Ruth and Naomi Sunday School Lesson: Friendship and Faith

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A few years ago during Vacation Bible School, I had the opportunity to re-enact the story of Ruth as part of our lesson for the evening. Dressed as Ruth and telling the story in first person, I shared her journey of loyalty, loss, and faith with our students. That experience gave me a deeper appreciation for Ruth’s story and it’s become even more meaningful each time I teach it in our children’s bible class.

This Ruth and Naomi Sunday School lesson for kids brings the Bible story to life in a way that’s easy for young hearts to understand. As children learn about Ruth’s love and loyalty to Naomi, they’ll also discover how to trust God, be kind to others, and hold on to their faith during hard times.

Scripture Reference

• Ruth 1

Memory Verse

• “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.” Ruth 1:16b (NIV)

​Visual Aids

• Ruth Flash-a-Card set (optional)

Key Points

• A famine led Elimelech and his family to move from Bethlehem to Moab.
• Elimelech and his sons died in Moab, leaving Naomi with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.
• When Naomi heard that the famine had ended, she decided to return to Bethlehem.
• Naomi and her daughters-in-law set out for Bethlehem, but along the way Naomi urged them to return to their families. Orpah turned back, but Ruth chose to stay with Naomi.
• Ruth’s response to Naomi showed deep loyalty and a desire to follow the one true God.
• When she arrived in Bethlehem, Naomi felt like her life was bitter, but God was still working in her story.

Opening Activity

• Review Old Testament books of the Bible through the book of Ruth

Lesson Summary

This lesson explores the story of Ruth and Naomi, a beautiful example of loyalty, love, and faith in the Bible. When a famine struck the land of Judah, Naomi and her family moved to Moab in search of food. After the death of her husband and two sons, Naomi found herself alone with her daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth.

When Naomi heard that the famine in Judah had ended, she decided to return to her homeland, taking her daughters-in-law with her. But along the way, Naomi encouraged the young women to turn back to Moab and rejoin their families, in hopes they would find love and happiness with new husbands.  While Orpah went home, Ruth chose to stay and continue the journey.

Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and her decision to follow God are at the heart of this lesson. Her words, “Where you go I’ll go…your God will be my God,” are powerful for children to hear and understand. Ruth, who came from a land that worshiped idols, was drawn to Naomi’s faith in the one true God. Together, they returned to Bethlehem, where God’s plan would continue to unfold.

Even in the face of loss and sadness, God’s love was present. Naomi felt forgotten, but He had not abandoned her. This story reminds children that God is always at work, even when we can’t see it.

This Bible lesson on Ruth and Naomi is too good to lose—pin it for later!

Ruth and Naomi Craft Activity for Kids

• Ruth and Naomi Craft (10 Minutes of Quality Time)

(Please note that this is not a free resource. However, the subscription cost for this site is very reasonable and the resources available will save you a lot of time when preparing class activities!)

Ruth and Naomi Take-Home Activity

• Ruth Showed Kindness Maze (included in the free Ruth Shows Kindness Lesson and Application pack from BibleFunForKids.com)

(There are a couple of different mazes included in this pack. I used the one taking Ruth and Naomi from Moab to Bethlehem.)

Final Thoughts + Free Lesson Download

The story of Ruth and Naomi is a powerful example of friendship and trust in God’s plan. It’s a story kids really connect with—it helps them understand what it means to be loyal, kind, and faithful. I hope this lesson helps you share Ruth’s story in a meaningful way with your students.

If you’d like access to the full lesson, you can download it for free by subscribing to my email list. I’d also love for you to join our growing Facebook group, Christian Crafts for Kids, where we share ideas, encouragement, and inspiration.

Until next time,

Lycia Evanoff

Lycia is a lifelong crafter whose goal is to help others find value, confidence, and joy in whatever they create.  She geeks out on using technology to supercharge craft projects with Silhouette Studio, Design Space, Glowforge, sublimation, etc.! Lycia teaches these skills and more through online tutorials and videos as well as in-person classes at both the local and national levels.

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