Theme: Construction: Houses, buildings and bridges
Bible Story: Two kinds of builders
Value: Make good choices
Two kinds of builders
Jesus once told a story to help His disciples understand an important lesson. The story was about two kinds of builders who each built a house.
Now, when you build a house, you build it on a foundation. It is the part underneath the house that you cannot see, but which helps keep the house upright and strong.
Jesus said that everyone who listens to God’s words and obeys them is like a wise man who builds a strong house. The wise man built his house on a rock. A big storm came. It rained hard and the winds blew and hit that house. But the house did not fall, because it was built on rock.
Everyone who does not listen to God’s words or obey them is like a foolish man who builds a weak house. The foolish man built his house on sand. A big storm came. It rained hard and the winds blew and hit that house. Then the house fell down with a big CRASH!
Jesus told this story to explain an important lesson. Everyone who trusts and obeys God will be able to stand firm even in difficult times. But everyone who does not obey God will have a weak foundation. They will fall flat, like the foolish man’s house, when difficult times come.
(Matthew 7:24-29)
- Opening
Have you ever built a sandcastle on the beach? How strong was your castle? Did the ocean waves wash it away?
Today we will hear about two builders who built two different types of houses. One washed away and the other one stood strong. Let’s read the Bible story.
- Discovery
Can you remember the story that you heard yesterday?
Yes, we talked about how those who obey Jesus’ words are like a wise man who builds a strong house. Let’s read the story again.
What is your favourite part of the story?
What was one thing that surprised you in the story?
Which house in the picture is the foolish man’s house?
Which one is the wise man’s house?
- Retell
Can you tell me what happened in our story yesterday? (Ask leading questions and guide the child using the picture and story.)
What did the wise man build his house on? What happened when the storm came?
What did the foolish man build his house on? What happened when the storm came?
What would you build your house on?
- Value
This week we have been learning about the wise and foolish builders. Both builders had to choose what they wanted to build their house on. The one made a good choice and the other one not. In the same way you can choose what you want to build your life on. You can stand strong when you make a good choice to trust and obey God.
What are some of the things that God wants you to obey?
- Activity
When we trust in Jesus and obey His words, we will stand strong just like the wise man’s house. Today, we will draw a picture of a house that will stand strong in a storm.
(Hand out paper and crayons and let the children draw a picture of a house that will stand strong in a storm. Encourage them to draw themselves in the house. Talk about how we can stand strong when we trust and obey God.)