A lesson · Seven Names, One Journey
K-2Seven Names, One Journey
God has more than one true name — a simple story to help even the youngest kids feel how big and near that makes God.
Assumptions & Caveats
Before you begin
What you should know
This age gets only the seven-names half of this lesson — the three-degrees half (the “journey” idea) is genuinely a lesson for older kids, not a simplified version of it, so it’s left out on purpose rather than rushed through. Don’t try to fit it in.
Kids this age can absolutely hold “one person has lots of true names” as a felt idea, because they already live it — the same grown-up who tucks them in is also the one who drives the car, makes dinner, and kisses scraped knees. That’s the whole bridge. You’re not teaching seven theology words as vocabulary; you’re using seven ordinary, warm words to describe the same one God, the way “Mommy” and “Coach” and “Chef” all describe the same one person.
Use simple, felt translations rather than defining each word: the smartest helper who always knows (Mind), the good feeling deep inside (Spirit), the real you that never changes (Soul), the fair rule that’s always kind (Principle), the ready-for-anything energy (Life), the thing that’s always really true (Truth), the warm feeling of being liked no matter what (Love).
What we're assuming
- Kids this age can name at least one grown-up in their life who has several different jobs or roles — a parent who is also a driver, a cook, a fixer of things.
- This isn’t a vocabulary quiz. Nobody needs to remember all seven words by name at the end — the feeling that God has more than one true, warm name is the whole goal.
- Some kids may only have grown up hearing one word for God (“God,” full stop). That’s completely fine — this lesson adds to what they know, it doesn’t correct anything.
Learning goals
What they walk away with
- A felt sense that God has more than one true name, the way a person they love has more than one true name.
- Hearing all seven words at least once, in a warm, unpressured way — not memorizing them.
- A picture they made themselves, showing someone they love with all their “names,” to take home.
How to hold the room
Before you start talking
- Keep it playful and quick — this is a naming game, not a lecture. If a child starts listing more roles for their grown-up than you expected (“she’s also a doctor AND a singer AND—”), let them, that’s the lesson working.
- Don’t quiz kids on the seven words afterward. If a kid only remembers “Love” and “Life,” the lesson worked.
- Use your own warm tone for each of the seven words — they should sound like compliments, not vocabulary.
The lesson flow
Step by step
Each beat alternates a little input, a little doing, and a little reflecting. Skip, slow down, or stretch any of these to fit your group.
Gathering
Sit in a circle. Simple welcome: “Today we’re going to find out that God has more than one name — and every single one is true.”
The many-named grown-up
Ask: “Think of a grown-up you love. Do they have more than one job, or more than one name people call them?” Let a few kids share — “Mommy” who is also a doctor, a grandpa who is also a coach, an aunt who is also a chef.
“Here’s the thing — they’re not four different people. They’re one whole person, and every single one of those names is true about them, all at the same time.”
Seven names for God
“God has more than one true name too — actually, seven! Let’s meet them, one at a time.” Introduce each simply, with a motion or gesture if you like:
- Mind — the smartest helper, who always knows.
- Spirit — the good feeling, deep inside.
- Soul — the real you, that never changes.
- Principle — the fair rule, that’s always kind.
- Life — the ready-for-anything energy.
- Truth — the thing that’s always really true.
- Love — the warm feeling of being liked, no matter what.
“God is incorporeal, divine, supreme, infinite Mind, Spirit, Soul, Principle, Life, Truth, Love.”
Science and Health, p. 465
“Seven true names — and every single one is about you too, because you’re God’s very own reflection.”
Say it together
Teach a simple call-and-response: you say “Is God just one word?” and the group answers “God has seven true names!” Do it two or three times, building energy.
Craft: my many-named person
Give each child paper and crayons/markers. Draw the grown-up they talked about in Beat 2 in the middle, and write or draw their different names/jobs all around them like sun-rays. Then, in a corner, help them write one or two of God’s seven names they liked best.
Closing
Circle up. “God has seven true names, and every single one is about you. See you next week.”
What you'll need
The materials
- Paper, crayons or markers, one per child
- Nothing else — keep the room simple and uncluttered for this age
If it's not going well
When this one gets heavy
If a child discloses something about a grown-up in their life that sounds like real absence, harm, or fear rather than an ordinary busy-parent story, don’t probe further in the moment — stay warm, say something like “thank you for telling me,” and follow the site’s mentor safety guidelines (For Mentors page) afterward, including notifying the appropriate adult per your church’s child-safety policy.
For the fuller tiered guidance — including what to do if someone discloses something serious — see For Mentors.
Help this get better
Teaching this to a group we haven't planned for?
Tell us — this only gets better with your eyes on it. We read every one of these.