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Build on the Rock!

Two builders, a big storm, and one house that stands strong

  • ☀️ Sunbeams
  • Week 8
  • 📅 Sunday, February 21, 2027
🤔 Forehead Guess🏆 Showdown
💡 The big idea

When I do what Jesus says, I am strong like a house on a rock.

I can do what Jesus says.

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

Matthew 6–7 finishes the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus teaches how to pray (Matthew 6:9–13), to seek treasures in heaven instead of things that rust and get stolen (Matthew 6:19–21), to ask, seek and knock because Heavenly Father loves to give good gifts (Matthew 7:7–11), and to treat others the way we want to be treated (Matthew 7:12).

He ends with a story every Primary child knows: a wise man built his house on a rock, a foolish man built his house on the sand, and when the rain, floods and wind came, only the house on the rock stood (Matthew 7:24–27). The difference was not hearing Jesus; both men heard. The wise man heard and did what Jesus said.

Your one tiny truth for today: when I do what Jesus says, I am strong like a house on a rock. Three-year-olds love to build things and love even more to knock them down, so this lesson lets them do both. Name the “rock” things plainly: praying, being kind, sharing, listening to Mom and Dad. Say the tiny truth again and again, and stomp your feet: “Strong!”

Jesus is shown with a picture and His words are read by the teacher; no child plays Jesus. Prayer (ask, seek, knock) and heavenly treasure are simple extras if you have time.

Only have 5 minutes?

Bring some plastic cups, a book and a pillow if you can (or skip them and use the no-supplies versions). Tell the builders story with your phone or tablet scenes (hammer, rain, wind, crash!), sing “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” with actions, say “built his house upon a rock” with hammer fists, and end with, “When you do what Jesus says, you are strong like a house on a rock.”

What to bring5 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 cups (or blocks), the book and the pillow in a bag under your chair.
  2. Practice once: stack three or four cups on the book, then on the pillow, and give the pillow a little push so that tower tumbles.
  3. Tuck the picture of Jesus in your scriptures so you can pull it out in the story.
  4. Open this lesson in Teach Mode so the story pictures and the Sound Board rain, wind and crash are ready.

If your class is wild

  • Crying at the door? Let the parent stay a few minutes, and hand the child a cup: “Will you be my builder helper?” A job helps a lot. If tears keep going, a parent can sit in the back.
  • Potty breaks: have another grown-up (a class helper or a parent) take the child; never be alone out of sight with a child. Keep going with everyone else.
  • Knocking towers down is the best part for three-year-olds. Promise, “Everyone will get a crash turn!” and keep it: it keeps hands off until it’s time.
  • Use “Stomp, stomp, strong!” as your call-back: say it, and everyone stomps twice and stands still like a strong house.
  • When the rain and wind get loud, bring it back down with “The storm is over… the sun comes out… everyone sits down quietly.”

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

Build It Up!

2 min

Stacking cups together gets every child building before the story begins.

  1. Sit on the floor with the children. Pull out the cups. Say: “Let’s build something!”
  2. Let each child add one cup to a tower on the floor. Count the cups as you go.
  3. Ask: “What did we build? A house? A tower?” Cheer for the builders.
  4. SAY“Today Jesus tells a story about two builders. One house stayed strong, and one went… CRASH!”
🌪️ If a tower falls early, laugh and say, “Oops! Let’s build it again!” It’s part of the fun.

Class screen: 🏗️ Let’s build it up!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 6–10 plastic or paper cups, or toy blocks, for building

Body House

  1. SAY“Let’s build a house with our bodies!”
  2. Stand up. Put your arms over your head in a pointy roof. Stomp your feet for a floor. Open your hands for windows: “Peekaboo!”
  3. Tap the knock sound on the Sound Board and pretend to hammer: bang, bang, bang!
  4. SAY“Today Jesus tells a story about two builders. One house stayed strong, and one went… CRASH!”

Class screen: 🏠 Be a house! Roof up high!

2. Story

Story: The Wise Man and the Foolish Man

5 min

Children hammer, rain, blow and crash through Jesus’s story, and feel the difference between standing strong and falling.

  1. Choose a Rock House and a Sand House. Everyone else is Builders and then Rain and Wind.
  2. Show each scene on your phone or tablet and read the one or two sentences. Hold up the picture of Jesus in scene 1.
  3. Do each action together. Tap the rain, fanfare and crash sounds.
  4. In scene 5, the Rock House stands strong while everyone blows. In scene 6, the Sand House falls down gently.
  5. End by stomping twice and saying together: “I can do what Jesus says!”
🌪️ Everyone wants to be the falling house. Say, “We’ll tell it again with new houses,” and do the rain-to-crash part twice if you have time.
🔊 Sound Board (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: 🏠 Build, rain, crash! · 🔨 Build · 🌧️ Rain · 💥 Crash!

3. Wiggle break

Rain, Wind, Stand Strong!

2 min

Burns energy while practicing standing strong like the house on the rock.

  1. Everyone stands up as a house: roof arms up, feet planted wide.
  2. Call the storm: “Rain!” (wiggle fingers down) “Wind!” (sway gently and blow) “Thunder!” (stomp, stomp).
  3. SAY“Houses on the rock, stand STRONG!” Everyone freezes tall.
  4. Then: “Houses on the sand… wobble, wobble… crash!” Everyone falls down gently. Play 3 rounds, ending strong.
🌪️ Remind them: “Soft crashes only! Houses fall down gently like a feather.”

Class screen: 🌬️ Rain! Wind! Stand strong!

4. Object lesson

Rock or Sand?

3 min

Two towers, one on a book and one on a pillow, show which house can stand in a storm.

  1. Put the book (the rock) and the pillow (the sand) on the floor side by side.
  2. Children help build a small cup tower on each one.
  3. SAY“Here comes the storm!” Everyone blows and makes rain fingers. Gently wiggle the pillow… CRASH! The sand tower falls.
  4. Ask: “Which house stayed strong?” (The rock!) Let children take turns building and crashing the sand tower again.
  5. SAY“When I do what Jesus says, I am strong like the house on the rock!”

Class screen: 🪨 Which house stays strong? · 🪨 rock = strong · 🏖️ sand = crash!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 6–10 plastic or paper cups, or toy blocks, for building, A big hardcover book or a cutting board (the rock), A bed pillow or a folded blanket (the sand)

Rock Feet, Sand Feet

  1. SAY“Let’s be houses! First, a house on the sand.” Everyone stands on one foot and wobbles.
  2. You be the wind: blow gently, “Whoooo!” The sand houses wobble… and sit down with a gentle “Crash!” (Tap the crash sound.)
  3. Now: “A house on the rock!” Everyone stands with both feet wide and stomps: “Strong!” Blow again. Nobody falls!
  4. SAY“When I do what Jesus says, I am strong like the house on the rock!”

Class screen: 🦶 Rock feet or sand feet?

5. Scripture

Key Words: “Built His House upon a Rock”

3 min

Six of Jesus’s words with hammer and roof motions help them remember the wise man’s choice.

  1. Hold up your scriptures. Say: “These words are in the Bible. Jesus said them.”
  2. Say it slowly with the motions: “built” (hammer fists) “his house” (pointy roof) “upon a rock” (fist on fist).
  3. Say it together three ways: a whisper, a big strong builder voice, and a squeaky little voice.
  4. SAY“The wise man built on the rock. When I do what Jesus says, I am strong!”

Class screen: 📖 “built his house upon a rock” · 🔨 built · 🏠 his house · 🪨 upon a rock

6. Song

Sing: “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man”

2 min

The perfect action song for this story: they sing and act it all at once.

  1. SAY“Let’s sing Jesus’s story!”
  2. Sing “The Wise Man and the Foolish Man” (Children’s Songbook, 281) with actions: fist on fist for the rock, wiggle fingers for sand and rain, arms up for the water rising, a gentle fall for the crash.
  3. Sing it again a little faster if they love it.

Class screen: 🎵 Sing and do the actions!

7. Game

Rock Builders

3 min

Each “Jesus says” choice adds a cup, so children see good choices building something strong.

  1. Put the book (the rock) on the floor. Say: “Let’s build a strong house on the rock!”
  2. Say a choice. If it’s something Jesus wants us to do, everyone stomps, “Strong!” and one child adds a cup.
  3. Try: “Saying a prayer.” (Strong! add a cup) “Hitting my brother.” (No cup! Shake heads) “Sharing a snack.” (add a cup) “Saying sorry.” (add a cup) “Listening to Mom.” (add a cup) “Being kind to a new friend.” (add a cup)
  4. Cheer at the finished tower: “Look how strong! That’s building on Jesus!”
🌪️ Give each child a turn to add a cup, even if you have to make up extra good choices.

Class screen: 🏗️ Good choice? Add a block!

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: 6–10 plastic or paper cups, or toy blocks, for building, A big hardcover book or a cutting board (the rock)

Grow the House

  1. Everyone crouches down low like a tiny house that’s just starting.
  2. Say a choice. If it’s something Jesus wants us to do, everyone stomps, “Strong!” and grows a little taller.
  3. Try: “Saying a prayer.” (grow) “Hitting my brother.” (stay still, shake heads) “Sharing a snack.” (grow) “Saying sorry.” (grow) “Listening to Mom.” (grow)
  4. When everyone is standing tall with roof arms, cheer: “Look how strong! That’s building on Jesus!”

Class screen: 🏠 Good choice? Grow taller!

8. Talk it over

What Does Jesus Say?

2 min

Children name or act out simple things Jesus asks us to do.

  1. Hold up the picture of Jesus. Say: “The wise man did what Jesus said. What does Jesus want us to do?”
  2. Ask the questions one at a time. Act out the answers together. Any answer, even a point or a nod, gets a smile and a “Yes!”
💬 Ask the class
  • Where did the wise man build his house?
  • Can you show me how to fold your arms and pray?
  • Can you show me a kind, gentle hug?
  • What can you share this week?

Class screen: 🙂 What does Jesus want me to do?

No supplies? Do this instead

Instead of: A picture of Jesus (from the Gospel Library app printed out, a Friend magazine, or the meetinghouse library)

Strong Like a Rock

  1. Everyone makes a fist like a strong rock. Say: “The wise man did what Jesus said. What does Jesus want us to do?”
  2. Ask the questions one at a time. Act out the answers together. Any answer, even a point or a nod, gets a smile and a “Yes!”

Class screen: ✊ Make a rock! Strong!

9. Testimony

Quiet Houses

2 min

A calm, loving moment where the teacher shares a simple testimony.

  1. SAY“The storm is over. The sun comes out. Let’s be quiet little houses. Sit down and fold your arms.”
  2. In a soft voice, say: “Jesus loves you. When you do what He says, you are strong like the house on the rock. I know that is true.”
  3. Name each child: “Lily, you can do what Jesus says. Max, you can do what Jesus says.” (Use your own class names.)
  4. Say a short closing prayer, or help a child fold their arms while you say it.

Class screen: 🤫 I can do what Jesus says.

10. Game

Builder Picture Quiz

3 minBONUS

Picture questions review the story, and every child gets to point.

  1. Open Scripture Showdown. Read each question and point to each picture.
  2. Children point to the right picture or call it out. No teams needed: everyone wins.
  3. Stomp twice after every answer: “Strong!”
▶ Play Scripture Showdown on the web

Class screen: 🪨 Point to the right picture!

11. Game

Mystery Picture: What’s Hiding?

3 minBONUS

A slow reveal keeps them guessing and names things from the story.

  1. Open Mystery Picture. Say: “Something from our story is hiding! Let’s take the squares away.”
  2. Remove one square each time a child hammers: bang, bang!
  3. When they guess, act it out: rain = wiggle fingers, rock = fist, house = roof arms, wind = whoooo.
🧩 Mystery Picture (a class game in the Gospel Sparks app)

Class screen: ❓ What’s hiding?

Story drama

The Wise Man and the Foolish Man

Matthew 7:24–27 ↗

Parts to hand out

  • Everyone: BuildersHammer, stack and build the houses: bang, bang, bang!
  • Everyone: Rain and WindWiggle fingers for rain and blow “Whoooo!” for the wind.
  • Rock HouseOne child stands tall and strong with feet planted wide and never falls.
  • Sand HouseOne child wobbles and falls down gently onto the rug when the storm comes.

Scenes

  1. 🙂 Jesus told a story

    Jesus told a story about two men. Each man built a house.

    🎬 Hold up two fingers: “Two!”

  2. 🪨 The wise man built on a rock

    The wise man built his house on a big, strong rock.

    🎬 Hammer with your fists: bang, bang, bang! Stomp your feet: strong!

  3. 🏖️ The foolish man built on sand

    The foolish man built his house on soft, slippery sand.

    🎬 Wiggle your fingers like sliding sand: “Squishy!”

  4. 🌧️ Down came the rain!

    Then the rain came down, down, down. The wind blew, and the water came up, up, up!

    🎬 Wiggle fingers down for rain. Blow like the wind: “Whoooo!”

  5. 🏠 The house on the rock stood strong

    The house on the rock did not fall. It stood strong!

    🎬 Stand tall and strong like a house. Don’t wobble!

  6. 💥 The house on the sand fell!

    The house on the sand went… CRASH! Down it fell.

    🎬 Fall down gently to the floor: “Crash!”

  7. 🙏 I can build on Jesus

    When I do what Jesus says, I am strong like the house on the rock.

    🎬 Stand up, stomp twice and say: “I can do what Jesus says!”

Key verse

Matthew 7:24 ↗
“built his house upon a rock”
In kid words: The wise man built his house on a strong rock.
🙌 “Built” = hammer your fists together · “his house” = make a pointy roof over your head · “upon a rock” = pound one fist on the other, strong and still.

More verses

Matthew 7:25 ↗
“it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock”
In kid words: The house did not fall, because it was built on a rock.
Matthew 7:26 ↗
“a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand”
In kid words: The foolish man built his house on the sand.
Matthew 7:7 ↗
“Ask, and it shall be given you”
In kid words: When we ask Heavenly Father in prayer, He hears us.

Forehead Guess words12 words

  • 🪨 Rock
  • 🏖️ Sand
  • 🏠 House
  • 🔨 Hammer
  • 🌧️ Rain
  • 🌬️ Wind
  • ☁️ Cloud
  • ☀️ Sun
  • 🚪 Door
  • 💎 Treasure
  • 🙏 Praying hands
  • 📖 Scriptures
Clues for each word
  • Rock: Hard and strong
  • Sand: Soft and slippery at the beach
  • House: Where a family lives
  • Hammer: Bang, bang, bang!
  • Rain: Drip, drop from the clouds
  • Wind: Whoooo! It blows
  • Cloud: Rain comes from it
  • Sun: Comes out after the storm
  • Door: Knock, knock! Open it
  • Treasure: Something very special
  • Praying hands: We fold our arms and talk to Heavenly Father
  • Scriptures: The holy book with Jesus’s story
▶ Play Forehead GuessFull screen, 60-second timer, works on any phone.

Scripture Showdown7 questions

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

    ✅ A. 🪨 On a rock On the rock! Stomp, stomp, strong!

  2. Where did the foolish man build?
    • A. 🌳 In a tree
    • B. 🏖️ On the sand
    • C. ☁️ On a cloud
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🏖️ On the sand On soft, slippery sand. Squishy!

  3. What came down from the sky?
    • A. 🍭 Candy
    • B. 🌧️ Rain
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🌧️ Rain Down came the rain! Wiggle your fingers.

  4. Which house fell down?
    • A. 🪨 The rock house
    • B. 🏖️ The sand house
    Show answer

    ✅ B. 🏖️ The sand house The house on the sand went CRASH!

  5. Which house stood strong?
    • A. 🪨 The rock house
    • B. 🏖️ The sand house
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🪨 The rock house The house on the rock did not fall!

  6. What does a builder use?
    • A. 🧸 A teddy
    • B. 🍌 A banana
    • C. 🔨 A hammer
    Show answer

    ✅ C. 🔨 A hammer Bang, bang, bang! Builders use hammers.

  7. Which one is doing what Jesus says?
    • A. 🙏 Saying a prayer
    • B. 😠 Hitting
    Show answer

    ✅ A. 🙏 Saying a prayer Praying is building on the rock!

▶ Play Scripture ShowdownTeams take turns on one screen.

Songs

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

    This week’s story as an action song, made for Sunbeams. Find it ↗

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

    Jesus taught us to ask Heavenly Father in prayer (Matthew 7:7). Find it ↗

  • I’m Trying to Be like Jesus Children’s Songbook, p. 78

    Hum or sing the chorus softly during the testimony. Find it ↗

This week’s challenge

Strong Like a Rock

Build a tower at home with blocks or cups. Each time you do something Jesus wants (pray, share, say sorry, help), add one more block!

Text the parents

Today in Sunbeams we learned Jesus’s story of the wise man who built his house on a rock and the foolish man who built on the sand. Our tiny truth: when I do what Jesus says, I am strong like a house on a rock. Ask your child: “Which house fell down?” Then build a block tower together and add a block for each thing Jesus wants us to do.

📝 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?

🚪 Knock, Knock! · 3 min

  1. SAY“Jesus said ask, seek and knock, and Heavenly Father will answer” (Matthew 7:7).
  2. Stand behind a door (or a pretend door). Children knock: “Knock, knock!” Open it with a big smile and a “Hello!” Everyone gets a turn.
  3. SAY“When we pray, it’s like knocking on Heavenly Father’s door. He always hears us!” Fold arms for a short prayer.

💎 Treasure in Heaven · 3 min

  1. Hide a paper heart in a small box. Say: “A treasure is something very special. Let’s peek!”
  2. Open it: a heart! Say: “Jesus said the best treasures are in heaven: loving people and being kind” (Matthew 6:19–21).
  3. Pass the box around. Each child says or points to someone they love.

🤗 Treat Friends Kindly · 2 min

  1. Ask: “Do you like it when a friend shares? When a friend gives you a hug?” (Yes!)
  2. SAY“Jesus said to be nice to others the way we want them to be nice to us” (Matthew 7:12).
  3. Practice with a partner: share a pretend toy, give a gentle high five, say “Thank you!”

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.

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