Scripture:
for
teacher background: Matthew 5-7
Advance
Notice
This
would be a good lesson to have some information about the Bible society or even
have a visit from them – promoting their work and explaining how they are
taking the Bible all over the world and are busy translating the Bible into
many hundreds of different languages. The teachings of Jesus are being spread
across the world.
Making
contact:
Have
some material for the children to build a house with –E.g. blocks, some wood,
some hymn books, duplo, Lego, or even something different like toothpicks and
jelly tots!
These
could maybe be tested to see how strong they are – blow on them, or bump them.
Talk about what made some houses stronger than others.
You
could even use the story of the 3 little pigs and the wolf that huffed and
puffed and blew the houses down, which were made of straw and sticks, but the
house of bricks, stood firm.
Tell
the children that Jesus was a very good teacher who taught using fun stories
and pictures that are easy to remember.
Suggested
Songs:
“The
wise man built His house upon the rock”
“Don’t
build your house on the Sandyland”
“Read
your Bible pray every day and you’ll grow, grow, grow.”
“The
best book to read is the Bible”
“My
Bible”
“Tell
me the stories of Jesus, I love to hear” “Tell me the old, old story”
Exploration:
On
the Sabbath Jesus taught in the synagogues, but the rest of the time He taught
outside.
Lots of people gathered around to listen to Him.
He taught them how to
be blessed and happy, and it was the opposite of what we think!
He taught that
we mustn’t run after money, but must store up riches in heaven.
He said that we
are like salt and light and we must make this world a better place.
He taught
us how to pray and gave us the Lord’s Prayer.
He taught using wonderful stories
called parables. These are earthly stories with a heavenly meaning.
One story
He taught was of 2 house builders. A very foolish man built his house on sand
and, of course, the first storm that came along, the house fell down.
The wise
man built his house on solid rock and it stood firm during the storm.
Jesus
said that if we listen and obey all His teachings and parables and live them
out, then we are like the wise man and we are building our lives on the rock.
Jesus is our rock.
Application
Read
the Beatitudes from the Good News Bible (Matthew 5:3-16) and discuss how Jesus
taught things so different to how the world teaches.
If
we listen to Jesus and obey His teachings it is like a house being built on
rock. We’ll be strong in the difficult times.
Our faith grows when we read our Bibles and listen to Bible stories and
learn memory verses. We need to listen carefully and do what the Bible says.
It’s
no good hearing all these things and then going a different way.
Challenge to Mission
Tell
at least one other person about the Bible, tell them a story like the wise man
building a house and encourage them to come to church, to read the Bible to get
to know Jesus so that their lives are firmly on the rock, before the storm
comes.
Find
out about the Bible society and the work they do in spreading God’s Word.
Maybe
donate to the work – an offering, or a Bible you aren’t using any more.
Consolidation
There
is a worksheet with pictures of Jesus teaching and the houses built on rock and
sand. A bricklayer is laying bricks – the children can write down what their
response is to the challenge to mission.
An
exercise could be done if there is time to follow instruction, showing the
importance of obeying. E.g. someone blindfolded being directed past some
furniture to a sweet, making something simple like play dough or eggnog or learning
the steps to a traditional dance.
Memory verse:
“Obey God’s message!
Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it!
Put it into practice.”
James 1:22
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