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Come to Jesus

A heavy “oof” bag, a curled-up hand that stretches out, a little lost sheep, and Jesus who says, “Come!”

  • 🧸 Nursery
  • Week 11
  • 📅 Sunday, March 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I come to Jesus, He helps me.

I can wave “come” and remember that Jesus helps me.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 11–12; Luke 11 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 11–12; Luke 11)
Know the chapters

In Matthew 11:28–30 Jesus invites everyone who is tired and carrying heavy loads to come to Him, and promises rest. In Matthew 12:9–13 He goes to the synagogue on the Sabbath and meets a man with a withered hand. Jesus reminds the watching leaders that anyone would lift their sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath, says it is right to do good on the Sabbath, and tells the man, “Stretch forth thine hand.” The man stretches it out and it is healed. Luke 11 adds that Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts to those who ask Him (Luke 11:9–13).

For toddlers, the whole lesson is two motions: a waving hand that says “Come!” and a curled-up hand that stretches wide open. Toddlers know “heavy” with their whole bodies, and they love lifting, carrying and being helped. Wave “come,” give a hug and say “Come to Jesus!” over and over, in the lesson and in play time. Sunday is the day we come to church to be close to Him.

Don’t expect sitting, sharing or answers; a toddler who wanders off while you talk is still listening. Do every motion yourself so they can copy you. Nobody plays Jesus: you read His words, and everyone stretches out their own hand. The lesson is six minutes; the play-time ideas below repeat the same idea for the rest of nursery.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a tote bag with a few board books in it and a picture of Jesus. Lift the heavy bag with an “Oof!” and let everyone help, swipe through the six-picture story on your phone or tablet, do the curl-and-stretch wiggle, wave “come” and hug while you say “Come to Jesus!” and end with “I know Jesus loves you.” For play time, pick three ideas below. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: you carry a pretend giant bag, and your phone or tablet shows the pictures.

What to bring5 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. Pack the tote bag and keep it closed until the hook. Board books and soft toys only: nothing that would hurt if it dropped on a toe.
  2. Open the Sound Board on your phone or tablet and find the magic, cheer and bells buttons. Turn the volume low.
  3. Sweep the floor with your eyes and hands for anything small. Quick test: if it fits through a toilet-paper tube, it’s a choking hazard and goes up high or away.
  4. Decide with the other adult who leads the lesson and who greets and comforts at the door. There are always two adults in nursery.
  5. Practice the key motion: wave your hand “come here,” then give yourself a hug while you say “Come to Jesus!”

If your class is wild

  • Tears at drop-off are normal and usually pass in a few minutes. Let the other adult hold the crying child near the fun, and say softly, “Mommy will come back. Come see the sheep!” A quick, happy goodbye is easier than sneaking parents out.
  • Toddlers love to carry things, and everyone will want the bag. Let two or three help at once with your hands on the straps too, and say, “We’re helping! Jesus helps us.”
  • Nobody has to sit. Lead from the floor at their level and keep going; toddlers who wander still hear you and often copy the motions from across the room.
  • Follow your ward’s policy for diapers and potty trips, and never leave one adult alone with the class or go off alone with one child.

The 25-minute plan6 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

Oof! A Heavy Bag

1 min

A big “Oof!” and a bag that’s easier with helpers pulls scattered toddlers toward you and lets them feel what “heavy” and “help” mean.

  1. Sit on the floor next to the tote bag. Try to lift it with a big, silly “Oof! So heavy!”
  2. Ask: “Who can help me?” Let two or three children hold the straps with you. Lift together: “Up! We did it!”
  3. Peekaboo inside: pull out one book or toy at a time. Say: “No wonder it was heavy!”
  4. SAY“When things are hard, Jesus says, ‘Come to me,’ and He helps us.” Wave “come” and hug.
🌪️ If everyone wants a turn lifting, take the bag on a slow parade around the circle, a few helpers at a time.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🎒 Oof! Who can help?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A tote bag or backpack with 3–4 board books or soft toys inside (heavy enough for a big “Oof!”, light enough for a toddler to help lift)

Pretend Giant Bag

  1. Sit on the floor. Pretend to pick up a giant, heavy bag: grunt, wobble and puff your cheeks: “Oof! So heavy!”
  2. Ask: “Who can help me?” Let children put their hands on your arms and pretend to lift with you: “Up! We did it!”
  3. Pretend to set it down with a big “Phew!” and wipe your forehead.
  4. SAY“When things are hard, Jesus says, ‘Come to me,’ and He helps us.” Wave “come” and hug.

Class screen: 🏋️ Oof! Who can help?

2. Story

Picture Story: Stretch Out Your Hand

2 min

Six pictures with one sentence and one action each let toddlers curl, stretch, baa and hug while they hear that Jesus helps.

  1. Hold your phone or tablet up at their eye level. Everyone is a Curled-Up Hand, a Stretching Hand and a Little Sheep.
  2. Read the one sentence, then do the action big so they can copy you. Don’t wait for everyone to join; the joiners will come.
  3. On the stretching picture, go slowly: curl your hand tight, then open it one finger at a time while they watch.
  4. If attention is gone before the end, jump to the last picture: wave “come” and hug.
🌪️ Let a child who won’t stop moving tap your phone or tablet to change the picture (with your hand on it too). A job beats a battle.

Class screen: 🖐️ Curl up… stretch out!

3. Wiggle break

Curl and Stretch

1 min

Toddlers need to move after two minutes of anything, and curling up tiny and stretching out big puts the story in their whole bodies.

  1. SAY“Stand up! Let’s curl up tiny like a hurt hand!” Crouch into a little ball.
  2. SAY“Stretch out!” Pop up and stretch your arms and fingers as wide as they go.
  3. Open and close your hands fast: “Squeeze, stretch, squeeze, stretch!”
  4. Crawl a few steps and say “Baa!” Then scoop your arms up: “Up you go, little sheep!”
  5. End with a “come here” wave and a hug: “Come to Jesus!” Sit down together.

Class screen: 🙆 Curl tiny! Stretch big! · ✊ Curl up · 🖐️ Stretch out · 🐑 Baa!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Matthew 11:28

1 min

Three words and one motion, said many times, is how a toddler carries a scripture home.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “This is the Bible. It tells about Jesus.”
  2. Read slowly: “Come unto me.” Say: “Jesus says, ‘Come to me!’ He wants to help us.”
  3. Wave “come” and hug, and say it together: “Come to Jesus!” Say it three times: a tiny whisper, a regular voice, a happy voice.
  4. Kneel by each child, wave “come” to them and give a gentle hug if they want one: “Sam, Jesus loves you.”

Class screen: 👋 Come to Jesus! · 👋 Wave “come” · 🤗 Hug!

5. Testimony

I Know Jesus Loves You

1 min

A quiet moment with a picture of the Savior helps each child feel invited and loved.

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Hold up the picture of Jesus Christ. Say: “This is Jesus.”
  2. Let each child look closely, point or gently pat the picture.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. When we come to Jesus, He helps us.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.

Class screen: ❤️ Jesus loves you!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus Christ (from your meetinghouse library, a Friend magazine, or home)

  1. Lower your voice to a whisper. Put your hand on your heart and say: “Let’s think about Jesus.”
  2. Whisper: “Jesus loves you,” as you touch each child’s hand or wave to them.
  3. SAY“I know Jesus loves you. When we come to Jesus, He helps us.”
  4. If your nursery has a prayer now, fold arms together while a grown-up says a short one.
6. Song

Popping Hands

2 minBONUS

If they’re still with you, a popping song lets curled-up fists burst open again and again, just like the man’s hand.

  1. SAY“Curl your hands up tight. Let’s make them pop!”
  2. Sing “Popcorn Popping” (Children’s Songbook, 242). Pop your fists open wide every time you can.
  3. End with open hands stretched out: “All better! Jesus helps us!”

Class screen: 🖐️ Pop! Open hands!

Story drama

Stretch Out Your Hand

Matthew 12:9–13 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Curled-Up HandsEveryone! Curl one hand up tight like a little ball.
  • Stretching HandsEveryone! Stretch your hand out wide and wiggle your fingers.
  • Little SheepEveryone! Say “Baa!”

Scenes

  1. ⛪ It was the Sabbath. Jesus went to church.

    On the Sabbath, a special day like our Sunday, Jesus went to church.

    🎬 Fold your arms and walk in place quietly: tiptoe, tiptoe. Grown-ups do it too, so little ones can copy.

  2. ✊ A man’s hand was hurt and curled up.

    At church there was a man whose hand was hurt and curled up tight.

    🎬 Curl one hand into a tight little ball. Make a sad face.

  3. 🐑 Baa! We help a little sheep.

    Jesus said that if a sheep falls in a hole, we lift it out, because it’s good to help.

    🎬 Say “Baa!” Then scoop your arms up high: “Up you go!”

  4. 🖐️ Jesus said, “Stretch forth thine hand.”

    Jesus told the man to stretch out his hand.

    🎬 Slowly, slowly stretch your curled hand open wide.

  5. 🙌 His hand was all better!

    The man’s hand was all better, just like his other hand!

    🎬 Wiggle all your fingers and clap: “Hooray!”

  6. 👋❤️ Jesus says, “Come unto me.”

    Jesus says, “Come unto me,” and He helps me too.

    🎬 Wave your hand “come here,” then give yourself a big hug.

Key verse

Matthew 11:28 ↗
“Come unto me”
In kid words: Come to Jesus!
🙌 Wave your hand “come here,” then wrap your arms around yourself in a hug while you say the words.

More verses

Matthew 12:13 ↗
“Stretch forth thine hand”
In kid words: Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand,” and it was all better.
Matthew 12:11 ↗
“will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out”
In kid words: We help the little sheep out of the hole!
Matthew 12:12 ↗
“it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days”
In kid words: Sunday is a day to do good things.

Forehead Guess words8 words

  • ✋ Hand
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • ⛪ Church
  • 🎒 Bag
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 👨‍👩‍👧 Family
  • 😴 Rest
Clues for each word
  • Hand: Stretch it out wide!
  • Sheep: Baa! Lift it out of the hole.
  • Church: Where we go on Sunday
  • Bag: Oof! Heavy! Who can help?
  • Hug: Jesus says, “Come!”
  • Bread: A good gift from Heavenly Father
  • Family: People who love us
  • Rest: Jesus says, “Come,” and helps tired people rest
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown5 questions

  1. Which one says “Baa”?
    • A. 🐶 Dog
    • B. 🐑 Sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🐑 Sheep Baa! We help the little sheep out of the hole.

  2. Which hand is stretched out?
    • A. 🖐️ Open hand
    • B. ✊ Curled hand
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🖐️ Open hand Stretch! Jesus helped the man stretch out his hand.

  3. Where did Jesus go on the Sabbath?
    • A. ⛪ Church
    • B. 🏖️ Beach
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ⛪ Church Jesus went to church. We go to church on Sunday too!

  4. Who says, “Come unto me”?
    • A. 🐸 Frog
    • B. ❤️ Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ❤️ Jesus Wave “come” and hug! Jesus helps us.

  5. Which one is heavy?
    • A. 🪶 Feather
    • B. 🎒 Big bag
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🎒 Big bag Oof! When things are heavy, we can help each other.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Popcorn Popping Children’s Songbook, p. 242

    Curled-up fists pop open again and again, like the man’s hand stretching out. Find it ↗

  • Do As I’m Doing Children’s Songbook, p. 276

    Toddlers copy you: curl, stretch, wave “come” and hug. Find it ↗

  • I Am a Child of God Children’s Songbook, p. 2

    Hum it softly during Come and Rest. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Wave “Come” at Home

When your little one is tired or upset, wave “come here,” give a hug and say, “Jesus says, ‘Come to me.’ He helps us.” On Sunday morning, say, “Today we go to church to be close to Jesus!”

Text the parents

Today in nursery we heard how Jesus helped a man stretch out his hurt hand (Matthew 12:9–13) and how Jesus says, “Come unto me” (Matthew 11:28). We lifted a heavy bag together, curled up tiny and stretched out big, baa-ed like little sheep and waved “come” with a hug while we said, “Come to Jesus!” Try it at home: wave “come” and hug, and see if your child copies you.

📝 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.

Nursery play time

The lesson is short on purpose. Fill the rest of nursery with these: pick what fits your little ones today.

🐑 Lift the Little Sheep · 10 min

  1. Set out the nursery’s toys and let children play however they like. Put the stuffed sheep in the laundry basket or box: “Uh-oh! The little sheep fell in a hole! Baa!”
  2. Help a child reach in and lift the sheep out: “Up you go! We helped the sheep!” Cheer together.
  3. SAY“Jesus said it’s good to help, even on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:11–12). Give the sheep a gentle hug.
  4. Let children put the sheep back and rescue it again and again. Add other animals that “fall in” too.
  5. Safety: toys go in the basket, children don’t climb in. No sheep or basket? Hide any soft toy behind a cushion and say, “Where’s the lost sheep? Baa! There it is!”

🎵 Open-Hand Songs · 5 min

  1. Stand up and sing “Popcorn Popping” (Children’s Songbook, 242). Curl your fists, then pop them open wide.
  2. Sing “Do As I’m Doing” (Children’s Songbook, 276). Lead curling up, stretching out, baa-ing sheep and a “come here” wave, and let them copy you.
  3. Tap Freeze Dance on your phone or tablet. When the music stops, everyone freezes and stretches out their hand: “Stretch forth thine hand!”
  4. Don’t know a tune? Play it once in the Gospel Library app, or just chant “Curl up, stretch out!” while you move.

🍎 Open-Hand Snack · 10 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s snack policy first. Wipe every child’s hands, and yours, before snack.
  2. Everyone sits to eat, with an adult watching. Skip choking foods for this age: no popcorn, nuts, whole grapes, hard candy or chunks of raw carrot.
  3. Fold arms. A grown-up says a short blessing: “Thank you for our snack.”
  4. Before you hand out each piece, say: “Stretch out your hand!” Let each child open their hand to get their snack. Say: “Jesus helped a man stretch out his hand!”
  5. Talk while they munch. Say: “Heavenly Father gives us good things, like food and families” (Luke 11:13). Let them tell you “Yum!”
  6. No snack today? Have a pretend picnic: stretch out hands for pretend crackers, munch, and say thank you to Heavenly Father.

✋ Handprint Helpers · 8 min

  1. Tape a big sheet of paper to the table or floor. Help each child press one hand flat on the paper, fingers stretched wide, and quickly trace around it with a crayon.
  2. SAY“Stretch out your hand! Jesus helped a man’s hand get all better.” Tracing tickles, so go fast and laugh together.
  3. Give each child one chunky washable crayon to scribble inside or around their hand. Write their name by it.
  4. SAY“Our hands can help too!” and hang the picture by the door for parents to see.
  5. Safety: chunky crayons only; skip paint, stickers and marker caps (small parts). No paper or crayons? Press each child’s hand on your phone or tablet in Draw & Guess and trace around it with your finger.

🎒 Heavy or Light? · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with two bags: the tote bag with books, and a second bag with just one soft toy.
  2. Let each child lift the light bag: “Easy! Light!” Then try the heavy bag: “Oof! Heavy!”
  3. Lift the heavy bag together, with a grown-up’s hands on it too: “We did it! Helping makes it easier.”
  4. SAY“When things feel heavy, Jesus says, ‘Come to me,’ and He helps us.” Wave “come” and hug.
  5. Safety: board books and soft toys only, nothing that would hurt if it dropped. No bags? Pretend to carry a heavy elephant and a light feather, and let them copy you.

⛪ Sunday Picture Walk · 5 min

  1. Sit on the floor with a child or two in your lap. Swipe back through today’s story pictures on your phone or tablet, or look at the pictures on the nursery wall.
  2. Point and name one thing on each picture: “Church! Sheep! Baa!” Ask: “Where’s the hand?” and let them point.
  3. SAY“Today is Sunday. We come to church to be close to Jesus.” Name what you see around you: “Chairs! Friends! Teachers!”
  4. Finish at a picture of Jesus Christ. Wave “come” and hug: “Come to Jesus!”
  5. Stay in the nursery room with both adults. If a child drifts off, let them go; picture walks are for whoever wants to come.

🔎 Stretch-and-Show Picture · 3 min

  1. Tap Mystery Picture on your phone or tablet. A picture from today is hiding behind tiles.
  2. Ask a “show me”: “Show me a curled-up hand!” “Show me a stretched-out hand!” “Show me a sheep baa!” After each one, tap away a tile.
  3. When the picture shows, name it and act it out together: hand, sheep, hug!

😴 Come and Rest · 4 min

  1. Spread out a blanket. Say softly: “Jesus said, ‘Come unto me… and I will give you rest’” (Matthew 11:28). Children may lie down, sit or climb into a lap. Nobody has to.
  2. Hum “I Am a Child of God” (Children’s Songbook, 2) softly while you pat backs gently.
  3. Hold one child’s hand at a time and gently open their fingers: “Stretch out your hand… rest.”
  4. Whisper each child’s name: “Jesus loves you, Ella.”
  5. Upset child? Hold them, rock side to side and walk to the window together. Calm comes before learning.

👋 Come-Here Goodbye · 5 min

  1. Five minutes before the end, wave “come here”: “Come, helpers! Let’s carry the toys home!” Carry toys to their bins together, two hands on each bin with a grown-up.
  2. Sit together one more time. Wave “come” and hug: “Come to Jesus!”
  3. When a parent comes, have them wave “come” to their child. Say: “Mommy says come! Jesus says come too!”
  4. Hand each child only to their own parent or guardian, as your ward’s policy says. Share today’s family note from the app and one happy moment about their child.
  5. Kids still waiting? Rescue the little sheep again or look at the story pictures. Both adults stay until every child is picked up.

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.

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