LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Matthew 5:13-16, Jesus is seated on a hillside teaching a large crowd of people in what has become known as the Sermon on the Mount. Within this teaching, He uses two simple but powerful illustrations drawn from everyday life to explain the role His followers are meant to play in the world. He tells them they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, calling them to recognize that their lives carry weight and purpose far beyond themselves.
Salt in the ancient world was far more than a table seasoning. It was used to preserve food, prevent infection, and enhance flavor. When Jesus called His followers the salt of the earth, He was pointing to the way a life shaped by God makes a difference in everything it touches. In the same way, light was essential in a world without electricity. Small clay oil lamps lit homes and allowed people to work and move safely. Jesus reminded His listeners that no one lights a lamp and then hides it. A lamp placed on a stand gives light to everyone in the room. In the same way, when children of God live out their faith with kindness, honesty, and love, they point the people around them toward God. This lesson helps preschoolers begin to understand that even at their young age, they can shine God’s light by doing good things.
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 | Salt Dough Free Sculpting
Items Needed:
- Pre-made salt dough (2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup water mixed ahead of time)
- Wax paper place mats
Children use the salt dough to freely sculpt simple shapes such as suns, stars, or little lamps. Teachers can talk casually about how salt is used to make the dough and how salt shows up in today’s Bible story. This activity introduces both the material and the theme in a play-based way.
BIBLE STORY 9:15-9:25
Question 1: Where is this found in the Bible? Matthew
Question 2: Is Matthew in the Old Testament or the New Testament? New Testament
Object Lesson: Before the story begins, bring a small flashlight and a bowl. Turn the flashlight on and set it on the floor or a table so kids can see it glowing. Then place the bowl upside down over it. Ask, “Where did the light go? Can we see it now?” Lift the bowl back up. “There it is! Jesus wants our light to shine just like this!”
In our story today, Jesus was teaching lots of people. He went up on a big hill and sat down, and all the people gathered around to listen. Let’s pretend we are sitting on that hill with Jesus.
This teaching was called “The Sermon on the Mount.” Can you say that with me? [Allow children to say it].
Jesus wanted to teach the people something very important. He wanted them to know that THEY could make the world a better place. You and I, we can make the world better too!
Now, Jesus used something very special to help people understand. He talked about SALT!
[Hold up a salt shaker]
Can you say salt?
[Wait for response]
Have you ever eaten french fries? Do you like salt on your french fries?
[Wait for response, make a yummy face]
Mmmmm! Salt makes things taste SO good! Jesus looked at all the people and said, YOU are the salt of the earth.
Did Jesus mean the people were really, actually salt? No way!
Jesus meant that we can make the world BETTER, just like salt makes food taste better. When we are kind, when we share, when we love people, we make the world a better place. Just like salt!
Can you sprinkle some pretend salt right now?
[Pretend to sprinkle salt with fingers]
Yes! We are sprinkling kindness everywhere we go!
Now Jesus had something ELSE to teach the people. He started talking about LIGHT!
[Pick up the flashlight and turn it on]
Can you say light?
[Wait for response]
Ooooh, look at that light! In Jesus’s time, people did not have big bright light bulbs like we do. They had tiny little clay lamps that burned oil. They were only about this big.
[Hold fingers close together to show small size]
Those little lamps were SO important. Without them, everything was dark at night, but when someone lit the lamp, the whole room could see!
[Turn flashlight on and shine it around]
Jesus told the people, YOU are the light of the world!
Did He mean the people were really light bulbs?
[Wait for response]
No! He meant that when we love God and do good things, it is like a light is shining. People around us can see it!
Now Jesus asked a really good question. He said, does anyone light a lamp and then put a bowl over it?
Let’s try that.
[Place bowl over the flashlight]
Can we see the light now?
[Wait for response]
Nooooo! That is silly! Nobody does that! You put a lamp up HIGH so everyone can see it!
[Lift flashlight up high]
Jesus said, let your light SHINE! That means we do good things so people can see. We share. We help. We say kind words. We tell people about Jesus!
Here is a little secret. Are you ready?
[Lean in close]
Even little kids, even YOU, can shine a big, bright light for Jesus. When you hug your friend who is sad, that is your light shining. When you share your snack, that is your light shining. When you say I love you to your family, that is your light shining!
[Normal voice]
Can you think of one way you can shine your light today?
[Let kids respond, affirm each answer]
I love those answers!
Theological Questions:
- Who made the light in the whole world? (God did! He made the sun and stars, and He IS light!)
- Why did Jesus want people to shine their light? (So others could learn about God and see His love!)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you name one person you want to shine your light for this week?
- What is one kind thing you can do today that will make the world a little brighter?
Prayer:
God, thank You for making us the light of the world. Help us to shine bright for You every single day, so that everyone around us can see how good You are. Amen! [Encourage all the kids to say Amen together]
WORSHIP IN SONG 9:25-9:35
PRAYER 9:35-9:45
Transition kids to the floor for prayer time. Ask each child to take turns praying out loud on ways they can shine their light and be salt this week.
BIBLE STORY GAME 9:45-9:55 | Salty Food Taste Test
Items Needed
- Salty foods such as chips, dill pickles, popcorn, salted candy, salted peanuts, and just plain salt.
Let kids take turns being blindfolded and tasting different salty foods to see if they can correctly guess which salty food it is.
BIBLE CRAFT 9:55-10:10 | Paper Bag Lantern
Items Needed:
- Paper lunch bags
- Battery-operated tea light candles
- Washable dot markers or stickers
- Pencils for poking holes (teacher supervised)
- Hole punch
- String
Children decorate the outside of their paper bag using dot markers and stickers. Teachers help students use a pencil to poke simple patterns of holes around the bag (alternate, pre cut bags with shapes in them before giving to students to decorate). When finished, drop a battery-operated tea light inside and fold the top down slightly. When the light is turned on, it shines through the holes and decorations, creating a glowing lantern. Teachers can say, “Just like your lantern shines light, YOU shine light for Jesus!” Children carry these home as a reminder of the lesson.
SNACK TIME AND BIBLE STORY VIDEO 10:10-10:25
Pass out snacks and allow kids time to eat snacks while they watch the Bible story video.
BONUS ACTIVITY | Floating Egg
The Big Idea: Salt makes water denser, which means it can hold things up that regular water cannot. Just like salt makes a difference in water, Jesus says WE make a difference in the world around us!
Items Needed:
- 1 raw egg
- 2 clear plastic cups or glasses
- Water
- Table salt
- A spoon
- A tray to catch any spills
Set Up Ahead of Time: Fill both cups with water. In one cup, stir in several large spoonfuls of salt and mix well until the salt is dissolved. Label one cup PLAIN WATER and one cup SALTY WATER.
Step 1: Gather the kids around the table so everyone can see.
Step 2: Hold up the egg and say, “What do you think will happen when I put this egg in the plain water? Will it float or sink?” Let the kids guess and respond.
Step 3: Gently place the egg in the plain water cup. Watch it sink to the bottom. Say, “It sank! Plain water cannot hold it up.”
Step 4: Now take the egg out and hold it up again. Ask, “What if we added a LOT of salt to the water? Do you think something different might happen?” Let the kids guess.
Step 5: Gently place the egg in the salty water cup. Watch it float! Let the kids react and celebrate.
Step 6: Say, “WOW! The salt changed everything! It made the water strong enough to hold the egg up. Jesus says that WE are the salt of the earth. That means when we show kindness and love to people, WE help hold them up too. We make things better just like salt did!”
Tips:
- Let each child take a turn stirring the salty water before the experiment begins so they feel involved.
- If you want to make it more dramatic, you can pour the salty water slowly around the egg once it is already sitting in the plain water and watch it slowly begin to rise.
- Keep a towel nearby for small spills.
- This works best as a whole group gathered around one demonstration table rather than individual stations.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE
Matthew 5:13-16 (ESV)
“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Shine Your Light for Jesus
What I Learned Today: Today I learned that Jesus says I am the salt of the earth and the light of the world. That means God put me here on purpose to make the world better and to show His love to the people around me. Even I can shine bright for Jesus by being kind, sharing, helping others, and telling people about God’s love.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological Questions:
- What did Jesus say we are for the earth? (Salt! Jesus said we are the salt of the earth, which means we make the world better.)
- What did Jesus say we are for the world? (The light of the world! Our good actions help people see God.)
- Who is the very first and greatest Light? (God is! He made all light, and Jesus called Himself the light of the world in John 8:12.)
- Why does Jesus want people to see our good works? (So they will give glory to God our Father in heaven, not just to us.)
- What happens when we hide our light? (It is like putting a lamp under a basket. No one can see it and no one is helped by it.)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you name one person you want to shine your light for this week? (Accept any answer and encourage the child.)
- What is one kind thing you did today that was like being salt or light? (Accept any answer and celebrate it.)
- Is it ever hard to do the right thing in front of your friends? What can you do when that happens? (Accept any answer. Encourage the child that God helps us be brave.)
- What does shining your light look like at home with your family? (Answers could include helping, sharing, saying kind words, not fighting, showing love.)
- If your friend does not know about Jesus, how could you be a light for them? (Accept any answer. Encourage the child that even smiling, sharing, and being kind can point people to Jesus.)