Gospel Sparks Get the app

Shine, Little Light!

A flashlight in the dark, a picture story, and a light that won’t stay hidden

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • Week 7
  • 📅 Sunday, February 14, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I am kind like Jesus, my light shines.

I can let my light shine.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 5; Luke 6 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 5; Luke 6)
Know the chapters

Matthew 5 and Luke 6 are the start of Jesus’s great sermon. He went up a mountain, sat down, and taught His disciples how to be truly happy, or “blessed.” Be meek, be merciful, be pure in heart, be peacemakers. That’s Matthew 5:3–12. In Matthew 5:44, He taught them to love even people who are unkind to them.

Then He gave two pictures. “Ye are the salt of the earth” and “Ye are the light of the world.” That’s Matthew 5:13–14. Nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a basket. They set it up high so it lights the whole house. That’s 5:15. When people see our good works, they think of our Father in Heaven. That’s 5:16.

Your one tiny truth today: when I am kind like Jesus, my light shines. Three-year-olds can’t hold a big list of teachings. But they understand a flashlight, a bowl, and hiding versus shining. Every kind act is “shine!” That means sharing, hugging, helping, and saying sorry. Say the tiny truth again and again.

Show Jesus with a picture and read His words yourself. No child plays Jesus. The kids join the story from their spots. They cup their ears to listen, hug themselves for kind, and twinkle their fingers to shine. “Peacemaker” is a big word. But three-year-olds fight over toys all the time, so it’s a perfect time to practice. The salt taste test is an extra.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a flashlight, a bowl, and a picture of Jesus. Click the light on in a dim room. Tell the mountain story in Teach Mode, twinkling “Shine!” at the big moments. Say “Ye are the light of the world” with motions. Play Hide It or Shine It? End by naming each child and saying, “Your light shines when you are kind.” Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Use sunrise hands and a fist hidden under your other hand.

What to bring3 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. Check that the flashlight works. Put it and the bowl in a bag under your chair.
  2. Tuck the picture of Jesus in your scriptures. The Picture Helper holds it up in scene 1.
  3. Practice once. Twinkle fingers: “Shine!”

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Hand the child the flashlight and ask, “Will you be my Light Helper?” If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • Potty breaks happen. Follow your ward’s policy. Usually a parent or the second adult takes the child. Keep two adults with the children, and never leave the class alone.
  • Flashlights are exciting. Hold it yourself most of the time. Give each child one short turn to click it or lift the bowl. Never shine it in eyes.
  • Cupped ears are your calm-down tool. If the room gets loud, cup your ears and whisper “Listen!” Wait for everyone to copy you.
  • Toy fights will happen. Stop and say, “Peacemaker time!” Help the kids take turns. Then do twinkle fingers and say, “Your light is shining!”

The 25-minute plan22 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

Click! Light!

3 min

A flashlight clicking on in a dim room is instant wonder for three-year-olds.

  1. SAY“Uh-oh, it’s getting dark in here! Let’s count and make some light.”
  2. If it’s safe, dim the lights. Count together, “One… two… three!” Click on the flashlight.
  3. Shine it on the ceiling and your shoes, never in eyes. Everyone says “Ooh!” Then turn the room lights back on.
  4. SAY“Light helps us see. Today Jesus tells us that YOU are like a light!”
🌪️ If anyone’s scared of the dark, keep the room lights on. Cup your hand around the flashlight.

Class screen: 🔦 Click! Light! · 1… 2… 3… · Ooh!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one is fine)

Sunrise Hands

  1. SAY“It’s nighttime. Shh. Make your hands into tiny fists.”
  2. Everyone curls their fists in their laps. Slowly lift your hands and spread your fingers wide like the sun coming up. Tap the magic sound.
  3. Do it again, slow and then fast.
  4. SAY“Light helps us see. Today Jesus tells us that YOU are like a light!”

Class screen: 🌅 Tiny fists… then shine!

2. Story

Picture Story: Jesus Teaches on the Mountain

6 min

Six picture scenes show that Jesus wants us to be kind and let our light shine.

  1. SAY“Jesus taught lots of people on a mountain. When He talks about light, twinkle your fingers!”
  2. Practice once from your spots. Twinkle fingers: “Shine!”
  3. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Do the motion together when one shows.
  4. After scene 6, say together, “When I’m kind, my light shines!”
🌪️ If they get loud at scene 4, whisper the next line. They’ll lean in to hear you.

Class screen: ⛰️ Jesus taught on a mountain! · ✨ Shine!

3. Wiggle break

Up the Mountain

2 min

A quick climb up and down the pretend mountain burns energy before the verse.

  1. SAY“Let’s climb Jesus’s mountain! Stand up by your spot.”
  2. Climb in place with big knees. Stretch up tall at the top and say, “We made it!”
  3. Slide down slowly, lower and lower. Sit on your spot like a quiet little snail.

Class screen: 🧗 Climb up! Slide down!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Matthew 5:14

3 min

Six of Jesus’s words with twinkle fingers help them remember they are His little lights.

  1. SAY“Jesus said these words on the mountain. Listen!”
  2. Hold up your scriptures and read slowly, “Ye are the light of the world.”
  3. Teach the Key Verse motions one at a time. Say it together with the motions.
  4. Say it three ways: a whisper, a bright shiny voice, then a tiny mouse voice.
  5. Point to each child and say, “You’re a light!” Then say, “When I’m kind like Jesus, my light shines.”

Class screen: 📖 “Ye are the light of the world” · 👉 Ye are · ✨ the light · 🌍 of the world

5. Object lesson

Hide It or Shine It?

5 min

Lifting the bowl off the flashlight for every kind choice practices the big idea: when I am kind, my light shines.

  1. SAY“Jesus said nobody hides a light under a bowl!”
  2. Click on the flashlight and cover it with the bowl. Ask, “Can we see the light?”
  3. Say, “If what I say is kind, a helper lifts the bowl and we all shine! If it’s not kind, the bowl stays on.”
  4. Try sharing crayons, grabbing a toy, hugging a sad friend, pushing in line, saying sorry, and helping pick up toys.
  5. After a not-kind one, ask, “How can we make it kind?” Fix it together and lift the bowl. End with, “When I’m kind like Jesus, my light shines!”
🌪️ Give each child one bowl-lifting turn. Kids wait on their spots for their name.

Class screen: 🥣 Kind? Lift the bowl and shine! · ✨ Shine! · 🥣 Hide

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one is fine), A bowl, pot or small basket big enough to cover the flashlight

Hand Lights

  1. SAY“This fist is my little light.”
  2. Cover your fist with your other hand like a bowl. Everyone copies you.
  3. Say, “If it’s kind, open your fist into twinkle fingers and shine! If it’s not kind, keep it covered.”
  4. Try sharing crayons, grabbing a toy, hugging a sad friend, pushing in line, saying sorry, and helping pick up toys.
  5. After a not-kind one, ask, “How can we make it kind?” Fix it together, then shine. End with, “When I’m kind like Jesus, my light shines!”

Class screen: ✨ Kind? Open your hands and shine!

6. Testimony

Little Lights

3 min

A calm, loving moment where each child hears that Jesus loves them and that their light shines.

  1. SAY“Let’s make our lights soft and quiet. Twinkle fingers in your lap. Fold your arms.”
  2. Say softly, “Jesus loves you. When you’re kind like Him, your light shines. I know that’s true.”
  3. Name each child, like “Grace, your light shines when you’re kind.” Invite them to play Light Spotters at home this week.
  4. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays.

Class screen: 🤫 My light shines when I’m kind. · ✨ Light Spotters this week!

7. Game

Light Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story if you have a few extra minutes, and every child gets to point.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Point to the right picture.”
  2. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture. Skip the teams. Everyone wins.
  3. After every answer, everyone does twinkle fingers and says, “Shine!”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 👉 Point to the right picture!

8. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A slow picture reveal reviews the story.

  1. SAY“A picture from our story is hiding! Let’s find out what it is.”
  2. Open Mystery Picture. Call out a “show me,” like “Show me listening ears!” Tap away a tile after each one.
  3. Let everyone guess. When the picture shows, tell that part of the story together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

The story

Jesus Teaches on the Mountain

Matthew 5:1–16 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Picture HelperSits by you and holds up the picture of Jesus in scenes 1 and 6.
  • Light HelperSits by you and clicks the flashlight on in scenes 4 and 6. Never in eyes!

Scenes

  1. ⛰️👥 Jesus taught on a mountain

    Lots of people wanted to hear Jesus. He went up a mountain, sat down, and taught them.

    🙌

  2. 😊💛 Be kind and gentle

    Jesus taught us to be kind. To be gentle. To love other people. People who do that are happy inside.

    🙌 Hug yourself: “Kind!”

  3. 🤝🧸 Be a peacemaker

    When two friends want the same toy, Jesus wants us to help them take turns. That makes peace.

    🙌

  4. ✨👉 You are a light!

    Jesus said, “Ye are the light of the world.” That means you!

    🙌 Twinkle fingers up high: “Shine!”

  5. 🕯️🥣 Don’t hide your light!

    Nobody lights a lamp and hides it under a bowl! They put it up high so it shines for everyone.

    🙌 Cover your hands… then pop out twinkle fingers: “Shine!”

  6. ☀️🤗 I shine when I am kind

    When we share and help and hug, our light shines. And people think of Heavenly Father.

    🙌

Key verse

Matthew 5:14 ↗
“Ye are the light of the world”
In kid words: Jesus said that you are a light for everyone!
🙌 “Ye are” = point to a friend · “the light” = twinkle fingers up high · “of the world” = make a giant circle with your arms.

More verses

Matthew 5:16 ↗
“Let your light so shine before men”
In kid words: Let your light shine so everyone can see it.
Matthew 5:9 ↗
“Blessed are the peacemakers”
In kid words: People who help others stop fighting are happy and blessed.
Matthew 5:15 ↗
“Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel”
In kid words: Nobody lights a light and then hides it under a basket.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • ⛰️ Mountain
  • 💡 Light
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 🕯️ Candle
  • 🥣 Bowl
  • ☀️ Sun
  • ⭐ Star
  • 😊 Smile
  • 👂 Ears
  • 🤝 Friends
  • 🧂 Salt
  • 📖 Scriptures
Clues for each word
  • Mountain: Jesus climbed up and taught there
  • Light: It helps us see
  • Flashlight: Click! It shines
  • Candle: A little flame of light
  • Bowl: Don’t hide your light under it
  • Sun: The biggest light in the sky
  • Star: Twinkles at night
  • Smile: Show your happy face
  • Ears: We listen to Jesus with them
  • Friends: Peacemakers help them stop fighting
  • Salt: Makes food taste good
  • Scriptures: The holy book with Jesus’s words
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Where did Jesus go to teach?
    • A. 🏊 A pool
    • B. ⛰️ A mountain
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ⛰️ A mountain Jesus climbed a mountain. Climb, climb, climb!

  2. Jesus said you are like a…
    • A. ✨ Light
    • B. 🥔 Potato
    • C. 🧦 Sock
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ✨ Light Ye are the light of the world! Twinkle fingers!

  3. Should we hide our light under a bowl?
    • A. 🥣 Yes, hide it
    • B. ✨ No, shine it!
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ✨ No, shine it! Don’t hide it! Let it shine!

  4. Which one makes your light shine?
    • A. 😠 Pushing
    • B. 🤗 Hugging a sad friend
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🤗 Hugging a sad friend Being kind makes your light shine!

  5. Two friends want one toy. What can they do?
    • A. 🤝 Take turns
    • B. 😭 Grab and cry
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🤝 Take turns Taking turns is being a peacemaker!

  6. What do we listen with?
    • A. 👃 Our nose
    • B. 🦶 Our feet
    • C. 👂 Our ears
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 👂 Our ears The people listened to Jesus with their ears.

  7. Which one gives light?
    • A. 🔦 A flashlight
    • B. 🥄 A spoon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🔦 A flashlight Click! A flashlight shines, and so can you.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Kindness Begins with Me Children’s Songbook, p. 145

    Short and simple: being kind is how our light shines. Find it ↗

  • Jesus Said Love Everyone Children’s Songbook, p. 61

    Jesus taught on the mountain to love everyone, even people who are unkind. Find it ↗

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

    Hum or sing the chorus softly during the testimony. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Light Spotters

Every time someone in your family is kind, do twinkle fingers and say, “Your light is shining!”

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned that Jesus taught on a mountain. He said, “Ye are the light of the world.” Our tiny truth: when I am kind like Jesus, my light shines. Ask your child, “Should we hide our light under a bowl?” The answer is no! Then play Light Spotters. Do twinkle fingers each time someone is kind.

📝 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?

🧂 Salty Crackers · 3 min

  1. Check allergies and your ward’s policy first. Let each child taste a plain cracker, then one with a tiny pinch of salt.
  2. Ask, “Which one tastes yummier?” Point to Matthew 5:13. Say, “Jesus said we’re like salt. Kind people make the world better!”
  3. No snacks? Sprinkle pretend salt on everyone’s head. They pop up with a big smile.

🚶 Light Parade · 2 min

  1. Line up and march around the room with twinkle fingers held high.
  2. Stop at each child and say one kind thing they did today, like “Mia shared! Shine!”
  3. Say, “Our lights shine when we’re kind!”

💛 Love Even Grumpy People · 2 min

  1. Open to Matthew 5:44. Say, “Jesus said to love everyone, even people who are grumpy or unkind to us.”
  2. Make a grumpy face, then a kind face. Practice a kind answer to a grumpy friend, like “Do you want to play with me?”
  3. Say, “Being kind to grumpy people makes our light shine extra bright!”

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 Sunbeam lessons