Teach your children or students the Jelly Bean Gospel with good news Jelly Beans.

With Easter approaching, jelly beans are available in every store. Why not use these sweet treats as a salvation object lesson?

If you prefer to watch videos, you can see the Jelly Bean Gospel on my Youtube channel.

DOWNLOAD: Click here to get the Good News Jelly Bean Object Lesson and Printable Bag Topper.

The purpose of this lesson is to communicate the good news of salvation through faith In Jesus and to give students an easy way to share their faith with others.

Supplies needed:

• Jelly Beans in black, red, white, blue, green, yellow, and purple (You may need to purchase different brands to get all of the colors.)
• A bowl or bag for each child
• Printable bag toppers (if sending treats home)

You can use all the colors of the jelly beans (see the optional question at the end) or just use jelly beans in the colors needed. 

Each bowl or bag should have at least one jelly bean in each color of the lesson.

A Salvation Object Lesson Using Jelly Beans

Start the conversation by asking: 

“Has anyone ever used colors to remember something important?”

Help the children brainstorm ways colors are used to communicate important reminders or lessons. 

RELATED: Object Lesson: How to Explain God is Real

Examples might include traffic signs (red for stop or yellow for yield) or flavors (orange for orange flavored or yellow for lemon.)

Transition by saying something like: 

“Today, we are going to use jelly beans to tell the most important story ever—the story of how we can have a relationship with God!”

For each color, you will ask the children to find a jelly bean in their bowl or bag that is the correct color.

Black Jelly Bean – Sin (Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23)

As the children find a black jelly bean, read Romans 3:23: 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

RELATED: Easter Basket Stuffer Ideas for the Whole Family

Explain: 

“Sin is anything we do that goes against God. We all have sinned, and sin separates us from God.”

Point out the black jelly bean and say: 

“This color reminds us of darkness—life without Jesus.”

Red Jelly Bean – Jesus’ Blood (Romans 5:8, 1 John 1:7)

With a red jelly bean in your hand, read Romans 5:8: 

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

Explain: 

“Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Red reminds us of Jesus’ blood that was shed for us.”

White Jelly Bean – Forgiveness & A Clean Heart (Isaiah 1:18, 1 John 1:9)

Next in the Jelly Bean Gospel is the white jelly bean. Read Isaiah 1:18: 

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” 

Then say: 

“When we believe in Jesus, He forgives us and makes us clean.”

Point out a white jelly bean again and say: 

“White reminds us that Jesus washes away our sins.”

Blue Jelly Bean – Baptism & Faith (Acts 2:38, Ephesians 2:8-9)

For the blue jelly bean, read Acts 2:38: 

“Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” 

Explain: “Baptism shows that we have chosen to follow Jesus, but salvation is a gift from God through faith.”

You can add something similar to: 

“Blue reminds us of water, which represents baptism and new life.”

Green Jelly Bean – Growing in Christ (2 Peter 3:18, Colossians 2:6-7)

Point out a green jelly bean and say: 

“Green reminds us of growing in our faith, just like plants grow.”

Then read 2 Peter 3:18 which says: 

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Ask the children:

“What are some ways we can grow as Christians?”

Allow for some ideas and then say:

“After we accept Jesus, we should grow in our faith by praying, reading the Bible, and going to church.”

Yellow Jelly Bean – Heaven (John 14:2-3, Revelation 21:21-23)

For the yellow jelly bean, read John 14:2: 

“My Father’s house has many rooms… I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

You can ask what this verse means or ask:

“What do you think the yellow jelly bean reminds us of?”

The answer you are seeking is “Heaven.”

Explain to the children: 

“Jesus has prepared a place in Heaven for everyone who believes in Him. Yellow reminds us of Heaven, where the streets are made of gold!”

Purple Jelly Bean – Jesus is King (Philippians 2:9-11, Revelation 19:16)

You might need to explain that typically purple is a color worn by royalty.

Read Philippians 2:11: 

“Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Explain: 

“Jesus is our Lord and King. The purple represents royalty and reminds us that one day He will return as ruler over everything!”

Object Lesson on Salvation Discussion Questions

If you have time for more conversation after sharing the Jelly Bean Gospel, here are some questions:

• What does the black jelly bean remind us of? (Sin)
• How did Jesus save us? (His blood, represented by red)
• What happens when we trust in Jesus? (We are made clean, like the white jelly bean)
• How can we grow in our faith? (Pray, read the Bible, go to church—green jelly bean)
• Where do we get to go when we believe in Jesus? (Heaven—yellow jelly bean)
• OPTIONAL – There are other colors of jelly beans in your bowl/bag. How do you think these colors can remind us of Jesus and what He has done for us?

Closing Prayer

As you close the Good News Jelly Beans lesson, guide the group in prayer by saying something similar to this:

“Dear Jesus, thank You for loving us and making a way for us to be with You forever. Help us to follow You and grow in our faith. Thank You for the promise of Heaven! Amen.”

Jelly Bean Gospel Take-Home Idea

Encourage children to share this good news with others by giving each child a small bag of jelly beans with a color guide.

Tell them to share this sweet story with someone else!

DOWNLOAD: Click here to get the Good News Jelly Bean Object Lesson and Printable Bag Topper.