The Parable of the Mustard Seed: Sunday School Lesson for Ages 6-10
Ages 6-10 · 45 minutes · free lesson plan · Matthew 13:31-32
Children hear Jesus' parable of the mustard seed, play a movement game, and make a tree card. They learn that God's kingdom starts small and grows great, and that small acts done for God matter.
Memory verse
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: (Matthew 13:31, KJV)
Lesson objectives
- Retell Jesus' parable of the mustard seed in order.
- Explain that God's kingdom starts small and grows great.
- Trust that God can use small things done for him.
The full lesson plan
Welcome: What Could This Be? (5 min)
Setup: Put a few seeds in a sealed clear bag (or draw a tiny dot on the board). Do not let children open or eat the seeds.
Greet each child. Hold up the bag.
Say: "This is very, very small. What do you think could grow from it?"
Let 3 or 4 children guess.
Say: "A seed this tiny can become something huge. Jesus told a story about that."
Say: "Let's crouch down as small as we can, like a seed, then stand up tall. Ready?"
Do it twice, slowly.
Say: "Now let's hear Jesus' story."
Safety: Seeds can be an allergy or choking risk. Keep them sealed and check for allergies.
Hear the Parable (5 min)
Read Matthew 13:31-32 aloud from the KJV. Then retell it in order with motions:
1. Jesus told another parable. Crouch low.
2. He said the kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed. Pinch fingers together.
3. A man took it and sowed it in his field. Pretend to plant.
4. It is the least of all seeds. Hold fingers close.
5. When it is grown, it is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree. Stand and stretch arms wide.
6. The birds of the air come and lodge in its branches. Flap arms gently.
Say: "Jesus said the kingdom of heaven is like this seed."
Say: "It starts small, but it grows very big."
Say: "Now let's talk about what Jesus meant."
Small Start, Big Growth (8 min)
Say: "A parable is a story with a bigger meaning. Jesus used a seed to teach us about God's kingdom."
Background: In Jesus' day, the mustard seed was known as a very small seed. The plant grows much taller than the seed would make you think.
Ask: "What was small at the start? What was big at the end?" (The seed was small. The tree was big.)
Say: "God's kingdom is where God is King and people follow him. It can seem small at first, but it grows."
Say: "Jesus began with just a few friends who followed him. Today people all over the world follow Jesus."
Say: "The birds found a home in the branches. God's kingdom has room for many people."
Say: "The man planted the seed, but the seed did the growing. We can do small things for God, like being kind, praying, or sharing. God can make them grow."
Say: "Never think a small thing done for God is too small."
Say: "Now let's play a growing game."
Game: Seed to Tree (8 min)
Setup: Clear a safe open space. Give each child their own spot, such as a sheet of paper on the floor. Children stay on their spot the whole game.
1. Everyone crouches on their spot as a tiny seed.
2. Call out: "Rain falls!" Children wiggle fingers down like rain. "Sun shines!" Children rise a little.
3. Repeat the rain and sun cues until children stand tall as a tree with arms out as branches.
4. Call: "The birds come!" Children flap their arms gently on their spot.
5. Play 3 rounds. Each time, ask a child to name one small thing they can do for God, such as saying thank you or helping a friend. Then everyone shrinks back to a seed.
Say: "Small things can grow into big things in God's hands."
Time: 8 minutes. Quiet option: children stay seated and grow with their arms only.
Craft: My Growing Tree Card (10 min)
Setup: Cut brown paper into small circles (seeds), one per child. Cut green paper into large cloud shapes (treetops).
Safety: Supervise scissors and glue. Check for glue or paper allergies. Use no real seeds in the craft.
1. Fold the plain paper in half like a card.
2. On the front, glue the tiny brown seed in the middle. Write "Small start."
3. Open the card. Draw a tall brown trunk and branches.
4. Glue the green treetop on and draw birds in the branches.
5. Write "Matthew 13:31-32" and "God's kingdom grows!" inside.
Say: "Show someone at home your card and tell them Jesus' story."
Time: 10 minutes. Help younger writers by writing words lightly for them to trace.
Let's Talk (5 min)
Ask each question and let several children answer.
1. What did the man do with the mustard seed? (He took it and planted it in his field.)
2. What happened when the seed was fully grown? (It became a big tree, and birds nested in it.)
3. What does the parable teach us about God's kingdom? (It starts small but grows very big.)
4. What is one small thing you could do for God this week? (Pray for a friend, be kind, share, or invite someone to church.)
Say: "Thank you for sharing your ideas."
Remember and Pray (4 min)
Memory verse: Show the poster. Say Matthew 13:31 one phrase at a time and have children repeat it with the motions from earlier. Say it together twice.
Say: "Let's thank God together."
Prayer points (pray one line at a time, children repeat):
- "Thank you, God, that you can do great things from small beginnings."
- "Help us do small things for you with love."
- "Thank you for Jesus and for your kingdom, where there is room for everyone."
Say: "Amen! Take your card home and tell your family about the tiny seed."
Materials
- Bible (KJV)
- Poster or whiteboard with the memory verse
- Plain paper, one sheet per child
- Brown and green construction paper
- Crayons or markers
- Scissors (child-safe)
- Glue sticks
- Sealed clear bag with a few seeds, for looking only
Teacher notes
- Safety: Seeds are only for looking. Use no real seeds in the craft. Supervise scissors and glue, and check for allergies.
- Label anything beyond the text, such as seed size or plant height, as background, and keep it brief. Stay with what Jesus says.
- Adaptation: Use pictures of a seed and a tree for visual learners. Offer a seated option in the game, and pair buddies for the craft.
- If time runs short, trim the discussion to two questions. Keep the craft and prayer.
Send it home with parents
Today we learned Jesus' parable of the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31-32). A tiny seed grows into a large tree. God's kingdom also starts small and grows great, and God can use small things done for him.
- What small thing started something big in our family or our church?
- What is one small act of kindness we could do for someone this week?
Plant a seed or bean in a cup of soil together. Check it each day and talk about how God makes things grow. Wash hands afterward, and keep seeds away from young children and pets.
Each day, do one small thing for God, such as a prayer, a kind word, or helping someone. At dinner, share what you did.
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