This lesson teaches children that God is the one who makes us grow, and that we belong to Him. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, with time for a short activity and a prayer.
Big Idea
God helps us grow, and we belong to Jesus. Only God can make a person grow strong and good, so we work together as one family to love Him.
Memory Verse
1 Corinthians 3:6
I planted. Apollos watered. But God gave the increase.
(WEB)
Hold both hands out like a little plant, then slowly raise them up as you say the last words. Let the children copy you and say the verse together three times, each time a little louder, then a little softer.
The Story: 1 Corinthians 3 for Kids
The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the church in Corinth. The people there were friends who loved Jesus, but they were not getting along well. Some said, “I follow Paul!” and others said, “No, I follow Apollos!” They argued like kids fighting over who gets the biggest cookie.
Paul wanted them to understand something important. He said he was like a farmer who planted seeds, and Apollos was like the helper who came along and watered them. But the seeds did not grow because of the farmer or the helper. The seeds grew because God made them grow. Paul told them that the planter and the waterer are both just helpers, and God is the one who gives the growth.
Then Paul talked about a building. He said God’s people are like a building, and Jesus is the strong foundation under it. Every person who helps build the church should be careful to build with good things that last, because one day God will show what everyone has built. Paul said, “Don’t you know that you are God’s temple?” Imagine that: God’s Spirit lives inside His people!
Paul finished by saying that nobody should brag about being better than someone else. All things belong to God’s people, and God’s people belong to Jesus, and Jesus belongs to God. That means we are all on the same team. We are not rivals. We are a family that belongs to the same Father.
Read It Together
1 Corinthians 3:7
So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.
(WEB)
Point out that the verse says God is the one who gives the growth. Ask the children what they think they can do, and what they cannot do, to make a plant grow. Help them see that we do our part, but God does the growing.
1 Corinthians 3:11
For no one can lay any other foundation than that which has been laid, which is Jesus Christ.
(WEB)
Show the children a block tower and point to the bottom block. Explain that Jesus is the foundation under everything in our lives, the piece that holds everything up and keeps it steady.
1 Corinthians 3:16
Don’t you know that you are a temple of God, and that God’s Spirit lives in you?
(WEB)
Ask the children to put a hand on their chest. Tell them that this verse says God’s Spirit lives inside people who love Jesus, so each child is a special place where God lives, and they can talk to Him at any time.
Talk About It
- What is one thing a plant needs to grow, and who do you think gives it those things?
- Why do you think Paul said that people should not argue about who they follow?
- How can you help someone in your family or class feel like they belong?
- What is something you could build with that would last a long time?
- How does it feel to know that God lives inside you when you love Jesus?
Activity Ideas
Paper Plant Drawing
You will need paper, crayons, and a small cup of dirt or a paper towel for each child. Have each child draw a seed on the paper, then draw a little sprout and a big plant. Talk about how God made the growing happen, and let them color their plant bright and green.
Build the Foundation Game
Gather some blocks, cups, or cardboard boxes. Have the children take turns building a tower, starting with a strong base. Afterward, say that Jesus is our strong foundation, and point out how the tower falls without a good base. Cheer for each child who builds one.
Take-Home Seed Reminder
Give each child a small paper seed packet or a dry bean and a tiny card. Ask them to tape the seed onto the card and write or draw “God makes things grow.” Encourage them to show the card to their family at home and tell them the lesson in their own words.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter is a call to unity and humility. Paul corrects a church that was dividing over which leader they preferred. The main point is that all Christian workers are servants of God, and only God gives spiritual growth, so pride and rivalry have no place in the church.
Avoid overstating the fire imagery with children. The passage about building with gold, silver, or wood is about how each person’s work will be tested, and it can frighten young children if presented as punishment. Keep the focus on Jesus as the foundation and on God’s love for His people.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Jesus, thank You for being our strong foundation. Thank You that You help us grow and that Your Spirit lives in us. Help us to be kind to one another and to remember that we all belong to You. Amen.
