Page1 B3. The House Built on the Rock Matthew 7:24-29 Learning Objectives 1. The children will explore the story of the Wise and Foolish Men. 2. The children will recognize that we are wise to follow and build our lives on Jesus example. Memory Verse: Getting Started everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. --Matthew 7:24 Choose One All Ages House of Cards Activity You will need several decks of playing cards for this activity. If possible, have the children work as teams or individually to see who can build the largest house of cards. Before class begins take a few moments to ask them why it was so hard to build a house out of cards. (Card houses are very unstable, the slightest breeze or a slight bump of the table will send the cards crashing down. You may also consider using dominoes or blocks for this activity.) After the activity, explain that today we are going to learn about building. We will learn that the foundation we build upon is very important. Our lives are like buildings. If we build our lives on a good foundation we will stand firm. If we are on a weak foundation, then we will have many problems in life. Let s learn more about these foundations and how we can build our lives on the solid rock of God. House Worksheet See: www.daniellesplace.com Login to the Research Room Click on New Testament Click on Matthew Scroll down to Matthew 7:24-29 and click on The Lord is My Rock Scroll down to Opening Activity #1 What Should You Build Your Foundation On? You will need to print out one worksheet for each child and have them follow the instructions. The children will also need pencils and crayons for this activity. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: Jesus is my rock! 24 So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the rock. 25 The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds his house on sand. 27 The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash. 28 Jesus finished saying all these things. The crowds were amazed at his teaching. 29 He taught like one who had authority. He did not speak like their teachers of the law.
Page2 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Continued Teacher Note: To demonstrate the Bible lesson, use a piece of poster board. Draw the house on a rock using a dry erase marker. Draw the other house on the sand, along with clouds and rain with a regular washable marker. Use a spray bottle of water to spray the poster board. Anything drawn with a washable marker will wash away. Discussion Questions: 1. What is the most important part of a house and why? (The foundation. Without a strong foundation the house is unstable.) 2. Is it easy to dig a foundation for a house? (No, you must dig deep and lay a good footing.) 3. What is the house that Jesus is talking about here? (The house is our life. Everyone has a house or a life and on the outside all our houses/lives may look the same. When the storms come, they reveal how our houses or lives are different because some houses will survive the storm, and others will not.) 4. Jesus' words are a rock on which we can build a solid foundation for our lives. How can we ensure that we base our lives on Jesus' words? (Read the Bible daily, learn from it and then live how it tells us to live.) 5. Jesus says that the person who hears His words and does not put them into practice is like what? (Like a man who built his house on the sand, foolish.) 6. When the rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew what happened to the house that was built on sand? (It came crashing down.) 7. When storms and troubles come into our lives, how can we make sure that we don't come crashing down? (Build our lives on the rock, Jesus. Jesus will help us during our times of trouble.) Application to Real Life Enjoy a healthy snack together as you discuss the following: Does everybody remember David in the bible? God had picked David to be the next king and had rejected King Saul. Saul began to hate David and tried to kill him many times. David was on the run from King Saul and his army for a long time. But David had faith and trusted in God to deliver him. When God had delivered him and saved him, he said in Psalm 18:2, "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress and my deliverer; God, my strength, in whom I will trust." Ask the children: Why do you think that David would call God a rock? (Give the children a chance to answer.) What do we know about Rocks? Rocks are strong, dependable, (they don't change very much) and they are solid, there aren't many surprises with rocks. We can trust them to be hard and firm and hold us up. They don't collapse under our feet. David had to flee from King Saul many times, often he took refuge in the rocks where he could hide out and be protected. David called God his rock because he had depended on God to save him from his enemies and he had kept his promises to David. David had trusted God and he came through. God had been stronger than all his enemies and protected him just like the rocks he used to hide behind when he would flee from Kind Saul.
Page3 Application to Real Life - Continued When we don't put Jesus first in everything we do all the things are worthless just like the house that was built on the sand. Jesus wants you to put him first and then build your lives up around him and all the ways He teaches us to live. Then when you face difficult situations and difficult choices you will be able to lean on him and trust him to get you through just like David did. With Jesus as your foundation you won't fall. You may stumble, but he will be there for you to pick you up again. Jesus will give you the strength you need to face any situation. He can be your rock or strength. Review the memory verse and message statement. Memory Work Fun 1. Recite the memory verse. 2. Practice finding the memory verse and/or Bible text in their Bible! 3. Retell your favorite Bible story with as many details as possible. Activity Ideas Choose One All Ages Wise Builder Object Talk See: www.kidssundayschool.com Grade School Object Talks Wise Builder You will need 2 paper cups, 1 medium size rock, 1 small bowl, a cup or two of moist sand, a pitcher of water, and 1 medium to large casserole dish for this activity. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. You may wish to use this activity as you retell the story. Be sure to include the discussion questions as listed on the above website. The Obeying Game See: http://children.cccm.com/curriculum/ New Testament Lesson #227 Teacher Guide Page 4-5 If possible, divide your class into two groups. Call one group the "hearers" and the other group the "hearers and doers." Give the class various commands like in the game "Mother May I." Instruct the "hearers" to only listen to the commands, but not to do them. Have the "hearers and doers" listen and follow the commands given. After a few commands, switch the names of the groups and let the other team have a chance to obey. Then explain the application to the children. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Jesus is my Rock Craft Activity For this activity, you will need a rock for each child to paint or draw on. Acrylic paints will work as well as permanent markers. Write on a white board or easel Jesus is my Rock for the children to copy on their rock. They should use the permanent markers to write (help as needed). Make sure you protect the table, floor and clothes for this activity. The rocks will need to dry fully before they can go home with the children. Grades K-2 How Firm a Foundation? See: http://children.cccm.com/curriculum/ New Testament Lesson #227 Teacher Guide Page 6-7 You will need two pie plates, play dough, sand, water, toothpicks, and a pitcher for this activity. Please see the above website for detailed instructions.
Page4 Activity Ideas - Continued Choose One Grades 3-5 God s Plans If possible, try to get a copy of plans for a home or a building to show the children. Explain to the children how builders use the plans to tell them what each step needs to be in order to build a home. There are many codes and laws that builders must follow so that the house is strong and safe to live in. Tell the children that God also has a plan for each one of them. Help the children use their Bibles to look up Jeremiah 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Remind the children that God had people write down for us how He wants us to live and what Jesus taught about that, so we can know exactly what to do. All we need to do is READ and follow His plans for us. Encourage the children to spend time reading their Bible for 5 minutes each day this week. Journal Optional Grades K-2 Draw a picture of your house. Then draw a rock under the house. Who is our rock? Grades 3-5 (Choose One) Why do you think that is important to build your life on Jesus the rock? Write about it. Would you consider yourself wise or foolish? Why? Write about it. Homework Ideas - Read at home with a grown up the story about Fishers of Men (Luke 5:1-11; 6:12-16). - Learn the memory verse: Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. --Matthew 4:19 (NIRV) - Work on memorizing commandment #. - Color the Fishers of Men coloring sheet as your parents read you the Sunday School Lesson. Return your coloring page for a sticker. - Have you ever eaten fish? What kind of fish was it? Did you like it? Draw a picture of the kind of fish you ate and bring it to class to share. Other Resources http://children.cccm.com/curriculum/ New Testament Lesson 227 support curriculum
Page5 Coloring Page Name: Fishers of Men Then He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. --Matthew 4:19 (NKJV)
Page6 Take Home Page: The House Built on the Rock Today I learned Today your child learned that Jesus is our ROCK. The children explored story of wise and foolish builders. They also talked about how we are wise to follow and build our lives on Jesus example. Help me learn my memory verse everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. --Matthew 7:24 Ask me 1. What happened to the houses that the wise and foolish men built? 2. What is the most important part of a house? Why is it the most important? 3. Why do we call Jesus our rock? Live Your Faith Grab some paper and pencils and take turns drawing simple pictures while keeping your eyes closed. Challenge each other and have fun as you attempt to be able to clearly see what you were trying to draw. It is almost impossible! Then draw the same thing again, this time with your eyes open. Compare the pictures. When we build our lives on Jesus, we can see more clearly and live a life that is built on a strong foundation. When we choose not to build our lives on Jesus, then when life becomes hard or challenging we fall apart, and our lives become like the messy pictures we just drew with our eyes closed. Encourage each other to live each day according to how Jesus teaches us to live and to be.