Christ, the Solid Rock: Bible Study for Kids

 

 

🪨 Bible Study for Kids: Christ, the Solid Rock

Theme: Jesus is the strong and steady foundation we can always count on.
Key Verse: “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 3:11 (NIV)

 

🏗️ 1. Let’s Talk About Foundations

Opening Question:

What do you think happens to a house if it's built on sand? What about a house built on a rock?

Object Lesson (Optional):
Bring two small containers. Fill one with sand and one with a large rock. Place a toy block on each and gently shake the table. Ask:

Which one stayed steady? Why?

Main Point:
Jesus is like the solid rock. If we build our lives on Him, we can stand strong—even in hard times.

 

📖 2. Bible Story Time – The Wise and Foolish Builders

Read: Matthew 7:24–27

Story Summary:
Jesus told a story about two builders. One was wise and built his house on a rock. The other was foolish and built on sand. When the storm came, only the house on the rock stood firm.

Ask:

• What do the rock and the sand stand for?
• Who is the Rock in our lives? (Answer: Jesus!)

 

✍️ 3. Think and Talk

Discussion Questions:

1. What does it mean to “build your life on Jesus”?
2. What are some things kids sometimes put their trust in instead of Jesus?
3. How can we grow stronger in our faith every day?

 

💡 4. Bible Truths to Remember

Jesus is our Rock

“Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord himself is the Rock eternal.” — Isaiah 26:4
➡️ He’s strong, unchanging, and always dependable.

We grow strong by following Jesus’ words

“Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man...” — Matthew 7:24
➡️ Reading the Bible and doing what it says makes our foundation stronger.

 

🧠 5. Activity Ideas

A. Rock or Sand? Game

Call out different life choices and ask kids to tell you if they are building on “rock” (wise choices) or “sand” (unwise choices).
Examples:

• Praying when you’re scared (rock)
• Lying to stay out of trouble (sand)
• Reading your Bible (rock)
• Doing what all your friends do even if it’s wrong (sand)

 

B. Build a Mini Foundation (Craft or LEGO)

Give each child a small rock and a marker. Have them write “Jesus” on the rock and glue it onto cardboard as the foundation for a paper house, or build a LEGO house on a hard surface vs. something unstable.

 

🙏 6. Prayer

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for being our strong Rock. Help us to build our lives on You and Your Word. When hard things happen, remind us that You are always with us. Make us strong in faith and help us to follow You every day. Amen.

 

Shine Your Light Firefly Bible Lesson

This free Firefly Bible Lesson is a fun, summer-themed activity for upper elementary students! It includes a very short Bible lesson, discussion questions, a firefly acrostic poster with Scripture verses, and ideas for crafts and reflection. This resource is for personal or classroom use only—please do not redistribute for sale or commercial purposes.  These are JPEG files, so just click and "save as."

 

 

How to Teach Prayer to Upper Elementary Students

Prayer is a vital part of our faith journey, and teaching children in upper elementary school (grades 4-6) how to pray helps them build a personal relationship with God. At this age, they are old enough to understand that prayer is more than memorized words—it’s a way to talk to God and share their hearts. Here are some tips and ideas to help you teach prayer in a way that engages and inspires.

1. Start with the Basics

Introduce prayer as talking and listening to God. Explain that they can pray anytime, anywhere, and that God wants to hear from them.

Key Scripture:
Philippians 4:6 — “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

2. Explain the Different Types of Prayer

Help your students understand that prayer can take different forms:

• Adoration: Praising God for who He is
• Confession: Admitting our wrongdoings
• Thanksgiving: Expressing gratitude
• Supplication: Asking God for help or guidance

Use simple language and examples that relate to their lives.

3. Model Prayer

Children learn best by watching and participating. Take time to pray out loud with them, using short, sincere prayers. Encourage them to join in or repeat after you.

4. Use Interactive Activities

Make prayer interactive and engaging:

• Prayer Journals: Let students write or draw their prayers in journals.
• Prayer Prompts: Provide sentence starters like “Dear God, I want to thank you for…”
• Prayer Cards: Create cards with prayer requests or topics they can pray about.
• Prayer Walks: Take a quiet walk, pausing to pray for different things they see or think about.

5. Address Their Questions

Upper elementary kids often have questions about prayer:

• Does God always answer?
• Why do we pray if God already knows?
• What if I don’t know what to say?

Be honest and open in your answers. Let them know it’s okay to have questions and that God loves their curiosity.

6. Create a Safe Space

Assure your students that their prayers don’t have to be perfect or use fancy words. God cares about their hearts. Make your classroom or group a safe place where they feel comfortable sharing.

7. Encourage Practice

The more they practice prayer, the more comfortable they’ll become. Remind them that prayer is a lifelong habit that will grow with them.

Final Thoughts

Teaching prayer to upper elementary students can be a rewarding part of your ministry. When you give them the tools to talk to God in a personal way, you’re nurturing a faith that can last a lifetime. Keep it simple, make it engaging, and above all, remind them that God loves to hear from them.