Lesson 2: Dodging wrong teachings.

Passage: Matthew 16:5-12 - One day Jesus was crossing a lake with his disciples, and they had forgotten to take bread with them. Jesus said to them, “be careful of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The disciples didn’t understand what he meant at first and thought he was talking about bread. Jesus corrected them and said that he was actually talking about teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees which spread like yeast, and which they must be careful about.

Big Idea: Wrong ideas spread like yeast.

For Teachers:

Lesson plan.

  • Welcome — Activity Leader

    Have the children sit in a circle on the circle time rug. Welcome them to class and introduce yourselves.

    Warm Up Activity: Yeast and Balloon Experiment — Activity Leader

    Class leader can demonstrate this experiment for the kids to watch.

    • Step 1: Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up repeatedly; lay it aside.

    • Step 2: Add the packet of yeast and sugar to a cup of warm water and stir.

    • Step 3: Once the yeast and sugar have dissolved, pour the mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice the water bubbling as the yeast produces carbon dioxide.

    • Step 4: Attach the balloon to the mouth of the bottle and set both aside.

    • Step 5: After several minutes you’ll notice the balloon standing upright. If you don’t see anything happen, keep waiting. Eventually the balloon will inflate.

    Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader

    Today we’re going to be learning something that Jesus taught his followers about being careful about the ideas we listen to and believe.

    • We hear a lot of different ideas from a lot of different people all the time. What are some of the places or people that you learn things from?

    • What are some good things that you’ve learned from teachers or parents or friends? Have there ever been not so good things that you’ve learned too? Like what?

    Let’s watch our video to find out more about what Jesus has to say about this...

    Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader

    Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader

    • Can anyone remember what Jesus compared wrong teachings to?

    • Does anyone know what yeast is? (It’s an ingredient that you mix into the dough when you’re making bread)

    • How do you think wrong teachings and ideas are kind of like yeast? (Just like yeast spreads through the dough, and wrong ideas can also spread among people)

    • Can you think of some ways that we can be careful about the ideas that we’re listening to and believing? (Ask lots of questions, talk to someone you trust, learn about Jesus' teachings)

    Prayer — Bible Story Leader

    “Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how wrong ideas or teachings can spread like yeast, and how it’s important to be careful about who we listen to and believe. Thank you that we know we can trust you to help us know the truth and the best advice to follow in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.”

    Activity: Salt Dough — Activity Leader

    A batch of salt dough will be provided for the kids to mold into bread.

    If a child is not interested in the activity, allow them to move to free play.

    Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.

  • Welcome — Activity Leader

    Have the children sit near the TV. Welcome them to class. Introduce yourselves.

    Warm Up Activity: Yeast and Balloon Experiment — Activity Leader

    Class leader can demonstrate this experiment for the kids to watch.

    • Step 1: Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up repeatedly; lay it aside.

    • Step 2: Add the packet of yeast and sugar to a cup of warm water and stir.

    • Step 3: Once the yeast and sugar have dissolved, pour the mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice the water bubbling as the yeast produces carbon dioxide.

    • Step 4: Attach the balloon to the mouth of the bottle and set both aside.

    • Step 5: After several minutes you’ll notice the balloon standing upright. If you don’t see anything happen, keep waiting. Eventually the balloon will inflate.

    Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader

    Today we’re going to be learning something that Jesus taught his followers about the kind of ideas and teachings that we listen to and believe.

    • We hear a lot of different ideas from a lot of different people all the time. What are some of the places or people that you learn things from?

    • What are some good things that you’ve learned from teachers or parents or friends? Have there ever been not so good things that you’ve learned too? Like what?

    Let’s watch our video to see what Jesus has to say about this...

    Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader

    Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader

    • Can anyone remember what Jesus compared wrong teachings to?

    • Does anyone know what yeast is? (It’s an ingredient that you mix into the dough when you’re making bread)

    • How do you think wrong teachings and ideas are kind of like yeast? (Just like yeast spreads through the dough, and wrong ideas can also spread among people)

    • Can you think of some ways that we can be careful about the ideas that we’re listening to and believing? (We can ask lots of questions, check with our parents or teachers, learn about Jesus' teachings)

    Prayer — Bible Story Leader

    “Dear God, thank you for the story we learned today about how wrong ideas or teachings can spread like yeast, and how it’s important to be careful about who we listen to and believe. Thank you that we know we can trust you to help us know the truth and the best advice to follow in our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.”

    Activity: Salt Dough — Activity Leader

    A batch of salt dough will be provided for the kids to mold into bread.

    Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.

  • Welcome — Activity Leader

    Welcome the kids to class and introduce yourselves.

    Warm Up Activity: Yeast and Balloon Experiment — Activity Leader

    Class leader can demonstrate this experiment for the kids to watch.

    • Step 1: Stretch out the balloon by blowing it up repeatedly; lay it aside.

    • Step 2: Add the packet of yeast and sugar to a cup of warm water and stir.

    • Step 3: Once the yeast and sugar have dissolved, pour the mixture into a bottle. You’ll notice the water bubbling as the yeast produces carbon dioxide.

    • Step 4: Attach the balloon to the mouth of the bottle and set both aside.

    • Step 5: After several minutes you’ll notice the balloon standing upright. If you don’t see anything happen, keep waiting. Eventually the balloon will inflate.

    Preliminary Discussion — Bible Story Leader

    Today we’re going to be learning something that Jesus taught his friends and followers about the kind of ideas and teachings that we listen to and believe.

    • We hear a lot of different ideas from a lot of different people all the time. What are some of the places or people that you learn things from?

    • What are some good things that you’ve learned from teachers or parents or friends? Have there ever been not so good things that you’ve learned too? Like what?

    Let’s watch our video to see what Jesus has to say about this topic...

    Video Lesson — Bible Story Leader

    Follow Up Discussion — Bible Story Leader

    • Can anyone remember what Jesus compared wrong teachings to?

    • Can anyone explain what yeast is? (It’s an ingredient that you mix into the dough when you’re making bread)

    • How do you think wrong teachings and ideas are kind of like yeast? (Just like yeast spreads through the dough, and wrong ideas can also spread among people)

    • Can you think of some ways that we can be careful about the ideas that we’re listening to and believing? (We can ask lots of questions, check with our parents or teachers, learn about Jesus' teachings)

    Prayer — Bible Story Leader

    “Dear God, thank you the message we heard today about how wrong teachings or misinformation can spread like yeast and send us in the wrong direction. Please help us to be wise and know who we can trust and listen to. Thank you that we know we can trust and believe in you to lead us into truth when we are careful to study scripture and ask lots of questions, as well as to learn from our own experiences. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

    Activity: Salt Dough — Activity Leader

    A batch of salt dough will be provided for the kids to mold into bread.

    Dismissal: Collect tags and make sure each child leaves with their caregiver.

For Parents:

Follow-up questions.

    • What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?

    • Do you remember what yeast is? What does it do? What was Jesus saying about yeast?

    • What are some ways that ideas spread around? Do you think all ideas are good or true?

    • How can we know what kind of things we should listen to and what we shouldn’t?

    • Who are some people that you know you can trust to teach you good things?

    • What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?

    • Do you remember what yeast is? What does it do? What was Jesus saying about yeast?

    • In what way are ideas or teachings sometimes like yeast?

    • How do we know what kind of teachings or ideas we should listen to and believe, and what we should just ignore?

    • Who are some people that you know you can trust to teach you good things?

    • What was the Bible story that you learned about in class today?

    • Do you remember what yeast is? What does it do? What was Jesus saying about yeast?

    • In what way do you think ideas and teachings can be like yeast?

    • What’s an example of a bad teaching or idea that you’ve heard before?

    • How do we know how to sort out what’s worth listening to and believing and what isn’t?

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Lesson 3: What’s on the inside.

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Lesson 1: Facing rejection.