Seeing God's World · Lesson 11
Salt and Light
Matthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7 New Testament PrincipleKindness
Jesus told His followers, "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." Long before, God told His people in Babylon to seek the good of the city and pray for it. Christians don't hide from the world or blend into it. We do good and show Jesus' love so people see it and praise our Father in heaven.
Jesus made me salt and light. I show His kindness to the people around me so they can see God.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16 BSB
Christ Connection · Picture
Jesus said, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). We don't make our own light; like the moon reflecting the sun, we shine His. Saved by grace, we were "created in Christ Jesus for good works" (Ephesians 2:10), and our good deeds point people to the Father, not to ourselves.
John 8:12; Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15
The Big Story · Redemption
God's people have always been sent into the world to bless it (Genesis 12:2-3; Jeremiah 29:7). Jesus, the true Light, makes His followers lights that point back to Him until His light fills the whole earth (Revelation 21:23-24).
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 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Under the bowl
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Salt does two jobs
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Pass the salt
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus says, "Shine for Me!"
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: This little light, Color kind Grace
- 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)
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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Jesus said His friends are salt and light. Salt makes things better. Light helps people see. So we show Jesus' kindness to others, and they see how good God is.
Memory verse
“Let your light shine, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Adapted from Matthew 5:16
Start here
Shake a little salt into your hand. Ask, "What is salt for?" Then turn on a flashlight. Ask, "What is light for?" Say, "Jesus said His friends are like both!"
Bible story 6 min
Long ago, an army took God's people far from home. They had to live in a big city called Babylon. They were sad.
God sent them a letter. "Build houses. Plant gardens. Do good for the city. Pray for it." God wanted them to bless the city!
Many years later, Jesus sat on a hill by a lake. A big crowd came to hear Him.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Salt or hide? 8 min
- Call out actions ("share your snack," "laugh at a kid," "help Mom," "ignore the new kid"). For kind ones, kids shake like salt shakers or spread their hands like light.
- For unkind ones, kids crouch and cover their heads. Ask, "How could you shine instead?"
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3rd – 4th grade
God told His people in Babylon to seek the good of the city and pray for it. Jesus told His followers, "You are the salt of the earth and the light of the world." We don't hide our faith or blend in. We show Jesus' kindness so people see God.
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: Salt and light study, Basket or stand?
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, at home, with friends
- 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
God sent His people into Babylon to seek its good, and Jesus sends His followers into the world as salt and light. Christians don't retreat from culture or dissolve into it. We do good in public, with distinct lives, so people see our good deeds and glorify our Father in heaven.
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: Salt, light and the city, Hidden or blended?
- 6 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, in sports and games, with friends
- 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 on Kindness
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Kings and ProphetsRuth and NaomiRuth 1:1-22; Ruth 2:1-23; Ruth 3:1-18; Ruth 4:1-22When Naomi lost everything, God showed His kindness through Ruth and Boaz, and Boaz became the family's redeemer, pointing to Jesus, our Redeemer.Old TestamentKindness
The Church BeginsDorcas Helps PeopleActs 9:36-43; Mark 5:35-43Dorcas loved Jesus and was always doing kind things, like making clothes for widows. When she got sick and died, her friends sent for Peter. Peter prayed, and God brought Dorcas back to life, and many people believed in Jesus.New TestamentKindness