Lesson: Matthew 6:22 (Ages 9-11)

📖 Matthew 6:22 – Ages 9-11

Explanation

Imagine your eye as a special lantern that lights up your whole body. Just like a lantern needs a good, clear light to shine brightly, your eye helps you see things clearly and make good choices.

When your eye is focused on good and kind things, like helping others and being honest, your whole body feels happy and full of light, like a sunny day. But if you look at things that are mean or make you feel not so good, it's like your lantern gets dim and your body feels heavy and sad.

So, it's important to keep your eye on things that are good and pure, like being kind to your friends, helping someone in need, or telling the truth. This way, your whole body will be filled with joy and light, just like a shining lantern bringing brightness to a dark night.

Kid's Story

Once upon a time, there was a curious squirrel named Sammy who loved to explore the forest. One day, Sammy found a shiny acorn hidden under a bush. Excited, he picked it up and noticed it was glittering in the sunlight.

Sammy's friend, Wise Owl, saw him holding the acorn and said, "Sammy, remember what the Bible says, 'Your eye is the lamp of the body.' When your eye sees things clearly and focuses on good, your whole body will be full of light."

Sammy thought about Wise Owl's words as he looked at the acorn. He realized that even though the acorn was shiny and tempting, it wasn't his to take. So, he decided to leave it there and continued his journey through the forest with a clear and focused heart, feeling full of light and joy.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for giving us eyes to see and understand Your light. Help us keep our eyes focused on You so that our hearts and bodies can be filled with Your goodness and love. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. What do you think it means for our eye to be the lamp of our body?
2. How can we keep our eyes spiritually clear and morally focused?
3. Why is it important for our whole body to be full of light?
4. Can you think of a time when having a good attitude or positive outlook helped you see things more clearly?
5. How can we let God's light shine through us to others around us?

Life Application

In Matthew 6:22, Jesus is teaching us about the importance of having a clear and focused heart. Just like a lamp lights up a room, our inner thoughts and attitudes can guide how we act and treat others.

For children aged 9-11, this verse can be applied in their daily lives by encouraging them to fill their minds and hearts with positive and kind thoughts. When they choose to see things from a perspective of love and goodness, their actions and words will also reflect that light to others.

At home, they can practice being helpful and kind to their family members, showing love and respect in their words and actions. In school, they can choose to be a good friend, showing understanding and compassion to those around them. With their friends, they can be a positive influence, choosing to act in ways that bring joy and light into their relationships.

By keeping their hearts focused on what is good and right, children can be a shining light in their homes, schools, and friendships, spreading love and kindness wherever they go.

Craft or Activity

One fun activity to help children understand and remember the message of Matthew 6:22 is to create a "Light of the Body" jar.

You will need a clear jar, water, cooking oil, and a small flashlight. Fill the jar about halfway with water. Then, pour cooking oil on top of the water, filling the jar almost to the brim.

Explain to the children that the water represents a spiritually clear and morally focused eye, while the oil represents the light that fills the body.

Have the children shine the flashlight through the jar and observe how the light passes through the clear water easily, representing a spiritually clear eye. Then, shine the light through the oil and see how the light is diffused and not as bright, symbolizing a clouded or distracted eye.

This hands-on activity can help children visually understand the importance of having a spiritually clear and morally focused eye, as taught in Matthew 6:22.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

Your eye is a lamp, shining bright,
When focused on God, all is right.
Let His light shine through day and night,
And fill your whole being with pure light.

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of Matthew 6:22 is "This Little Light of Mine." This song reminds us to let our light shine for Jesus and to keep our eyes focused on Him.

Another song that kids may enjoy is "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective. This song talks about God being our lighthouse, guiding us through the darkness and helping us to keep our eyes on Him.

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