The story of The Wise Builder and the Foolish Builder teaches us about the importance of building our lives on Jesus who is our solid rock and fortress. Imagine two people, each wanting a cozy home. One, the wise builder, chose a strong, solid rock as the foundation. The other, the foolish builder, picked soft, shifting sand. Little did they know, their choices would face a mighty test!

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Join us as we explore how a storm reveals the importance of building our lives on a firm foundation where no flood or wind can collapse it - Matthew 7:24-27.

Fun Fact: Houses in ancient times were often built on hillsides or rocky areas to protect them from floods!

Link to Other Story: Discover how Jesus calmed a stormy sea!

The Wise Builder and the Foolish Builder

Chapter 1: Choosing a Foundation

One day, two builders set out to build their dream homes. The first builder, known for his wisdom, carefully searched for a strong, solid rock. He knew that a house needed a firm foundation to withstand any storm. He dug deep and laid his foundation on the rock, ensuring his house would stand strong.

The second builder, however, was in a hurry. He didn’t want to spend time digging or finding a solid rock. He thought, “Sand is fine! It’s easy to build on.” So, he quickly built his house on the shifting sand, thinking it would be just as good.

What This Teaches Us:

• Wisdom is Choosing Well: The wise builder thought ahead and made a smart choice.
• Haste Makes Waste: The foolish builder's hurry led to trouble.

Fun Fact: Sand can shift and move easily, especially when water washes it away!

Discussion Questions:

• Why did the wise builder choose rock?
• Why did the foolish builder choose sand?

Chapter 2: The Storm Arrives

Soon, a mighty storm raged. The wind howled, the rain poured down, and the river overflowed. The storm beat against both houses with fierce power.

The wise builder’s house stood firm. The rock foundation held strong, and the house didn’t budge. The builder and his family felt safe and secure inside, knowing they had built on a solid base.

But the foolish builder’s house began to tremble. The sand foundation couldn’t hold against the powerful storm. The house swayed, then cracked, and finally collapsed into a pile of rubble. The foolish builder was left standing in the rain, with nothing.

Dramatic Moment:

• The Wind: Howling and roaring, testing the houses.
• The Rain: Pouring down in sheets, flooding the ground.
• The River: Overflowing, rushing with powerful force.

Activity:

“Build a House” Challenge

1. Provide kids with building materials like blocks, cardboard, or sugar cubes.
2. Have them build two houses: one on a solid surface (like a table) and one on a soft surface (like sand or cotton balls).
3. Use a spray bottle or fan to simulate a storm and see which house stands strong.

Chapter 3: Lessons Learned

The wise builder’s house stood strong, showing the importance of building on a solid foundation. The foolish builder’s house crumbled, teaching us that shortcuts and poor choices lead to trouble.

What This Means for Us:

1. Solid Foundation = Jesus: Jesus teaches us to build our lives on His teachings, which are like a rock.
2. Storms Will Come: Life has challenges, but a strong foundation helps us stand firm.
3. Wise Choices Matter: Our decisions affect our lives, so choosing wisely is important.

Modern Connection: Just like a strong foundation protects a building from earthquakes, Jesus's teachings protect us from life's challenges.

Bible Verses to Remember:

1. Matthew 7:24:
   • "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."
   • This¹ verse directly relates to the wise builder and emphasizes the importance of not just hearing, but acting upon Jesus' teachings.
2. Matthew 7:26:
   • "But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his² house on sand."
   • This verse highlights the consequences of ignoring Jesus' teachings, mirroring the foolish builder's actions and their outcome.
3. Proverbs 3:5-6:
   • "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will³ make your paths straight."
   • This verse encourages us to rely on God's wisdom rather than our own,⁴ which is essential for building a strong foundation in life.
4. Luke 6:48:
   • "He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck⁵ that house but could not shake it, because it was well built."⁶
   • This verse, a parallel account of the same parable, reinforces the idea of digging deep for a strong foundation, emphasizing the stability that comes from building on solid ground.

What Can We Learn?

1. Build on Jesus's Words:
   • Jesus's teachings are our solid rock. Listen and put them into practice for a strong foundation.
2. Choose Wisdom Over Foolishness:
   • Think ahead and make wise choices, not quick, careless ones like the foolish builder.
3. Prepare for Life's Storms:
   • Life will have challenges. Build your faith on Jesus to stand firm when storms come.
4. Actions Matter More Than Words:
   • It's not enough to hear Jesus's words; we must live them out in our actions.
5. Trust God's Plan:
   • Even in hard times, trust that God has a good plan for you.
6. Learn from Mistakes:
   • If you make a poor choice, learn from it and build better in the future.
7. Strong Foundations are Important:
   • Our faith and character are our hidden foundation that will help us stand strong.

Discussion Questions:

• What does it mean to build our lives on Jesus?
• How can we make wise choices in our daily lives?

Activities for Kids

1. "Build a House Challenge"
   • Materials: Blocks, cardboard boxes, sugar cubes, building bricks, sand, rocks, water spray bottle or fan.
   • Steps:
     • Divide the kids into groups.
     • Have each group build two miniature houses: one on a "rock" foundation (use rocks or a flat, sturdy surface) and one on a "sand" foundation (use sand, cotton balls, or any loose material).
     • Once the houses are built, use a water spray bottle or a fan to simulate a storm.
     • Observe which house stands firm and which one collapses.
     • Discuss why one house was stronger than the other.
2. "Wise or Foolish Choice Game"
   • Materials: Slips of paper, a "Wise" box, and a "Foolish" box.
   • Steps:
     • Write down various actions or choices on slips of paper (e.g., "sharing toys," "lying," "helping a friend," "ignoring rules," "praying," "being mean").
     • Have each child take a turn picking a slip of paper and deciding if the action is a "wise" or "foolish" choice.
     • Place the slip of paper in the corresponding box.
     • Discuss why each choice is wise or foolish, relating it back to the story.
3. "Foundation Drawing"
   • Materials: Paper, crayons, markers, or colored pencils.
   • Steps:
     • Have the kids draw two pictures: one of the wise builder’s house on the rock and one of the foolish builder’s house on the sand.
     • Encourage them to draw the storm and show how the houses were affected.
     • Have the kids write on the bottom of the picture what the rock represents, and what the sand represents.
     • Have them present their drawings, and explain the moral of the story.
4. "Foundation Role-Play"
   • Materials: None required.
   • Steps:
     • Divide the kids into groups and assign roles: the wise builder, the foolish builder, the storm, and the people in the houses.
     • Have them act out the story, emphasizing the different choices the builders made and the consequences of those choices.
     • Have a discussion after the role play about how we can build our lives on a strong foundation.

Link to Other Story: See how Jesus calmed a stormy sea!

Key Truth: Building our lives on Jesus and His teachings is the wisest choice, providing a foundation that will stand firm against any storm!