Sometimes the hardest part of creating something new is finding just the right name. A dear friend come up with the name ABCJesusLovesMe, and I’ve always loved how perfectly it blends learning and faith together. If you’re looking for meaningful, hands-on ways to help little ones understand just how much Jesus loves them, you’ll find a collection of simple, joy-filled ideas right here.
Anna Bartlett Warner (1820–1915) and her sister Susan Warner grew up near United States Military Academy at West Point, where they led Sunday School classes for the young cadets. After their father’s death, the sisters needed to support themselves financially and turned to writing. Susan became a best-selling novelist, while Anna wrote novels and published two collections of poetry.
The song “Jesus Loves Me” began as a simple poem Anna wrote in 1860 for inclusion in Susan’s novel, Say and Seal. In the story, the poem is spoken to comfort a dying child.
A few years later, in 1862, composer William Batchelder Bradbury (1816–1868) set the poem to music and published it in his hymnal, The Golden Shower. At that time, he added the familiar chorus, “Yes, Jesus loves me.”
The song became so widely loved that, in recognition of the spiritual impact the sisters had on the cadets at West Point, the sisters were buried with military honors. They are the only civilians laid to rest in the West Point Cemetery. 1, 2
Jesus loves me! This I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong
Chorus:
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so
Jesus loves me! He who died
Heaven's gate to open wide
He will wash away my sin
Let His little child come in
Jesus loves me! Loves me still
When I'm very weak and ill
From His shining throne on high
Comes to watch me where I lie
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way
Thou hast bled and dies for me
I will hence-forth live for Thee
Jesus loves me! loves me still
When I'm very weak and ill
From His shining throne on high
Comes to watch me where I lie
Jesus loves me! He will stay
Close beside me all the way
He's prepared a home for me
And some day His face I'll see
Jesus loves me when I'm good
When I do the things I should
Jesus loves me when I'm [I do] bad
But it makes Him oh so sad
author unknown
Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
He shed His blood on Calvary
There He gave His life for me
I love Jesus, does He know?
Have you I ever told Him so?
Jesus likes to hear me say
That I love Him every day
Yes, I love Jesus
Yes, I love Jesus
Yes, I love Jesus
In prayer I'll tell him so
Are you ready to embark on an incredible journey of faith and discovery with your child or students? Look no further! Our Old and New Testament Curriculum Bundle is the perfect companion for home, preschool, or church Sunday School or mid-week meeting Bible learning. It's time to immerse your little ones in the enriching world of biblical stories and truth.
Traditional
1, 2, 3 Jesus loves me
1, 2, Jesus love you
3 and 4, He loves you more
More than you've ever been loved before
5, 6, 7, we're going to heaven
8, 9 it's truly divine
9 and 10 it's time to end
But instead we'll sing it again or There's no more time to sing it again
Are you ready to instill essential character traits in your children or students? Our 10-page Character Training Printable focuses on 20 key virtues like kindness, integrity, and wisdom. With definitions, opposite meanings, and Bible verses, it’s the perfect tool for guiding young hearts toward a strong moral foundation.
All Printables Free for Immediate Family Use or with a Current License Only
ABCJLM Bible Coloring Sheets: Jesus and the Little Children
Play or sing the song "Jesus Loves Me." When the music stops, children freeze and shout, “Yes, Jesus loves me!”
This activity will require an adult to align the papers but the child can help cut and staple.
Cut a piece of paper in half creating two 11"x4 1/4" pieces. Cut eleven 1" strips of colored paper measuring 4 1/4" long. Lay two stripes together and staple at the bottom. Fold the unstapled ends down and around to form a heart. Lay another strip on each side of the bended stripes. Align and staple the four-layer end. Fold the unstapled ends to form a second heart. Continue the process to form a chain of hearts. Sometimes construction paper is too stiff to bend. You may also use felt.
Image directions available here.
For Family or License Use: Print the " Jesus Love's _____" title page and add the child's name to the line. Sponge paint with a heart. Add and staple or bind all of the pages together to form a book. Review the Bible stories as you look through the finished book.
Let children look in a mirror and say, “Jesus loves me!” Emphasize that me means them personally.
Cut out a large paper heart and write “Jesus loves me” on it. Let the child decorate with crayons or stickers.
Play Simon Says, periodically showing the child a Bible and say, “How do we know Jesus loves us?” Let the child respond, “The Bible tells me so!”
Hide paper hearts around the room. When children find one, they say, “Jesus loves me!”
