Share the Word
Ways to present Matthew 5.1-12
Activities marked with an asterisk 
next to the activity title are in addition to the resources in the Ready to go sessions. Suggested timings for these activities are also shown. NB The inclusion of additional activities varies from week to week.
A version of the story for very young children
Teach the children these simple hand signs to use as you tell the story. Each time they hear the word ‘bless’ they should hold their hands in front of them; when they hear ‘kingdom’, ‘comfort’, ‘filled’, they should hold their hands up in the air.
God will bless those who are poor.
God’s kingdom belongs to them.
God will bless those who are sad.
They will find comfort.
God will bless those who hunger.
They will be filled.
God will bless those who want peace.
They are God's children.
FOR CHILDREN
Read the story and pause at the 
to share these points with the children (see Stop and share below). Then use the activity to explore the passage together. (10 mins)
Click on the image to view a PDF.
Stop and share
- Sometimes we might be sad or need help. God promises he will be with us. Being humble includes not showing off about things.
- Being merciful and pure in heart includes being kind and not doing things that are wrong. Peacemakers are people who try and help others when they fall out.
- People can say unkind things about Christians. God understands when we are upset.
- Prophets were given a message from God to tell the people, but they were treated badly sometimes too.
Blessing balls E
- Help the children to understand the word ‘blessed’. Explain that it can be about understanding that God is with us and cares about us. Some of these blessings seem hard, but God is with us and will give us good things in difficult times.
- Invite the children to sit with their hands curled into a ball. Each time they hear the word ’blessed’, they reach both hands out forwards with fingers spread out wide. Give a moment at the end of each 'blessed' so they can curl their hands back into a ball.
FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Halve it 5 mins W E
- Divide the group into two. One group should read aloud the first half of each beatitude, ‘Blessed are….’ and the other half will respond with the second half, ‘for they will…’
- Discuss: What difficulties in life do we have to respond to? How can those difficulties help us grow?