Free Bible lesson for kids · Parables of Growing
Consider the Lilies
Jesus told the people not to worry. God feeds the birds and dresses the lilies of the field more beautifully than King Solomon. If He cares for them, He will surely care for us.
- Bible passage
- Matthew 6:25–34 · Luke 12:22–31
- Big idea
- God takes care of us, so we do not need to worry.
- Memory verse
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33 (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 told His disciples not to worry about what they would eat, drink or wear (Matthew 6:25; Luke 12:22). He said to look at the birds. They do not plant or store food in barns, yet God feeds them (Matthew 6:26). We are worth much more than the birds (Luke 12:24). And no one can make himself even a little taller by worrying (Matthew 6:27).
Then Jesus said, “Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow” (Matthew 6:28). They do not work or spin, yet even King Solomon in all his glory was not dressed like one of them (Matthew 6:29). If God clothes the grass so beautifully, He will surely clothe us (Matthew 6:30). Our heavenly Father knows what we need (Matthew 6:32). So Jesus said to seek “first the kingdom of God,” and God will give us all these things too (Matthew 6:33).
Read it in the Bible: Matthew 6:25–34 (KJV)
25Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Read it in the Bible: Luke 12:22–31 (KJV)
22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. 23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. 24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? 25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? 26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? 29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. 31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Questions to ask
What did Jesus tell us to look at?
The fowls of the air and the lilies of the field.
Who was not dressed as beautifully as a lily?
Solomon in all his glory.
What should we seek first?
The kingdom of God and His righteousness.
What this story teaches
- Our heavenly Father feeds even the birds (Matthew 6:26).
- We matter more to God than the birds do (Luke 12:24).
- Worrying cannot make us even a little taller (Matthew 6:27).
- Our Father knows what we need (Matthew 6:32).
- When we put God first, He provides what we need (Matthew 6:33).
Jesus Gives Us Rest
Jesus knows when our hearts are heavy with worry. He invites us to come to Him, and He gives us rest.
Matthew 11:28
A 45-minute lesson plan
| 5 min | Welcome and pray. Greet each child by name and pray: Give God one worry and thank Him for His care. |
|---|---|
| 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 takes care of us, so we do not need to worry.” What does that mean for us? |
| 5 min | Memory verse. Say Matthew 6:33 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 · activity · outdoors · about 15 minutes
Bird Feeders
You need: Pinecones, sunflower-seed butter (nut-free), birdseed, string
- Spread sunflower butter on a pinecone and roll it in birdseed.
- Tie a string to the top.
- Hang them outside where the class can watch the birds come.
God feeds the birds and dresses the lilies. If He cares for them, He will surely care for you.
For youth group · activity · outdoors · about 25 minutes
Worry or Wonder Walk
You need: Phones for photos
- Walk outside and photograph five things that show God’s care for creation.
- For each one, name a worry you can hand over to Him.
- Read Matthew 6:33 together at the end.
“Seek ye first the kingdom of God… and all these things shall be added unto you.”
Pray
Give God one worry and thank Him for His care.