Sunday Spotlight is where we share our Calvary Kids Bible lesson topic each week for kids of all ages. Use this lesson for a Family Night devotion or a preview/review time to talk about what your children are learning at Calvary on Sundays. These lessons correspond to the take-home cards your child receives each week. We post a new lesson here every Wednesday.

---

Sunday, May 24

Lesson Title: The Prophet Malachi

Bible Passage: Malachi

Key Passage: John 20:31

Big Picture Question: What is the Bible about? The Bible is the story of God’s plan to save people through Jesus.

Lesson Summary

The book of Malachi reveals how people who have experienced God's miraculous works can quickly turn away from following Him. God had delivered His people from captivity and helped them restore Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. And yet, shortly after their promise to obey the Lord’s commands, they were living in a way that was displeasing to Him. Complacency and corruption had replaced faithfulness to God’s Word. 
  
Malachi told the people they were offering blemished sacrifices. He revealed how their leaders—particularly the priests—were leading the people astray. Malachi also told the people they had dishonored God in their marriages in two ways: First, they married women of foreign descent who worshiped other gods. Secondly, men were divorcing their wives for unjust reasons that were selfish—treating marriage as if it were disposable.  
  
Despite the unfaithfulness of God's people, God again remained faithful. In Malachi 3, God told them that He had not destroyed them because they are His people. He called them to return to Him. He promised that if they returned to Him, He would return to them. God invited them to repent and return to Him just as He did time and time again throughout the Old Testament. 
  
As Malachi urged the people to return to God, he also foretold the coming Messiah—Jesus. Malachi spoke of the sun of righteousness who would bring healing—a picture of Jesus as the light of the world who would bring redemption. Specifically in Malachi 3, God shared His plan to send a messenger who would clear the way for the Messiah. In His sovereignty, God fulfilled this prophecy through the birth of John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus, as one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way for the Lord; make his paths straight" (Luke 3:4). 
  
The book of Malachi serves to remind us of the dangers of growing apathetic in our walk with the Lord. Help kids see how Malachi also reminds us that when we do fall short, God is faithful and ready to restore us when we turn back to Him. Through Jesus, we see God's grace and mercy to redeem and restore all who trust in Him. 

 
Christ Connection

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Malachi told the people to get people ready for Jesus, God’s Son, who came to save people from their sins.
• Younger Preschool: Malachi told everyone that another messenger, John the Baptist, would come to get people ready for Jesus, God’s Son, who came to save people from their sins.
• Older Preschool: Malachi was a messenger for God. He told about another messenger—John the Baptist—who would get people ready for the last messenger, Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son who came to rescue people from sin.
• Kids: Malachi told the people to turn away from sin as they looked forward to the promised Messiah. Years later, God sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for Jesus—the Messiah. Jesus brought a message of repentance and salvation.

Big Picture Question & Answer

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Preschool: What is the Bible about? The Bible is about God’s plan to save people through Jesus.
   
• Kids: What is the Bible about? The Bible is the story of God’s plan to save people through Jesus.

Key Passage

John 20:31  This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: These are written so you may believe Jesus is God’s Son. John 20:31
   
• Younger Preschool: These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah. John 20:31
   
• Older Preschool: These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. John 20:31
   
• Kids: These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. John 20:31

Next week: The Old Testament Points to Jesus (Luke 1; John 1)

---

And check out our playlist on Spotify — these songs are featured in our Kid Zone and Zone 345 worship time on Sundays. Sing along at home or on the road!

---