Preteen Bible Message: Why Did God Make Me the Way I Am?

In this preteen Bible message, kids create a balance as they discover how God loves us—flaws and all.

Scripture: Ephesians 2:10

Supplies:

• Bibles
• copies of Bold Action Student Books page 31 (1 copy per preteen)
• pencils
• clothes hangers with notches for clothing straps (1 for every 2 preteens)
• paper cups (2 per pair)
• hole punches
• string
• scissors
• salt
• pennies (4 per preteen)
• water

Preteen Bible Message

Distribute copies of the Bold Action Student Books page 31 and pencils to each preteen.

Say: As we grow and change through our lives, we all may have times when we wish we were different. We might question why God made us the way he did.

Let’s explore what the Bible tells us compared to what we may think about ourselves.

Make a Balance

Give each pair a hanger and two cups. Set out string, hole punches, and scissors to share. Have preteens work in pairs to make balances, following these steps:

• Punch three holes around the lip of each cup.
• Tie a piece of string through each hole.
• Tie the three strings together, then attach each cup to a side of the hanger. If the hanger has notches for straps, pairs can hang the string from that.
• One partner will hold the hanger by the hook to ensure it balances. If necessary, the other partner can shorten strings to make it even.

Measure Our Flaws

Say: You just made a balance. When we think of things about ourselves we wish were different, it’s kind of like adding weight to one side of our balance. Have one preteen in each pair hold the balance. Provide salt to each pair. Invite kids to each name something people might think of as a flaw, then their partners will add a pinch of salt to the cup on the right.

Some ideas include:

• Struggling with a school subject
• Not having “enough” friends
• Being “too loud,” “too quiet,” or too anything

Ask:

• How does what’s happening to our balance scale give us a picture of what happens to how we see ourselves when we focus on our flaws.

Measure Our Value

Say: Let’s see what the Bible tells us about how God created us. Have a preteen read Ephesians 2:10 from the copy of the Bold Action Student Book page 31.

Ask:

• What do you think this verse tells us about our flaws?

Say: This verse says we’re God’s masterpiece. A masterpiece is amazing! Give each preteen who’s not holding the balance scale a penny. Then have them look their partners in the eye and say, “[Name of partner], you are God’s masterpiece.” As they say this blessing, they’ll drop the penny in the left cup of the balance.

Continue in this manner, having kids swap who’s holding the balance for each verse. You’ll have a preteen read each verse on the student book page aloud, and then kids will discuss what the verse tells them about their flaws. Finally, the child with the penny will repeat the blessing to the child holding the balance and drop the penny in the penny cup.

After you’ve gone through all the verses, have preteens each think of one positive thing to say about themselves and drop a penny in the cup. Make sure both partners do this.

Say: And last but not least, let’s add a penny for today’s Bold Bible Truth: Jesus loves you…just the way you are! Have a preteen in each pair add their final penny.

These pennies represent the fact that when God created each of us, the Bible tells us, he did so carefully and intentionally because he has a special plan for us.

Ask:

• What do you notice about what happened to the balance scale as we added pennies?
• Now that you’ve heard these verses, how do you feel about the way God made you?
• What’s one way a flaw of yours can be a positive thing? Share your own preteen-friendly example first, such as how being too talkative at times can also mean you’re a welcoming, friendly person.

Make the Flaws Disappear

Say: Jesus loves us. He knows we’re not perfect. Instead of worrying about all our flaws, we can focus on the fact that God made us the way we are on purpose. Sometimes our flaws make us stronger, more compassionate, even more faithful. God created each of us, flaws and all, for his unique purpose. And he created us in his image.

When we ask Jesus to help us understand our flaws, we might just see something amazing happen. Have preteens hold their balances as you add water to both sides of the scale.

Ask:

• What happened to the pennies when I added water? the salt?

Say: Adding water showed us what’s real and true. The reality is God created us so carefully and with a special purpose. That’s what we see when we look at the pennies—when we add water, those truths don’t change. But on the other side, all the flaws we get so focused on disappear when we add water. God doesn’t make mistakes—not when he made you, me, or anyone else.

You don’t have to be perfect—that’s something only God can do. And Jesus loves you just the way you are.

This preteen Bible message comes from a lesson in Group’s BE BOLD Sunday school curriculum for preteens. For even more Bible messages, check out these posts!