Studying the Bible throughout the year can help learners connect the Word with the natural rhythms and changes of the seasons, bringing biblical lessons into everyday life. Here’s a guide to themed Bible study units for every season, providing fresh inspiration for families, groups, or individual study.

Winter: Waiting for the Light

Winter invites reflection, perfect for studying prophecies about the Messiah and their fulfillment in the New Testament. Consider a unit focused on Old Testament prophecies and the Nativity story, emphasizing anticipation, hope, and joy.

• Focus: Advent, Prophecies, and the Birth of Jesus
• Passages to Explore: Isaiah 9:6, Micah 5:2, Luke 1–2, Matthew 1–2, Matthew 1:18-25
• Activities: Make an advent wreath, create “prophecy” ornaments for a Christmas tree, or build a Nativity scene with craft materials.
• Discussion Prompts: How do these prophecies point to Jesus? What emotions do you think people felt when waiting for the Messiah?
• Activities & Crafts:
  • Advent Candles: Craft or decorate candles, each representing hope, peace, joy, and love.
  • Jesse Tree: Create ornaments for a “Jesse Tree” that represents stories leading up to Christ’s birth.
  • Nativity Story Puppet Show: Make simple puppets to retell the Christmas story.
• Discussion Topics:
  • Why did God send prophets?
  • How can we prepare our hearts for Jesus?

FREE: Nativity Coloring Book
FREE: PreK Busy Book

Spring: New Beginnings and Transformation

Spring is a season of renewal, making it an ideal time to study the Resurrection, Jesus’ parables, and the transforming power of His teachings. Focus on new beginnings, both in nature and in spiritual life.

• Focus: Jesus’ Miracles, Easter, and Resurrection
• Bible Passages: John 11 (Raising Lazarus), John 20 (Resurrection), Luke 24
• Activities & Crafts:
  • Resurrection Gardens: Make a miniature garden with a stone to roll away.
  • Butterfly Craft: Symbolizing new life, create butterflies from coffee filters or paper.
  • Easter Story Bracelets: Make beaded bracelets that tell the Easter story through colors.
  • Other: Plant seeds to symbolize new life, paint rocks with resurrection themes, or create a “growth” journal.
• Discussion Topics:
  • How did Jesus show us love through His miracles?
  • What does it mean to have “new life” in Jesus?
  • How does the Resurrection give us hope?
  • What seeds of faith are you planting this season?

FREE: Mini Spring Coloring Book
FREE: Scripture Bookmarks

Summer: Walking with Jesus

Summer is a time of exploration and adventure, making it a fitting season to dive into the journeys of the disciples and the miracles and parables of Jesus. This can encourage learners to follow Jesus’ example in everyday life.

• Themes: Discipleship, Miracles, Parables of Jesus
• Focus: Parables and Lessons on Faith, Growth, and Community
• Bible Passages: Matthew 13 (Parables of the Kingdom), Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan), Matthew 14 (Walking on Water), John 6 (Feeding the 5,000), Luke 15 (Parables of the Lost Sheep, Coin, and Son)
• Activities & Crafts:
  • Planting Seeds of Faith: Plant seeds to discuss the parable of the sower.
  • Friendship Bracelets: Make bracelets to represent community and kindness.
  • Nature Scavenger Hunt: Look for items that remind us of God’s creation.
• Discussion Topics:
  • How can we be good neighbors?
  • What lessons do the parables teach us about God’s kingdom?
  • What would it have been like to be a disciple?
  • How do Jesus’ miracles show His care and power?

Fall: Harvest and Gratitude

With harvests and holidays that remind us of our blessings, fall is ideal for studying gratitude, stewardship, and God’s creation. Focus on how we’re called to care for the world and give thanks in every circumstance.

• Themes: Harvest, Gratitude, Creation, Giving Thanks
• Focus: Psalms of Thanksgiving, Stories of Provision
• Bible Passages: Psalm 100, Luke 17:11-19 (Healing of the Ten Lepers), Exodus 16 (Manna in the Wilderness), Genesis 1–2 (Creation), James 1:17, 1 Thessalonians 5:18
• Activities & Crafts:
  • Thankful Tree: Each day, add a “thankful” leaf to the tree.
  • Harvest Blessings Jar: Write down blessings and read them together at Thanksgiving.
  • Bread Baking: Make simple bread to discuss how God provides for us.
  • Other: Go on a “creation” nature walk, make a gratitude tree with Bible verses, or gather food donations for a local charity.
• Discussion Topics:
  • Why is it important to give thanks to God?
  • How did Jesus show compassion and provision?
  • Why is it important to be grateful?
  • How does caring for creation show our gratitude to God?

Year-Round Tools for Seasonal Bible Study

• Scripture Journals: Keep a seasonal journal to record reflections, drawings, and answers to discussion questions.
• Hands-On Crafts: Create crafts tied to the theme of each season, from advent wreaths to gratitude trees.
• Prayer Prompts: Tailor prayer prompts to the themes, focusing on gratitude in fall, wonder in winter, hope in spring, and action in summer.

Each unit can be tailored with a mix of scripture reading, hands-on activities, and open discussions, making the themes memorable and meaningful for kids. This seasonal approach also ties the Bible’s messages to the rhythm of the year, helping children see God’s work in everyday life.