The Sermon on the Mount: Salt and Light: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Matthew 5:1-16
Elementary children hear Jesus' Beatitudes and His call to be salt and light, practice shining through a flashlight game, and make a Shining Light card to remind them of Matthew 5:16.
Memory verse
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Children will hear the Beatitudes and learn that Jesus says God blesses people who are humble, merciful, pure in heart and peacemaking.
- Children will explain that Jesus calls His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world.
- Children will choose one good work to do this week so others see it and give glory to God.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: Who Is Happy? (5 min)
Setup: Place the flashlight on the table. Greet each child by name.
Say: "Good morning! Let's play a quick game. When I name something, show me how you feel."
Try: Getting a gift (cheer). Dropping your ice cream (sad face). Winning a game (jump once in place).
Say: "People feel happy for many reasons. Today Jesus tells us a different kind of happy. It comes from God."
Say: "Jesus went up on a mountain and taught a big crowd. Let's hear what He said."
Have children sit and stand once as a wiggle break, then move to the story.
Transition: "Now let's listen to Jesus' words."
Jesus Teaches on the Mountain (8 min)
Say: "Matthew tells us Jesus saw the crowds and went up on a mountain. He sat down, and His disciples came to Him. Then He taught them."
Read or retell Matthew 5:3-10 in order. After each "Blessed are..." give a simple action cue and let children copy it:
- Poor in spirit: hands open, head bowed.
- They that mourn: rub eyes, then hug yourself (comfort).
- The meek: hands folded, gentle face.
- Hunger and thirst after righteousness: rub tummy.
- The merciful: hand over heart.
- Pure in heart: point to heart, then up.
- Peacemakers: shake hands with a neighbor.
- Persecuted for righteousness' sake: stand tall.
Say: "Blessed means happy and favored by God. Jesus says God's kingdom, comfort and mercy belong to these people."
Read verses 13-16 aloud.
Say: "Jesus says, 'Ye are the salt of the earth' and 'Ye are the light of the world.'"
Transition: "Now let's find out what salt and light have to do with us."
Salt, Light and a Hidden Lamp (8 min)
Say: "Jesus did not say, 'Try to be salt and light.' He said, 'You are.' His followers already belong to Him."
Salt: Background: In Bible times, salt added flavor and helped keep food from spoiling. Say: "Jesus' followers show God's goodness to the world around them."
Light: Hold up the flashlight and turn it on. Say: "Light helps people see. Jesus says a city on a hill cannot be hidden."
Cover the flashlight with the box. Ask: "What happened to the light?" (It's hidden.) Read verse 15.
Background: A bushel was a basket for measuring grain.
Say: "Nobody lights a lamp and hides it. They put it where it can help everyone."
Say: "When we are kind, merciful and peaceful, people see God's goodness in us. Verse 16 says they glorify our Father in heaven."
Gentle gospel link: Jesus later said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). We shine because we follow Him.
Transition: "Let's play a game to practice shining!"
Game: Shine, Don't Hide! (8 min)
Setup before class: Write one situation on each index card, such as: A classmate is left out. Someone spills their lunch. Two friends are arguing. A new kid sits alone. A younger child needs help. You feel like being mean.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Sit in a circle with the flashlight and box in the middle.
2. A child draws a card and reads it, or the teacher reads it aloud.
3. The child acts out or says one way to shine God's goodness (be kind, make peace, show mercy).
4. If the idea is a good one, the child turns on the flashlight and holds it up. Everyone says, "Let your light shine!"
5. If a child is unsure, the group offers ideas together. Then pass the flashlight and repeat.
Finish by covering the flashlight with the box. Ask: "Do we want to hide our light?" (No!)
Safety: Children stay seated. Pass the flashlight; do not throw it. Never shine it into anyone's eyes.
Craft: My Shining Light (8 min)
Setup before class: Cut yellow paper into flame shapes for younger or slower cutters. Write the verse reference on the board.
Time: 8 minutes.
1. Give each child an index card and a yellow flame shape (or let them cut their own).
2. On the card, write or copy: "Let your light so shine" and "Matthew 5:16."
3. On the flame, draw or write one good work to do this week (help at home, include someone, make peace).
4. Glue the flame at the top of the card.
5. Decorate with rays and colors. Children share their idea with a neighbor.
Say: "Put this where you will see it. It reminds you to shine for Jesus."
Safety: Use safety scissors under supervision. Check for glue or marker sensitivities. Small cut pieces go in the trash, not in mouths.
Transition: "Let's talk about what we learned."
Talk It Over (5 min)
Ask the questions below and use the sample answers to guide children.
1. What does Jesus say about people who are merciful or who make peace? (God blesses them; they obtain mercy and are called children of God.)
2. What does salt do? How can we be like salt? (It flavors and keeps food from spoiling. We can show God's goodness through kind actions.)
3. Why would someone hide a light? Why shouldn't we? (Hidden lights don't help anyone. Jesus wants us to shine openly.)
4. Who gets the glory when people see our good works? (Our Father in heaven.)
5. What is one way you can shine this week? (Invite a lonely classmate to play.)
Encourage short answers. Thank every child who shares.
Closing Prayer and Verse (3 min)
Say: "Let's say our verse together with motions: 'Let your light so shine' (hands rise like rays), 'before men' (point to others), 'that they may see your good works' (hands over eyes like looking), 'and glorify your Father which is in heaven' (point up)."
Repeat twice, then ask children to hold their craft.
Prayer points to pray one line at a time, with children repeating:
- Thank You, Jesus, for teaching us what is truly good.
- Help us be kind, merciful and peaceful.
- Help us shine so others see You.
- Help us do one good work this week.
Say: "Amen! Go and shine!"
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Flashlight
- Large box or bucket
- Index cards
- Yellow construction paper
- Crayons or markers
- Safety scissors
- Glue sticks
Teacher notes
- Keep the focus on what Jesus says in the passage. Avoid adding details beyond the text. Label background points clearly.
- Safety: Supervise scissors and glue. Check for allergies or sensitivities to craft materials. Keep the flashlight away from eyes.
- Adaptation: Use pictures or action cues for the Beatitudes. Offer a quieter option, such as drawing or pairing with a buddy, for children who prefer not to act in front of the group. For mixed ages, let older children help younger ones with cutting and writing.
- Do not rush the Beatitudes. Let children enjoy the actions, then keep the main focus on Matthew 5:13-16.
Send it home with parents
Today we studied Matthew 5:1-16, where Jesus teaches the Beatitudes and calls His followers the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Your child made a Shining Light card and practiced ways to show kindness, mercy and peace.
- Which 'Blessed are...' from today's lesson do you like best? Why?
- What is one way you can shine for Jesus at school or home this week?
- How can we show mercy or make peace when someone is unkind?
Turn off the lights for a moment and shine a flashlight. Talk about how even a small light helps in the dark. Then take turns sharing one good thing someone in the family did this week.
Do one quiet good work each day this week, such as helping, encouraging or making peace. Practice Matthew 5:16 at bedtime.
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