Lesson: Mark 7:18 (Ages 6-8)

📖 Mark 7:18 – Ages 6-8

Explanation

In this verse, Jesus is teaching us that what we eat doesn't make us bad or impure. It's not about the food we put in our bodies that matters most to God, but the kind of thoughts and words that come out of our hearts.

Imagine your heart as a treasure chest. If you fill it with love, kindness, and honesty, those are the treasures you'll share with others. But if you fill it with mean thoughts or tell lies, that's like putting yucky stuff in your treasure chest.

So, Jesus is saying that what we do and say is more important than what we eat. He wants us to focus on being good, loving, and helpful to others. That's what truly makes us special in God's eyes!

Kid's Story

Once there was a curious little squirrel named Sammy. Sammy loved to explore the forest and try new things. One day, he found a shiny acorn that looked delicious. Excitedly, he took a big bite, but it tasted bitter! Sammy was puzzled and wondered why it didn't taste good.

As he sat pondering, his wise owl friend, Oliver, flew by. Oliver explained to Sammy that just like the acorn, not everything on the outside is as important as what's on the inside. He reminded Sammy of the verse in Mark 7:18 where Jesus taught that what goes into a person doesn't make them bad.

Sammy understood that it's not just about how things look or taste on the outside, but what's in our hearts that truly matters. From then on, Sammy focused on being kind and loving towards others, knowing that's what really counts.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for teaching us that what goes into our bodies from the outside cannot make us unclean. Help us to understand that what truly matters is what is in our hearts. Amen.

Discussion Questions

What do you think Jesus meant when He said that nothing from outside a person can make them unclean?
How do you think Jesus wanted His friends to understand this important message?
Can you think of ways that we can keep our hearts clean and pure, just like Jesus wants us to?
Why do you think it is more important to have a clean heart than to only focus on what we eat or drink?
How can we show others that we understand Jesus' message about what truly makes us clean?

Life Application

This verse from Mark 7:18 teaches us that what we eat or touch doesn't make us good or bad in God's eyes. Instead, it's what is in our hearts that matters most. Children can apply this message in their lives by remembering that it's important to be kind, loving, and helpful to others, no matter what they look like or where they come from. They can show understanding and compassion to those who may seem different from them, just like Jesus did. By focusing on being kind and loving to everyone, children can live out the message of this verse in their daily interactions with family, friends, and others around them.

Craft or Activity

Let's make a "Defilement Detector" craft! You can create a simple paper plate face with a happy expression. Cut out a big mouth on the face. Then, make small paper food items like fruits, vegetables, candies, and toys. Label some of them with things that are good for us (like kindness, love, and honesty) and some with things that are not good for us (like lies, meanness, and greed).

During the craft, you can explain to the child that just like our "Defilement Detector" can show us what's good or bad for our bodies, Jesus teaches us that it's not the things from the outside that make us bad or good. It's what's in our hearts that matters most to God.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

In Mark 7:18, Jesus did say,
"What goes in can't make you stray.
Food or drink won't make you unclean,
It's what comes out that should be seen!"

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of Mark 7:18 is "Clean" by Natalie Grant. This song talks about how Jesus makes us clean from the inside out and reminds us that what truly matters is our heart and our relationship with Him.

Another wonderful song is "Your Love Never Fails" by Newsboys. This song celebrates God's unfailing love for us and teaches children that His love is what truly matters, not external things or appearances.

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