Are you searching for a powerful and engaging way to teach the story of Joshua, Caleb, and the twelve spies? It can be a challenge to explain big concepts like faith over fear to young hearts. How do you make a story about giants, grapes, and forty years in the desert relevant to a child’s life today?
You’ve come to the right place!
This complete Joshua and Caleb lesson for kids is packed with everything you need for a memorable Sunday School class, children’s church service, or at-home Bible study. We’ve included a simple object lesson, fun games, and easy crafts to bring the message to life. Let’s dive in!
The Story: Two Brave Spies vs. Ten Scared Ones
The Bible story, found in Numbers 13 and 14, is a powerful tale of perspective. God had promised His people a beautiful new home, the Promised Land. To see what it was like, Moses sent twelve spies to explore it.
When they returned, they all agreed the land was amazing! But ten of the spies were terrified. They said, “The people there are huge! They are giants, and we felt as small as grasshoppers. We can’t possibly win.”
But two spies, Joshua and Caleb, saw things differently. They didn’t focus on the giants; they focused on God. They stood up and said, “Do not be afraid… the Lord is with us.” (Numbers 14:9). They believed God would keep His promise.
Because the people chose to listen to fear instead of faith, they had to wander in the desert for forty years. But God remembered the faithfulness of Joshua and Caleb and promised they would one day enter that good land.
The Main Point: Choosing Faith When Others Choose Fear
The core lesson for our kids is simple but profound:
Giants may look big, but our God is bigger. Joshua and Caleb saw the exact same challenges as the other ten spies, but they had a different focus.
This lesson teaches children that:
- Faith means trusting God, not the opinion of the crowd.
- Courage comes from remembering God’s power, not focusing on our weakness.
- God always keeps His promises, even if it takes a long time.
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Quick & Powerful Object Lesson: “The Heavy Backpack”
This 5-minute object lesson is perfect for grabbing kids’ attention and illustrating the difference between carrying our worries alone versus giving them to God.
Supplies:
- A large, heavy backpack (filled with books)
- A small, light backpack
- A small Bible
How it Works:
- Show the Heavy Backpack: Hold up the big, heavy backpack. Ask for a volunteer to try and carry it. Explain, “This heavy backpack is like our fears, worries, and problems. When we see ‘giants’ in our lives, our problems can feel this heavy.”
- Show the Light Backpack: Now, hold up the small, light backpack. It’s easy to carry! Explain that this is what our problems feel like when we trust God with them.
- The Big Reveal: Pull the small Bible out of the light backpack. Say, “This is why this bag is so light! When we put God and His promises first, He helps make our problems feel lighter.”
This simple illustration makes the abstract idea of “giving your fears to God” tangible and easy for kids to understand.
Fun & Easy Crafts to Bring the Lesson Home
Reinforce the message with these simple crafts that kids can make and take home as a reminder of what they learned.
1. Faith Glasses Craft 👓
- Supplies: Cardboard glasses template, clear plastic wrap (or cellophane), markers.
- Instructions: Have kids decorate the lenses of their “Faith Glasses” with words like “Trust,” “Believe,” “God is Bigger,” and “God is Able.” When they look through them, it’s a reminder to see their challenges through the eyes of faith, just like Joshua and Caleb did.
2. “Faith Spy” Badge ⭐
- Supplies: Cardstock circles, safety pins or tape, markers.
- Instructions: Let kids design their own special agent badges that read, “Faith Spy: I See God’s Promises.” They can wear them proudly as a reminder to be on the lookout for God’s goodness and power.
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Get Them Moving! 4 Awesome Joshua and Caleb Games
Channel that kid energy with these fun games that connect directly to the Bible story.
- Spy Relay: Divide kids into teams. They must race to sneak into the “Promised Land” (the other side of the room), grab a piece of fruit (a toy block or ball), and return without being tagged by a “Giant” (a leader). It teaches courage and focus!
- Giant or Grasshopper: The leader calls out a challenging scenario like, “You have a big test tomorrow” or “You have to move to a new school.” If the kids choose to respond with faith, they jump up tall like a GIANT. If they choose fear, they crouch down low like a GRASSHOPPER.
- Promised Land Treasure Hunt: Hide paper “treasures” (like fruit cutouts) around the room. Place a few large paper “giant footprints” as obstacles. If a player steps on a footprint, they are frozen until a teammate tags them free. This shows how faith helps us move forward even when there are obstacles.
- Pass the Promise: Have kids sit in a circle. Pass a soft ball around. When a child catches the ball, they share one of God’s promises (e.g., “He is always with me,” “He gives me strength”). This reinforces the source of Joshua and Caleb’s courage.
Get the Complete Sermon & Lesson Plan (Free PDF)
We’ve taken all these ideas—the sermon, object lesson, Q&A, games, and crafts—and put them into one beautifully designed, easy-to-use PDF lesson plan. It’s perfect for printing and using this Sunday!
[Click Here to Download Your Free “Two Brave Spies” Lesson Plan!]
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We pray this Joshua and Caleb lesson for kids blesses you and the children you minister to. May we all learn to have the courage to see with eyes of faith, not fear, and trust that our God is bigger than any giant we may face.
