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Stretch Out Your Hand!

A heavy bag, a man with a hurt hand, and Jesus doing good on a Sunday

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

When I come to Jesus, He helps me.

I can come to Jesus, and I can do good things on Sunday like He did.

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 gives a gentle invitation: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He invites us to take His yoke, a wooden bar that lets two animals pull a heavy load together. When we come to Jesus, He helps carry what feels heavy.

In Matthew 12:9–13, Jesus went to the synagogue (their church) on the Sabbath. A man there had a hand that was shriveled and didn’t work. Some leaders watched to see if Jesus would heal on the Sabbath so they could complain. Jesus asked who wouldn’t lift their sheep out of a pit on the Sabbath, and said a person is worth much more than a sheep, so it is good to do good on the Sabbath. Then He told the man, “Stretch forth thine hand,” and the hand was healed.

Your one tiny truth for today: when I come to Jesus, He helps me. The man came to church, stretched out his hand to Jesus, and Jesus helped him. Three-year-olds understand “heavy” with their arms and backs, so let them feel a heavy bag get lighter with helpers. Sunday is the day we come to church to be close to Jesus, and a day to do good like He did.

Luke 11 adds that Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts, like the Holy Ghost, to those who ask Him in prayer (Luke 11:9–13). There is a simple bread-or-rock activity in the extras if you have time. Nobody plays Jesus in the story: you say His words, and everyone stretches out their own hand.

Only have 5 minutes?

Pretend to lift a super heavy box and let the children help, tell the story with your phone or tablet scenes (everyone curls a hand, then stretches it out when you say, “Stretch forth thine hand!”), play Sunday Thumbs Up, say “Come unto me … I will give you rest” with the motions, and end by saying, “When I come to Jesus, He helps me. I know it’s true.”

What to bring6 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. Fill the bag with heavy books or cans. It should be heavy for you to lift with one hand but easy with many small helpers.
  2. Put the toy sheep somewhere you can reach during the story.
  3. Clear a spot on the floor where everyone can sit close together.
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode so the story pictures and the cheer sound are ready.

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Give the child a job: “Can you hold the sheep for me?” A job helps a lot. If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • Potty breaks: have one grown-up (a class helper or a parent) take the child; never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep going with everyone else.
  • Your call-back for today: hold out your hand and say, “Stretch out your hand!” Children stretch out their hands and freeze. Use it whenever the room gets loud.
  • The heavy bag is exciting. Keep one hand on it and let children lift only with you, so no toes get squished.
  • If the grumpy faces in the story get too grumpy, say, “Now show me a happy Sunday face!” and move on.

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

The Heavy Bag

3 min

Feeling a heavy bag get lighter with helpers shows what it means that Jesus helps us.

  1. Try to lift the heavy bag with one hand. Groan: “Ugh! This is so heavy! I can’t do it by myself!”
  2. SAY“Can you help me?” Let two or three children hold the handles with you and lift it together. (Keep your hand on it.)
  3. SAY“Wow! With helpers, it’s easy! Let’s carry it to the door and back.” Let everyone help once.
  4. SAY“Sometimes we feel heavy inside, like when we’re sad or tired. Jesus says, ‘Come unto me.’ When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”
🌪️ If everyone rushes the bag, say, “Helpers line up behind me like a train!” and take turns in pairs.

Class screen: 🎒 So heavy! Can you help?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A tote bag or backpack with a few heavy books or cans in it

The Invisible Heavy Box

  1. Bend down and pretend to lift a giant invisible box. Groan: “Ugh! This is so heavy! I can’t do it by myself!”
  2. SAY“Can you help me?” Everyone comes and puts their hands under the pretend box.
  3. Count, “One, two, three, lift!” Everyone lifts it up high: “Wow! With helpers, it’s easy!”
  4. SAY“Sometimes we feel heavy inside, like when we’re sad or tired. Jesus says, ‘Come unto me.’ When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”

Class screen: 📦 So heavy! Can you help?

2. Story

Story: Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand

5 min

Every child curls and stretches their own hand, so they feel the moment Jesus helped.

  1. Pick two Grumpy Watchers and a Sheep Helper. Say: “Everyone else will be the man with the hurt hand. Curl up one hand like a little ball!”
  2. Show each scene on your phone or tablet and read the one or two sentences.
  3. Do each action together. Go slowly and make it big.
  4. In scene 6, say Jesus’s words warmly and slowly: “Stretch forth thine hand.” Wait while everyone opens their hands.
  5. End by saying the tiny truth together: “When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖐️ Stretch out your hand! · ✊ curled up · 🖐️ stretched out · 🙌 all better!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A soft toy sheep or any stuffed animal

  1. Pick two Grumpy Watchers. Say: “Everyone else will be the man with the hurt hand. Curl up one hand like a little ball!”
  2. Show each scene on your phone or tablet and read the one or two sentences.
  3. In scene 4, everyone becomes a sheep: crawl, say “Baa!”, and the teacher pretends to lift each little sheep up.
  4. In scene 6, say Jesus’s words warmly and slowly: “Stretch forth thine hand.” Wait while everyone opens their hands.
  5. End by saying the tiny truth together: “When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”
3. Wiggle break

Little Sheep in a Hole

2 min

Burns energy and acts out Jesus’s question about the sheep.

  1. SAY“Everybody is a little sheep! Baa! Crawl around the meadow.”
  2. SAY“Oh no! The sheep fell in a hole!” Everyone curls up small on the floor.
  3. SAY“Let’s lift them out! One, two, three, up!” Everyone jumps up tall and says, “Baa!”
  4. Play 3 or 4 rounds. Say: “Jesus said people are even more important than sheep. He always helps us!”
🌪️ If crawling gets bumpy, make it tiptoe sheep instead of crawling sheep.

Class screen: 🐑 Baa! Little sheep, jump up!

4. Scripture

Key Words: “Come unto Me”

3 min

Short words with motions help the children remember Jesus’s invitation.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “These words are from the Bible. Jesus said them to everyone.”
  2. Say it slowly with the motions: “Come unto me” (wave come here) “I will give you rest” (pillow hands, “Ahhh”).
  3. Say it together three ways: in a whisper, in a happy voice, and in a sleepy yawning voice.
  4. SAY“Jesus wants us to come to Him. When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”

Class screen: 📖 “Come unto me” · 👋 Come unto me · 😌 I will give you rest

5. Song

Stretch and Sing

2 min

Singing with big stretches keeps them moving while they feel the Savior’s love.

  1. SAY“Let’s stretch out our hands like the man in the story and sing about Jesus!”
  2. Sing “I Feel My Savior’s Love” (Children’s Songbook, 74). Stretch your arms wide, then hug yourself.
  3. Sing it once more very softly.

Class screen: 🎵 Stretch out and sing!

6. Game

Sunday Thumbs Up

3 min

Little ones practice choosing good things to do on Sunday, the way Jesus did good.

  1. SAY“Jesus did good on Sunday. I’ll say something. If it’s a good Sunday thing, show me a thumbs up! If not, shake your head.”
  2. Try: “Go to church with my family.” (👍) “Hug my baby brother.” (👍) “Throw my toys at my sister.” (🙅) “Say a prayer.” (👍) “Draw a picture for Grandma.” (👍) “Yell ‘No!’ at Mom.” (🙅)
  3. After each one, cheer: “Good choosing!”
  4. SAY“Sunday is a special day to come to Jesus and do good!”
🌪️ If they get too loud, switch to “silent thumbs”: thumbs up with no sound at all.

Class screen: 👍 Good Sunday thing? Thumbs up! · 👍 yes! · 🙅 no

7. Talk it over

Come to Jesus

2 min

Children name simple ways to come to Jesus when they feel sad or tired.

  1. Hold up the picture of Jesus. Say: “Jesus says, ‘Come unto me.’ He helps us when we feel heavy inside.”
  2. Ask the questions one at a time. Any answer, even a point or a nod, gets a smile and a “Yes!”
  3. Share a tiny example: “When I felt sad, I said a prayer, and I felt better.”
💬 Ask the class
  • Show me a sad, heavy face. Now show me a happy face!
  • When you feel sad, who can you talk to? (Heavenly Father in prayer, Mom, Dad)
  • Where do we go on Sunday to learn about Jesus?
  • Show me how the man stretched out his hand!

Class screen: 🤗 How can I come to Jesus?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus (from the Friend magazine, a printout from the Gospel Library app, or the ward library)

Come to Jesus

  1. Wave “come here” with your hand. Say: “Jesus says, ‘Come unto me.’ He helps us when we feel heavy inside.”
  2. Ask the questions one at a time. After each answer, everyone waves “come here.”
  3. Share a tiny example: “When I felt sad, I said a prayer, and I felt better.”
8. Testimony

Rest Time

2 min

A calm, loving moment where the teacher shares a simple testimony.

  1. SAY“Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest.’ Let’s rest. Fold your arms and be very still.”
  2. In a soft voice, say: “Jesus loves you. When you come to Him, He helps you. I know that is true.”
  3. Name each child: “Noah, Jesus will help you. Lily, Jesus will help you.” (Use your own class names.)
  4. Say a short closing prayer or help a child say one.

Class screen: 😌 When I come to Jesus, He helps.

9. Game

Hand Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story, and every child gets a turn to point.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to the right picture or call it out. No teams needed: everyone wins.
  3. After every answer, everyone stretches out their hand.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🖐️ Point to the right picture!

10. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal keeps them guessing and names things from the story.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “Something is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Remove a square each time someone curls and stretches their hand.
  3. When they guess, act it out: sheep = baa, bread = munch, church = fold arms, hand = wave.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

11. Craft

My Helping Hand

4 minBONUS

A traced hand reminds them to come to Jesus and to do good on Sunday.

  1. Help each child spread out one hand on a paper. Trace around it.
  2. Let them color it. Write “I can come to Jesus” on it for them.
  3. SAY“Stretch out your hand like the man in the story! When you see your hand picture, remember: Jesus helps me.”

Class screen: 🖍️ Trace your helping hand!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: For the bonus craft: one sheet of paper per child and crayons

Hand Hugs

  1. Everyone stretches out one hand. Touch fingertips with the friend next to you.
  2. Count your fingers together: one, two, three, four, five! Say: “Five fingers to do good on Sunday!”
  3. SAY“When you look at your hand, remember: Jesus helps me.”

Story drama

Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand

Matthew 12:9–13 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Everyone: People at ChurchWalk to church quietly, sit down and fold arms.
  • Everyone: The Man with the Hurt HandCurl one hand into a tight little ball, then stretch it out when the teacher says Jesus’s words.
  • Grumpy WatchersTwo children fold their arms and say, “Hmmph!” when the teacher points to them.
  • Sheep HelperOne child holds the toy sheep and says, “Baa!” in scene 4.

Scenes

  1. ⛪ It’s the Sabbath! Jesus goes to church

    It was the Sabbath, Heavenly Father’s special day of rest. Jesus went to church. (Our Sabbath is Sunday!)

    🎬 Walk quietly in place, then sit down and fold your arms.

  2. ✊ A man with a hurt hand

    At church there was a man with a hurt hand. It was curled up tight, and he couldn’t use it.

    🎬 Curl one hand into a tight little ball. Can you pick anything up? No!

  3. 😠 Some grumpy men are watching

    Some men were watching Jesus. They didn’t think anyone should heal people on the Sabbath.

    🎬 Fold your arms and make a grumpy face: “Hmmph!”

  4. 🐑 What if a sheep fell in a hole?

    Jesus asked them: if your sheep fell in a hole on the Sabbath, wouldn’t you lift it out? Of course they would!

    🎬 Say, “Baa! Baa!” Then pretend to lift a sheep up out of a hole.

  5. 👍 Sunday is a day to do good

    Jesus said a person is worth much more than a sheep. It is good to help people on the Sabbath.

    🎬 Give a big thumbs up: “Sunday is a day to do good!”

  6. 🖐️ “Stretch forth thine hand!”

    Jesus said to the man, “Stretch forth thine hand.” That means, “Stretch out your hand.”

    🎬 Slowly, slowly open your curled-up hand and stretch it out.

  7. 🙌 His hand is all better!

    The man stretched out his hand, and it was healed! It was just like his other hand.

    🎬 Wave both hands high and clap, clap, clap!

  8. 🤗 Jesus helps me too

    Jesus says, “Come unto me.” When I come to Jesus, He helps me too.

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

Key verse

Matthew 11:28 ↗
“Come unto me … I will give you rest”
In kid words: Jesus says, “Come to Me, and I will help you.”
🙌 “Come unto me” = wave “come here” with your hand · “I will give you rest” = put your hands together under your cheek like a pillow and say, “Ahhh.”

More verses

Matthew 12:13 ↗
“Stretch forth thine hand”
In kid words: Jesus told the man, “Stretch out your hand,” and it was healed.
Matthew 12:12 ↗
“it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days”
In kid words: It is good to do good things on Sunday.
Luke 11:13 ↗
“how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him”
In kid words: Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts, like the Holy Ghost, when we ask Him.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 🖐️ Hand
  • ⛪ Church
  • 🐑 Sheep
  • 🕳️ Hole
  • ☀️ Sunday
  • 🎒 Bag
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 😴 Pillow
  • 🙏 Prayer
  • 🤗 Hug
  • 📖 Scriptures
Clues for each word
  • Hand: Stretch it out!
  • Church: Where Jesus went on the Sabbath
  • Sheep: Baa! It fell in a hole
  • Hole: The sheep fell in it
  • Sunday: A special day to do good
  • Bag: Heavy! We need help to carry it
  • Bread: A good gift to eat
  • Rock: Hard and heavy, not for eating
  • Pillow: Where we rest our head
  • Prayer: We talk to Heavenly Father
  • Hug: Arms around someone you love
  • Scriptures: The book with Jesus’s words
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown6 questions

  1. Where did Jesus go on the Sabbath?
    • A. 🏖️ The beach
    • B. ⛪ Church
    Show answer

    ✅ B. ⛪ Church Jesus went to church on the Sabbath, just like us!

  2. What was hurt on the man?
    • A. ✋ His hand
    • B. 👃 His nose
    • C. 🦶 His foot
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ✋ His hand His hand was curled up, and he couldn’t use it.

  3. What animal fell in a hole?
    • A. 🐘 An elephant
    • B. 🐑 A sheep
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🐑 A sheep Baa! You would lift your sheep out, even on Sunday.

  4. Jesus said, “Stretch forth thine…”
    • A. 🍌 Banana
    • B. 🧦 Sock
    • C. 🖐️ Hand
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🖐️ Hand “Stretch forth thine hand!” Let’s stretch ours!

  5. Is hugging my baby brother a good Sunday thing?
    • A. 👍 Yes!
    • B. 🙅 No
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 👍 Yes! Yes! Sunday is a day to do good.

  6. Who helps me when I feel heavy inside?
    • A. 🦖 A dinosaur
    • B. 🤗 Jesus
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🤗 Jesus Jesus says, “Come unto me,” and He helps me.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • I Feel My Savior’s Love Children’s Songbook, p. 74

    Stretch out your arms and feel how much Jesus loves you. Find it ↗

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Prayer is a way we come to Heavenly Father and Jesus. Find it ↗

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

    An extra wiggle: curl, stretch, baa like a sheep, lift the heavy bag. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Helping Hands on Sunday

Next Sunday, stretch out your hands to do one good thing: help set the table, hug someone, or draw a picture for a friend.

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned how Jesus healed a man’s hand on the Sabbath and that when we come to Jesus, He helps us. Ask your child: “What did Jesus tell the man?” (Stretch out your hand!) Then plan one good thing to do together next Sunday.

📝 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?

🍞 Bread or Rock? · 3 min

  1. Show a bag with bread in it and a rock. Ask: “If you were hungry, would a grown-up who loves you give you bread or a rock?” (Bread!)
  2. SAY“Grown-ups who love us give good gifts. Jesus said Heavenly Father gives good gifts too, like the Holy Ghost, when we ask Him” (Luke 11:9–13).
  3. Fold arms and say a short prayer together. No bread or rock? Point to your tummy for bread and knock on the floor for a rock.

🐂 Pull Together · 2 min

  1. Two children hold hands and walk side by side pulling a pretend heavy wagon: “Ugh! Heavy!”
  2. SAY“Oxen pull heavy things together. Jesus is like a strong helper who pulls with us” (Matthew 11:29–30).
  3. Let every pair take a turn pulling the pretend wagon across the room.

☀️ Sunday Good-Things Walk · 3 min

  1. Lead the children in a line around the room. Stop at each corner for a good Sunday thing.
  2. Corner 1: fold arms for a prayer. Corner 2: pretend to hug Grandma. Corner 3: sing a Primary song. Corner 4: help clean up toys.
  3. SAY“Sunday is a special day to come to Jesus and do good.”

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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