The Wise and Foolish Builders Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “The house on the rock stood firm.”
Jesus went up on a mountain. He sat down and taught the people. Many, many people listened to him. His friends came close. He taught them about God, and how to live. He told them that God feeds the birds and dresses the flowers. He taught them how to pray.
At the end, Jesus told them a story about two men. Each man built a house. One house was on the rock. One house was on the sand. Listen carefully! Which man was wise?
In those days, people built houses with stones and clay bricks. A good house needs a strong place to stand on. That strong base under a house is called a foundation.
The first man was wise. Wise means he thought carefully. He dug down deep. Dig, dig, dig! It was hard work. He built his house on the rock. Stone by stone, he built it. Bang, bang, bang! Can you hammer like a builder? The rock was hard and strong.
Then a big storm came. “The rain came down. The floods came. The winds blew and beat on that house.” The rain poured and poured. Pitter-patter! Whoosh! Can you make rain with your fingers?
Floods are big, rushing waters. In that land, a hard rain could make a river. Water would rush where it was dry before. Whoosh went the water! The water pushed and pushed against the house.
But the house did not fall. It was built on the rock. The storm could not shake it. The house on the rock stood firm. Can you stand strong like that house? Plant your feet!
The second man was foolish. Foolish means he did not think carefully. He did not dig down deep. He did not make a foundation. He built his house on the sand. Maybe it was quicker and easier. The sand was soft. Can you wiggle your fingers in pretend sand?
Then the storm came again. “The rain came down. The floods came. The winds blew and beat on that house. And it fell.” Splash! The water rushed against it. Crash! “And its fall was great.” Great means very, very big.
The house on the sand was gone. Oh no! Only a big heap was left. But what about the house on the rock? The house on the rock stood firm.
Jesus told them what the story means. “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man.” Liken means: he is like the wise man. He builds his life on Jesus’ words, like a house on the rock. The house on the rock stood firm.
Some people hear Jesus’ words but do not do them. They are like the foolish man.
When Jesus finished, the people were amazed at his teaching. He taught like someone who knew. He did not teach like the other teachers.
Jesus’ words are strong and true, like a rock. In every storm, they stand. The house on the rock stood firm.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- How do you think the wise man felt inside his house during the storm?
- What sounds do you think the big storm made?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line from each house to the man who built it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“A wise man who built his house on the rock” — Matthew 7:24 (a wise man → tap your head; who built his house → hammer with your fists; on the rock → put one fist firmly on the other)
Dear Jesus, thank you for your good words. Thank you that they are strong like a rock. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: Build your life on God
Memory verse: “Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.” — Matthew 7:24 · WEB
The Bible story
Jesus tells of two builders and two houses, and when the big storm comes, only one home stands strong and safe upon the rock.
Talk about it
- This story comes at the end of which famous talk? — The Sermon on the Mount
- How many builders were in Jesus' story? — Two
- What did the wise builder build his house on? — Strong rock
- Which things hit the houses in the storm? — Rain, floods and wind
- Where did the second builder build his house? — On soft sand
- What did the wise builder do before building? — Dug down deep
Where is Jesus in this story?
In the Psalms, God himself is called “my rock” (Psalm 18:2). Yet in this story Jesus says the solid rock to build on is “these words of mine” (Matthew 7:24). Only God could say that about his own words. Jesus is the rock who never moves, and the Bible says no one can lay any other foundation than him (1 Corinthians 3:11).
What God wants to tell us
Jesus tells us that listening to God and following His good ways is like building a house on strong rock. When we trust God and do what is right, we have something steady to stand on, even when hard times come like rain and wind. God does not promise there will never be storms, but He does promise to be our strong, safe rock through every one. When we build our lives on His loving words, nothing can wash our hope away.
Prayer
Father God, thank You for being my strong and steady rock. Help me to listen to Your good words and to follow You each day. When hard times come, please keep me safe and close to You. I want to build my life on Your love. Amen.
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