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Stretch Out Your Hand!

A heavy bag, a picture story, and Jesus doing good on a Sunday

  • ☀️ Sunbeam
  • 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. That’s 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 shriveled hand that 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. He said a person is worth much more than a sheep, so it’s 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 today: when I come to Jesus, He helps me. The man came to church and 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. It’s a day to do good like He did.

Luke 11:9–13 adds that Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts, like the Holy Ghost, to those who ask Him in prayer. There’s 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 from their spot.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a heavy bag, a toy sheep, and a picture of Jesus. Lift the bag together. Tell the story in Teach Mode, and let them say a few words back to you. Say “Come unto me … I will give you rest” with motions, and play Sunday Hands. End with, “When I come to Jesus, He helps me.” Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” Lift an invisible box, and pass a hand squeeze instead of the sheep.

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. Pack the bag with books. A three-year-old should be able to budge it but not run off with it.
  2. Put the toy sheep by your chair for the Sheep Helper and Sunday Hands.

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes. Give the child a job, like “Can you hold the sheep for me?” 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.
  • Here’s your call-back today. Hold out your hand and say, “Stretch out your hand!” Kids stretch out their hands and freeze. It’s in the story too, so it’ll be well practiced.
  • The heavy bag is exciting. Keep one hand on it and keep it low to the floor so no toes get squished.
  • In Sunday Hands, only the child holding the sheep talks. Everyone else cheers with a thumbs up.

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

Lifting a heavy bag together gives three-year-olds a feeling they remember: heavy things get easier with help.

  1. SAY“Ugh! This bag is so heavy! I can’t lift it by myself. Can you help me?”
  2. Groan and tug at the bag. Let two or three children try to lift it, and stay right beside them. Say, “Whew! It’s heavy for you too!”
  3. Everyone puts one hand on the bag. Lift it together. Say, “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!”
🌪️ Only kids sitting on their spots get a turn to lift. Keep the bag low to the floor.

Class screen: 🎒 So heavy! Can you help?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A tote bag or backpack with a few books inside (heavy enough to be a struggle, light enough to be safe)

The Invisible Heavy Box

  1. SAY“Ugh! This box is so heavy! Can you help me?”
  2. Squat by a giant invisible box. Everyone reaches out from their spot and puts their hands under it.
  3. Count, “One, two, three, lift!” Everyone lifts it up high. Say, “Wow! With helpers, it’s easy!”
  4. SAY“Sometimes we feel heavy inside. Jesus says, ‘Come unto me.’ When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”

Class screen: 📦 So heavy! Can you help?

2. Story

Picture Story: Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand

6 min

Seven picture scenes show that Jesus helped a man who came to church, and that Sunday is a day to do good.

  1. SAY“Jesus went to church on a special day. Let’s look at the pictures. I’ll say a word, and you say it back!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes. Read each one. Say the line at the bottom, and let them say it back.
  3. At scene 5, say Jesus’s words warmly and slowly. Wait while everyone opens their hands.
  4. After scene 7, say together, “When I come to Jesus, He helps me!”
🌪️ Curled hands can turn into fists for bopping. Say, “Soft little balls, like a sleepy hand,” and show them.

Class screen: 🖐️ Stretch out your hand! · 🔁 Say it back! · 🖐️ Stretch!

3. Wiggle break

Little Sheep, Up You Go!

2 min

A quick curl-and-pop wiggle remembers the sheep Jesus talked about and gets the wiggles out.

  1. SAY“Everybody is a little sheep! Baa! Oh no, the sheep fell in a hole!”
  2. Everyone curls up small on their spot. Say, “Let’s lift them out! One, two, three, up!” Everyone pops up tall. Baa!
  3. Play three rounds. Then say, “Jesus said people are even more important than sheep. He always helps us!”

Class screen: 🐑 Baa! Up you go!

4. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Matthew 11:28

3 min

Come-here and pillow-hand motions help Sunbeams remember that Jesus invites them to come to Him.

  1. SAY“These words are from the Bible. Jesus said them to everyone. Listen!”
  2. Read slowly, “Come unto me … I will give you rest.” Teach the Key Verse motions. Then say it together with the motions.
  3. Say it three ways: a whisper, a happy voice, then 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. Game

Sunday Hands

5 min

Stretching out hands for good Sunday choices practices coming to Jesus and doing good like He did.

  1. SAY“Jesus did good on Sunday. If I say a good Sunday thing, stretch out your hand! If not, curl it up tight.”
  2. Try going to church, hugging my baby brother, and throwing toys at my sister. Then saying a prayer and drawing a picture for Grandma.
  3. After a curled-up one, ask, “What could we do instead?” Help them fix it. Then everyone stretches out, “Stretch!”
  4. Pass the toy sheep. Whoever holds it names one good thing for next Sunday. Everyone gives a thumbs up, “Do good!”
  5. Say, “When I come to Jesus, He helps me do good!”
🌪️ Keep the sheep moving, one idea each, then pass. Give shy kids two choices.

Class screen: 👍 Good Sunday thing? Stretch! · 🖐️ Stretch! · ✊ Curl up

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A soft toy sheep or any stuffed animal

Sunday Hands

  1. SAY“Jesus did good on Sunday. If I say a good Sunday thing, stretch out your hand! If not, curl it up tight.”
  2. Try going to church, hugging my baby brother, and throwing toys at my sister. Then saying a prayer and drawing a picture for Grandma.
  3. After a curled-up one, ask, “What could we do instead?” Help them fix it. Then everyone stretches out, “Stretch!”
  4. Go around the circle. Each child names one good thing for next Sunday. Everyone gives a thumbs up, “Do good!”

Class screen: 👍 Good Sunday thing? Stretch!

6. Testimony

Rest Time

3 min

A calm close where each child hears that Jesus helps them when they come to Him.

  1. SAY“Jesus said, ‘I will give you rest.’ Let’s rest. Fold your arms and be very still.”
  2. Hold up the picture of Jesus. Ask softly, “How can we come to Jesus?” Nod at every answer, like pray, sing, or go to church.
  3. Say softly, “Jesus loves you. When you come to Him, He helps you. I know that’s true.”
  4. Name each child, like “Noah, Jesus will help you.” Invite them to try Helping Hands on Sunday. Then say the closing prayer.

Class screen: 🤗 When I come to Jesus, He helps. · 🖐️ Helping Hands on Sunday

7. Game

Hand 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 stretches out their hand and says, “Stretch!”
▶ 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 a curled-up hand!” 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 Heals a Man’s Hand

Matthew 12:9–13 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Sheep HelperHolds the toy sheep and says “Baa!” from their spot in scene 3.
  • Picture HelperSits by you and holds up the picture of Jesus in scenes 5 and 7.

Scenes

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

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

    🙌

  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.

  3. 🐑🕳️ What if a sheep fell in a hole?

    Some men said nobody should help people on the Sabbath. Jesus asked them a question. What if your sheep fell in a hole on the Sabbath? Wouldn’t you lift it out?

    🙌

  4. 👍💛 Sunday is a day to do good

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

    🙌 Thumbs up. Say it back: “Do good!”

  5. 🖐️✨ “Stretch forth thine hand!”

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

    🙌 Open your hand slowly. Say it back: “Stretch!”

  6. 🙌🎉 His hand is all better!

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

    🙌

  7. 🤗💛 Jesus helps me too

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

    🙌 Hug yourself. Say it back: “Jesus helps me!”

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 if you have a minute: 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 and 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. When we come to Jesus, He helps us. Ask your child, “What did Jesus tell the man?” The answer is “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 and a rock. Ask, “If you were hungry, would a grown-up who loves you give you bread or a rock?” Bread!
  2. Point to Luke 11:9–13. Say, “Grown-ups who love us give good gifts. Heavenly Father gives good gifts too, like the Holy Ghost, when we ask.”
  3. Fold arms and say a short prayer together. No bread or rock? Point to your tummy for bread. Knock on the floor for a rock.

🐂 Pull Together · 2 min

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

☀️ Sunday Good-Things Walk · 3 min

  1. Lead the kids in a line around the room. Stop at each corner for a good Sunday thing.
  2. At corner one, fold arms for a prayer. At corner two, hug a pretend Grandma. At three, sing a Primary song. At four, 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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