Honoring God's House

12/2/2025

Bible Passage: Matthew 21:12–13
Theme: God’s House Is Special and Should Be Treated With Respect
Age Group: 5–10 years
Time: 30–40 minutes

1. WELCOME & OPENING PRAYER (3 minutes)

Teacher Says:
“Good morning, everyone! Today we’re going to learn a very important lesson: why God’s house is special and how we should treat it with honor and respect.”

Opening Prayer:
“Dear God, thank You for giving us a place to worship You. Help us learn how to honor Your house and treat it with respect. Help us listen, learn, and grow today. Amen.”

2. BIBLE STORY — JESUS CLEANS THE TEMPLE (8–10 minutes)

Read or summarize Matthew 21:12–13

Teacher Story Summary:
“One day, Jesus came to the Temple—the place where people prayed and worshiped God. But when He arrived, He saw something very wrong.
People were buying and selling things inside the Temple.
Money changers had tables everywhere.
Some people were even cheating others.
It looked more like a marketplace than a place to worship God!

Jesus became angry—not sinful anger, but righteous anger—because people were not respecting God’s house.

He flipped over the tables of the money changers.
He told the people selling animals to leave.
He said,
‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves.’

Jesus wanted everyone to know:
God’s house is special. It should be treated with honor, respect, and love.”

3. DISCUSSION & APPLICATION (5–7 minutes)

Ask:

  • “Why was Jesus upset?”

  • “What were the people doing wrong?”

  • “How should God’s house be treated?”

  • “How can we honor God’s house today?”

Application Points:
✔ Keep the church clean
✔ Respect the building and the people in it
✔ Listen to teachers and leaders
✔ Use quiet voices in the sanctuary
✔ Worship with your whole heart
✔ Pray in God’s house
✔ Treat church like a special place (not a playground)

Teacher Says:
“Honoring God’s house shows God that we love and respect Him. When we treat His house with care, we show that His presence matters to us.”

4. CRAFT — “My Church Is God’s House” Door Hanger (10 minutes)

Materials:

Instructions:

-Print template

-Kids color and decorate

Craft Conversation:
“When we make this door hanger, we remember that God’s house is not like any other place. It’s where we talk to God, learn about Him, and show respect.”

5. MEMORY VERSE (5 minutes)

Matthew 21:13 (a)
“My house will be called a house of prayer.”

🖐 Memory Verse Motions (Sign-style motions for kids)

  • My house – point to yourself, then make a roof shape with hands

  • will be called – cup hands around mouth

  • a house of prayer – make prayer hands

Say it slowly, then faster, then quietly, then loudly.

🎵 Memory Verse Song (Simple Tune)

Sing to the tune of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star:
“My house will be called a house of prayer,
God’s own place where people care.
Where we worship, praise, and sing,
Where we honor Christ our King.
My house will be called a house of prayer,
God is with us always there.”

6. WEEKLY CHALLENGE

“Choose one way this week to honor God’s house.”
Examples they can choose:
✔ Pick up trash at church
✔ Say a prayer in church before class
✔ Help a friend follow the rules
✔ Listen the first time during the lesson
✔ Use a quiet voice in the sanctuary
✔ Bring a Bible next week

Have kids circle or choose one to do before next Sunday.

7. CLOSING PRAYER

“Dear Jesus, thank You for teaching us how important Your house is. Help us treat Your house with love, honor, and respect. Help us show You how much You mean to us in everything we do. Amen.”

8. FINAL QUESTIONS & REVIEW (2–3 minutes)

  • “What did Jesus see in the Temple?”

  • “Why was Jesus upset?”

  • “What did Jesus do?”

  • “What does God want His house to be called?”

  • “How can you honor God’s house this week?”

You can end by saying:
“Let’s honor God’s house together!”

🧰 Supplies for Today’s Craft!

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