Seeds & Yeast
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field.Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
Matthew 13:31–33 (NIV)
This parable is such a gift for little ones! Jesus shows us that God’s Kingdom doesn’t always start big or loud; sometimes it begins very small, like a seed in the dirt or yeast mixed into dough. Littles love seeing small things change and grow, and this story invites them into that wonder.
Engage:
Step into the story. Cut up some fruit and hold the seeds. Ask your child to look at them and notice how tiny they are. “Wow! Can something so small really grow into a big tree?”
Next, talk about baking. Ask, “Have you ever helped mix dough to make a yummy fruit pie?” Explain that even a tiny bit of yeast can make the whole dough grow.
Jesus uses these pictures to show us that God’s Kingdom may start small, it begins like little seeds planted in our hearts but it grows big, changes our hearts and spreads far beyond ourselves!
Ask fun questions as you go:
“Is this seed big or little?”
“What could it grow into?”
“What happens when we mix a little yeast?”
“Can tiny things grow into something big?”
Apply:
Help your little one see how their small choices and actions can help grow the seeds planted in their hearts.
Small acts, big impact: Just like a tiny seed or a little yeast grows, small kind actions, sharing, helping, forgiving quickly, praying, can help God’s Kingdom grow in their home, school, and community.
Storytelling: Share real-life examples of a tiny seed of kindness growing into a big harvest. Your little ones are encouraged by your stories and bravery!
Ask God to help you grow His Kingdom: Encourage your little one to pray for ways to love others and make good choices.
Repeat & Reinforce:
Kindness Chain:
Each time your child does a kind act: sharing, helping or praying add a paper link to a chain.
Watch the chain grow longer over the week and talk about how each small act helps build God’s Kingdom.
Celebrate together as you see their kindness add up!
Hands-On Play:
Plant a Seed: Watch a tiny seed grow into something big.
Bake Together: Make bread or a pie and notice how the yeast & ingredients grow.
Build a magnet tile kingdom: Show how each small tile is part of something bigger.
As you play, bake or build, remind your child that small acts of love and kindness help God’s Kingdom grow too.
Closing Thought
Remind your little, just like the tiny seeds or the yeast, even small acts of love, prayers, and faith matter deeply to God and that He is always at work, growing something beautiful, in our hearts and through us even if we can’t see it yet!
To help bring this lesson to life:
Watch this 25-minute Minno episode about how the church started, see how something small can grow into something big!
For even more hands-on fun, pair it with the activity sheet down below.
Love,
Gi 🤍
Seeds & Yeast Activity Sheet
Bring Matthew 13:31–33 to life with this 2-page activity sheet! Page 1 includes a memory verse fill-in, a reflection question, a drawing prompt, and a simple prayer to help little ones connect with the story. Page 2 features a matching activity where children connect small items to what they grow into, building focus, hand-eye coordination, and understanding of how God’s Kingdom grows.
What Happened After Jesus Died? (How the Church Started!) | Bible Stories for Kids
