Help Others — Free Sunday School Lesson
Looking for a free Sunday School lesson for kids that teaches children a practical way to live out their faith? This Dorcas Bible lesson for kids helps children discover how they can notice the needs of others and choose to help with kindness and willingness.
In Acts 9:36–42, children meet Dorcas, also called Tabitha, a faithful follower of Jesus who was known for doing good and helping those in need. Through her story, kids will learn that helping others doesn’t always require doing something big—we can use what we have and what we are able to do to care for the people around us.
This ready-to-teach Sunday School lesson about helping others includes a Bible story, discussion questions with answers, a hands-on Bible craft, game, memory verse activity, faith challenge, lesson review, and prayer.
The lesson is designed to help children understand one simple truth:
Serving like Jesus means noticing when someone needs help and using what we have to help them.
Whether you teach Sunday School, children’s church, or a small Bible class, you can use this lesson to help children move beyond simply talking about kindness and begin looking for practical ways to help others.
Bible Story: Dorcas Helps the Poor
Bible Passage: Acts 9:36–42
Memory Verse: Galatians 6:2
Theme: Help Others
Ages: 3–10
Lesson Length: Approximately 35–40 minutes
Lesson Goal: Children will understand that serving like Jesus means noticing when others need help and choosing to help with kindness and willingness.
1. WELCOME, WORSHIP & PRAYER
Welcome
Welcome the children warmly and ask:
“What is something you did this week to help someone?”
Allow a few children to answer. They may mention helping clean up, sharing with a sibling, carrying something, or helping at home.
Say:
“Today we are going to learn about a woman in the Bible who was known for helping other people. Her name was Dorcas. She didn’t just say that she cared about people—she showed it by what she did.”
Worship Songs
Choose one or sing both:
• Jesus Loves the Little Children
• This Little Light of Mine
Encourage children to sing along and use simple hand motions.
Opening Prayer
“Dear God, thank You for bringing us together today. Thank You for all the people who help and care for us. As we learn about Dorcas, show us how we can help others too. Give us kind hearts and willing hands. Amen.”
2. LESSON STARTER — HELPING HANDS
You Will Need: A few simple classroom objects such as crayons, books, paper, blocks, or pencils.
Before the lesson, place several objects around the teaching area.
Ask one child:
“Could you please pick up all of these things by yourself?”
Let the child begin. After a few seconds, ask:
“Would this be easier if someone helped?”
Invite several children to help.
Once everything has been collected, say:
“Look how much easier that became when other people helped! There are many times when people around us need help. Sometimes the need is small. Sometimes it is big. But when we notice a need and do something to help, we are showing care through our actions.”
Transition:
“Today we’re going to meet a woman in the Bible who was known for doing exactly that.”
3. BIBLE STORY — DORCAS HELPS OTHERS
Read: Acts 9:36–42
In the town of Joppa lived a woman named Tabitha. In Greek, her name was Dorcas.
Dorcas was a follower of Jesus.
The Bible tells us something very special about her. Dorcas was always doing good and helping the poor.
She didn’t only notice people who needed help. She did something about it.
Dorcas used what she had and what she could do to care for others. One way she helped was by making clothing.
Imagine the time and work it took to make clothes in Bible times. There were no stores filled with ready-made shirts and dresses like we have today. Making clothing required work.
But Dorcas used her time and abilities to help people who needed them.
Then something very sad happened.
Dorcas became sick and died.
The believers in Joppa heard that Peter was in a nearby town called Lydda, so they sent two men to him. They urged Peter:
“Please come at once!”
Peter went with them.
When Peter arrived, they took him upstairs.
The widows gathered around Peter crying. They showed him the robes and other clothing Dorcas had made while she was with them.
Think about that for a moment.
The things Dorcas had made were evidence of the love and help she had given to people.
Peter sent everyone out of the room. Then he got down on his knees and prayed.
After praying, Peter turned toward Dorcas and said:
“Tabitha, get up.”
Dorcas opened her eyes!
When she saw Peter, she sat up.
Peter took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented Dorcas to them alive.
News of what had happened spread throughout Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord.
Dorcas’s story reminds us that helping others matters.
We may not make clothes like Dorcas did, but God has given each of us opportunities to help.
We can help someone clean up. We can share with someone who doesn’t have what they need. We can help a younger child. We can carry something for someone. We can comfort someone who is sad.
We can notice when someone needs help and choose to do something.
Teaching Truth
Serving like Jesus means noticing when someone needs help and using what we have to help them.
4. HEART CONNECTION — I CAN HELP
Say:
“Dorcas didn’t need to be famous or have lots of money to help people. She used what she had and what she could do.”
Hold up your hands.
“Look at your hands. There are many things these hands can do.”
Ask:
“What could your hands do to help someone?”
Allow children to answer.
Explain:
“Sometimes we think helping has to be something big. But small acts of help matter too.”
We can:
• Pick up toys without being asked.
• Help a younger brother or sister.
• Share supplies with someone.
• Help a classmate clean up.
• Carry something for an adult.
• Sit beside someone who feels left out.
• Help set the table.
• Give something to a person in need.
Say:
“When we see someone who needs help, we have a choice. We can walk past, or we can ask, ‘How can I help?’”
Heart Question
Ask each child to think quietly:
“Who is one person I could help this week?”
Then say together:
“I can use my hands to help others!”
5. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What were the two names of the woman in today’s Bible story?
Answer: Tabitha and Dorcas.
2. What does Acts tell us Dorcas was always doing?
Answer: Doing good and helping the poor.
3. What did the widows show Peter?
Answer: The robes and other clothing Dorcas had made.
4. What did Peter do before telling Dorcas to get up?
Answer: He got down on his knees and prayed.
5. What happened after Peter told Dorcas to get up?
Answer: She opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up.
6. What happened when people in Joppa heard what had happened?
Answer: Many people believed in the Lord.
7. Do we have to make clothes like Dorcas to help others?
Answer: No. There are many different ways we can help.
8. What is one way you can help someone this week?
Answer: Answers will vary.
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6. BIBLE CRAFT — HELPING APRON
Watch the Helping Apron Craft
See how to make the Helping Apron step by step.
Materials You’ll Need
To make the Helping Apron craft, you’ll need:
• Felt fabric — [AFFILIATE LINK]
• Adhesive sticky fastener dots — [AFFILIATE LINK]
• Scissors — [AFFILIATE LINK]
• Laminating machine — [AFFILIATE LINK]
• Laminating sheets — [AFFILIATE LINK]
Some links in this section may be affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Craft Connection
“Dorcas used her hands and abilities to help people. Your apron is a reminder that you can be a helper too. When you see someone who needs help this week, remember what we learned from Dorcas.”
7. BIBLE GAME — FIND A WAY TO HELP
Setup
Place several simple “needs” around the classroom:
• Books scattered on the floor
• Crayons that need to be collected
• A chair that needs to be moved
• Papers that need to be handed out
• Blocks that need to be put away
• A child pretending to need help carrying something
How to Play
Children take turns choosing a situation and deciding how they could help.
After each situation, everyone says:
“SEE A NEED — HELP!”
For older children, don’t immediately tell them what needs to be done. Let them identify the need themselves.
Teaching Connection
“A good helper learns to notice what other people need. Dorcas noticed needs and did something about them. We can learn to notice too.”
8. MEMORY VERSE ACTIVITY
💛 Want More Ready-to-Teach Lessons?
This free lesson is part of the September Sunday School Lesson Kit: Serving Like Jesus, which includes 8 complete Bible lessons for ages 3–10, with crafts, games, memory verse activities, discussion questions, and printables.
Free Sunday School Lesson Printable
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