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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 4–7
  • 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 (the Lord’s Prayer), to do good things quietly instead of showing off, to care most about treasures in heaven, to trust Heavenly Father like the birds and flowers do, to treat others the way we want to be treated, and to ask, seek and knock. When He finished, people were amazed, because He taught with authority, as the Son of God (Matthew 7:28–29).

The sermon ends with the wise and foolish builders (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. The Book of Mormon calls Jesus Christ the rock we build on (Helaman 5:12).

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

For ages 4–7, the builder story is perfect: they know the song, and they can act out the storm. 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, and baptism is a big promise to keep building on Jesus.

Only have 5 minutes?

Grab a stack of plastic cups or blocks and a pillow. Play Hear It, Do It!, let your phone or tablet run the Story Drama, do Rock or Sand?, teach Matthew 7:24 with motions, and play Forehead Guess. Brought nothing? Tap “I brought nothing” and the kids become the houses, standing strong or wobbling in the wind.

What to bring4 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. Put the book on a table or the floor and the pillow right next to it.
  2. Add your kids’ names in the My Class tab so you can hand out story roles with one tap.
  3. Pick a 6- or 7-year-old reader to be the Wise Builder. He or she reads the last line from the screen.
  4. For the bonus game, put 3 or 4 small toys in a box with some paper and crayons nearby.

If your class is wild

  • The storm is the best part, so give the loudest kids the Rain, Wind and Flood parts, but agree on a signal: when you raise your hand, the storm stops instantly.
  • In Rock or Sand?, only the teacher shakes the pillow. Builders build; the teacher is the storm.
  • If the room gets loud, whisper, “The wise man built his house upon the rock,” and wait. Kids who know the song will whisper it back.
  • Pair little ones with big-kid buddies for Forehead Guess.

The 25-minute plan25 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!

2 min

A listening game shows the difference between only hearing and actually doing.

  1. SAY“When I say ‘Hear it,’ just cup your ear and listen. When I say ‘Do it,’ you do the action!”
  2. SAY“Hear it: touch your toes.” (Kids only listen.) “Do it: touch your toes!” (Kids do it.) Mix them up: jump, spin, clap, flap your arms.
  3. End with: “Do it: sit down and fold your arms.”
  4. SAY“Jesus told a story about two men. They both HEARD His words, but only one DID them. Let’s find out what happened!”
🌪️ Anyone who moves on “Hear it” isn’t out. They just become your helper and call the next round with you.

Class screen: 👂 Hear it… or DO it? · 👂 Hear it = just listen · 🏃 Do it = do it!

2. Story

Story Drama: Two Builders and a Big Storm

6 min

Acting out the wise and foolish builders shows that hearing AND doing Jesus’s words keeps us strong.

  1. Hand out the roles (tap Roles in Teach Mode to assign them from your class list). Everyone left over is the Floods.
  2. Big-kid readers: let a 6- or 7-year-old read the caption on each screen before you read the scene.
  3. Read each scene and pause for the action. Practice the stop signal first: when you raise your hand, the storm freezes.
  4. At scene 4, ask: “Which house do you think is stronger? Can you tell?”
  5. At the last scene, ask: “Did both houses get the storm?” (Yes!) “Why did only one fall?”
🌪️ The Foolish Builder sits down slowly on “crash.” No real falling. It’s funnier in slow motion anyway.

Class screen: 🎭 Story Drama time! · Everyone gets a part

3. Object lesson

Rock or Sand?

4 min

Building on a hard book and a squishy pillow shows why a strong foundation matters.

  1. Hold up the book: “This is the rock.” Hold up the pillow: “This is the sand.”
  2. Let two builders each stack a cup or block house: one on the book, one on the pillow.
  3. SAY“Here comes the storm!” Everyone makes rain and wind sounds while you gently shake the book, then the pillow.
  4. Ask: “Which house fell?” (The one on the sand!) Say: “Jesus is our rock. When we pray, read scriptures, and do what He says, we’re building on Him.”
  5. Let two new builders try. Each time, ask: “What’s one way to build on Jesus?”
🌪️ Only builders touch the cups. Everyone else is the storm, sitting down and making sounds.

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 to build little houses, A big hardcover book or cutting board (the rock) and a pillow or folded blanket (the sand)

Be the House!

  1. SAY“You are the house now!” Half the class stands on “rock feet”: feet wide apart and planted. The other half stands on “sand feet”: one foot, wobbling.
  2. Tap wind on the Sound Board, or make whooshing sounds. Everyone sways. Who stays standing? Sand houses gently sit down.
  3. Swap groups and play again.
  4. SAY“Jesus is our rock. When we pray, read scriptures, and do what He says, we’re building on Him, and we stay strong.”

Class screen: 🧍 Rock feet or sand feet? Whoosh! · 🪨 Stand strong!

4. Scripture

Scripture Spotlight: Matthew 7:24

3 min

Motions help every child, reader or not, remember to hear AND do Jesus’s words.

  1. Show the verse on your phone or tablet. Ask a big-kid Reading Helper to read it out loud.
  2. SAY“Heareth means hears. Doeth means does. Sayings of mine means the things Jesus teaches.”
  3. Teach the motions one phrase at a time. Say it three ways: a whisper, a builder voice, and a strong, happy voice.
  4. Ask: “What is one thing Jesus teaches that you can DO this week?” (Pray, be kind, share, forgive, tell the truth.)

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

5. Wiggle break

Ask, Seek, Knock

2 min

Actions for Matthew 7:7 teach that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers.

  1. Everyone stands. Say: “Jesus said, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you.’” Everyone folds their arms like they’re praying.
  2. “Seek, and ye shall find.” Everyone makes binoculars with their hands and looks all around.
  3. “Knock, and it shall be opened.” Everyone knocks on a pretend door: “Knock, knock!” then swings it open.
  4. Do it faster three times. End slowly: fold arms and whisper, “Heavenly Father always hears me.”

Class screen: 🚪 Ask! Seek! Knock! · 🙏 🔍 🚪

6. Game

Forehead Guess: Builders

4 min

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

  1. Tap Forehead Guess. A guesser holds your phone or tablet on their forehead, screen facing the class.
  2. Everyone else looks at the picture and gives clues without saying the word. Little ones can act it out: hammer for builder, tap fingers for rain.
  3. Big kids can read the hint under the picture if the class gets stuck.
  4. Tilt down for “got it,” up to pass. Give each guesser about 30 seconds. Pair a little one with a big-kid buddy on their turn.
🌪️ Clue-givers stay on their bottoms and raise a hand. Shouting the word means you act out the next clue with no sound.
▶ Play Forehead Guess on the web

Class screen: 🤔 Forehead Guess! · Act it out or give a clue · Don’t say the word!

7. Talk it over

Bread or a Stone?

2 min

Jesus’s picture of a loving dad helps children trust that Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers.

  1. SAY“Jesus asked if a dad would give his child a stone when the child asks for bread. No way! Heavenly Father loves us even more, and He gives us good things when we pray.”
  2. Sit close in a circle. Ask one question at a time. Let two or three kids answer each, and share your own answer too.
💬 Ask the class
  • What are some things you can pray about?
  • When is a good time to pray?
  • How do you feel when you pray to Heavenly Father?

Class screen: 🍞 Would a loving dad give you a rock for lunch?

8. Testimony

Rock-Strong Builders

2 min

End calm and reverent, with one way to build on Jesus this week.

  1. Lower your voice. Everyone stands like a strong rock house, then slowly sits and folds their arms.
  2. Share one or two sentences about a hard time in your life when following Jesus helped you stay strong.
  3. SAY“When you’re baptized, you promise to keep building on Jesus. Every prayer and every kind choice is another strong stone.”
  4. Introduce the Rock Builder challenge on the screen, and ask a child to say the closing prayer. Little ones can repeat a prayer after you, a few words at a time.

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

9. Game

Treasure Box

4 minBONUS

Swapping toys for drawings of heavenly treasures teaches Matthew 6:19–21.

  1. Open the box and show the toys. Say: “These are fun, but toys break and get lost.”
  2. SAY“Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven, things that last forever.” Ask: “What lasts forever?” (Families, love, kindness, a testimony, being baptized, the temple.)
  3. Kids draw a quick picture of a forever treasure. Take one toy out for each drawing that goes in.
  4. Read Matthew 6:21. Say: “What we love most is where our heart will be.”

Class screen: 💎 Which treasures last forever? · 👨‍👩‍👧 Family · 💛 Love · 🙏 Testimony

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A small box with a few toys inside, plus paper and crayons (for the bonus Treasure Box)

Forever or Not?

  1. SAY“Jesus said to lay up treasures in heaven, things that last forever.”
  2. Call out a treasure. If it lasts forever, kids stand and reach up high. If it breaks or gets lost, they crouch low: a toy car, my family, a candy bar, love, a video game, being baptized, a new bike, kindness.
  3. Read Matthew 6:21. Say: “What we love most is where our heart will be.”

Class screen: 💎 Forever treasure? Reach up high! · Breaks or gets lost? Crouch low!

10. Game

Scripture Showdown

5 minBONUS

A team picture quiz reviews the lesson.

  1. Split into two teams, each with big kids and little kids mixed.
  2. Tap Scripture Showdown. A big kid on each team reads the question out loud; the whole team whispers and points to an answer.
  3. 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!

Story drama

Two Builders and a Big Storm

Matthew 7:24–29 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Wise BuilderFinds a strong rock and builds on it. A good part for a 6- or 7-year-old reader.
  • Foolish BuilderBuilds fast on the sand without checking. Falls down (gently!) when the storm comes.
  • The RockTwo kids crouch low and very still. Nothing can move them!
  • The SandTwo kids sit and wiggle, wiggle, wiggle. They slide away in the flood.
  • RainTap fingers on knees, softly, then faster and harder.
  • WindWhoosh and sway arms back and forth.
  • FloodsEveryone else. Roll arms like big waves and say, “Swoosh!”

Scenes

  1. ⛰️👂 Jesus tells a story

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

    🎬 Everyone cups their ears and leans in: “We’re listening!”

  2. 👷🪨 The wise man builds on the rock

    The wise man built his house on a big, strong rock. Luke says he dug deep first (Luke 6:48). That was hard work!

    🎬 The Rock crouches down still and strong. The Wise Builder hammers: “Bang, bang, bang!”

  3. 🤪🏖️ The foolish man builds on sand

    The foolish man built his house on the soft, wiggly sand. Let’s pretend he said, “The sand is easy!” and built it super fast.

    🎬 The Sand wiggles. The Foolish Builder hammers fast and sloppy: “Done! Easy!”

  4. 🏠🏠 Two houses. They look the same!

    Let’s pretend both houses looked nice, with doors and windows and roofs. Could you tell which one was stronger?

    🎬 Both builders make a roof over their heads with their arms and smile big.

  5. 🌧️☔ Down came the rain!

    Then the sky got dark. Drip, drip. Then pitter-patter. Then it poured! The rain came down on both houses.

    🎬 The Rain taps knees softly, then faster and faster. Everyone looks up.

  6. 🌊💨 Floods rise and winds blow!

    The water rose into big floods. The wind blew hard. The storm pushed and pushed on both houses!

    🎬 The Floods roll their arms: “Swoosh!” The Wind whooshes. Everyone sways.

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

    The house on the rock didn’t fall! The rain beat on it and the wind blew, but it stood strong, because it was built on the rock.

    🎬 The Rock and the Wise Builder stay totally still. Everyone cheers: “It stood!”

  8. 🏚️💥 The house on the sand fell!

    The sand washed away, and the foolish man’s house fell down with a great big crash!

    🎬 The Sand slides away. The Foolish Builder slowly, gently sits down on the floor: “Uh-oh!”

  9. 👂🙌 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 are building on the rock.

    🎬 The Wise Builder reads from the screen: “Hear it AND do it!” Everyone stomps both feet and freezes, strong like a 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 with the rain, flood and crash actions after the Story Drama. Find it ↗

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

    Goes with Ask, Seek, Knock: Heavenly Father hears children’s prayers. 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 acted out the wise and foolish builders (Matthew 7:24–27) and tested cup houses on a “rock” and on “sand.” We learned that both houses got the storm, but the house built on the rock stood strong, and that we build on Jesus when we hear His words AND do them. We also learned that Heavenly Father hears our prayers (Matthew 7:7). 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. SAY“Jesus taught His disciples how to pray” (Matthew 6:9–13).
  2. Point out what He did: He spoke to Heavenly Father, praised Him, asked for daily bread, asked for forgiveness, and asked for help to choose the right.
  3. Let each child say one sentence they could put in their own prayer tonight.

🌟 Golden Rule Echo · 3 min

  1. SAY“Jesus said to treat others the way you want to be treated” (Matthew 7:12).
  2. 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…”
  3. SAY“That’s the Golden Rule!”

🐦 Birds and Flowers · 3 min

  1. SAY“Jesus said Heavenly Father feeds the birds and makes the flowers beautiful, and He cares about you even more” (Matthew 6:26–30).
  2. Everyone flaps like a bird, then grows slowly from a seed into a tall flower.
  3. Ask: “What is something you can trust Heavenly Father to help you with?”

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 4–7 lessons