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17. Dive Deeper: Let Your Light Shine (Matthew 5:16)
- Collected Joys
- Dec 8, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 15, 2025
About our Dive Deeper Series
Welcome! This post accompanies our newest book, Memory Verses in Action —created to help kids not only memorize Scripture but also live it out in daily life.
Each post of our Dive Deeper series includes extra resources for every verse in the book—featuring activities, songs, teaching videos, and reflection questions to help kids understand and apply God’s Word.
To learn more about the book and explore all the available resources, click here.
Dive Deeper: Matthew 5:16
“Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” — Matthew 5:16 (NIV)
Matthew 5:16 teaches kids that their actions can point others to God. When they choose kindness, help someone in need, or do what is right, their lives shine with God’s love—like a bright light in a dark place. Jesus wants His followers to shine so others can see God’s goodness through them. Even small acts of love can make a big difference.
Activity Idea: Shine Your Light Flashlight Lesson
Help kids understand how their good deeds shine brightly for others—just like Jesus teaches in Matthew 5:16.
What You Need:
A flashlight
A dark room
What to Do:
Begin in the dark. Sit together in a dim room. Ask: “How does it feel to be in the dark? What makes darkness hard?”(Kids may say it feels scary, confusing, or lonely.)
Turn on the flashlight. Shine it around the room. Ask: “What changed when the light came on?” (Now they can see, feel safer, and know where things are.)
Explain the connection. Say something like: “Jesus says our good deeds are like this light. When we are kind, helpful, honest, or loving, people notice—and it helps them see God’s goodness, just like this flashlight lights up the room.”
Say the verse together. Turn the flashlight on and off as you repeat the verse: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Connection:
This simple object lesson helps kids experience how light changes a room—just like their good deeds can brighten someone’s day and point them to God.
Additional Discussion Topics and Questions
It can be helpful to break this verse down into three big truths:
God Wants Our Lives to Shine: Jesus calls His followers to stand out in a dark world. When we choose what is right and loving, our lives shine with God’s light.
Good Deeds Point People to God: Kindness, honesty, helping others, and doing what is right make people see something different in us—and that “something” is God’s love at work.
Our Light Brings Glory to God: When others see our good actions, it gives them a chance to see God’s goodness. Our choices can help others learn about who God is.
Additional discussion questions:
How does light help us? (It helps us see, feel safe, and know where to go.)
What would it be like if we did not have light? (Hard to see, confusing, sometimes scary—just like the world without God’s love.)
What do you think it means to “shine your light”? (Doing good, showing kindness, helping others, choosing what is right.)
How can your actions show people God’s love? (Kind words, honesty, serving, forgiveness, encouragement.)
What are some good deeds Jesus might be talking about? (Helping others, sharing, including someone, praying for people.)
How do good deeds help people see God? (They show God’s love working through us.)
Why do you think Jesus wants us to shine before others? (So others can see God’s goodness and glorify Him.)
What’s one way you can shine your light for Jesus this week? (Encourage your child to pick one simple action.)
Who said this verse? (Jesus—during the Sermon on the Mount.)
According to the Did You Know section, what did Jesus call Himself? (“The Light of the World.”)
What makes it hard to shine your light sometimes? (Fear, peer pressure, frustration, wanting our own way.)
How does shining your light bring glory to God? (Others notice His love and kindness through us.)
Song / Video
Watch another fun video from Douglas Talks to help your kids understand what it means to let your light shine.
Below is an upbeat song from JumpStart3 to help your child memorize Matthew 5:16:
🌟 Closing Thought
Matthew 5:16 reminds us that even small acts of kindness can shine God’s light in big ways. When your child chooses to do good, others can see God’s love through them. This week, encourage them to look for simple moments to shine brightly for Jesus.
✨ Next Dive Deeper:
Luke 6:31 – The Golden Rule
In our next Dive Deeper lesson, we’ll explore Jesus’ teaching on the Golden Rule and what it means to treat others the way we want to be treated. Kids will learn simple, practical ways to show kindness, fairness, and respect in their daily interactions.
Click below to begin the next lesson, or visit our Dive Deeper page to explore all the resources that go along with Memory Verses in Action.
Our Favorite Kids’ Bibles & Devotionals
Looking for more ways to help your child grow in God’s Word? Here are a few of our favorite Bibles, devotionals, and faith-building books for kids! These are wonderful tools to use alongside the Memory Verses in Action series and to encourage everyday conversations about faith at home.
Please note: This section contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we personally use and love!
This is one of our top recommendations! All the verses in Memory Verses in Action come from the NIV translation (except for Philippians 4:13), so kids can easily find and follow each passage in this Bible. It’s filled with colorful illustrations, fun facts, and “Live It!” features that help kids apply God’s Word to daily life. This is a great Bible for elementary-aged readers!
In addition to the standard version, check out this adorable personalized edition. Add your child’s name to make their Bible extra special!
➡️ Explore More Faith Resources
Please visit the links below to see all of our recommended resources:
Thank you for joining us!
Find more resources for Memory Verses in Action below.
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