Colossians 3
Explanation and Bible story for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 3-6)
The Explanation
It was quiet in a small room. On the floor sat a man. His name was Paul. He had ink on his fingers. Paul was writing a letter.
The letter went far, far away. Over the hills. Over the sea. To a town where his friends lived.
There the friends sat close together. Someone opened the letter. Everyone listened. And this is what Paul had written.
"Listen," said Paul. "Look at your clothes. Some clothes are old and dirty. You must take those off."
The friends looked at each other. What clothes did Paul mean?
Paul meant the angry shouting. He meant the mean words. He meant telling lies. Those are old, dirty clothes. They smell. Take them off, said Paul. Lay them down.
"And now," said Paul, "put on new clothes."
New clothes? Yes! Warm and soft and clean. A soft coat of being kind. Warm socks of saying sorry. A hat that says: I forgive you.
What Does This Mean?
Where do those new clothes come from? You cannot buy them in a shop.
Jesus gives them. Jesus loves you. He says: you are Mine, and I chose you.
Jesus is alive. He is with God, high above the clouds. And your heart is safe with Him. Safe, like a little bird in two big hands.
The Common Thread
Jesus never says, "I will not forgive you."
When you have done something wrong, He says, "Come here. I forgive you." And He holds you tight.
And then Jesus says something soft. He says: now you do it too. Forgive each other. Be kind to each other. Just like I am kind to you.
Paul wrote it down for everybody. For big people and little people. For people far away and people next door. Jesus is for all of them.
For You
So Paul wrote one more thing in his letter, just for you.
Listen well, children, said Paul. Do what your mum and dad ask you. That makes Jesus glad.
And when your sister takes your car? Your face gets hot. Your hands want to grab. That is the old, dirty coat.
Take it off. Put on the soft one.
You can say: "You may play with it too." You can say: "Sorry." You can sing a song for Jesus. You can say thank you to God for your bread.
Whatever you do, do it for Jesus. When you build. When you eat. When you help. When you sing.
Because Jesus is here. And He sees you. And He loves you.
Which new clothes will you put on today: being kind, saying sorry, or forgiving?
What can you say thank you to God for right now?
Praying Together
Dear Jesus,
Thank You that You love me.
Sometimes I shout. Sometimes I am mean.
Please take that away.
Give me Your kind coat today.
Help me to be nice to Mum and Dad.
Help me to be nice to my sister and my brother.
Thank You that You forgive me.
Thank You that I am Yours.
Amen.
Questions about Colossians 3
Short answers for anyone reading about this for the first time.
What is Colossians 3 about?
What does Colossians 3 say?
What does Colossians 3 teach us about God?
What can toddlers learn from Colossians 3?
Why is Colossians 3 an important Bible story?
What others discovered
Paul wrote this to household slaves, people whose work was never praised, never credited, never theirs. "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord, and not for men." So the dishes at midnight count. The spreadsheet no one thanks you for counts. Someone is watching who never misses a thing.
for which things' sake the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience." Paul has just called greed idolatry. God's anger is not a mood swing, it is love refusing to shrug at what is killing you. And read on: "You also once walked in those." He is not pointing at strangers. He remembers where you came from.
Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth." Notice Paul has to command it. Your mind does not drift upward on its own. It settles wherever you last left it: the unpaid bill, the argument, the phone. Setting your mind is something you do, again this morning, and again tonight.
Paul could have told the parents to make their children obey. Instead he turns and speaks straight to the children: "Children, obey your parents in all things, for this pleases the Lord." They were in the room when that letter was read aloud. Their small, ordinary obedience counted as worship, seen by God when no one else was watching. Some of yours still does.
Looking for something for slightly older children?
We also have dedicated versions for elementary age (7-12) and teens (12 and up).
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