LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Luke 18:9-14, Jesus tells a parable directed at those who were overly confident in their own goodness and who looked down on others around them. Two men go to the temple to pray, and their prayers reveal two very different heart conditions. The first man, a Pharisee, was someone the people of his day deeply respected. He was a scholar of Scripture and outwardly devoted to religious practice. Yet when he prayed, his words were not directed toward God so much as they were a celebration of himself. He listed his good deeds and measured himself against others he considered less worthy, particularly the tax collector standing nearby. His prayer exposed a heart full of pride rather than genuine worship.
The second man, a tax collector, was someone most people in that culture despised. Tax collectors were known for dishonesty and were considered outsiders to faithful Jewish community life. Yet this man approached God with a completely different posture. He stood at a distance, would not even lift his eyes, and simply cried out for God’s mercy. He did not compare himself to anyone. He only saw himself in light of a holy God, and that view left him broken and dependent. Jesus declared that it was this man, not the Pharisee, who went home right with God. The lesson is that God is not impressed by our list of accomplishments. He draws near to the humble heart that knows its need for His mercy.
PLAY ROOM 8:45-9:00
Children will be dropped off in the playroom between 8:45-9:00 a.m. Allow them to play freely as they arrive. Transition them to the classroom at 9:00 a.m.
OPENING ACTIVITY 9:00-9:15 | A Prayer for My Dad + Dot Art Prayer Hands
Items Needed
- A Prayer for My Dad Printout (Cardstock)
- Paint and Paintbrush
- Wet Wipes
- Praying Hands Dot Art (Regular Paper)
- Dot Stickers
As children arrive, have them start by adding dot art stickers to their Praying Hands print out. One by one, call children to another table and paint one hand to put on the “A Prayer for My Dad” printout. Use wet wipes to clean their hands. Remember to write their names at the bottom of both documents.
BIBLE STORY 9:15-9:25
Object Lesson: Bring a small mirror and a simple drawing of the sun’s rays (God’s goodness). Before the story, hold up the mirror and let children look at themselves. Say: Today we are going to talk about what we see when we look at ourselves. Do we see how great WE are, or do we see how great GOD is? Keep the mirror and the sun picture nearby to use during the story.
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Luke
Question 2: Is Luke in the Old Testament or the New Testament? The New Testament
In our story today, there are are two men who go to the temple. The temple is another word for church. Let’s get up and march around the room once like we are going to church.
[March around the room once, then sit back down]
One day, Jesus was talking to some people. Some of those people thought they were SO great. They thought they were better than everyone around them. Have you ever felt like you were better than other people around you? [Allow kids time to answer]
Jesus wanted to teach them something really important. So he told them a story. A parable. Can you say “parable?” [Wait for response] A parable is a story that teaches us something true about God.
In the story, there were TWO men. Can you hold up two fingers? [Hold up two fingers and wait for children to copy]
The first man was called a Pharisee. Can you say “Pharisee?” [Wait for response] A Pharisee was someone who knew lots and lots about God’s Word. People thought Pharisees were very, very good.
The Pharisee walked into the temple like this! [Stand up. Puff out your chest and put your hands on your hips]
He felt very important. Can you standup like he was standing? [Allow kids to repeat what you demonstrated]
The Pharisee stood up tall and started to pray, but listen to what he said. He said, God, thank you that I am SO good. I am not bad like those other people. I am better than that man over there.
Was the Pharisee talking about how great GOD is, or how great HE was? [Wait for response] He was only thinking about himself!
[Hold up the mirror] When the Pharisee looked at himself, he only saw how great he was. He forgot to look at how great and holy God is.
[Whisper] Now let’s hear about the second man. Shhhh, listen closely.
The second man was a tax collector. Can you say “tax collector?” [Wait for response] Tax collectors were people that most others did not like very much. People thought tax collectors were bad.
The tax collector walked in and stood way, way back. He felt very small inside. Can you scrunch down small like him? [Wait for children to crouch or hunch]
He would not even look up. He looked down at the ground. Can you look down at the ground like him? [Wait for children to look down]
He prayed, and He said, God, you are so good. I am sorry. I have done wrong things. Please be merciful to me.
[Hold up the picture of the sun] The tax collector looked at how great and bright and holy God was, and he knew he needed God’s help. That is called being humble. Can you say “humble?” [Wait for response]
[Whisper] And do you know what? God heard that prayer. God loved that humble prayer.
Jesus told everyone listening that the tax collector went home RIGHT with God. But the Pharisee, who had bragged and bragged, was not.
[Put hands over heart] Jesus said that people who make themselves big and great will be made small. But people who make themselves small and humble before God, God will make great!
[Have everyone fold their hands] Just like the tax collector, we can always go to God and say, God, I need you. Please be merciful to me. And God hears us. He loves us so much.
Theological Questions:
- Why do you think God liked the tax collector’s prayer better than the Pharisee’s prayer?
- What does it tell us about God that He listens to people who know they need His help?
Life Application Questions:
- Can you think of a time when you wanted everyone to notice how great you were? How did that feel?
- What is one thing you could say to God today to show Him you need His help?
Prayer: God, you are so great and we are so glad you are our God. Help us to be humble just like the tax collector and to always remember that we need you every single day. Amen! [Have all children say “Amen!” together]
WORSHIP IN SONG 9:25-9:35
PRAYER 9:35-9:45
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Have children sit on the floor and go around the room asking each kid if they want to pray out loud. Never force a kid to pray but encourage them to. Always ask first if anyone would like to open us in prayer.
BIBLE STORY GAME 9:45-9:55 | Bragging Balloon Activity
You will need:
- Balloons
- Permanent markers
- Ribbon/string (optional)
- Scissors or Pin (optional)
Blow up a balloon for yourself and one for each child. Each time you blow up a balloon, discuss how pride “puffs us up” and makes us feel more important than God. One time, as you’re blowing up the balloon, let the balloon go and explain how we “let go” of God when we are too arrogant, and it can send us blowing away.
After all the balloons are blown up, allow kids time to use permanent markers to draw a face on their balloon and give it a name.
Give them time to bounce the balloon around in the air and play. As the activity time comes to an end, use a pin to pop the teacher balloon. Explain to them that when we puff up really big and brag, we can pop in God’s eyes. Remind them it’s important to pray with humility.
BIBLE CRAFT 9:55-10:10 | Prayer Toolbox (Humility)
Items Needed
- Toolbox of Humility (Pre Cut on Cardstock)
- Crayons
- Glue
- Manilla Paper
- Ziplock Bags
- Masking Tape
Give each child a toolbox to color and glue to manilla paper. Before the lesson, tape the zip lock bag pieces of the other precut tools to the wall. Let children take turns pulling one off the wall, passing it out to friends, and coloring it. As they take it off the wall, read it to the kids and let them practice saying the prayer. Remind them this is a toolbox to help them pray like the tax collector and to be more humble.
SNACK TIME & BIBLE STORY VIDEO 10:10-10:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat while they watch the Bible story video.
If there is extra time while they are still eating, you can replay the Bible Story video, or you can play the 3 Circles video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Rocket Balloon Races
Items Needed
If time allows at the end of class (before 10:15), you can blow up Rocket balloons and let kids let them go. Remind them that when we go to God without humility, we puff up like a big balloon and all He hears is noise. When we go to God in prayer and focus on how great He is and what He has done in our life, He hears our prayers.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Luke 18:9-14 ESV
He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Be Humble
What I Learned Today: Today we learned about a story Jesus told called a parable. In the story, two men went to the temple to pray, and one man bragged to God about how great he was, but the other man told God he was sorry and asked for help. Jesus said that the man who was humble and honest with God was the one who went home right with God. We learned that God loves it when we come to Him with a humble heart and ask for His mercy, just like the tax collector did.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- What is a parable? (A story Jesus told that teaches us something important and true about God)
- Who were the two men in the story? (A Pharisee and a tax collector)
- Which man’s prayer did God like better and why? (The tax collector’s prayer, because he was humble and honest and asked God for mercy instead of bragging about himself)
- What does it mean to be humble? (It means you do not brag about yourself and you know that you need God’s help)
- What does mercy mean? (Mercy means God loves us and forgives us even when we have done wrong things)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you show me a humble face and a proud face? (Child demonstrates both expressions)
- What is something you can thank God for when you pray? (Answers will vary, encourage any genuine response)
- What is something you can ask God to help you with this week? (Answers will vary, encourage honest and personal responses)
- Is it hard to say sorry when you have done something wrong? Why do you think God wants us to say sorry to Him? (Answers will vary; guide toward understanding that saying sorry shows we trust God and want to do better)
- How can you show a humble heart at home this week? (Answers will vary; examples might include letting someone else go first, saying kind words instead of bragging, or helping without being asked)