The Gates of Jerusalem · Lesson 6
The Gates of Jerusalem: The Fountain Gate
Nehemiah 3:15; John 9:1-7; John 7:37-38; Jeremiah 2:13; 2 Kings 20:20 Old Testament PrincipleContentment
The Fountain Gate stood next to a pool of fresh water at the bottom of Jerusalem. A leader named Shallun rebuilt it and fixed the wall around the pool. Hundreds of years later, Jesus sent a blind man to wash in that same pool, the Pool of Siloam. He came back seeing! Siloam means "Sent." Jesus, the One God sent, said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink." Only Jesus can fill our hearts. When we come to Him, we find He is enough.
God is enough, and Jesus is the living water. When we stop chasing things that can't satisfy and come to Him, He fills us and we learn to be content.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.”
John 7:37 BSB
Christ Connection · Picture
The New Testament doesn't mention the Fountain Gate, but it does mention the pool beside it. Jesus sent a man born blind to "wash in the Pool of Siloam," and he came back seeing (John 9:7). The fresh water by the Fountain Gate is a good picture to remember Jesus' promise: "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37). Whoever drinks the water He gives "will never thirst" (John 4:14).
John 9:7; John 7:37-38; John 4:13-14
The Big Story · Redemption
God brought fresh water into His city and later sent His Son to that very pool to give sight and living water to everyone who is thirsty.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 50-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: The leaky cup
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Fountain water
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Fill the cup
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus fills my heart.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Splash and see, A fountain of water
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
The Fountain Gate was next to a pool of fresh water. A leader named Shallun fixed it and put a roof on it. Many years later, Jesus sent a blind man to wash in that pool, the Pool of Siloam. He came back seeing! Siloam means "Sent." Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink." We keep wanting more stuff, but only Jesus fills our hearts. He is enough.
Start here
Ask, "Have you ever been really, really thirsty?" Let kids share. Say, "Today's gate is the Fountain Gate. It was next to a pool, and Jesus did a miracle there!"
Bible story 6 min
The next gate was the Fountain Gate. It was at the bottom of the city, next to a pool of fresh water.
A leader named Shallun fixed the Fountain Gate. He hung new doors. He even put a roof on it! He fixed the wall around the pool too.
The water in the pool came from a spring. A king long ago had dug a tunnel through rock to bring it in!
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Find the pool 8 min
- One child is the "blind man" and closes their eyes. The class says "warmer" or "colder" to guide them to a corner that is the Pool of Siloam. When they reach it, they "wash" and shout, "I can see!" Take turns.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
The Fountain Gate stood beside a pool at the low end of Jerusalem, fed by spring water that flowed through a tunnel cut in solid rock. Shallun rebuilt the gate, roofed it and repaired the wall around the pool. Centuries later, Jesus sent a man born blind to wash in that pool, the Pool of Siloam, which means "Sent." He came back seeing. Jesus said, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink." We chase things that never fill us for long. Contentment comes from finding Jesus enough.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Fountain or cistern?, Wall of Jerusalem
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
The Fountain Gate stood at the low end of Jerusalem beside a pool fed by spring water that ran through a tunnel cut in solid rock. Shallun rebuilt the gate, roofed it and repaired the pool's wall. Centuries later, Jesus, the One sent by the Father, sent a man born blind to wash in that very pool, "Siloam (which means Sent)," and he came back seeing. Jesus offers living water to anyone who is thirsty. We dig broken cisterns, chasing approval, stuff and screens that leak. Contentment comes from drinking from the fountain, Jesus Himself.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Fountain and cisterns, My cisterns
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: online and on screens, with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Contentment
The same principle in other Bible stories.
In the BeginningBread from HeavenExodus 16:1-36; John 6:30-35When Israel grumbled in the desert, God rained down bread from heaven every morning, and Jesus is the true Bread from heaven who gives life forever.Old TestamentContentment
The Rich Young Ruler: One Thing You LackMark 10:17-27; Matthew 19:16-26; Luke 18:18-27; Hebrews 13:5A rich man ran up to Jesus, knelt and asked, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said he had kept the commandments since he was a boy. Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," Jesus said. "Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me." But the man went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God's kingdom – but "all things are possible with God." Contentment means being satisfied with what we have, because Jesus is our greatest treasure.New TestamentContentment
Big Feelings: Taking Them to GodBig Feelings: JealousyLuke 15:1-2, 11-32; 1 Corinthians 13:4; Proverbs 14:30; Romans 8:16-17Jesus told a story about a son who ran away, wasted everything and came home. His father ran to hug him and threw a big party. But the older brother was jealous. He stayed outside and wouldn't go in. "I've worked for you all these years, and you never gave me a party!" The father came out to him too and said, "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours." Jealousy is a big feeling we can take to God. When we remember how much our Father loves us and gives us, we can be glad for others.New TestamentContentment