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Build on the Rock

Two builders, a big storm, and why hearing AND doing what Jesus says keeps us strong

  • 🛡️ CTR 4–6
  • Week 8
  • 📅 Sunday, February 21, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I listen to Jesus and do what He says, I am building on a strong rock that storms can’t knock down.

I can build on the rock by listening to Jesus and doing what He teaches.

Study it yourself firstRead Matthew 6–7 in Gospel LibraryCome, Follow Me manualOpen this week (Matthew 6–7)
Know the chapters

Matthew 6–7 is the rest of the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus taught how to pray with the Lord’s Prayer. He taught us to do good things quietly instead of showing off. He said to care most about treasures in heaven and to trust Heavenly Father like the birds and flowers do. He taught us to treat others the way we want to be treated, and to ask, seek and knock. When He finished, people were amazed. Matthew 7:28–29 says He taught with authority, as the Son of God.

The sermon ends with the wise and foolish builders, in Matthew 7:24–27. Point out two things. Both builders heard Jesus’s words, but only the wise one did them. And both houses got the rain, floods and wind. Following Jesus doesn’t mean we never have hard days. It means we stay standing when they come. In Helaman 5:12, the Book of Mormon calls Jesus Christ the rock we build on.

Prayer is a big part of these chapters. In Matthew 6:8, Jesus taught that Heavenly Father knows what we need before we ask. He still wants us to ask. In Matthew 7:9–11, Jesus compared Him to a loving dad. That dad would never hand his hungry child a stone instead of bread. Children can learn that Heavenly Father always hears them. He answers in the way that’s best for them.

For ages 4–7, the builder story is perfect. They know the song, and they can make the storm with their fingers from their seats. For 7-year-olds preparing for baptism, say that each prayer, kind choice and “I’m sorry” is like setting another strong stone on the rock. Baptism is a big promise to keep building on Jesus.

Only have 5 minutes?

Read Matthew 7:24–29. Grab 8 to 10 cups and a pillow. Play Hear It, Do It! Tell the story in Teach Mode, and let the class make the storm. Do Builder Moves and say Matthew 7:24 with motions. Test the Rock or Sand Tower, then close with your testimony. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing.” The kids become houses with rock feet and sand feet.

What to bring2 items

Tick what you have. Forgot something? Every step that needs a supply has a no-supplies version in the plan below.

Before class

  1. Read Matthew 7:24–29.
  2. Set the cups and the pillow by your chair. The table or the floor is the rock. The pillow is the sand.
  3. Practice the stop signal once. Raise your hand, and the rain stops.

If your class is wild

  • The rain is the best part, so agree on the stop signal first. When you raise your hand, the rain stops right away.
  • Give your loudest kid the Storm Leader job. Now their energy starts and stops the rain for everyone.
  • In Rock or Sand Tower, only the teacher shakes the pillow. Builders build, and everyone else is the storm from their seats.
  • If the room gets loud, whisper, “The wise man built his house upon the rock,” and wait. Kids who know the song will whisper back.
  • Four-year-olds can say just one word when they add a cup, like “Pray!” or “Share!” That counts.

The 25-minute plan24 min + bonus

Bonus steps are for when you have extra time. Steps that mention Teach Mode, the Sound Board or other class games refer to the Gospel Sparks app; on the web you can play Forehead Guess and Scripture Showdown from this page.

1. Hook

Hear It, Do It!

3 min

A quick listening game shows the difference between hearing and doing.

  1. SAY“When I say ‘Hear it,’ just listen. When I say ‘Do it,’ you do it!”
  2. Try it. “Hear it: touch your nose.” Nobody moves! “Do it: touch your nose!” Everybody does!
  3. Mix them up from your seats: pat your head, wiggle your fingers, clap once. End with, “Do it: fold your arms.”
  4. Teach the rain. Pitter-patter fingers on your knees. When you raise your hand, the rain stops right away.
  5. SAY“Jesus told a story about two builders. Both heard His words. But only one did them.”

Class screen: 👂 Hear it… or DO it? · 👂 Hear it? · ✊ Do it!

2. Story

Story: Two Builders and a Big Storm

7 min

Jesus’s story shows that hearing and doing what He teaches keeps us strong when storms come.

  1. SAY“Jesus told this story to teach us. You get to make the storm sounds.”
  2. Open the story in Teach Mode. A big kid can read each caption. When a sound shows, everyone makes it.
  3. After scene 3, ask, “The two houses look the same. Which one do you think is stronger?”
  4. After scene 6, ask, “Did the storm come to both houses?” Yes! “Why did only one fall?” One was built on the rock.
🌪️ Practice the stop signal before scene 4. When you raise your hand, the rain stops. Use it whenever the storm gets too loud.

Class screen: 🏠 Two Builders and a Big Storm · 🌧️ Pitter-patter! · 🦶 Stomp! · 💥 Crash!

3. Wiggle break

Builder Moves

2 min

Building motions in place get the wiggles out and remind kids that the wise man worked hard to build on the rock.

  1. SAY“Stand up by your chair. Let’s build like the wise man!”
  2. Dig deep: scoop, scoop. Hammer: bang, bang. Put on the roof with hands over your head. Stand strong: stomp both feet and freeze.
  3. Do it three times, faster each time. End with “Stand strong!” Freeze like a rock, then sit down quietly.

Class screen: 🔨 Dig! Hammer! Roof! Stand strong! · ⛏️ 🔨 🏠 🪨

4. Scripture

Key Verse: Matthew 7:24

3 min

Motions help children say Jesus’s own words about the wise builder.

  1. SAY“Here are Jesus’s own words about the wise builder.”
  2. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. A big kid reads it out loud.
  3. SAY“Heareth means hears. Doeth means does. Sayings of mine means the things Jesus teaches.”
  4. Teach the motions one phrase at a time, seated. Say it three ways: a whisper, a builder voice, then a strong, happy voice.
  5. Ask, “What’s the difference between the two builders?” Both heard. Only the wise one did it.

Class screen: 🪨 Hear His words and DO them! · Matthew 7:24

5. Object lesson

Rock or Sand Tower

6 min

Kids watch a sand house fall and a rock house stand, then name things Jesus teaches that they will DO.

  1. SAY“Let’s test it! Which house will stand in the storm?”
  2. Two helpers each stack a small cup house. One builds on the table, the rock. The other builds on the pillow, the sand.
  3. Everyone makes the storm from their seats with pitter-patter rain and a whoosh of wind. Gently jiggle the pillow. The sand house falls! The rock house stands!
  4. SAY“Jesus is our Rock. When we do what He teaches, we stay strong.”
  5. Rebuild the rock house. Each kid adds a cup and names something Jesus teaches that they’ll do, like praying or sharing. Everyone: “Do it!”
🌪️ Only the teacher shakes the pillow. Builders build, and everyone else is the storm from their seats.

Class screen: 🧱 Rock or sand? Here comes the storm! · 🪨 Rock = strong · 🏖️ Sand = crash!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 8–10 plastic cups or toy blocks, A pillow or folded blanket (the sand)

Rock Feet, Sand Feet

  1. SAY“You are the houses now! Everyone stand by your chair.”
  2. Rock feet are planted wide and strong. Sand feet wobble on one foot. Call “Rock feet!” and make the storm together. Who stays steady?
  3. Then call “Sand feet!” and storm again. Wobblers sit down gently.
  4. SAY“Jesus is our Rock. When we do what He teaches, we stay strong. Everyone sit down.”
  5. Go around the circle. Each kid names one thing Jesus teaches that they’ll do this week. Everyone pounds fist on palm: “Do it!”

Class screen: 🦶 Rock feet or sand feet? · 🪨 Rock = strong · 🏖️ Sand = wobble!

6. Testimony

Rock-Strong Builders

3 min

End calm and reverent, with one thing to do this week.

  1. SAY“Let’s be as still as a rock.”
  2. Wait for quiet and folded arms. Share a sentence or two about a hard time when doing what Jesus teaches helped you stay strong.
  3. SAY“When you’re baptized, you promise to keep building on Jesus. Every prayer and kind choice is another strong stone.”
  4. Share the Rock Builder challenge. Ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat after you, a few words at a time.

Class screen: 🪨 I can build my life on Jesus. · Hear His words · Do them!

7. Game

Forehead Guess: Builders

4 minBONUS

A picture guessing game reviews the lesson, and the pictures let non-readers give clues too.

  1. SAY“Let’s see what you remember! Give clues, but don’t say the word.”
  2. Tap Forehead Guess. One kid holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class. Everyone else gives clues from their seats.
  3. Little ones can do a motion or a sound for the picture. Pair each little guesser with a big-kid buddy.
  4. Tilt down for “got it” and up to pass. After about 30 seconds, your phone or tablet moves to the next kid.
🌪️ Go around the room with one clue each, so nobody shouts over anybody.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Give clues, don’t say the word!

8. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A fast team picture quiz reviews everything they learned.

  1. SAY“It’s Team Rock versus Team Also Rock! Nobody wants to be Sand!”
  2. Split the class in two, mixing big and little kids. Tap Scripture Showdown.
  3. Read each question out loud. Teams whisper together, then point to an answer.
  4. Tap the team that got it right to give them a point. Cheer for both teams.
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🏆 Scripture Showdown!

The story

Two Builders and a Big Storm

Matthew 7:24–29 ↗

Optional helpers

  • Storm LeaderStarts the pitter-patter rain from their seat each time the storm comes. Stops when you raise your hand.
  • Sound HelperSits next to you and taps each scene’s sound on your phone or tablet.

Scenes

  1. ⛰️👂 Jesus tells a story

    At the end of His sermon on the mountain, Jesus told a story. He said anyone who hears His words and does them is like a wise man. Let’s find out why!

    🙌

  2. 👷🪨 The wise man builds on the rock

    The wise man built his house on a big, strong rock. Luke chapter six tells us he dug deep first. That was hard work! But he did it.

    🙌 Dig deep: scoop, scoop! “Chk, chk, chk!”

  3. 🤪🏖️ The foolish man builds on sand

    The foolish man built his house on soft, wiggly sand. It was quick and easy. He heard what Jesus taught. But he didn’t do it.

    🙌

  4. 🌧️🌊 Down came the rain!

    Then the sky got dark. Drip, drip. Pitter-patter. Then it poured! The floods came up and the wind blew hard. The storm pushed and pushed on both houses!

    🙌 Pitter-patter fingers on your knees, faster and faster!

  5. 🏠💪 The house on the rock stood strong!

    The house on the rock did not fall! The rain beat on it, and the wind blew. But it stood strong, because it was built on the rock.

    🙌 Rain stops. Stomp both feet like a rock: “Stomp, stomp!”

  6. 🏚️💥 The house on the sand fell!

    The rain poured on the other house too. The sand washed away. And the foolish man’s house fell down with a great big crash!

    🙌 Crash your hands down: “CRASH!” Then whisper: “Oh no.”

  7. 👂🙌 Hear Jesus’s words AND do them!

    Both men heard Jesus’s words. But only the wise man did what Jesus said. When we listen to Jesus and do what He teaches, we’re building on the rock.

    🙌

Key verse

Matthew 7:24 ↗
“whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock”
In kid words: Jesus said anyone who hears His words AND does them is like a wise man who built his house on a rock.
🙌 “whosoever heareth” = cup your ear · “these sayings of mine” = hands open like a book · “and doeth them” = march in place · “a wise man” = tap your head · “built his house” = hands make a roof · “upon a rock” = make a fist and stomp your feet

More verses

Matthew 7:7 ↗
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you”
In kid words: Ask Heavenly Father in prayer, look for answers, and knock, and He will answer you.
Matthew 7:12 ↗
“all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them”
In kid words: Treat other people the way you want to be treated.
Matthew 7:25 ↗
“it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock”
In kid words: The house didn’t fall, because it was built on the rock.

Forehead Guess words16 words

  • 🏠 House
  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🏖️ Sand
  • 🔨 Hammer
  • 👷 Builder
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • 💨 Wind
  • ⚡ Lightning
  • 🌊 Flood
  • ☔ Umbrella
  • 👂 Ear
  • 🚪 Door
  • 🐦 Bird
  • 🌷 Flower
  • 💎 Treasure
  • 🙏 Pray
Clues for each word
  • House: Both builders made one
  • Rock: Hard and strong. The wise man built on it
  • Sand: Soft stuff at the beach
  • Hammer: Bang, bang! Builders use it
  • Builder: Someone who makes houses
  • Rain: Water falling from the clouds
  • Wind: Whoosh! You feel it but can’t see it
  • Lightning: A bright flash in a storm
  • Flood: So much water it covers everything
  • Umbrella: Keeps you dry in the rain
  • Ear: You hear with it
  • Door: Knock, knock! It opens
  • Bird: It flies. Heavenly Father feeds them
  • Flower: Grows in a garden. God makes it beautiful
  • Treasure: Something very special you want to keep
  • Pray: Fold your arms and talk to Heavenly Father
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown8 questions

  1. Where did the wise man build his house?
    • A. On the sand 🏖️
    • B. On a rock 🪨
    • C. On a cloud ☁️
    Show answer

    ✅ B. On a rock 🪨 Matthew 7:24. He chose a strong place to build.

  2. Where did the foolish man build his house?
    • A. On the sand 🏖️
    • B. On a rock 🪨
    • C. In a tree 🌳
    Show answer

    ✅ A. On the sand 🏖️ Matthew 7:26. Sand is easy, but it washes away.

  3. What came down on BOTH houses?
    • A. Snowballs ⛄
    • B. Balloons 🎈
    • C. Rain, floods and wind 🌧️
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Rain, floods and wind 🌧️ Matthew 7:25, 27. Everyone has storms, even wise builders.

  4. What happened to the house on the rock?
    • A. It fell down
    • B. It stood strong 💪
    • C. It floated away
    Show answer

    ✅ B. It stood strong 💪 Matthew 7:25. It was built on the rock!

  5. The wise man heard Jesus’s words and…
    • A. Forgot them
    • B. Laughed
    • C. Did them 🙌
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Did them 🙌 Matthew 7:24. Hearing AND doing is what makes us wise.

  6. Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be…”
    • A. Given you 🎁
    • B. Lost 😢
    • C. Silly 🤪
    Show answer

    ✅ A. Given you 🎁 Matthew 7:7. Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.

  7. Would a loving dad give his hungry child a stone?
    • A. Yes
    • B. No! He gives good things 🍞
    • C. Only on Tuesdays
    Show answer

    ✅ B. No! He gives good things 🍞 Matthew 7:9–11. Heavenly Father gives us good things too.

  8. What treasures last forever?
    • A. Toys 🧸
    • B. Candy 🍬
    • C. Family and love 💛
    Show answer

    ✅ C. Family and love 💛 Matthew 6:19–21. Treasures in heaven never break or get lost.

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

  • The Wise Man and the Foolish Man Children’s Songbook, p. 281

    The story song! Sing it right after the story, with pitter-patter rain on your knees. Find it ↗

  • A Child’s Prayer Children’s Songbook, p. 12

    Goes with Matthew 7:7: Heavenly Father hears children’s prayers. Doing what Jesus teaches starts with asking Him. Find it ↗

  • Keep the Commandments Children’s Songbook, p. 146

    Doing what Jesus teaches is how we build on the rock. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Rock Builder

Each night this week, tell your family one thing Jesus teaches that you did that day, like praying, sharing or saying sorry. Every one is a strong stone on your rock!

Text the parents

This week we heard Jesus’s story of the wise and foolish builders, in Matthew 7:24–27. We tested cup houses on a rock and on sand. Both houses got the storm, but the house on the rock stood strong. We build on Jesus when we hear His words and do them. Ask your child, “Why did the house on the rock stand strong?”

📝 After class

What worked? Who needs a check-in this week? Jot it here on a printed copy, or in the app’s private class notes.

Got extra time?

🙏 The Lord’s Prayer · 3 min

  1. Show Matthew 6:9–13 on your phone or tablet.
  2. SAY“Jesus taught His disciples how to pray.”
  3. Point out what He did. He spoke to Heavenly Father and praised Him. He asked for daily bread, for forgiveness and for help to choose the right.
  4. Let each child say one sentence they could put in their own prayer tonight.

🌟 Golden Rule Echo · 3 min

  1. Show Matthew 7:12 on your phone or tablet.
  2. SAY“Jesus said to treat others the way you want to be treated.”
  3. Start a sentence and let kids finish it. “I like it when people share with me, so I will…” “I like it when people say hi to me, so I will…”
  4. SAY“That’s the Golden Rule!”

🐦 Birds and Flowers · 3 min

  1. Show Matthew 6:26–30 on your phone or tablet.
  2. SAY“Jesus said Heavenly Father feeds the birds and makes the flowers beautiful. And He cares about you even more!”
  3. Everyone flaps like a bird. Then grow slowly from a seed into a tall flower.
  4. Ask: “What is something you can trust Heavenly Father to help you with?”

🚪 Ask, Seek, Knock · 2 min

  1. Show Matthew 7:7 on your phone or tablet.
  2. SAY“Jesus said, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you.’”
  3. Everyone folds their arms like they’re praying. Then say, “Seek, and ye shall find.” Everyone makes binoculars with their hands and looks all around.
  4. Then say, “Knock, and it shall be opened.” Everyone knocks on a pretend door and swings it open.
  5. Slow down at the end. Everyone folds their arms.
  6. Whisper: “Heavenly Father always hears me.”

💎 True Treasure Box · 4 min

  1. Put a few small toys in a box. Open it.
  2. SAY“These are fun. But toys break and get lost.”
  3. Show Matthew 6:19–21 on your phone or tablet.
  4. SAY“Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven. Those are things that last forever.”
  5. Ask, “What lasts forever?” Families, love, kindness and testimony do. Kids draw a forever treasure. For each drawing that goes in, take one toy out.
  6. Read Matthew 6:21.
  7. SAY“What we love most is where our heart will be.”

Sources

Scripture quotations are from the King James Version, the Bible used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Tap or click a reference to open it in Gospel Library. Start with the official Come, Follow Me manual; these ideas are here to help it come alive.

All CTR 4–6 lessons