WELCOME TO WEEK 2

We are all a part of something that is great! In this big world, are we too small for God to see and care for? This week we will see how God can take something small and make it a part of something really big!

Matthew 13:31-32; Philippians 2:10-11

BIBLE STORY

The pictures on the attached form were taken up close and only show one part. Looking at just one part of the picture, try to determine the picture big picture. Was it easy or hard to figure out each picture from just looking at one small section? When you can see the large picture the smaller section makes more sense. We are also a part of a larger picture.

Materials: attached pictures

Let’s read the Bible story for the week Matthew 13:31-32

Jesus tells a parable about what type of seed? (Mustard)

Is a mustard seed big or small? (small)

What did Jesus say the Mustard seed was like? (The kingdom of Heaven)

What does a mustard seed grow into? (A very large Mustard Tree)

Why do you think Jesus told this story of a small seed? (To show that God can use something very small and turn it into something very big)



BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY

Showing kindness to others shows them God’s love. Jesus said we are to show love to our neighbors. Our neighbors are not only the people who live next door but the people God brings us into contact with. Young people you come into contact with like new classmates, someone who may not get picked to be on a team, a new kid at church or the new teammate are all neighbors God has placed in front of you to love.

Activity

Fill a cup with water and place several drops of dark food coloring, such as red or blue, in the cup until water is a deep color. Place a leaf with a stem in the cup. Observe what happens to the leaf over the next few days. Notice how the food coloring starts small and spreads. God’s kingdom is like this, it starts small but grows until it spreads all over.

Materials: see through plastic or glass cup, food coloring

Alternative:

Watch this video on a book a book about the Mustard Seed. Video about mustard seed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97kkhUTvCGY Say The mustard seed started small and grew into a very large tree with large branches. God said the Kingdom of God is like the mustard seed in that it starts small, like you or me, but as we tell others about Jesus’ love it grows larger and greater just like the mustard tree!

Materials: video link

Create:

Create a sequence of a mustard seed’s growth. Make a small booklet or use a large sheet of construction paper to sequence a mustard seed’s growth. Draw a picture of the stages as a seed, seedling, small/large bush, and its growth through becoming a large tree. Make 4-5 stages.

Materials: large sheet of construction paper, crayons/markers

ARTS & CAFTS

CRAFT 1

Make a large Mustard tree using this template as a base. Use green felt to cut out large leaves for the tree. Use white or colorful felt to cut small birds to glue onto the branches of the tree. If you do not have felt use white paper and color it accordingly, or colored construction paper. See here for example.

Materials: Mustard seed template, green felt, white felt, white paper (Optional alternative)

CRAFT 2

Use the Mustard see template tree to color and add cut-out leaves to. On each leaf write the name of someone you can share Jesus with to grow the kingdom of God.

Materials: mustard tree template, cut-out leaves

Craft 3

Coloring page

Materials: Coloring page

FOLLOW-UP

Jesus used the parable of the mustard seed to show that something that is small is a part of something big. We are small but we are also a part of something big God’s people come from all over the world and even speak different languages. Together we make something great, a people of God.

Read Philippians 2:10-11

No matter what language you speak or where you live God calls us to be a part of His kingdom.

We are a small part of a larger community. Create a picture to show you are part of something big! Create the following cut-outs: a picture of yourself, an outline of your city, the outline of your state, the outline of your country, the outline of the world. Make each outline a little larger than the next. Take the outline of the world and glue your country on top, then glue your state, city, and yourself last.

Materials: picture or yourself (or drawing), outline of your city, outline of your state, outline of your country, outline of the world

Practical Application at Home

Have you ever felt like something you did was too small for God to care about or see?

Think about the lesson today. God chose to illustrate his story using a mustard seed and not an apple or peach pit. 

Is there anything too small for God to notice? He used the smallest seed as an example of something He can use for something great. 

Have you ever thought that something you did for your family, church or school was not important because it was small? 

Do you think God can use even the small things we do for something bigger? Our small acts, when added to other believers acts, can add to something big.

In each category think of something that you can do for others around you that may seem small but could be meaningful to them..

-neighbors -parents -siblings -classmates

Additional Resources

Outings to Reinforce Lesson

Participation in a food pantry or serving food