Joyful Moments in Christ

A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 17:1-10

A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 17:1-10: Walking in Faith and Humble Service

Walking in Faith and Humble Service

This Sunday School lesson is intended for upper elementary students. All lessons on this website are protected by copyright, but you can use them for free in small groups or Sunday School classes. You may share a link to this page, but please do not copy these pages and put them on other websites.

The Big Idea

Jesus calls his followers to forgive others generously, trust in his great power even when their faith feels small, and serve him with humble hearts.

Lesson Objectives

  1. Students will understand the importance of forgiving others repeatedly as a response to God’s grace.
  2. Students will learn that the power of faith comes from God and not from the size of their own feelings.
  3. Students will recognize that obeying God is a joyful duty rather than a way to earn special favors.

Class Setting Notes

  1. Recommended for upper elementary Sunday School.
  2. Lesson length: 45 to 60 minutes. Can be shortened or extended based on activities selected.

Opening Activity: The Tiny Seed Challenge

  1. Give each student a tiny seed, such as a mustard seed or a poppy seed, to hold in their hand.
  2. Ask them to imagine a giant tree or a large garden growing out of that one tiny speck.
  3. Have the students try to move a heavy object in the room, like a teacher’s desk, using only their pinky finger.
  4. Explain that while we are small and weak, God is big and strong.

This activity helps introduce the idea that even a very small amount of faith is powerful because it is placed in a very powerful God.

Bible Reading

Ask the class to read Luke 17:1-10 aloud together or have one person read it.

Additional Reading: Choosing the Right Bible Translation

Suggested prompts:

As the class reads aloud, consider asking some of these prompts:

  1. Listen for the serious warning Jesus gives about leading children or others into sin.
  2. Notice how many times Jesus says we should forgive a person who is truly sorry.
  3. Think about why the apostles felt like they needed more faith after hearing about forgiveness.
  4. Watch what happens in the story of the servant who comes in from working in the field.
  5. Pay attention to the humble words Jesus tells us to say after we have obeyed him.

Teacher Background Notes

  1. A millstone was a massive, heavy circular stone used for grinding grain; the image of one tied to a neck shows the weight and seriousness of causing others to stumble.
  2. Seven was often used in the Bible as a number for completeness, so forgiving seven times means being ready to forgive as often as needed.
  3. Mustard seeds were the smallest seeds known to the people in that region, making them a perfect illustration for something tiny that yields a big result.
  4. In the time of Jesus, a servant or bondservant had a legal and social duty to put the master’s needs first before his own comfort.
  5. Following God’s commands is our reasonable service because he is our Creator and Redeemer who bought us with a price.

Theological Insights

  1. Sin is not just a mistake but a serious offense that can harm the spiritual life of others.
  2. Forgiveness is a requirement for those who have received the mercy of Christ.
  3. Faith is an instrument that connects us to God’s power; even weak faith is effective because God is the one doing the work.
  4. Human beings can never put God in our debt because everything we have and are already belongs to him.
  5. Good works are a result of our love for God and our duty to him, but they do not earn our salvation.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Text

  1. Why does Jesus use such strong words about the millstone and the sea?
  2. What must happen before we are told to forgive someone who has sinned against us?
  3. What did Jesus say a mulberry tree would do if someone had faith like a mustard seed?
  4. How did the master expect the servant to act when he returned from the field?

Personal Reflection and Application

  1. Is there someone you find it very hard to forgive right now? How can God help you?
  2. When you feel like your faith is too small to handle a problem, where should you look for strength?
  3. Do you ever expect a reward or a big thank you for doing what is right? How can we practice being humble?
  4. How can we help our friends and younger children at church stay away from sin?

Suggested Activities

The Forgiveness Relay

  1. Mark a start and finish line. Place a bucket of heavy stones at the start and an empty bucket at the finish.
  2. Divide the class into two teams. One student at a time must pick up a stone, which represents a sin or a grudge, and carry it to the finish line.
  3. At the finish line, the teacher says, I repent, and the student must drop the stone and yell, I forgive you, before running back to tag the next person.
  4. Continue the relay until the bucket is empty, showing that forgiveness must happen as many times as the sin occurs.

This activity helps introduce the physical and repetitive nature of choosing to forgive others every single time they ask.

Mustard Seed Art

  1. Provide a small piece of cardstock and a single tiny seed for each child.
  2. Have them glue the seed to the center and draw a large, strong tree growing out of it with markers.
  3. Ask them to write “God’s Power” at the roots of the tree.

This activity reminds students that the strength of the tree comes from the life God put in the seed.

The Secret Service Mission

  1. Give each student a piece of paper with a simple task written on it, such as straightening the hymnals, picking up scraps of paper, or holding the door for someone.
  2. Tell them they have five minutes to complete their mission, but the goal is to do it without being noticed or thanked by anyone else.
  3. When they return, instead of giving out prizes, have everyone recite the phrase from the lesson: “We are ordinary servants; we have only done our duty.”

This activity helps introduce the concept of humble service by letting the children experience the quiet satisfaction of doing what is right simply because it is their responsibility.

Memory Verse

This Bible verse image features Luke 17:6 (ESV): “He said to them, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’” A reminder that even the smallest amount of genuine faith in God can accomplish the impossible.
He said to them, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.” – Luke 17:6 (ESV)

Closing Prayer

Father,
Thank you for your kindness and for the faith you give us. Help us to forgive others as you forgive us and to serve you with humble hearts every day.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

A Sunday School Lesson: Luke 17:1-10: Walking in Faith and Humble Service
This Bible verse image features Luke 17:6 (ESV): “He said to them, ‘If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, “Be uprooted and planted in the sea,” and it would obey you.’” A reminder that even the smallest amount of genuine faith in God can accomplish the impossible.

The ESL Version

I also create materials for adult English Language Learners (ELLs) and ESL students. You can find my ELL Bible Study based on Luke 17:1-10 here:

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English Standard Version (ESV): Unless otherwise noted, scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.

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