In short
Themes: Christianity; wisdom; knowledge; using what we have learnt; making good decisions.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, explores the theme of wisdom and includes a story from the New Testament of the Bible.
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf); an image to display of the word 'Wisdom'; an image to display as children enter asking the question Does anyone have any words of wisdom they'd like to share?
The video
KRISSI: Hi, I'm Krissi and this is the fantastic story of The Wise and The Foolish Builder.
There were once two builders, each building a house. How exciting; building a nice new house! There were lots of choices to make: what should it look like; what should it be built out of; and, most importantly, where should they build it? Hmm…
Now, one of the builders was foolish. They didn't take time to plan or think about what they'd done wrong when they'd built houses in the past.
In fact, they didn't do much thinking at all. They just wanted to build their house as quickly as possible.
FOOLISH BUILDER: Ooh! That looks like a fun place. I'm going to build my house down there on the sand. It's nice and soft and there's a great sea view.
KRISSI: But the other builder was wise.
STORY NARRATOR: They stopped and thought long and hard about the best place to build their house.
WISE BUILDER: I'm going to build a good strong house out of good strong things, right here in this good strong place.
KRISSI: So, whilst the foolish builder built their house as quickly as possible, the wise builder took plenty of time to build their house so that everything was spot-on.
WISE BUILDER: This is taking a long time, and it's very hard work. But, it will be worth it in the end.
KRISSI: The foolish builder finished their house in the sand very quickly. But, that wasn't a good thing. They hadn't taken the time to build it properly, so it wasn't very strong.
STORY NARRATOR: And then, the tide came in and the wind blew and the rain came down.
KRISSI: Can you guess what happened next?
STORY NARRATOR: The foolish builder hadn't thought about where to build his house and so down it fell.
Meanwhile, the wise builder had finished and was happy, because, even though they'd had to work very hard, they had a lovely house that was safe and strong.
KRISSI: This story is from the Bible and was told by Jesus. We'll see you again soon, Treasure Champs!
The story is called The Wise and Foolish Builder and is a story from the New Testament of the Bible. It can be found in the Gospel of Matthew.
It is a parable that Jesus told. Christians believe that parables are stories with hidden meanings that teach a moral. There is a famous part of the Bible called 'The Sermon on the Mount', where Jesus teaches people. He tells a story comparing people who hear his words and put them into practice, and those who do not. The wise builder builds his house on the ‘rock’ in a place where the house will be on strong foundations, not on sand. When bad weather comes, the house on the rock does not fall.
This can help us to reflect on the value of wisdom and what can happen if we take time to listen to wise advice and consider the options before we make a decision.
Video questions
- What were the builders going to do? (Build houses)
- What decisions did they have to make? (Decide what it should look like / be made out of / where to build)
- Why was the first builder foolish? (The first builder didn’t think through where to build the house)
- What did the first builder want to do? (Build as quickly as possible - and on the sand)
- Why was the other builder wise? (This builder chose a strong place to build)
Key links
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Wisdom. image
Click to display image full size
Image: Sharing words of wisdom. image
Click to display image full size
Suggested framework
1. Entry
Play your chosen music and display the question: Does anyone have any words of wisdom to share?
2. Introduction
Ask the children what the question means. What are ‘words of wisdom’? Can the children share any examples - eg 'Never talk to strangers' / 'You can only try your best' / 'Treat others as you wish to be treated'. Explain that today the assembly will be thinking about wisdom and that in the story the children are about to watch they will find out about two people and the very different choices they made. It's a story that Jesus told. As they watch, ask the children to think about why Jesus told this story.
3. Play the video
The duration is 3' 20" and the final words are: 'We'll see you again soon Treasure Champs!'
4. After the video - Time to talk
Lead a shot discussion about the story by asking these questions:
- Who took longer to build their house? Why?
- Who would you say invested more in their house?
- What might happen if you rush a decision?
- I wonder what this story teaches people. What do you think?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Close your eyes for a moment…
Think about a time when you have had to make a decision. Did you go for the quick answer? Or did you take time to think your answer through?
I wonder which you find easier to do.
Think about the story of wise and foolish builders.
Imagine yourself rushing to make a quick decision.
Now picture yourself planning, using your knowledge and taking time to think, next time you have to make a decision.
I wonder which feels better to you?
Next time you have to make a decision, remember to plan and take time so that you make a wise decision.
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for the story of 'The wise and foolish builders' that teaches us the value of wisdom.
When we have decisions to make, help us not to be pressured into rushing our answer.
Remind us of the importance of stopping, thinking and using our knowledge to help us make the best decision we can.
Thank you that you are God of the big and the small and all our decisions matter to you.
May we use the gifts we have been given wisely and for the benefit of all.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'While we live we learn' (All about our school, no 3. Vocal version)
While we live we learn, (while we live we learn,)
While we learn we grow, (while we learn we grow,)
And the more we grow, (and the more we grow,)
So the more we know, (so the more we know,)
And the more we know, (and the more we know,)
Then the readier we will be
For all life's big adventures
And all life's mysteries.
While we live we learn, (while we live we learn,)
While we learn we grow, (while we learn we grow,)
And the more we grow, (and the more we grow,)
So the more we know, (so the more we know,)
And the more we know, (and the more we know,)
Then the readier we will be
For all life's big adventures
And all life's mysteries.
For all life's big adventures
And all life's mysteries.
Song: 'We will grow' (All about our school, no 10)
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Some things grow very quickly,
Sometimes they’re very slow.
Sometimes you can see What they’re going to be,
Sometimes you just don’t know.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
- Sometimes it seems like magic
That happens every day.
But it’s all been planned,
Made by God’s own hand,
‘Cos creation it works that way.
(Chorus)
We will grow
And share with each other,
We will show
That we care for one another,
‘Cos we know
We are sisters and brothers in the eyes of God above.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
We are growing together in love.
Song: 'Praise Him' (Come and Praise, no 40. Vocal version)
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise him in the morning,
Praise him in the noon-time,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him when the sun goes down.Trust Him, trust Him,
Trust him in the morning,
Trust him in the noon-time,
Trust Him, trust Him,
Trust Him when the sun goes down.Serve Him, serve Him,
Serve him in the morning,
Serve him in the noon-time,
Serve Him, serve Him,
Serve Him when the sun goes down.Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise him in the morning,
Praise him in the noon-time,
Praise Him, praise Him,
Praise Him when the sun goes down.
Praise Him when the sun goes down.
