Gospel Sparks Get the app

Arise and Shine!

A flashlight in the dark, the day Jesus read Isaiah in His hometown, and a taped-up heart

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 42
  • 📅 Sunday, October 18, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus Christ is the Light who came to heal and help everyone, and I can shine His light by helping others.

I can shine like Jesus by helping people who are sad or hungry and by making Sunday a happy day for Him.

Study it yourself firstRead Isaiah 58–66 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Isaiah 58–66)
Know the chapters

Isaiah 58–66 closes the book of Isaiah with bright, hopeful chapters. Isaiah 61:1–3 describes what the promised Savior would come to do. He’d bring good news to humble people, heal broken hearts and set captives free. He’d give “beauty for ashes” to people who were grieving. In Isaiah’s day, deeply sad people put ashes on their heads. The Lord promises to trade those ashes for something beautiful. About 700 years later, Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth and read this very passage. Then He said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” That true story, in Luke 4:16–21, is today’s story. Luke 4:28–30 tells how some neighbors turned against Him, but our story ends before that part.

Isaiah 58 teaches about fasting. In 58:6–7, the Lord says the fast He wants shares bread with the hungry and helps people in need. In 58:8 He promises that our light will “break forth as the morning.” One Sunday each month, members who are able go without food and drink for two meals. They pray and give a fast offering, and the bishop uses it to help people in need. Children are never forced to fast. They can start small when they and their parents feel ready. Anyone whose health would be harmed shouldn’t fast. Even little ones can pray with their family and help give the offering. The same chapter invites us to “call the sabbath a delight,” in 58:13.

Isaiah 60:1 is a wonderful verse for young children: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.” Jesus Christ is the Light of the World. When we follow Him, His light shines through us and helps others find their way. Isaiah 65:17–25 looks forward to when Jesus comes again. There’ll be a new earth where the wolf and the lamb eat together. Nobody will hurt or be afraid.

For ages 4–6, keep one idea. Jesus came to help and heal, and we can shine His light by helping too. You tell the story and read Jesus’s words. The kids join in from their seats. Tie it to baptism. When we’re baptized, we promise to help people who are sad and in need, as Mosiah 18:8–9 teaches. That’s exactly the work Jesus announced in Nazareth.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring a flashlight, tape and a paper heart torn in two. Tell the Nazareth story in Teach Mode while kids listen for the word “scroll.” Say “Arise, shine” with motions and do The Taped-Up Heart. Close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The flashlight becomes an eyes-closed game, and two kids’ hands become the paper heart.

What to bring2 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Cut a big heart from paper and tear it in two. Keep the tape handy.
  2. Find the light switch. Test how dark the room gets.

If your class is wild

  • Listening for “scroll” keeps little ears busy. Smile at every rolling hand you see.
  • Give your wiggliest kid the Light Helper job. They flip the light switch in the hook.
  • Seat each 4- or 5-year-old by a 6-year-old buddy. Little ones copy the motions, and big kids love to help.
  • Make scene 5 your quietest moment. Count five silent seconds on your fingers. Tap Noise Meter if you like.
  • In The Taped-Up Heart, only kids showing sunbeam hands get a turn with the tape. It keeps hands up and bodies seated.

The 25-minute plan25 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Lights Out!

3 min

A dark room and a flashlight show why we need light.

  1. SAY“When I count to three, it’s going to get dark. Stay in your seat! One, two, three…”
  2. The Light Helper turns off the lights. Click on the flashlight and sweep it around the room.
  3. SAY“Light helps us see! Isaiah said, ‘Arise, shine.’ And Jesus is the Light of the World.”
  4. Turn the lights back on.
  5. SAY“Today Jesus tells everyone who He is!”

Class screen: 🔦 Lights out! Who is the Light? · 🔦 Who is the Light?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (or a phone flashlight)

Eyes Closed, Eyes Open

  1. SAY“Everybody close your eyes tight. Can you point to the door?”
  2. Let them point with eyes closed. Then call “Open!” and laugh together at where they pointed.
  3. SAY“Light helps us see! Isaiah said, ‘Arise, shine.’ And Jesus is the Light of the World.”
  4. SAY“Today Jesus tells everyone who He is!”

Class screen: 🙈 Eyes closed! Can you find the door? · 👀 Where’s the door?

2. Story

Story: Jesus Reads Isaiah in Nazareth

7 min

A true story shows Jesus saying that Isaiah’s promise of a Healer was about Him.

  1. SAY“This is a true story about Jesus. Listen for the word ‘scroll.’ Roll your hands each time you hear it.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. Read each scene, and watch for rolling hands. Big kids can read the caption first.
  3. Make scene 5 as quiet as you can. Count the five silent seconds on your fingers.
  4. After scene 7, ask, “Who did Isaiah write about?” Jesus! Then ask, “What did Jesus come to do?” He came to heal and help.
🌪️ If the room drifts, whisper “scroll” and watch the hands start rolling.

Class screen: 📜 Jesus Reads Isaiah in Nazareth · 👂 Listen for “scroll” · 📜 Roll, roll, roll!

3. Wiggle break

Sunrise, Shine!

2 min

A quick stretch that previews the key verse.

  1. SAY“Everyone stand up. Now crouch down low, like the sun hiding behind a hill.”
  2. Rise up slowly, slowly. Then jump with sunbeam hands: “Shine!” Sink back down. Do it three times, faster each time.
  3. The last time, rise very slowly. Sit down glowing with a big smile.

Class screen: 🌅 Rise up slowly… SHINE!

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Isaiah 60:1

3 min

Motions help every age remember that Jesus is the Light and we can shine too.

  1. SAY“Isaiah has a wake-up call for us.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Let a big kid read it.
  3. SAY“Arise means stand up. Shine means let your light show. Jesus is the Light. When we follow Him, we shine too.”
  4. Teach the motions. First say it seated in a whisper. Then sit tall and say it normally. Last, stand up and say it brightly.
  5. Ask, “How can you shine Jesus’s light at home this week?” Listen for ideas like sharing, helping, smiling or saying something kind.

Class screen: ☀️ Arise, shine; for thy light is come.

5. Object lesson

The Taped-Up Heart

7 min

Kids practice ways to help sad people, the way Jesus heals and helps.

  1. SAY“Isaiah said Jesus would heal broken hearts. What makes a heart feel sad?”
  2. Hold up the two heart pieces and take three answers. Then read Isaiah 61:1 from your phone or tablet: “to bind up the brokenhearted.”
  3. SAY“Bind up means wrap it up, like a bandage. Let’s all say it. He heals!”
  4. Describe a sad moment: “A new kid sits alone.” “A friend fell down.” “Grandma is sick.” For each, a child shares how to help and adds tape.
  5. SAY“Look at our heart! It still has marks, but it’s together again. Jesus heals hearts, and He lets us help. You’re His pieces of tape!”
🌪️ Only kids showing sunbeam hands get a turn with the tape. It keeps hands up and bodies seated.

Class screen: ❤️‍🩹 How can we help a sad heart? · ☀️ Sunbeam hands if you know! · ❤️ He heals!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A paper heart torn into two pieces, plus a roll of clear tape

Hand-Heart Helpers

  1. SAY“Isaiah said Jesus would heal broken hearts.”
  2. Two helpers stand apart at the front. Each makes half a heart with their hands. Read Isaiah 61:1 from your phone or tablet: “to bind up the brokenhearted.”
  3. SAY“Bind up means wrap it up, like a bandage. Let’s all say it. He heals!”
  4. Describe a sad moment: “A new kid sits alone.” “A friend fell down.” “Grandma is sick.” For each good idea, the two halves step closer.
  5. SAY“Look, a whole heart! Jesus heals hearts, and He lets us help!”

Class screen: 🫶 Every helping idea brings the heart closer! · ☀️ Sunbeam hands if you know! · ❤️ He heals!

6. Testimony

Shine Your Light

3 min

End quietly with the teacher’s witness that Jesus is the Light and an invitation to shine.

  1. SAY“Let’s hold our hands up by our faces, like little lights. And let’s get very quiet.”
  2. Share a sentence or two about how Jesus has been a light for you. Or tell about a time someone helped you when you were sad.
  3. SAY“When you help someone, Jesus’s light shines through you.”
  4. Show the Shine Like Jesus challenge on the screen.
  5. Ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat after you, a few words at a time.

Class screen: ✨ Jesus is the Light. I can shine!

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Arise and Shine Edition

4 minBONUS

A quick Heads Up–style review of the story words.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. The guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead. Everyone gives clues from their seats. Little ones can show a motion.
  3. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team quiz reviews the lesson.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Sunshine versus Team Scroll!”
  2. Split into two teams, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud. The team whispers, then points to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

Jesus Reads Isaiah in Nazareth

Luke 4:16–22; Isaiah 61:1–3 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Light HelperFlips the light switch in the hook. Leads the sunbeam hands at the end of the story.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. 📜✍️ Isaiah writes a promise

    Long before Jesus was born, Isaiah wrote down some special words. People kept them safe on a long scroll. One day the Savior would read them out loud: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me.”

    🙌

  2. 🏡🕍 Jesus comes home to Nazareth

    When Jesus was grown up, He came home to Nazareth. That’s the little town where He grew up. On the Sabbath, He went to the synagogue. That was a place to worship God, like our church.

    🙌

  3. 📜🙌 The scroll of Isaiah

    Jesus stood up to read. A helper brought Him the scroll of Isaiah. Jesus unrolled it, and unrolled it, until He found just the right place.

    🙌

  4. 💔➡️❤️ Good news for sad hearts

    Jesus read Isaiah’s words out loud. God had sent Him to bring good news. He came to heal broken hearts and to set people free. He came to help blind people see.

    🙌 Make a heart with your hands: “He heals!”

  5. 👀🤫 Every eye was on Him

    Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back, and sat down. Nobody moved. Nobody made a sound. Everyone was looking at Him.

    🙌 Finger to lips: “Shhh…” Five silent seconds!

  6. ✨🗣️ “Today it came true!”

    Then Jesus said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.” What did that mean? Isaiah was writing about Jesus! He was the One God sent.

    🙌

  7. 👑☀️ Jesus helps, and we can too

    And that’s what Jesus did. He healed the sick and comforted the sad. He helped people start over. Isaiah said He gives “beauty for ashes.” He turns sad into glad! And He asks us to help Him.

    🙌 Sunbeam hands: “We shine!”

Key verse

Isaiah 60:1 ↗
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come”
In kid words: Stand up and shine! Jesus, the Light, has come.
🙌 “Arise” = stand up fast · “shine” = open your hands wide by your face like sunbeams · “for thy light” = point up · “is come” = bring your hands down to your heart.

More verses

Isaiah 61:1 ↗
“he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted”
In kid words: Jesus came to fix broken hearts.
Isaiah 61:3 ↗
“to give unto them beauty for ashes”
In kid words: Jesus trades sad for glad, like trading dusty ashes for a crown.
Isaiah 58:7 ↗
“Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry”
In kid words: Share your bread with people who are hungry.
Isaiah 58:13 ↗
“call the sabbath a delight”
In kid words: Sunday can be a happy, special day with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

Forehead Guess words17 words

  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 🕯️ Candle
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 👑 Crown
  • ❤️ Heart
  • 🩹 Bandage
  • ⛓️ Chains
  • 👀 Eyes
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🧺 Basket
  • 📅 Calendar
  • 🐺 Wolf
  • 🐑 Lamb
  • 🦁 Lion
  • 🌻 Garden
  • 🍽️ Plate
Clues for each word
  • Sun: It shines in the sky every morning
  • Flashlight: Click! Light in the dark
  • Candle: A little flame that gives light
  • Scroll: Jesus unrolled one and read Isaiah
  • Crown: Beauty for ashes! Wear it on your head
  • Heart: Jesus heals broken ones
  • Bandage: Put it on an owie
  • Chains: Jesus sets people free from these
  • Eyes: Jesus helped blind people use theirs
  • Bread: Share it with people who are hungry
  • Basket: Carry food in it
  • Calendar: Shows the days of the week
  • Wolf: Howls “Awoooo!” Someday it will eat with a lamb
  • Lamb: A baby sheep that says “baa”
  • Lion: Roars! Someday it will eat straw
  • Garden: Where flowers grow when you water them
  • Plate: Put food on it and share it
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did Jesus grow up?
    • A. Nazareth 🏡
    • B. Babylon
    • C. The North Pole ❄️
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Nazareth 🏡 Jesus came home to Nazareth and read Isaiah in the synagogue.

  2. What did the helper give Jesus to read?
    • A. A newspaper 📰
    • B. The scroll of Isaiah 📜
    • C. A menu
    Show answer

    ✅ B. The scroll of Isaiah 📜 Jesus unrolled it until He found just the right place.

  3. Isaiah said Jesus would heal broken…
    • A. Toys 🧸
    • B. Bikes 🚲
    • C. Hearts ❤️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Hearts ❤️ Isaiah 61:1. Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted.

  4. What did Jesus say about Isaiah’s words?
    • A. “They came true today!”
    • B. “They’re too old.”
    • C. “I don’t know.”
    Show answer

    ✅ A. “They came true today!” Luke 4:21. Isaiah was writing about Jesus!

  5. Instead of ashes, what does Jesus give?
    • A. Mud
    • B. Beauty, like a crown 👑
    • C. More ashes
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Beauty, like a crown 👑 Isaiah 61:3. Jesus turns sad into glad.

  6. Isaiah 60:1 says: “Arise, …”
    • A. Sneeze 🤧
    • B. Sleep 😴
    • C. Shine ☀️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Shine ☀️ “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.” Jesus is the Light!

  7. Isaiah said to call the Sabbath a…
    • A. Chore
    • B. Delight 😊
    • C. Race 🏁
    Show answer

    ✅ B. Delight 😊 Isaiah 58:13. Sunday is a happy, special day with Heavenly Father and Jesus.

  8. When Jesus comes again, the wolf and the lamb will…
    • A. Eat together 🐺🐑
    • B. Fight
    • C. Hide
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Eat together 🐺🐑 Isaiah 65:25. Nobody will hurt or be afraid.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Jesus came to help and heal. When we help too, we’re trying to be like Him. Find it ↗

  • Give, Said the Little Stream Children’s Songbook, p. 236

    Pairs with the Share Your Bread Relay extra: even little ones can give. Find it ↗

  • When He Comes Again Children’s Songbook, p. 82

    Isaiah 65 looks forward to the peaceful earth when Jesus comes again. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Shine Like Jesus

Every day this week, do one thing that helps someone. Share a snack, help a sad friend or help your family get ready for church. On Sunday, tell your family how you shined.

Text the parents

This week we learned that Jesus is the Light Isaiah promised. We heard how Jesus read Isaiah in Nazareth and said, “This day is this scripture fulfilled.” Then we taped a broken paper heart back together. It showed that Jesus heals sad hearts and lets us help. Our verse was Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.” Ask your child, “How can you shine Jesus’s light this week?” On the next fast Sunday, invite your child to pray with you and help give your fast offering.

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🍞 Share Your Bread Relay · 4 min

  1. Make 8 to 10 balls of scrap paper for bread. Put them at one end of the room. Put a basket or box labeled “Bishop” at the other end.
  2. Read Isaiah 58:7: “deal thy bread to the hungry.”
  3. SAY“When families fast, they give money to the bishop. He uses it to help people who need food.”
  4. Kids stand in a line and pass the bread hand to hand into the basket. Time it with the Big Timer, then try to beat it.
  5. SAY“Look how much we shared when everyone helped! That’s what fast offerings do.”

📅 Sabbath Week Dash · 2 min

  1. Everyone stands. Call out a day and its action. Monday, march! Tuesday, tiptoe! Wednesday, wiggle! Thursday, jump! Friday, fly! Saturday, spin slowly!
  2. Then call, “SUNDAY!” Everyone stops, folds their arms, smiles big and whisper-shouts, “A delight!”
  3. Show Isaiah 58:13 on your phone or tablet.
  4. SAY“Isaiah said to call the Sabbath a delight. That means a happy, special day with Heavenly Father and Jesus.”

📦 Box of Sabbath Delights · 5 min

  1. Give each child a small piece of paper. Big kids write one happy thing to do on Sunday. Little ones draw it.
  2. Fold them up and put them in a box or envelope labeled “Sabbath Delights.”
  3. Each week, let one child pull out an idea and read or show it to the class.

🐺 Wolf and Lamb Freeze · 3 min

  1. Read Isaiah 65:25: “The wolf and the lamb shall feed together.”
  2. Call out an animal, like wolf, lamb, lion or bear. Kids make its sound and motion from their seats. Call “Jesus comes again!” and everyone freezes, then sits peacefully by a friend.
  3. SAY“When Jesus comes again, no one will hurt or be afraid.”

🟤 Soft Clay Hearts · 4 min

  1. Read Isaiah 64:8: “we are the clay, and thou our potter.”
  2. Give each child a small ball of play dough to shape into a heart.
  3. SAY“Soft clay can be shaped. When our hearts are soft, we’re ready to listen. Then Heavenly Father can help us become more like Jesus.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

All CTR 4–6 lessons