The Mustard Seed

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All Grades – July 7

Parables  Lesson 3

The Mustard Seed Bible Verse The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree. (Matthew 13:3132)

Teacher Enrichment This is the third lesson in the Small Stories, Big Lessons: The Parables of Jesus series. A parable is an everyday, relatable story used by Jesus to illustrate a lesson about God. Each week, this series will examine one of Jesus’ parables and explore its teachings. The mustard seed parable is only two verses long, but it is found in three of the four gospels. If it’s important enough to be repeated in each gospel, then we should probably take note of the lesson! A mustard seed is very tiny, even by seed standards, but it grows into an enormous bush; typically over 20 feet tall and 20 feet wide. Mustard bushes were common in the time of the Bible and everyone listening would have understood the concept of the kingdom of God starting as a tiny mustard seed and growing into a huge mustard bush. As followers of God, we should be striving to grow the kingdom of God by spreading God’s love and message in the world. We do not need to be rich or powerful or popular to have a big impact. Jesus says all it takes is planting a mustard seed. Mustard seed actions - those actions that seem small to us - can grow into huge, impactful mustard bushes. The love of God can grow in someone’s heart, a community of believers can grow in numbers, and the impact of a charitable action can grow in someone’s life. Great things can grow from small beginnings. In this lesson children will understand that even as young people, their small actions can have a big impact. They will explore practical ways they can grow the kingdom of God by spreading God’s love.

Welcome  Greet each child individually as they arrive. Introduce yourself by name.  Encourage children to complete a Joy or Concern card if they have a particular joy

or concern they would like to express or a Time or Talent offering card if they gave their time to God or used their talents to serve God or others during the previous week.  If children bring monetary offering, they should keep it with them.  Direct children to complete a Small Things worksheet. Young children may need assistance writing their answers or they may opt to draw a picture.  Encourage conversation among the children and with you! Get to know the children in your group by asking about their week including activities and families. Introduce new children to each other and encourage friendships.

Children’s Worship  The Children’s Worship Leader will direct the class to leave their tables and sit in

the carpet area.  Encourage children to participate in Children’s Worship and provide re-direction if necessary. Assist the Children’s Worship leader with activities as needed.

Small Groups  Tree Branches & Leaves (All Grades)

As a grade level group, decide on a mustard seed action for your tree branch. Write the action on the branch and then tape it to the tree trunk on the wall. Direct children to individually write their own mustard see action on a leaf. Encourage children to be specific! Assist children in taping their leaf to the tree branches on the wall.

Parables  Lesson 3

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 Mustard Seed Craft (K/1 and 2 /3 )

SAY: Today we learned about big things growing from small things. Flowers all grow from tiny seeds and one of the biggest flowers is a sunflower. We are going to create a sunflower and use mustard seeds to help us! - Show children the sample craft. - Provide each child with a paper plate. Direct children to immediately write -

their name on the back of their plate. Make orange, yellow and green construction paper strips available to the group. Direct children to glue orange and yellow strips across the top of their plate and one large green strip to the bottom of their plate, creating a sunflower. Assist children in adding liquid glue to the middle of their plate. SUPERVISE that they are adding a reasonable quantity! Assist children in sprinkling mustard seeds onto the glue, creating the center of the sunflower. Set plates aside to dry.

Parables  Lesson 3

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 Rubber Band Balls (4 /5 )

The Children’s Worship leader will assist in starting the children on this craft. SAY: Today we are going to make rubber band balls. Rubber band balls are kind of like mustard seed actions. They start out with a simple, small rubber band, but the more rubber bands you add the bigger the ball gets! And all those small rubber bands together create a ball that can, literally, have a big impact. (Show how sample ball can bounce!) - Provide each child with a thick starter rubber band. - Make additional rubber bands available to the group. - Direct children to fold the starter rubber band two times, creating a flat piece. - Direct children to wrap a second rubber band around the flat piece, eventually holding it in place. - Direct children to continue wrapping rubber bands. This will eventually create a ball.

Parables  Lesson 3