Some Lesson Ideas about Building a Bird House

Joseph the Carpenter undoubtedly taught his son how to work wood. Was it houses or furniture or fences, chicken coops and farm implements? We don't know. Perhaps all of the above.

In this lesson idea, student will build a bird house using a ready-to-assemble kit. It is the process and care which are the teachable points. The finished bird house serves as a reminder:

Jesus called The Temple "My Father's House"
When David said he would build a Temple to the Lord, the Lord reminded David that it is HE who builds the house, not David. 2 Samuel 7:27

"House" in Hebrew can mean dynasty or something like family. Jesus was among his family, even though he was separated from his parents who had left him behind.

Jesus at age 12 was taking part in the celebrations, worship, and LEARNING that characterize God's family, God's "house."   Isn't it interesting that his father was a carpenter, then!  

What did Jesus build? He once said, "tear it down and in three days I will build it up." (John 2:19).  What does Jesus tear down and build up?  Jesus doesn't build with sticks and stones. Rather, Jesus was talking about the other kind of Temple.... the people of God, --or what we call the Body of Christ. What is THAT built out of?

By making a bird house, we are basically creating an "object lesson"  ---creating a prop (an objection) that represents the ideas we are teaching. But the process of creating it right, and perhaps creating it wrong to demonstrate some points about "building" are also part of the object's lesson. Thus, the birdhouse becomes a reminder.

Building a house....

Psalm 127 ESV - Unless the LORD Builds the House

Some reflection questions and possible project ideas to stoke some thinking in this workshop:

• What kind of "house" does Jesus the Carpenter want to build?
• What kind of "tools" do Christian use? Did Jesus use?
• Examples of "how not to build a relationship with Jesus."
• Flimsy faith.
• What's the glue?
• What are the instructions? Blueprint.
• Who's the master carpenter?
• How to build a strong house.
• How does "The Lord build"?
• What is "the house" that the Lord wants to build?    "House" can mean family/dynasty.

Ready to Assemble Bird House Kids are plentiful online. Shop around as some are quite inexpensive.

The teacher will lead the assembly, realizing that the assembly process, steps, "right and wrong ways" can be teaching points about the kind of "house" God wants for us. You might even make a house that falls apart or is made the wrong way so that it visually demonstrates how not to "build" God's family (house).  Parts of the house can be LABELED (what "parts" does God want us to have in our house?  Worship, Compassion, Study, etc.)    What's the purpose of the house you are building? What does God want you to have a home FOR?    What was the purpose of your home, parents, upbringing?  (Jesus had these same things.)    

I might bring a drill to drill more than one size hole in my bird house. Why? To visually demonstrate that God's family is made up of different kinds of "birds."  

Example of the kinds of kits and prices online:

Oriental Trading Co has birdhouse kits by the dozen

Jesus Refers to Birds

Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

³² it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

Your suggestions welcome!