess up?No. He invites us to repent so He can reshape us.
In the scriptures
5 minRead these together and talk about them.
Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
- What three things did the Lord say He did for Jeremiah before birth?He knew him, sanctified him (made him holy for the work), and ordained him a prophet.
- If God knew Jeremiah that early, what does that say about how well God knows you?He knows you completely, on purpose, and He has always cared about your life.
- How can remembering premortal life help you on a hard day?It reminds you that you are not an accident and that Heavenly Father still has a plan for you.
O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
- Who holds the clay in this verse?The potter, and the Lord says we are in His hand the same way.
- What does the clay have to do to be shaped?Stay in the potter's hand and let the potter work. We stay close to the Lord and let Him guide us.
- What is one choice you can make this week to stay in the Potter's hands?Let children answer. Pray each morning, read scriptures, say sorry quickly, ask a parent for help.
Reshape the clay
optionalGive each child their play dough again. Ask them to make something that represents a good choice they want to make this week.
If someone's sculpture falls apart, have them smash it flat and try again while you say, 'That is repentance. We start over with the Potter's help.'
Invite a few children to share what they made and why it matters.