Free Bible lesson for kids · Parables of Growing

The Mustard Seed

Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like a tiny mustard seed. A man sowed it in his field, and it grew into a tree so big that birds came and lodged in its branches.

Teach this lesson: film, sheets and guide Print the coloring page

Bible passage: Matthew 13:31–32 · Mark 4:30–32 · Luke 13:18–19
Big idea: God can grow something great from something small.
Memory verse: Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: Matthew 13:31 (KJV)
Ages: Preschool to preteen (3 to 12), with tips for each age
Time: About 45 minutes
Included, free: Animated story film, coloring page, class sheet, teacher guide, questions and answers, a game

The story

Jesus asked, “Unto what is the kingdom of God like?” (Luke 13:18). Then He told a parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed” (Matthew 13:31). A man took the little seed and planted it in his field (Matthew 13:31). Jesus said it is “the least of all seeds” (Matthew 13:32). It is smaller than every other seed in the earth (Mark 4:31).

But when it was planted, it grew and grew. It became greater than all the garden plants, and it became a tree (Matthew 13:32). It shot out great branches, and the birds of the air came and lodged in them (Mark 4:32; Luke 13:19). Jesus taught with many parables like this one (Mark 4:33). God’s kingdom may start very small, but God makes it grow into something great (Matthew 13:31–32).

Read it in the Bible: Matthew 13:31–32 (KJV)

³¹Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: ³²Which indeed is the least of all seeds: but when it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in the branches thereof.

Read it in the Bible: Mark 4:30–32 (KJV)

³⁰And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it? ³¹It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth: ³²But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.

Read it in the Bible: Luke 13:18–19 (KJV)

¹⁸Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? ¹⁹It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it.

Questions to ask

What is the kingdom of heaven like?
A grain of mustard seed.
How big was the seed?
The least of all seeds.
What came to its branches when it grew?
The birds of the air.

What this story teaches

God’s kingdom can start small and grow great (Matthew 13:31–32).
God is the one who makes the seed grow (1 Corinthians 3:7).
Even faith as small as a mustard seed matters (Matthew 17:20).
Jesus used simple stories to teach about God’s kingdom (Mark 4:33).

Jesus Builds His Church

Jesus promised that He will build His church, and nothing can stop it. His kingdom keeps growing, just like the mustard seed.

Matthew 16:18

A 45-minute lesson plan

5 min	Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Ask God to grow our small faith.
10 min	The story. Play the story film: each verse appears on screen in the King James Version while the scene plays. Pause to ask what happens next.
10 min	Talk about it. Ask the three questions below. Then ask: “God can grow something great from something small.” What does that mean for us?
5 min	Memory verse. Say Matthew 13:31 together, covering one word at a time until the children can say it alone.
10 min	Activity. Younger children color the coloring page while you retell the story; older children do the class sheet (memory-verse fill-in, word search and questions).
5 min	Pray and send home. Pray together and send the sheet home so families can talk about the first question this week.

Preschool: keep it short and physical. Act out the story, use a simple prop, and repeat the big idea in one sentence.
Elementary: let children find the passage in their own Bibles. Ask “who, what, where” questions first, then “why.”
Preteens: read the verses before and after the passage, and ask how this story fits the whole story of the Bible.

Game time

For kids · game · indoors · about 8 minutes

Grow, Grow, Grow!

You need: Nothing

Everyone curls up small on the floor like tiny mustard seeds.
The leader “waters” and “shines sun”, and the kids grow a little at a time, until they’re tall trees with branches spread wide.
Then a few kids become birds and “land” in the branches.

The kingdom of heaven starts small like a mustard seed and grows into a tree big enough for the birds.

For youth group · game · indoors · about 30 minutes

Trade Up

You need: One paper clip for each team, a building full of willing people (warn them first!)

Each team starts with one paper clip.
Go around the church and trade it for something bigger or better, then trade that, and so on.
After 25 minutes, the team with the best final item wins.

Small things grow big in God’s kingdom. Never despise a small start.

Pray

Ask God to grow our small faith.