Wise Man and Foolish Man - Sunday School Lesson

We all have a little bit of the wise man and the foolish man in our lives. While this story about thedoes not obey is foolish, helping kids understand this and how it affects them is crucial in their Christian lives.

wise man and the foolish man was told by Jesus to help us understand that anyone who hears the word of God and obeys is wise and anyone who hears the word of God and

Below is a Sunday school lesson that can be used for any age kids. This is a simple lesson that can be used to dig deeper into the word of God with teens and adults by adding more verses and discussing what God expects of us as his children.

I've added a video at the bottom with the "Wise Man Song" with motions which is great for younger kids!

Wise Man and Foolish Man Sunday School Lesson

There are many ways to add visuals to this lesson, but for today, we are going to keep it simple and

have the kids interact more with you and each other. Often, interaction and discussion helps kids learn more than you think. Let's get their minds geared toward Jesus' lesson.

Foolish Man

Start by asking, "Have any of you been to the beach?" Or, "How many of you have played with sand?"

"Did you make a sand castle?"

"What did the water do to the sand castle when it washed over it?"

After each question, wait for answers. Younger kids will love to tell about what happened to their castle at the beach or even in a sandbox. Of course, the castle was washed away!

Now, get the kids thinking by asking, "What do you think would happen if your mom or dad decided to build a house on top of a pile of sand?"

Then ask, "Do you think if a big rain came and flooded the area it would make the house fall down?"

Of course it would and kids will be able to visualize this because they know sand isn't strong nor can it stand up to water.

The bible tells us that we are foolish if we build our house (lives) upon sinking sand. Be sure to find out if the kids know what 'foolish' means. Explain that Jesus doesn't want our thoughts, actions, or words to be centered around foolish things.

Ask, "What are some foolish things we might do or say that would keep us from growing closer to God?"

Answers may include: being jealous, lying, not obeying mom and dad, worrying, missing church for no reason, being a bully, and so on. Adults and teens will have more complex answers.

Wise Man

Now, let's talk about the wise man. Jesus tells us in the bible that the wise man built his house upon a rock. Did you know that in the bible Jesus is called the solid rock? There is a song that says...."On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; all other ground is sinking sand."  (see the bottom video)

When we put our faith, trust, actions, thoughts, and words in line with Christ the solid rock our Christian lives become stronger and others around us will be able to see Jesus in us.

To begin about the wise man, ask, "How hard is a rock?"

Say, "Rocks are really hard. We already know that we don't want to build our house on sinking sand. So, we should build it on something hard and solid, right?"

Ask, "If our house was built on something hard and solid, what do you think would happen if the rains came down and the floods came up? Do you think it would wash away like the house built on sand?"

No. It wouldn't!

That's what we want our lives to be like. When bad things happen, someone does something mean to us, we need to make choices, or feel like nothing ever goes our way, we need to think about Jesus and how he is like a solid rock. If we trust Jesus in everything we do and pray to him when we don't know what to do, he will help us build our lives on him - a solid rock.

We can be strong in Him and with Him. No one can do it alone. That's why Jesus says he will never leave us. He wants to be there helping us each day and guess what - He is with us every hour, every minute, and every second.

We never have to worry about sinking sand because with Jesus we are standing on a solid rock!

Enjoy the songs below!

 

Image courtesy of Curt Smith, Wikimedia Commons.

Continue

More of God Less of Me - Teen Sunday School Lesson

Since the release of Colton Dixon's Christian song More of You, it is becoming more and more apparent that we spend our lives centered around our lives here on earth and not our spiritual lives. The bible plainly tells us we are not to do this.

I've added a video below so that you can hear the song, More of You. You may wish to show it to your class to reinforce the fact that everyone is guilty of putting other things in their life before God.

Below is the Sunday school lesson geared for your teens, but can easily be used for younger grades.

What You'll Need:

• dry erase board
• dry erase markers
• paper
• pencils

You'll also need to make sure all of the teens bring their bible with them (some kids just don't think about it for some reason). Text them, tweet them, or even use Instagram to let them know they are going to need it. Using these social media devices is a great way to keep in touch with your kids during the week. Not only can you let them know you are thinking about them, but they can get in contact with you and you can also share a verse or a bible challenge with them.

In this Sunday school lesson, you'll need to focus on today's world and what kids think about on a daily basis.

As class begins and you have taken prayer requests and prayed, go to the white board. Ask kids what is the most important thing on their mind during the day. Of course, some kids will think you want them to say God and say it. That's great, but ask, "Is He really the thing you think about most during the day?"

Let kids give answers and write them on the board.

Some of our answers included: Minecraft (video games), music stars, selfies, school, sports and even homework.

After you've complied your list, have the kids turn in their bibles to Colossians 3:1-2.

Colossians 3:1-2 KJV

 

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

² Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Ask the kids what they think this verse means. Get them into a discussion about it. Discussions help open up their mind to God's Word and allows the kids to relate to each other by hearing what they think. Discussions also open up opportunities for teachers to answer questions that often may not have been asked otherwise.

Now, give each child a piece of paper and a pencil.

Have them write down ways they can put more of God into their lives and less of themselves.

Some of our answers included: prayer, reading the bible, attending church more, and the usual answers kids might give.

After they are finished writing and before you discuss what they wrote, get them thinking outside the box.

Have them open their bibles to Galatians 5:25-26.

Galatians 5:25-26 KJV

²⁵ If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

²⁶ Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.

 

 

Just like above, start a discussion about what they just read. We went through each part of the verse one at a time to allow time for deeper thought. Many kids do the things listed above without even knowing they are a sin and that the bible says not to do them. These every day sins keep us from walking closer with God and therefore causes it to be more of us and less of Him.

Our goal is to reinforce more of Him and less of us.

Once the discussion is over, have kids write anymore ways they feel they can have less of them and more of Him. Let them know that no one will look at their papers. These papers will serve as a reminder for them throughout their week to put more of God into their lives.

Have them hang their papers in their room, carry them inside one of their books at school, or anywhere they will see it often as a reminder.

Before finishing your lesson, think about showing the video below so kids can see that everyone struggles with this and it is something that we need to strive for each day.
 

Image courtesy of Paul M. Walsh. Click image to follow the link.

Continue