He’s Not a “Problem Kid,” He’s an “Artist”: Teaching the Calling of Matthew

Ever struggle to teach kids that God’s love isn’t based on being “good”?

It’s one thing to say, “Jesus loves you.” It’s another to show them He actively seeks out the unpopular, the messy, and the misunderstood. Teaching the “Jesus calls Matthew” lesson for kids is, without a doubt, the most powerful way to illustrate this.

But where do you start? How do you make the story of a “tax collector” relevant to a child?

You’ve come to the right place. We’ve put together the ultimate, all-in-one resource to help you teach this incredible story of transformation. This lesson is built on one simple, powerful truth: Jesus sees our potential, not just our past.

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The Main Point: You Are a New Creation!

Before you even open the Bible, this is the one big idea you want your kids to walk away with.

The key verse for this entire lesson is 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”.

This isn’t just about “being forgiven.” It’s about being made brand new. Jesus doesn’t just put a “good” sticker on a “bad” kid; He gives us a brand-new purpose and a fresh start.

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5-Minute Object Lesson: The “Clean Slate”

This is the perfect way to kick off your lesson and grab their attention. It visually demonstrates what Jesus’ forgiveness actually looks like.

Supplies Needed:

• A small whiteboard or chalkboard
• Dry-erase markers or chalk
• An eraser

Instructions:

1. Hold up the whiteboard. Draw a sad face or write negative words on it, like “Made a mistake,” “Left out,” “Angry,” or “Unpopular”.
2. Ask the kids: “Sometimes, this is how we see ourselves, or how we think others see us. These mistakes can feel stuck to us, right?”.
3. Hold up the eraser. Say, “But when Jesus gives us His invitation, He does something amazing. He doesn’t just cover up the mistakes… He wipes the slate clean!“.
4. Dramatically and completely wipe the board clean.
5. The Point: Jesus’ love is like this eraser. When we accept His invitation, He sees us as a brand-new, clean slate, ready for Him to write a beautiful new story on our hearts.

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Retelling the “Jesus Calls Matthew” Bible Story (Matthew 9:9-13)

Now that they’ve seen the main point, they’re ready to hear the story.

Keep it simple and relatable:

Start by asking, “Imagine the most unpopular kid in school… the one nobody wants to sit with at lunch”.

That’s who Matthew was. In Jesus’ time, nobody was less popular than a tax collector. People saw them as greedy traitors who worked for the enemy. Matthew was probably stuck with this label, disliked by everyone.

But Jesus didn’t see a “traitor.” He saw a heart that was ready for something new.

So, Jesus walked right up to Matthew’s tax booth—a place everyone else avoided —and gave him the best invitation ever. He just said two simple words: “Follow me”.

And what did Matthew do? He didn’t wait. He didn’t try to “clean up” his act first. He got up right away, left everything—his job, his money, his old life—and followed Him. He was so excited that he threw a huge party and invited all his friends (other tax collectors!) to meet Jesus, too.

This story teaches us three amazing things:

1. Jesus sees our hearts, not the labels people put on us.
2. We don’t have to fix ourselves before we come to Him; He invites us just as we are.
3. Following Jesus means leaving the old stuff behind to start a new adventure.

Want the full, print-and-go sermon script for this lesson? Download “The Best Invitation Ever” complete lesson pack here!

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Craft Idea: “Before & After” Self-Portrait

This craft is a powerful visual reminder that in Christ, we are made new.

Supplies Needed:

• A piece of paper for each child, folded in half like a card
• Crayons and markers
• Fun stickers (hearts, stars, crosses, smiley faces)

Instructions:

1. Have the kids label the left side of their folded paper “Before Jesus” and the right side “After Jesus”.
2. On the “Before” side: Ask them to draw a picture of themselves feeling sad, lonely, or making a mistake. They can use dark colors like gray and black to show how sin feels.
3. On the “After” side: Have them draw a new self-portrait with a happy, peaceful face. Encourage them to use bright, joyful colors.
4. Let them decorate the “After” side with stickers to show how beautiful their new life in Christ is.

When they’re done, they can take it home as a reminder that “the old has gone, the new is here!”.

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Game Idea: “Wipe the Slate Clean” Relay

Get the wiggles out with this fast-paced team game about the power of forgiveness.

Supplies Needed:

• Two small whiteboards
• Two markers and erasers

Instructions:

1. Divide the kids into two teams.
2. A leader writes a “mistake” word (like “Greedy,” “Lied,” “Selfish”) on the first player’s board.
3. The player runs to their team, who must quickly erase the word.
4. Once the board is clean, the team must all shout “MADE NEW!” and hold up the clean board.
5. The player runs back, and the next player goes. It’s a race to see who can wipe the slate clean the fastest!

We love creating games, crafts, and lessons that make the Bible come alive for kids. If these free resources bless your ministry or family, please consider making a donation to help us create more.

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Take-Home: Dinner Table Discussions

The lesson shouldn’t end on Sunday morning. Equip your parents to carry the conversation home with these simple dinner-table discussion questions.

1. Jesus invited Matthew to follow him even though others didn’t like him. Who is someone at school or in our neighborhood that we could invite or be extra kind to this week?.
2. Matthew left his old life behind right away. What is one “old” thing (like a bad habit or a selfish attitude) that we can ask Jesus to help us leave behind?.
3. How does it make you feel to know that God sees what you can become, not just the mistakes you’ve made in the past?.

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Get the Complete Lesson Pack!

This blog post is just a snapshot of the full lesson. Our complete, ad-free printable lesson pack, “The Best Invitation Ever,” includes:

• Full Sermon Script
• Q&A Review
• Additional Game Ideas
• Family Activity Page
• And more!

Click here to download the complete “Best Invitation Ever” lesson now!