Gospel Sparks Join the beta

Jesus Is My Light

A glowing surprise under a blanket, Jesus reads Isaiah’s scroll, and a Sunday-is-a-delight hop

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 42
  • 📅 Sunday, October 18, 2026
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

Jesus is like a light: He helps me see the right way to go.

I can follow Jesus, my light.

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. “Arise, shine; for thy light is come” (60:1) promises that the Lord will shine on His people when the world feels dark. Isaiah 61:1–3 describes the Savior’s mission: good news for the humble, healing for broken hearts, and freedom for captives. Centuries later, Jesus stood up in the synagogue in Nazareth on the Sabbath, read these words from Isaiah’s scroll, and said they were being fulfilled that very day (Luke 4:16–21). He is the One Isaiah wrote about. Jesus later said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12).

For three-year-olds, teach one tiny truth: Jesus is my light. Little ones know exactly what a light does: it chases away the dark, helps us find things, and shows us where to walk. Jesus does that for our lives by showing us the right way to go. Use a real flashlight if you can, and keep the lights in the room on; many three-year-olds are afraid of the dark, so a glow under a blanket is plenty.

These chapters also teach that the Sabbath can be “a delight” (58:13), which fits Sunbeams perfectly: they are at church right now, just like Jesus went to church on the Sabbath. Isaiah 58 teaches about fasting and sharing with the hungry, and Isaiah 65:25 pictures the wolf and the lamb eating together after Jesus comes again. For Sunbeams, fasting belongs to grown-ups and older children, but they can learn that we share food with people who are hungry.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a flashlight, a blanket, and a small toy. Make the flashlight glow under the blanket for a peekaboo surprise, swipe through the picture story of Jesus reading Isaiah’s scroll, teach “Arise, shine!” with the jump-and-sparkle motions, and do the Sunday hop. End by making the flashlight dance on the ceiling above each child as you say their name. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing”: be a sleepy sun rising, play Light and Dark, and hold pretend lights in cupped hands.

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. Check the flashlight batteries. Turn it on and tuck it under the blanket before the children come in.
  2. Pick a hiding spot for the toy that is a little shadowy but easy to reach: under a table or behind a chair.
  3. Add your children’s names in the My Class tab so you can greet each one by name.
  4. Practice the Sunday hop once: Monday hop, Tuesday clap, Wednesday stomp, Thursday spin, Friday wiggle, Saturday jump, Sunday smile.

If your class is wild

  • Never turn the room lights off with three-year-olds; some are scared of the dark. The flashlight glow under a blanket is enough magic.
  • Only you hold the flashlight, or hold it together with one child’s hand on yours. Shine it on walls and ceilings, never in eyes.
  • Separation tears? Let the parent stay a few minutes, then give the child the job of Blanket Lifter in the hook. A job helps more than a lecture.
  • Potty breaks: follow your ward’s policy (usually a parent or the second adult takes the child). Two adults stay with the children; never leave the class alone.
  • If you bring a snack, check allergies with every parent and your ward’s policy first. It’s a nice tie-in to sharing food with people who are hungry (Isaiah 58:7).

The 25-minute plan21 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

What’s Glowing?

2 min

A glowing blanket is instant three-year-old magic, and it opens the lesson on light.

  1. Before the children come in, turn on the flashlight and tuck it under the blanket so it glows.
  2. SAY“Look! Something is glowing under my blanket! What could it be?” Let them guess.
  3. Lift the corner slowly… “Peekaboo! It’s a light!”
  4. SAY“Lights help us see! Today we’ll learn that Jesus is like a light for us.”
🌪️ Let the child who is sitting stillest be the Blanket Lifter. Everyone else counts “1, 2, 3!”

Class screen: ✨ What’s glowing under the blanket?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one with a soft beam is perfect), A blanket or large towel

The Sleepy Sun

  1. Crouch down behind a chair so only the top of your head shows. Say: “Something is waking up… What could it be?”
  2. Rise up very slowly, spreading your fingers wide like sunbeams. “Good morning! It’s the sun!”
  3. SAY“Everybody be a sleepy sun!” The children curl up small, then rise slowly with sunbeam fingers.
  4. SAY“The sun gives us light so we can see! Today we’ll learn that Jesus is like a light for us.”

Class screen: 🌅 Rise and shine, sleepy sun!

2. Story

Picture Story: Jesus Reads Isaiah’s Scroll

5 min

Seven picture scenes show Jesus at church on the Sabbath, reading Isaiah’s words about Himself.

  1. Sit close together on the floor. Say: “Jesus went to church, just like we do. Let’s see what happened!”
  2. Swipe through the scenes on your phone or tablet. Read the short sentences, then do the action together.
  3. If you brought the paper scroll, unroll it slowly at scene 3.
  4. After scenes 6 and 7, say together: “Jesus is my light!”
🌪️ At scene 5, see who can be the quietest watcher. Whisper, “Shhh… I see such quiet eyes!”

Class screen: 📜 Jesus reads Isaiah’s scroll!

3. Scripture

Our Little Verse: Isaiah 60:1

3 min

Jump-and-sparkle motions make a short verse about light easy to remember.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “Isaiah wrote something in the Bible that makes us jump up. Listen!”
  2. Read Isaiah 60:1: “Arise, shine; for thy light is come.” Say: “‘Arise’ means stand up! Jesus is our light!”
  3. Teach the motions (see Key Verse) one at a time, then say it together: “Stand up and shine! Jesus is my light!”
  4. Say it three ways: a sleepy yawn voice, a regular voice, and a bright sunshine voice.
  5. Each time, start crouched down low so everyone gets to jump up.

Class screen: ☀️ Stand up and shine! · ⬆️ Arise · ✨ shine · ☀️ Jesus is my light!

4. Wiggle break

Sunday Is a Delight!

2 min

A days-of-the-week hop ends on Sunday, the special day Isaiah called a delight.

  1. SAY“Let’s go through the week!” Hold up one finger for each day.
  2. Monday: hop! Tuesday: clap! Wednesday: stomp! Thursday: spin! Friday: wiggle! Saturday: jump!
  3. Sunday: stop, fold your arms, and give a big smile. Say: “Isaiah said to call the Sabbath a delight. That means Sunday is a happy day!”
  4. Do the whole week again, faster!

Class screen: 📅 Sunday is a happy day! · Hop! Clap! Stomp! · Spin! Wiggle! Jump! · Sunday: smile!

5. Game

Flashlight Find

3 min

Finding a hidden toy with a light shows how a light helps us see, just like Jesus helps us.

  1. SAY“Cover your eyes!” Hide the toy somewhere a little shadowy: under a table or behind a chair.
  2. SAY“It’s hard to see in shadowy places. What can help us?” (A light!)
  3. Choose one child. Hold the flashlight together with your hand over theirs and search. Everyone else points and calls, “Over there!”
  4. When they find it, cheer: “The light helped us find it!” Play three or four rounds with different helpers.
  5. SAY“Jesus is like a light. He helps us see the right way to go.”
🌪️ Everyone else stays on their bottoms and points. Anyone who pops up waits one turn, then gets to be the next helper.

Class screen: 🔦 Shine the light! Find the toy!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one with a soft beam is perfect), A small stuffed animal or toy for Flashlight Find

Light and Dark

  1. SAY“When I say ‘Dark!’, curl up small and cover your eyes. When I say ‘Light!’, jump up with sparkle fingers!”
  2. Play: “Dark!… Light!… Dark!… Dark!… Light!” Try to trick them by saying the same word twice.
  3. Add a third word: when you say “Jesus!”, everyone shouts, “is my light!” and makes a big sun with their arms.
  4. SAY“Jesus is like a light. He helps us see the right way to go.”

Class screen: 🌗 Dark… Light… Jesus is my light!

6. Talk it over

Show Me!

2 min

Show-me questions let pre-readers answer with their whole bodies.

  1. Sit in a circle. Show one question at a time on your phone or tablet and read it out loud.
  2. Let them answer with faces and actions. Share your own quick answer too.
💬 Ask the class
  • Close your eyes. Is it dark? Now open them. Is it light?
  • What helps us see when it’s dark?
  • Show me how you walk to church on Sunday!
  • How can we follow Jesus? Show me something kind you can do.

Class screen: 💬 Show me!

7. Song

Jesus Was a Child Too

2 min

Singing about Jesus as a child connects the story to the little ones in your class.

  1. SAY“Jesus was once a little child like you. He grew up and went to church, like you!”
  2. Sing “Jesus Once Was a Little Child” (Children’s Songbook, 55). Crouch small at the start, then grow tall as you sing.
  3. If they don’t know it, sing it slowly and let them grow and hum along.

Class screen: 🎵 Jesus was a little child too!

8. Testimony

A Little Light Above You

2 min

A soft light over each child and a simple testimony make a calm, personal ending.

  1. Lower your voice. Turn on the flashlight and make a soft circle of light on the ceiling. Say: “Ooh…”
  2. Move the light above each child in turn and say softly: “Jesus loves you, Emma. He is your light.”
  3. SAY“Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ He helps us know the right way to go.”
  4. Share one simple sentence: “I know Jesus is my light. I love Him.”
  5. Turn off the light and fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.

Class screen: 🔦 Jesus is my light. · He shows me the way

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A flashlight (a small one with a soft beam is perfect)

  1. Lower your voice. Cup your hands like you are holding something tiny and precious. Say: “I’m holding a pretend little light.”
  2. Everyone cups their hands too. Go around the circle; as you say each name softly, that child opens their hands like a light shining: “Jesus loves you, Emma. He is your light.”
  3. SAY“Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world.’ He helps us know the right way to go.”
  4. Share one simple sentence: “I know Jesus is my light. I love Him.”
  5. Fold arms for the closing prayer. Whisper the words for the child who prays, a few at a time.
9. Game

What’s Hiding? Mystery Picture

3 minBONUS

A picture reveal reviews the lesson if you have a few extra minutes.

  1. Tap Mystery Picture. A picture from today’s lesson is hiding behind tiles.
  2. Ask a quick “show me”: “Show me sparkle fingers!” “Show me how you roll a scroll!” After each one, tap away a tile.
  3. Let everyone shout a guess. When the picture is uncovered, act it out together.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🖼️ What’s hiding?

Story drama

Jesus Reads Isaiah’s Scroll

Isaiah 60:1–3; 61:1; Luke 4:16–21 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • ChurchgoersEveryone walks to church in place, then sits down with folded arms.
  • Scroll RollersEveryone rolls their hands around and around: “Roll, roll, roll!”
  • Big EyesEveryone covers their eyes, then pops them open: “I can see!”
  • Little LightsEveryone wiggles sparkle fingers whenever the story talks about light.

Scenes

  1. 🧔📜 Isaiah wrote about a great light

    Long ago, the prophet Isaiah wrote that a great light was coming to help everyone.

    🎬 Cover your eyes like it’s dark… then pop your hands open with sparkle fingers: “Light!”

  2. 🚶⛪ Jesus went to church on Sabbath

    When Jesus grew up, He went to church on the Sabbath day, just like we do!

    🎬 Walk in place to church. Then sit down and fold your arms.

  3. 📜👐 A big scroll for Jesus

    A man handed Jesus a big scroll with Isaiah’s words on it. Jesus unrolled it… and unrolled it…

    🎬 Roll your hands around and around: “Roll, roll, roll!”

  4. 🙈👀 Jesus came to help eyes see

    Jesus read Isaiah’s words out loud. He came to help sad people, and to help people who couldn’t see.

    🎬 Cover your eyes, then open them wide: “I can see!”

  5. 👀🤫 Everyone looked at Jesus

    Jesus sat down. Everyone’s eyes were looking right at Him. Shhh!

    🎬 Make big eyes and put a finger on your lips: “Shhh!”

  6. ✨😊 Isaiah wrote about Jesus!

    Jesus told them Isaiah’s words were about Him. He is the One who came to help us!

    🎬 Jump up and wiggle sparkle fingers: “It’s Jesus!”

  7. 🔦💛 Jesus is my light

    Like a flashlight in the dark, Jesus shows us the right way to go.

    🎬 Hold a pretend flashlight and tiptoe along a pretend path. Say, “Jesus is my light!”

Key verse

Isaiah 60:1 ↗
“Arise, shine; for thy light is come”
In kid words: Stand up and shine! Jesus is my light!
🙌 “Arise” = crouch down low, then jump up tall · “shine” = wiggle sparkle fingers beside your face · “Jesus is my light” = make a big sun circle with your arms over your head

More verses

John 8:12 ↗
“I am the light of the world”
In kid words: Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”
Isaiah 58:13 ↗
“call the sabbath a delight”
In kid words: Sunday is a happy, special day!
Isaiah 60:19 ↗
“the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light”
In kid words: Jesus is a light that never goes out.
Luke 4:18 ↗
“recovering of sight to the blind”
In kid words: Jesus came to help people who couldn’t see.

Forehead Guess words14 words

  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🔦 Flashlight
  • 🕯️ Candle
  • 💡 Light Bulb
  • 🌙 Moon
  • ⭐ Star
  • 📜 Scroll
  • 👀 Eyes
  • ⛪ Church
  • 📅 Sunday
  • 🐑 Lamb
  • 🐺 Wolf
  • 🍞 Bread
  • 😊 Smile
Clues for each word
  • Sun: Big light in the sky every morning
  • Flashlight: A light you hold in your hand
  • Candle: A little flame of light
  • Light Bulb: Click! It lights up the room
  • Moon: Glows in the night sky
  • Star: Twinkle, twinkle!
  • Scroll: Jesus read Isaiah’s words from one
  • Eyes: Open them to see!
  • Church: Where we go on Sunday
  • Sunday: A happy, special day
  • Lamb: Someday it will play with a wolf!
  • Wolf: Says “Aroooo!”
  • Bread: We share it with hungry people
  • Smile: Shine one at a friend!
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

  1. Which one gives light?
    • A. 🔦 Flashlight
    • B. 🧦 Sock
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🔦 Flashlight Click! A flashlight helps us see, and Jesus is like a light for us.

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

    ✅ B. ⛪ Church Luke 4:16. Jesus went to church on the Sabbath, just like we do!

  3. What did Jesus read Isaiah’s words from?
    • A. 📺 A TV
    • B. 📜 A scroll
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 📜 A scroll A scroll is a long paper that rolls up. Roll, roll, roll!

  4. Jesus helped people who couldn’t see. What do we see with?
    • A. 👂 Ears
    • B. 👃 Nose
    • C. 👀 Eyes
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 👀 Eyes Blink, blink! Jesus came to help people see.

  5. Who is the light of the world?
    • A. ❤️ Jesus
    • B. 🌙 The moon
    Show answer

    ✅ A. ❤️ Jesus John 8:12. Jesus said, “I am the light of the world.”

  6. Isaiah said the Sabbath is a…
    • A. 😀 Happy delight
    • B. 😖 Yucky day
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 😀 Happy delight Isaiah 58:13. Sunday is a happy, special day!

  7. When it’s dark, what helps you see?
    • A. 🕶️ Sunglasses
    • B. 💡 A light
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 💡 A light Lights chase the dark away. Jesus helps us see the right way to go.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • Jesus Once Was a Little Child Children’s Songbook, p. 55

    Jesus grew up and went to church on the Sabbath, just like your Sunbeams. Find it ↗

  • Popcorn Popping Children’s Songbook, p. 242

    A spare wiggle song: crouch low and pop up tall, like “Arise, shine!” Find it ↗

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

    Pairs with the Wolf and Lamb extra about the peaceful earth after Jesus comes again (Isaiah 65:25). Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Bedtime Light

This week at bedtime, turn on a little light with Mom or Dad and say, “Jesus is my light!” Then tell them one kind thing you did that day.

Text the parents

Today your Sunbeam learned that Jesus is our light: He helps us see the right way to go. We heard how Jesus went to church on the Sabbath and read Isaiah’s scroll (Luke 4:16–21), learned to jump up and say “Arise, shine!” (Isaiah 60:1), and found hidden toys with a flashlight. Ask your child: “Who is your light?” and let them show you their sparkle fingers.

📝 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?

🐺 The Wolf and the Lamb · 3 min

  1. SAY“Isaiah said that after Jesus comes again, a wolf and a lamb will eat together, and nobody will hurt anybody” (Isaiah 65:25).
  2. Half the class are wolves (“Aroooo!”) and half are lambs (“Baa!”). Everyone crawls around making their sound.
  3. SAY“Time to eat!” Wolves and lambs sit together and pretend to munch grass side by side.
  4. Sing “When He Comes Again” (Children’s Songbook, 82).

🍞 Share Your Bread · 2 min

  1. SAY“Isaiah said to share our bread with people who are hungry” (Isaiah 58:7).
  2. Everyone holds a pretend loaf of bread, breaks it in half, and hands half to a friend: “Here, this is for you!”
  3. SAY“When we share, we help Jesus take care of people.”

🖍️ Sunday Delight Pictures · 5 min

  1. Give each child a paper and crayons. Say: “Draw something happy we can do on Sunday!”
  2. Help with ideas: going to church, singing, visiting Grandma, looking at pictures of Jesus, saying a family prayer.
  3. Write each child’s words at the bottom of their picture so parents can read it at home.

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 Sunbeams lessons