Teaching the Parable of the Mustard Seed to kids is a wonderful way to help them understand how God can use even the smallest faith to do big things. Simple, Bible-based ideas bring this short but powerful story to life through engaging lesson plans, hands-on craft ideas, and interactive activities that help children see how their faith can grow and make a difference in everyday life.

WHAT IS A PARABLE?

A parable was a short story that Jesus used to teach people about God. These stories helped people understand what Jesus was saying because He connected them to people’s everyday lives. Parables can also be easier to remember than long speeches.

THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

The Parable of the Mustard Seed can be found in Matthew 13:31–32, Mark 4:30–32, and Luke 13:18–19. In this parable, Jesus says the Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in his garden. Then it grew into a tree, and birds made homes in its branches.

Or, shop the Parable of the Mustard Seed on TpT

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

In this parable, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. A mustard seed is very small. It's about the size of a grain of sand. Even though the seed is so small, it grows into a tall tree. Mustard trees usually grow between 6 and 12 feet tall. Sometimes, even as tall as 15-20 feet.

The Kingdom of God is anywhere God is King, so this isn’t a specific place.

God's Kingdom grows when more people join God's family. Small seeds of faith can grow into something big in God's Kingdom. These small acts might be telling someone about Jesus, serving others, forgiving someone, or showing kindness to someone.

SEEDS OF FAITH - PRINTABLE CRAFT FOR PRESCHOOL

Kids in preschool and kindergarten will decorate this printable jar and glue on real seeds to remind them of the parable.

A simple printable craft can serve as a great connecting activity when teaching Bible stories. Crafts can also serve as conversation starters at home, helping parents understand what their children are learning in class.

For this craft, kids will glue seeds onto a paper template of a jar. To start, kids will cut out and decorate their jar. Then give each child a few seeds to glue into their jar. They will also glue a printable verse onto the jar to remind them of the story. For template pieces, check out The Parable of the Mustard Seed for Preschool.

MUSTARD TREE CRAFT FOR OLDER KIDS

Older kids will create a visual recreation of the parable.

Older kids will enjoy painting a mustard tree using the template from The Parable of the Mustard Seed for Older Kids. Use a sponge or a pompom to have kids dab paint onto their tree. Once the paint is dry, add the paper nest and bird pieces to the tree. Kids can even glue a small seed to the base of the tree to remind them that seeds are very small, but grow into something big.

Be sure to help kids see that even small acts of faith can have a big impact on the Kingdom of God.

OTHER CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES TO TEACH ABOUT THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

Salt Dough Seed Art: Make salt dough ornaments by pressing seeds of various sizes into the dough to create a pattern or picture. Use popcorn, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, etc. Then let kids get creative with their patterns and art. Make sure to put a hole in the salt dough before it dries so kids can string it and hang it as an ornament somewhere in their house. For a simple salt dough recipe, check out Yummy Toddler Food.
Seed Mosaic: Check out First Palette for beautiful seed mosaic instructions. Kids will love creating pictures using paper, glue and seeds.
Mustard Seed Visual: Compare various seeds so kids can see just how small a mustard seed is compared to others. Take this one step further and have kids glue various-sized seeds onto a piece of paper, then write the verse: “Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.”
Make Necklaces or bracelets: Find small beads and have kids string them into a necklace or bracelet. The small beads will serve as a visual reminder that even small steps of faith make a big difference.

YOUTUBE VIDEOS ABOUT THE PARABLE OF THE MUSTARD SEED

Even though this is a short parable, there is still value in watching a video about it. Be sure to preview any video you intend to show your kids. Here are a couple suggestions:

God’s Story: Kingdom Parables by Crossroad Kids’ Club - This video explains what God’s Kingdom is. It also tells the Parable of the Mustard Seed, the Parable of the Seed, and the Parable of the Yeast.

The Parable of the Mustard Seed by Trueway Kids

WANT TO CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT THE PARABLES OF JESUS?

This lesson is part of a five-week series on the Parables of Jesus. The other lessons include The Parable of the Talents, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, and The Parable of the Great Banquet.

Parables of Jesus Bible Lessons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades

Parables of Jesus Bible Lessons for preschool/kindergarten

And for more parable lessons, from an earlier parable series, check out Parable of Jesus for Older Kids and Parables of Jesus for Preschool.