The teachings found in the Sermon on the Mount can help us build strong testimonies. This New Testament FHE lesson helps us understand how following Christ can protect us and strengthen us when the rains come down and the floods come up. Each of our FHE lessons includes three lesson plans for different ages, treat recipes, activity ideas, and more.
Scripture
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Hymn
The Wise Man and the Foolish Man | Children’s Songbook, pg. 281
1. The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
The wise man built his house upon the rock,
And the rains came tumbling down.
2. The rains came down, and the floods came up,
The rains came down, and the floods came up,
The rains came down, and the floods came up,
And the house on the rock stood still.
3. The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
The foolish man built his house upon the sand,
And the rains came tumbling down.
4. The rains came down, and the floods came up,
The rains came down, and the floods came up,
The rains came down, and the floods came up,
And the house on the sand washed away.
Lesson
FOR CHILDREN
Activity: Begin the lesson by building a mountainous pile of pillows and blankets in a room of your home. Have each child take a turn sitting on top of your mountain. On their turn, ask them a question related to the Sermon on the Mount. You can use any of the questions below or you can come up with your own questions by reading Matthew 6-7.
How does Jesus teach us to pray?
How can we shine our light so others can see?
What are some treasures of heaven?
How is following Jesus like building a house on a rock?
What good gifts has God given us?
Read: Jesus taught important truths to many of His followers on a large hill. We remember this as His Sermon on the Mount. He taught about prayer, sharing the gospel, and building our house upon the rock. When we follow Jesus, He gives us the power to become more like Him. We change in good ways.
Sometimes, it’s hard to follow Jesus. The world can be a scary place. That’s why we should build our house upon the rock.
Scripture: Read Matthew 7:24-27 or relate the parable in terms your children will understand.
Ask: What happened to the foolish man’s house? What happened to the wise man’s house? Why did the wise man’s house survive?
Read: Jesus is our rock! When we building our testimony and lives on Him, we can survive anything.
Share: Tell your children about a time when life was hard and Jesus helped you.
Testimony: Bear your testimony about learning God’s truths.
FOR TEENS & ADULTS
Scripture: Begin the lesson by giving everyone a few minutes to look through Matthew 6-7. Invite them to write down principles or teachings from the Sermon of the Mount that mean something to them. Gather together and discuss these verses.
Read: The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most well-known and beloved portions of teachings from Christ. This collection of teachings can give us an overview of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Understanding these foundational principles is a great way to build the foundations of our testimony.
Ask: Why do we need to be built upon the rock of Christ? What are some things we’re experiencing in the world today that could shake us?
Read: It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the things going on in the world today. More than ever, we need to know Jesus Christ and understand His teachings. It doesn’t mean we won’t experience the storms or that they won’t be scary. However, we have the promise that our house, or our lives, will stay firm.
Share: Share personal experiences about how the principles of the gospel have protected you during the storms of life or brought you comfort or peace.
Testimony: Close with your testimony.
FOR SINGLE STUDY
The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most cherished teachings of the Savior. Watch this doctrinal discussion from BYU professors and ponder how you can incorporate the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount more into your life.
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Treat
TreatPretzels
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught about how to pray. Pretzels are often associated with prayer because they can be likened to two arms crossed in prayer. Make these easy soft pretzels.
Activity
Play a game that involves building something, such as Jenga or a fun Lego puzzle. You can also go on a treasure hunt and discuss finding treasures in heaven.
Aleah is a graduate of Southern Virginia University, where she studied English, Creative Writing, and Dance. She now works full time as a marketing and product manager, writer, and editor. She currently hosts the podcast “Single to the Glory” about singlehood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Aleah served a mission in California and loves baking, Lang Leav poetry, Gaynor Minden pointe shoes, and Bollywood movies.
