Leader Guide

Object Lesson

  • Table
  • Sermon on the Mount Leaning Tower Image
  • Ten or more blocks: Jenga type, wooden building blocks, or dominoes
  • Large rock or stone with a flat surface
  • Sand
  • Two large, clear containers that can hold water—one for the sand and one for the rock
  • Two plastic jugs of water
  • Towels for spills
  • Whiteboard and marker or chalkboard and chalk
  • Bible or the Superbook Bible App
Practice the presentation ahead of time so you can do it smoothly for the class. Place both containers on the table in front of the children. Write the SuperVerse on the board, unless it is still on the board from the SuperVerse activity.
Matthew 7:24:
“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

Grounds for Growth? Create a visual demonstration of the SuperVerse.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Matthew 7:24:

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

Place the rock in the first container. Carefully begin to stack blocks on the rock as you talk. Let’s say that these blocks represent a house like the one Jesus is talking about. He said all who follow His teaching are like a wise person who builds his house on a rock.

Here is what Jesus says the result will be for that builder. Read Matthew 7:25:

“Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.”

Begin to pour water at the base of the rock, not directly on the structure. The water came and rose up. What happened? The house stood firm!

Now, in two verses after the SuperVerse, Jesus talks about those who don’t listen to Him and obey His Word. They are builders, too; but are they wise? Read Matthew 7:26–27:

26“But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

What does Jesus call these people? Foolish.

Loosely pour sand into the second container. Do not pack it down. Carefully stack blocks on the sand.

Jesus said the winds, rains, and floods came. We said this represents things that come against us in this life like persecution, temptations, trials, and suffering. Begin to pour the water slowly into the sand to erode it; do not pour directly on the structure. Pour until the structure sinks and falls over.

What happened to this house? It fell.

Why did the house fall? The foundation was washed away; it didn’t last because it wasn’t solid.

Hold up the picture of the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Have you ever heard of the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy? Do you think its builders meant to make a leaning tower? No!

It began to tilt as the second floor was being built in the year 1178. Can you guess why? Children answer.

The cause was a weak foundation that was set in soft, unstable soil. As a result, people have had to work very hard to keep the tower standing! If builders hadn’t corrected the problem, the tower would have crashed to the ground long ago.

Does this remind you of anything we talked about in our teaching today? Children answer.

Conclusion: When we build our lives on God’s Word, we have a rock-solid foundation that will never shift, sink, or fail. No matter what comes against us, we can stand firm on God’s Word.

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