How Firm a Foundation - The Wise and Foolish Builders

The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matthew 7: 24 - 27
Teaching Point: Which foundation will you build your life on? It's your choice.

Foundations are important.
I had a friend whose house actually had a bad foundation and it started to crumble and crack and her house started to sag and sink.
Foundations are so important.
I know a young man right now who is trying to build his life on the foundation of wrong principles and bad ideas and his life is starting to sag and sink.
Foundations are very important.
When we are building a house we want to make sure that the foundation is strong and trustworthy. When we are building our lives we have to be sure of the same thing. Are we building on a strong and sure foundation?
The fantastic thing is that God gave us a firm foolproof foundation to build on but he doesn't force us to build there. It's as if He says, "Here is my word, the power of my Redemption. It is strong and firm and will never crack or crumble. It is an eternal foundation. But if you choose to build your life on something else, be warned, no other foundation will stand the storms of this world. Anything else will sink and crash. But it's your choice."
The choice seems so obvious but every day I have to look at the things in my life; my goals and attitudes and ask - Is this built on Jesus -the Rock of my Salvation, or is it just sand that will slip through the fingers of eternity and be worth nothing? The choice is mine. Am I going to be the wise builder or the foolish builder? I choose The Rock.

The text for this story is short but very visual. Practice reading straight from the Bible so that you can read it with expression. After you read talk with the kids about the events in our lives that are like storms: illness, death, fights with friends, bad grades, moving, etc.
Show them some of your favorite verses in God's word that you turn to when you are facing life's storms.

Activity
One of my favorite songs to sing with kids is - The Wise Man Built His House Upon the Rock
The wise man built his house upon the Rock
The wise man built his house upon the Rock
The wise man built his house upon the Rock
And the rain came tumbling down.

The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the house on the Rock stood firm!


The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
The foolish man built his house upon the sand
And the rain came tumbling down.

The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
The rain came down and the floods came up
And the house on the sand went SPLAT!

Bring to class some play sand, you can buy it at stores like Home Depot. Fill a bucket with sand and get it wet enough to stick together. Give each child a cup of sand and have them pack it down in the cups so it will hold together when it is dumped. On the count of three have everyone carefully turn their cup over so that the sand makes a tower or a hill. If the sand isn't holding together put the sand back in the cups add a little water and pack it down again. Once everyone has their sand tower in place, sing the song. When you get to "and the house on the sand went splat!" Have everyone flatten their tower with their hands. Ask the kids, "What do you want to build your life on, Jesus The Rock or sinking sand?" Then all yell together,
"Jesus The Rock!"
This is best done as an outside activity but if you decide to do it inside, spread a tarp on the floor to catch the sand.

Verse: Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. Matthew 7:24
Verse Activity: You will need - one rock per child, paint, paint brushes, colored permanent markers.
Write the verse and the address somewhere where everyone can see them. Cover the table with newspaper. Give each child a rock and have them write the address on the rock. Then allow them to decorate the rock by painting or drawing designs around the address.
As they work repeat the verse with them. When the rocks are finished and dry, say the verse together and hold the rocks up high every time you say the address.

photo by bjerkeland / stock.xchng