Children of all ages need to constantly be reminded of their spiritual house being built soundly on the Rock, our Lord. Music is always a great way to teach children Biblical concepts. I am sure many of you remember songs from VBS and your children’s church programs. One of my favorites was “Build Your House”. (This lesson can be simple at home, or a ‘challenge’ at a youth meeting) It is based on the scriptures: Matthew 7:24-27
You will need:
- Large tub
- Water (gallons jugs or water or a hose)
House #1:
- rocks – maybe one slab stone, for base
- clay for mortar (if you make your own ‘mud’ you will have to allow the structure to dry out for the proper effect – it could be a two-day, or week lesson for youth, one to build, one to come back and teach as you watch results)
- neat things to use for door and windows, chimneys, etc. (the plastic circle bands left on milk and orange juice jugs, plastic bangle bracelet, PVC connections, etc. (raid your husband’s tool box) Note: Half the fun could be in letting the kids find their supplies
House #2:
- sand, and a cookie sheet or large aluminum pan for the house base to be built on
- rocks for walls
- neat things for doors, windows, etc. as above.
House #3: Optional (if you are doing a youth group project and want to expand the lesson)
- rock for base
- sticks for walls (the concept here is the saved student that does not walk the walk)
- neat things for doors, windows, etc. as above.
The Wise Man Built His HouseThe wise man built his house upon the rock Oh, the rain came down The foolish man built his house upon the sand Oh, the rain came down So, build your house on the Lord Jesus Christ Oh, the blessings come down “The Wise Man Built His House Upon The Rock”. I found one YouTube video to remind you of the words and motions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4mNA4SkM7w |
For older children and teens, there is an older version called “Solid Rock” by Mark Heard
SOLID ROCKby Mark Heard. He’s my answer He’s my all Open the door release the lock A friend was troubled deep Open the door release the lock I could not find a performance of it, our teen groups always liked this one. |
THE LESSON:
If you are doing this at home, you can do a different house each day or do them all at once. You know your children and their attention spans, as well as your time span. For those doing it as a group, it can be a one day, two-day or two-week project where they meet once each week (like a Wed. night group)
Divide into groups as needed. It can be a challenge competition and timed as well. Again, work with what you need to accomplish.
Let the building begin. You can talk as they build, or interact in the building and wait until the water test to talk.
HOUSE: They are building a house on a foundation. The house is their Christian testimony, their life, their Character in Christ. You can add to this part by adding in the “Beatitudes” in Matthew 5, also known as the ‘attitudes to be’.
ROCK:
Jesus Christ our Lord is the Rock, the foundation on which their Christian Character and testimony are built. Luke 6:48 says, ” he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well-built.” A good foundation is firm, deep. Building on anything else may be simpler but certainly will not last the test of time. So they are building their life based on a right relationship with Christ, their Rock.
They will face temptations and trials but because they are built upon the Rock, they will not be swayed by winds that bring the rains. There will be false teachers, people who teach things that are not in God’s word.
· Ephesians 4:14-15 “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
SAND:
Building on the sand are those that ignore the Lord, His teachings and His will in their life. They rely on themselves and the world, its beliefs and ideas.
(TWIGS: If you build the third house, on the rock, but with twigs, this is the house of the person that started off their Christianity in control and never allowed God to build them up by reading the Bible, praying and yielding their whole life to Him.)
Once all the houses are built and ready for the water test, you can begin with a slow sprinkle and list things that come in life. Bad grades, broken toy, lost of a pet, breaking up of a friendship, etc. Increase the water flow and as the twigs and sand and houses break apart, tell them that the water is the hard things in life-like death of a family member, dad losing his job, someone being very sick, someone telling lies to them (relate to your child what they are going through).
The lesson learned: Without Christ as your foundation, the struggles of life will tear you down and destroy you. You must build your life each day on the solid foundation, the Rock, the Lord Jesus Christ and you must use His character to build the walls of your life so that when trials, temptations and troubles come, and they will, they will stand firm like their Rock.
Lights in the Storm 