Curriculum
Practice What You Preach
Memory Verse:
"So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” Matthew 23:3
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Jesus was upset that the religious leaders were creating rules and making others follow more rules than God intended. God wants all of us to believe Him enough to do what we tell others to do.
Scripture Summary
Jesus ministered at a time when several religious groups battled with each other over the law, status, and reputation. And Jesus entered in. He didn’t enter in as a combative contestant but as a loving truth-teller in the midst of chaos.
The Pharisees, one group of religious leaders, held fast to God’s law of the Old Testament. Their greater grip was on their own interpretation of that law and their own reputation with the Jewish people.
While the law was good, how the Pharisees interpreted, practiced, and proclaimed the law distorted God’s intent. The Pharisees began to hold their own interpretations of the law as higher than God’s law itself.
They forced others to keep the law but somehow excused themselves from those same requirements. The Pharisees did everything possible to protect their own reputation–their image–among the Jewish people.
Phylacteries were small boxes, typically made of leather, that held Scriptures. Each religious leader would carry these boxes (on their heads or arms) to wear God’s Word as a symbol of obedience.
Unfortunately, the symbol became more important than the obedience itself.
This wasn’t the first time Jesus called out the hypocritical religious leaders. The leaders wanted to check boxes on a proverbial religious to-do list to be seen as a follower of God. This became more important to them than actually spending time with God himself.
Jesus confronted the norms of Jewish society. He presented an upside- down approach to what following God really looks like. “The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (v. 12).
Why Is This Important
Jesus wants us to love Him, love others, and share Him with others. All of this requires us to be honest. When our hearts are focused on Jesus, the things we do will also reflect the heart of Jesus.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
Preaching Without Words
“You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?” (Matthew 7:16)
St. Francis of Assisi was a successful businessman and an active knight before God changed his life. St. Francis began his journey of conversion in the 1200s and became a friar, deacon, mystic, and preacher.
He is quoted often about the way of life, often providing simple and profound wisdom. One quote stands out to me.
“Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words.” (St. Francis of Assisi)
I know that St. Francis wasn’t ahead of his time introducing the world to communication via mime. St. Francis was stating a true fact. What you do should match what you say. And in the case of sharing the Good News of Jesus, it’s often your actions that speak louder and truer than words to an unbeliever.
God calls us to the same genuine love. When we truly love Him above all others, our words and deeds match up with each other. Those who know us will recognize us by our fruit (or actions) that line up with God’s ways.
Think back over the past 24 hours. Identify three times that you showed God’s love (the same love that lives in you) to others. Was it a kind word to a stranger at the grocery store? Did you serve a family member in a new way? Were you able to remind a struggling friend of his or her identity in Christ?
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for being the only consistent source of love and truth. Please help me live out your love and truth in what I say and do today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: Bibles - one for each child, Construction paper
Get Ready: Print a phrase from today’s Bible memory verse on each piece of construction paper and hide them around your room (not in order).
"But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach." Matthew 23:3
SAY: Today we heard the important message from Jesus to practice what we preach. We are going to take a tour of our room. As we walk, look for paper with words from today’s Bible memory verse. Once we’ve collected them all we will come back to the center and put the verse in order using our Bibles.
After all the sheets have been collected, gather in a circle. Open your Bible to Matthew 23:3 and read the verse. Help kids put the Bible memory verse in order. Then read the Bible verse aloud together.
SAY: Maybe you’ve heard the word “hypocrite.” A hypocrite is someone who says one thing but does something different. These Pharisees were hypocrites. Jesus has strong words for us to practice what we preach so we are not hypocrites.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bible, Newspaper - several sheets per child, Tape - several rolls for kids to share
Give each child a couple of pieces of newspaper and some tape. Help children create an item of clothing or an object that an adult would wear or have, such as a hat, tie, purse or something else.
When finished, allow kids to model what they made.
SAY: It’s fun to play dress-up or pretend, isn’t it? But we don’t want to be pretend Christians; we want to be the real thing. We learn in today’s Bible lesson that the Pharisees knew the rules, but they didn’t live them. Let’s read another verse about this important topic.
Read aloud James 1:22.
ASK:
- If we only listen to the Word, what are we doing to ourselves? (lying to ourselves)
- After we hear the Word, what are we to do? (do what it says)
SAY: The Bible tells us to not just hear God’s Word but to also do what it says. The Pharisees didn’t follow this instruction; will we?
Snack
Church Snacks
You’ll Need: Graham Crackers, Frosting, Pretzel sticks, Plastic knives, Paper plates, Napkins
Give each child six graham cracker squares, a paper plate, and a plastic knife. Place bowls of frosting and pretzels in the middle of the table.
To make the “Church Snack,” have kids follow these steps:
- Frost the sides of the graham crackers and lean them together to form the church building.
- Frost pretzel sticks and place them on the graham crackers to make a door, windows, etc.
- Enjoy!
SAY: Jesus taught about how we should act versus how the Pharisees were acting. They were just pretending to be good and Jesus wants us to not pretend to be Christians. We need to practice what we preach.
Game
Play Church
You’ll Need: Props like bow ties, ties, dresses, hats, Bibles, offering plates, musical books/hymnals, etc.
- Give each child a prop and explain that they are going to act out church today.
- Play several rounds where different children get to be the preach- er, worship team, etc.
SAY: That was fun playing church, but we don’t just come to church to play around. At church we hear life-changing truths about God’s love. Our goal is to not just preach about the things of God but practice them, too.
Craft
Handprint Church
You’ll Need: “Practice What You Preach How-to Video”, “Handprint Church” handout - one for each child, Card stock, Markers, Washable paint - brown
Give each child a “Handprint Church” handout.
To make the “Handprint Church,” help kids follow these steps:
- Using the paint, make a handprint on top of the hill (fingers up) to be the church.
- Invite kids to decorate the hill and sky while their handprint dries.
- After their handprint dries, help kids draw a cross on top of the fingers and a door in the palm to complete the church.
ASK:
- What do you like about church?
- What’s something you have learned at church?
SAY: When we come to church, we learn from the Bible. God wants us to take what we learn and do it. God wants us to practice what we preach.
Prayer
Share Love Prayers
You’ll Need: Newsprint sheets - one per church staff member, Washable markers, Pictures of church staff
Print out pictures of the church staff and glue one to each of the large newsprint sheets. Spread them out around the room.
SAY: Today we’re going to pray for the leaders in our church. Pray that they would continue to seek God in all they do and that they would practice what they preach.
Invite kids to walk around the room as you help them trace their handprint on each piece of newsprint. As they’re pressing their hands to make the newsprint, invite them to silently pray for that staff member.
PRAY: Dear God, thank You for the staff at our church. We ask that You protect them and help them to seek You always. Help them to practice what they preach as they lead our church. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Go hang these posters on the staff members' doors or near their offices.
