- PRINTING & COPYING INSTRUCTIONS -

Begin by downloading the PDF files for the VBS theme you have chosen. Each VBS theme has

a Teacher’s Handbook and a Student Handbook for each of the following grade levels:

- PreK-2nd Grade

- 3rd-5th Grade

- 6-8th Grade

For High School/Bible Class, only a Teacher’s Handbook is provided. It is an outline of the

lessons with suggested themes and topics, but does not contain specific lesson plans or

activities.

Teacher’s Handbooks

- Print/copy in full color or black/white

- Can be printed with double-sided pages (with the intention that the teacher will make

copies of individual pages if necessary)

- Contain ALL preparation materials, lesson plans, and worksheets/activities. The

worksheets/activities also appear in the Student Handbooks.

Student Handbooks

- Print/copy in full color or black/white

- Print/copy SINGLE-SIDED ONLY to avoid problems when students need to complete an

activity that requires cutting or gluing.

- Contain cover pages with memory verses for all lessons as well as worksheets/activities.

General Instructions

For both Handbooks, each church or VBS superintendent may choose which pages of the

Handbooks to print and include. If you only plan to do four lessons of VBS, for example, you

may choose not to print/copy the fifth lesson at all. You may choose to print in black/white or

exclude the lesson cover pages to save on cost. In some cases, perhaps just a Teacher’s

Handbook is needed, and the teacher can make copies of individual activities as needed, rather

than providing an entire Handbook for each student. However, a take-home Handbook is often

a special way for each student to remember the lessons they were taught during this week of

VBS. Many copy/print shops and office supply stores make it very easy to upload a document or

PDF and select the options you need in order to print/copy in bulk.

PreK-2nd Grade | VBS Teacher’s Handbook

Parables of Jesus:

Stories that Changed the World

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THEME VERSE:

“And with many such parables

spake he the word unto them, as

they were able to hear it.”

Mark 4:33

THEME SONG:

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

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Introduction

Throughout His time on earth, Jesus told many parables. The themes and teachings of these stories

often contrasted greatly with the way that humans typically think and live. For instance, Jesus many

times talked of a kingdom, referring to a heavenly one, but the people around Him looked for an earthly

king. He taught that money and earthly possessions aren’t what make us truly rich. Obviously, there are

countless other examples throughout the Bible. As you teach and discuss throughout the week, spend

some time considering how these stories really are radical, convicting teachings that turned and

continue to turn people’s worlds upside down! Jesus did not come to the earth just to tell stories that

had no real value or meaning. Instead, Jesus taught others of God’s great love for them, and their need

to repent and change the way they were living! The “progression” of the parable themes throughout

the week mirrors a lost person becoming a believer and looking heavenward. The parables of the lost

sheep, coin, and prodigal son remind us of God’s love for each lost person and His joy over one person

who repents (Monday). After we give our hearts to Him, God continues to sanctify our hearts and lives,

continually teaching us how to live rightly for Him (Tuesday). He teaches us to keep a heavenly focus, on

His Kingdom, not on this world (Wednesday). Even though we don’t know exactly what His Kingdom

will be like, the parables of the mustard seed, pearl, and hidden treasure can give us a glimpse of God’s

desire and plan. Jesus also reminds us that this world will not last forever, that the end is coming, and

we need to be ready (Thursday). When the world’s end comes, there will be great rejoicing as Jesus

returns and the Great Supper is prepared (Friday)!

For the Teacher

To help prepare for each day of VBS, you’ll find a Teacher Devotion/Overview and a Historical Overview

preceding the lesson plan. Each lesson plan contains six steps/parts:

1. Opening. Use this time to take attendance, introduce the theme, or ask a few follow-up or

transition questions from the previous lesson.

2. Read story. Here you will find suggestions for age-appropriate sources of the Bible story for the

lesson.

3. Discuss story. This is a short list of themes and concepts that you might choose to reinforce as

you discuss the story with the students.

4. Activities. It is unlikely that time will allow for you to complete all of the suggested activities!

Teachers may choose which activities will work the best for their classes and use any

combination of them as time allows. Some activities will require advance preparation by the

teacher and most will require teachers to make copies ahead of time.

5. Songs. While there are many songs in our hymnals that would work well, there are a few listed in

each lesson that particularly reinforce the themes discussed.

6. Closing. Use this time to do memory verse work and conclude the lesson. The memory verse for

each day is found on that day’s title page.

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Table of Contents

Lesson 1: Parables about God’s Love 5

Worksheet 1A

Worksheet 1B

Activity 1, Parts A & B

Lesson 2: Parables about Living Right 12

Worksheet 2

Lesson 3: Parables about the Kingdom 20

Worksheet 3A

Worksheet 3B

Lesson 4: Parables about the End Times 26

Worksheet 4A

Worksheet 4B

Activity 4, Parts A & B

Lesson 5: The Invitation 34

Worksheet 5A

Worksheet 5B

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Lesson 1 / Parables about God’s Love

Memory Verse: “For this my son… was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:24)

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TEACHER DEVOTION

Bible Reference: Luke 15: 1-7, 8-10, 11-32

“Lost” is a word that can be used to collectively describe the characters in the three parables for today’s

lesson. There are lost objects and lost individuals, and we see in each circumstance that when the

object or person is truly loved and valued, they will be sought after. This is the manner of God’s love

toward us – He will always seek us when we are lost because He values us.

Each of us has lost something before, and we know the feeling – the searching, the wondering, and the

feelings of frustration – where could it be? We seek diligently what we have lost, just as the woman

missing the piece of silver. Is that same diligence found among us when we seek the hearts of sinners,

pursuing them to help them to find Jesus? Nearly always it seems it is easier to find a piece of silver than

it is to convince a lost soul of his need for repentance. This is why God reminds us that the “winning” of

that heart is not the work He has called us to do. His work for us, rather, is to be His body, collectively

working together to draw souls to Him. We are to be the ears of that shepherd seeking his sheep,

listening diligently for the bleating of the missing animal. We are to be the feet of the woman missing

the silver, sweeping diligently to find the piece among the dust. We are to be the arms of the father,

opening wide his heart and home for the return of the prodigal son. God Himself is the one who will do

the work of convicting the lost soul, causing them to turn away from sin and toward His holiness.

We have each been the prodigal son at some point in our lives, and we must seek to find our way to the

Lord with all the diligence that we would seek to find something missing in our lives. As we teach, we’ll

perhaps find in our classes a mix of believers and unbelievers. Because we are born again, we can

identify with both, and we can attest to the Lord’s goodness. He values us, and so He will always be

there, the Shepherd and the Father, waiting to welcome us with rejoicing. In each of the parables in this

lesson, the response at the end is one of rejoicing and “making merry.” This is the response of heaven

over one sinner who repents.

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Lost Sheep

A flock of sheep is safe, even in the wilderness, since predators much more readily attack a lone

sheep, especially if young or injured.

Sheep were an important part of the possessions of the ancient Hebrews and of eastern nations

generally. The first mention of sheep occurs in Genesis 4:2

Immense numbers of sheep were raised in Palestine in biblical times. One reference reports a

clan of shepherds with three million sheep and goats, plus 400,000 horses, asses, and camels.

Sheepdogs were employed in biblical times. Job 30:1.

Palestinian shepherds generally went before their flocks, calling to them to follow. John 10:4,

Psalm 23:1-2, 77:20. Research in Greece and the Levant by John Hartley (pub. 1833) relates an

account of Greek shepherds calling each individual sheep by name, and witnessing the individual

sheep instantly obeying the call.

The common sheep of Syria and Palestine are broad tailed.

The Lost Coin

Palestinian women received ten silver coins as a wedding “ketubah” or dowry, the only money

they would personally own as a wife or widow. If all you owned were ten coins, how hard would

you look if you lost one of them?

In a dimly-lit home, with a straw-covered floor, she would have to search carefully to find the

coin, using a broom to sweep and hoping to hear the coin ring.

Poor Galilean homes had floors of loosely fitting stones. Coins so often got lost between the

stones that archaeologists today can sometimes date the homes’ last habitation based on the

coins in the floors.

The Prodigal Son

Prodigal means wasteful, to “drive forth,” as the son drives forth his money.

Demanding one’s inheritance was equivalent to saying, “Father, I wish you were dead.” Yet the

father divides his hard-earned inheritance.

In Jewish society, the oldest brother got a double share (Deuteronomy 21:17) while other

brothers got a single share.

Since he had been feeding pigs, the now-destitute son could not even seek help from a

synagogue.

It was considered undignified for older men to run, yet the father runs to embrace his returning

son.

The father gives his son the best robe (undoubtedly the father’s), a ring (probably the family

signet ring, showing his reinstatement to sonship), and sandals, though poor workers or

servants often wore no sandals.

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The fatted calf of the celebration would be enough food to feed the entire village.

The older brother publicly refuses to enter the house or to greet his father with a title,

dishonoring his father even more than the younger brother had. When he says “I served you all

these years,” he describes himself as a servant, not a son, showing he does not understand his

own father’s heart.

Sources of Historical Overview Information for All Lessons

Life Application Study Bible: King James version, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. - 2013 Smith, William. Smith’s Bible Dictionary. MacDonald Publishing, 1990.

Tubb, Jonathan. Bible Lands. DK Publishing, 2016.

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LESSON PLAN

1 | OPENING

2 | READ STORY(IES)

Lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7, Matthew 18:12-14) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 416, “Joy in Heaven” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 426, “Who Is the Greatest?” Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories – p. 267-268, “The Shepherd Finds His Sheep”

Lost coin (Luke 15:8-10) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 416, “Joy in Heaven” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 448-449, “Jesus Answers the Pharisees”

Prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 416-417, “The Prodigal Son” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 449-452, “The Prodigal Son” Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories – p. 268-269, “The Boy Who Went Away from Home”

3 | DISCUSS STORY

Focus/Themes:

Each person matters, no matter who the person is and whether he/she is a Jew or Gentile.

God cares about each lost person, not just a majority or a specific group of people.

Questions throughout the week: 1. Who was Jesus? (God’s only Son)

2. What is a parable? (An earthly story with a heavenly meaning) 3. Who told parables? (Jesus) 4. Why did He tell parables? (To teach us important lessons about the Kingdom of Heaven)

Discussion Questions: Lost Sheep/Lost Coin

1. How many sheep did the shepherd have? (100) How many did he count? (99) What did he do about the missing sheep? (He went to find the sheep.)

2. How many coins did the woman have? (10) How many did she lose? (1) What did she do about the lost coin? (She swept until she found it.)

3. Have you ever lost something? What did you do? How did you feel when you found it? 4. Who does God love? (Everyone) 5. What happens in Heaven when ONE person decides to follow Jesus? (The angels rejoice.

God and Jesus are very happy, too.) Discussion Questions: Prodigal Son

1. What did the son want from his father? (His inheritance - the money he would get when his father died)

2. What did he do with his inheritance? (He spent his money freely and wasted it.)

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3. How do you think the son felt when he first got his inheritance? (Excited) After he spent it all? (Poor and sad)

4. What would the son have eaten if it was offered to him? (The pigs’ food.) 5. When the son had nothing left, where did he decide to go? (Home) 6. What did the father do for his son when he came home? (He gave him a hug, robe, ring,

and shoes. He held a feast for him.) 7. What do you think the father was feeling? (Very thankful and rejoicing) Tell about a time

that someone showed you love when you didn’t deserve it. 8. How did the older brother feel about the prodigal son returning home? (Not happy, angry) 9. Who was he thinking about? (Himself) How might he have responded if he thought of his

brother instead of himself? (He would have been happy that his brother came home.) 10. What does it mean to be ‘prodigal’? (Wasting money, spending it on things you don’t need)

4 | ACTIVITIES

Choose any combination of the following activities as time permits:

COLORING PAGE:

The Lost Is Found Worksheet 1A

ACTIVITY PAGE:

Find the Lost Worksheet 1B

ACTIVITY: ACT OUT THE STORY – LOST SHEEP/COIN

Have ten coins (pennies) for each student. Give each student nine coins. Before class, hide the tenth coins somewhere in the room

Ask the children to hunt until they each find a coin.

Celebrate their finding and discuss.

ACTIVITY: ACT OUT THE STORY – PRODIGAL SON

Decide who is going to be the father, prodigal son, and older son. Could provide props such as old clothes, a robe, and empty money bag – or use a sign or name tag for each one.

Tell or reread the story again and have the students act out their role according to the story. Older students could tell the story themselves with dialogue instead of the teacher.

CRAFT: MAKE A PRODIGAL SON HUG

Cut out the pattern for a hug. Cut out the hands pattern or the student’s own drawn hands.

Glue the hands on to the ‘arms’.

Show the students how the arms open wide to welcome the son home and then close

around him in a hug. Activity 1, Parts A & B.

5 | SONGS

Joy in My Heart – The Children’s Harp #36

The Little Lost Sheep – The Children’s Harp #96

The Prodigal’s Son – Tabernacle Hymns #343

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6 | CLOSING

Review weekly and daily memory verse. Gather and put away materials.

Weekly Memory Verse: “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)

Today’s Memory Verse: “For this my son … was lost, and is found.” (Luke 15:24)

Worksheet 1A – “The Lost is Found”

Worksheet 1B – “Find the Lost”

Worksheet 1B – “Find the Lost” – ANSWER KEY

Activity 1, Part A

Make a “Prodigal Son Hug”

For

this

my s

on…

was

lost

and

is

found

! (

Luke 1

5:2

4)

1. Copy this pattern onto construction paper or colorful card stock. Have student cut out the pattern.

2. Fold the ‘arms’ toward the center along the lines. 3. Draw around their hands and cut out (or cut out the

hands on the template). 4. Glue or tape the hands onto the ends of the paper

strip. 5. Draw a face on the round circle. 6. Open the ‘arms’ wide to show the father’s willingness

to forgive and welcome home his son. Show how they interlock and close to show the big hug the son returns to his father.

Activity 1, Part B

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Lesson 2 / Parables about Living Right

Memory Verse: “… God, be merciful unto me, a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

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TEACHER DEVOTION

Bible Reference: Luke 12:16-21, Luke 18:9-14, Matthew 20:1-16, Matthew 25:14-30

All around us, there is a regular pursuit and demand for people to get what they “deserve.” People

instantly ridicule convicted criminals, hoping that they “get what they deserve.” They work several jobs

or simply charge purchases to a card in an effort to obtain what they feel that they “deserve,” whether

they can afford it or not. Everywhere we turn, people are seeking justice and wealth because they feel

that they “deserve” it.

The Bible makes very clear what humans deserve – we “deserve” hell. Were it not for the grace and

shed blood of Jesus Christ, each of us would be bound for eternal death, because none of our actions,

thoughts, or words can be made holy or righteous by anything that we ourselves do. Because God is

holy, He can turn our worthlessness into great worth, but it is not that we deserve that. Our worth is

God-created and God-given, and wholly undeserved.

“Grace” is often succinctly defined as “an undeserved gift,” and in each of the parables in this lesson, we

see evidence of the tremendous grace of our Heavenly Father. In the story of the Pharisee and the

Publican, the true believer is characterized by his humility – his recognition that he isn’t deserving of

anything, but rather that he can pray only because of the grace of God. When we view the events of our

lives through the lens of God’s grace, we find ourselves more generous, better stewards of what we

have, and far more content than we would be otherwise – because we understand that none of what we

have been given is “ours” or “deserved.” It is “of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because

His compassions fail not: […] great is Thy faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). Our accomplishments,

successes, and abilities are because of His faithfulness and His grace.

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Pharisee and the Publican

The Pharisees were a religious party or school among the Jews at the time of Christ. Their name

came from “perishin,” the Aramaic form of the Hebrew word “perushim,” meaning “separated.”

The chief sects among the Jews were the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes, who may

be described respectively as the Formalists, the Freethinkers, and the Puritans.

Christ denounced the Pharisees in the bitterest language: see Matt. 15:7-8; 23:5, 13-15, 23;

Mark 7:6; Luke 11:42-44.

Along with the written law given to Moses on Mount Sinai and regarded as a summary of the

principles and general laws of the Hebrew people, there was an oral law to complete and to

explain the written law. The first portion of the Talmud, called the Mishna or “second law,”

contained this oral law. It came at length to be esteemed far above the sacred text.

While Jesus taught all men to be humble, the spirit of the Pharisees was proud self-

righteousness. Though they pretended to piety, they were in reality greedy, sensual, and

dissolute (Matthew 23:25 and John 8:7). They looked with contempt upon every nation but

their own (Luke 10:29). Instead of bringing men to the Hope of Israel, they devoted their

energies to making converts to their own narrow views and strengthening their own sect.

The Pharisees were popular and acquired considerable political influence. They obtained a

majority in the Sanhedrin. In the time of the Herods, their number reached more than 6000.

The Pharisees were not necessarily wealthy or luxurious. Josephus compared them to the sect

of the Stoics, living frugally. Some individual Pharisees were upright and pure, including such

men as Nicodemus, Gamaliel, Joseph of Arimathea, and Paul.

Publicans were the designated tax collectors of the Roman Empire. As customs officials, they

examined every bale of goods exported or imported, assessed its value rather arbitrarily, wrote

out the tax bill, and enforced payment. They overcharged at every opportunity (Luke 3:13),

brought false smuggling charges hoping for hush-money (Luke 19:8), and opened letters on

mere suspicion.

Cereals (such as barley, wheat, and lentils), flour, oil, and wine were exported from Palestine.

Canaanite art and craft objects were also exported widely. In return, raw materials, such as

wood and metal, were imported from abroad.

The Publicans of the New Testament were regarded as traitors and apostates, defiled by their

frequent contacts with the heathen, and as willing tools of the oppressor, Rome.

The Foolish Rich Man

First-person pronouns occur in the account 11 times, showing how self-centered the rich man is.

The parable has been the subject of many artists, including Rembrandt, Jan Luyken, James

Tissot, and David Teniers the Younger.

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The Parable of the Talents

A talent was a unit of weight of approximately 80 pounds, and when used as a unit of money,

was valued for that weight of silver. As a unit of currency, a talent was worth about 6000

denarii. A denarius was the usual payment for a day’s labor. Since the three servants were given

a total of eight talents among themselves, this was quite a lot of money.

The third servant could have deposited the talent he received with the bankers. This would

have made money with no personal exertion or intelligence. Actually, digging a hole to bury the

talent was more labor than going to the bankers.

The poet John Milton was fascinated by the parable and referred to it repeatedly, notably in the

sonnet “When I Consider How My Light Is Spent.”

Laborers in the Vineyard

Vines producing grapes were well-known valuable plants very frequently referred to in the Old

and New Testaments. The first mention in the Bible is in Genesis 9:20-21. They were also

abundantly cultivated in Egypt (Genesis 40:9-11, Psalm 78:47).

The vines of Palestine were known for luxuriant growth and for the immense clusters of grapes

produced, sometimes carried on a staff between two men (Numbers 13:23).

To dwell under the vine and fig tree is an emblem of domestic happiness and peace (I Kings

4:25, Psalm 128:3, Micah 4:4)

The vintage began in September, and towns would be deserted as the people lived among the

vineyard in lodges and tents (Judges 9:27, Isaiah 16:10). Grapes were gathered with shouts of

joy by the “grape gatherers” and put into baskets. They were then carried on the head and

shoulders or slung upon a yoke, to the winepress.

The word translated "penny" in the King James Version of the parable is the denarius, a silver

coin which was the usual day's wage for a laborer. The hours here are measured starting at

about 6:00 AM, so that the eleventh hour is between about 4:00 and 5:00 PM. The workers are

poor men working as temporary farmhands during the harvest season, and the employer

realizes that they would all need a full day's pay to feed their families. The payment at evening

follows guidelines in the Hebrew Bible (Deuteronomy 24:14-15).

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LESSON PLAN

1 | OPENING

2 | READ STORY

Humility – Pharisee and Publican (Luke 18:9-14) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 420, “A Parable of Prayer” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 453-455, “The Pharisee and the Publican” Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories – p. 269-270, “Two Men Go to Pray” Generosity – Foolish rich man (Luke 12:16-21) Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories – p. 239-240, “A Foolish Rich Man” Stewardship – Talents (Matthew 25:14-30) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 436-438, “The Unprofitable Servant” Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories – p. 282-283, “A Story About Three Servants” Contentment – Laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 415, “The Laborers in the Vineyard”

3 | DISCUSS STORY

Focus/Themes:

Earthly riches aren’t what make us rich. Life isn’t all about trying to get the best for ourselves, but about living the way Jesus lived and pointing others to Him!

Discussion Questions: Pharisee and Publican

1. Who was the Pharisee? (Someone who thought he was better than other people) What is a Publican? (A tax collector)

2. What did the Pharisee and Publican think of themselves and others around them? (The Pharisee was proud and thought of others as less important than himself. The Publican was humble and said he was a sinner.)

3. Which one’s prayer pleased God? (The Publican) 4. Why was God pleased with the Publican’s prayer and not the prayer of the

Pharisee? (The Publican prayed with humility. The Pharisee bragged on himself and told God how good he was.)

5. What will happen to people who are proud and those what are humble? (The proud will be humbled and brought low. The humble will be exalted and honored.)

Discussion Questions: Foolish rich man

1. What did the rich man have? (A very big farm and very big barns)

2. What did he do? (He kept adding more wheat, hay, corn.)

3. What did he focus on? (Always getting more and building more and bigger barns)

4. How was he deceived? (He only focused on getting rich in this life and he did not

prepare his heart for the life to come.)

5. What happened to the rich man? (He died, but he did not have a home in Heaven.)

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6. How should we view the things that we have here on earth? (They are not

important. They won’t help us spiritually and won’t be important when we die.)

7. What should we do with our possessions? (Share them and not look at them as

important)

Discussion Questions: Talents

1. What is a talent? (It can be money or something we are given from God such as a special ability.)

2. What did the first two servants do with their talents? (They used their talents and earned more talents.)

3. What did the last servant do with his talent? (He did not go to work and he buried his talent.)

4. What happened to each of the servants? (The first two servants could go with the master into his house. The third servant got his talent taken away and could not go in the house.)

5. What are some ways that we can use our talents (both gifts and money) for God? (List some examples.)

Discussion Questions: Laborers in the vineyard

1. What is a vineyard? (A large area of land used to grow grapes) 2. When did the first worker start working? (Early in the morning) 3. What other times of day did workers start working? (9:00 am, noon, mid-afternoon

and the end of the day) 4. How much did each worker get paid? (The same amount of money - one silver

piece) 5. What was unusual about this? (Some workers had worked all day while others only

worked a short time.) 6. What does this story tell us about God’s kingdom? (God is generous and wants all

people to be in His family. He does not have favorites.) 6. 1

4 | ACTIVITIES

Choose any combination of the following activities as time permits.

COLORING PAGE:

Proud or Humble? Worksheet 2

CRAFT: LIVING FOR GOD OR LIVING FOR SELF

After students color the pictures Worksheet 2, have them cut out the proud and humble

faces. The proud face represents living for self (being proud, selfish, foolish). The humble

face represents living for God (being humble, generous, thinking of others, thankful.)

Glue the pictures onto the bottom of two paper sacks (or onto two tongue depressors).

Students insert their hands into the sacks to use as puppets and hold up the correct puppet

as the teacher reviews the story or asks who would make the statements below:

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1. “I did five good deeds today.”

2. “The Lord blessed me with an opportunity to be helpful today.”

3. “I am grateful for the many people who help me.”

4. “I am a great benefit to the Lord.”

5. “I’ll ask God to forgive me for anything I did wrong today.”

6. “I am so glad that I’m not as bad as my friends.”

7. “I want to have the biggest house and nicest car.”

8. “I will share some of my money with the poor.”

9. “I like to sing. I’ll help sing at the nursing home for people who are lonely.”

10. “I am strong! I’ll see who I can beat at recess.”

11. “I am strong. I’ll help my neighbors move to their new house.”

12. “I am too embarrassed to help someone that looks dirty.”

13. “It isn’t fair that I worked longer than my brother and we both got ice cream.”

14. “I’m thankful I was able to be a big help to my mom today.”

1.

OBJECT LESSON: PRIDE AND HUMILITY

Give each student a plain balloon. Show them how a deflated balloon is pliable. You can

stretch it, wrap it around things, put it inside other things, pull over smaller things. Then

have everyone blow up their balloon.

Talk about how it is no longer flexible. It is puffed up now, and can only be one shape. It can

only be used for certain things. A “puffed up” person is not as useful to God as a flexible,

pliable, humble person. Humility makes us useful and moldable for God’s work. (Optional:

students can draw a face on the balloon.)

OBJECT LESSON: LABORERS IN THE VINEYARD

Bring in some simple mundane tasks to do such as snipping green beans, podding peas,

sorting buttons, cutting out coupons. Or check to see if there is a task that a nursing home

needs to have done to also emphasize using one’s talents to help others.

Ask one student to do a job for you and you’ll pay him/her one penny or piece of candy (or

something similar). The other students could be playing with something fun such as Legos,

play dough, or cars.

After a short time, ask another student to help and offer him/her the same reward.

Continue this until all students have been asked to help, but pay them the same.

Discuss how it feels to get paid the same but having to work longer than others. Were they

glad to have help?

5 | SONGS

A Prayer for Jesus – The Children’s Harp #49

I Need Jesus – Tabernacle Hymns #17

What Can Little Children Do? – The Children’s Harp #66

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6 | CLOSING

Review weekly and daily memory verse. Gather and put away materials.

Weekly Memory Verse: “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)

Today’s Memory Verse: “… God be merciful to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:13)

Worksheet 2

PROUD

HUMBLE

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Lesson 3 / Parables about the Kingdom

Memory Verse: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

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TEACHER DEVOTION

Bible Reference: Matthew 13:31-32, Matthew 13:45-46, Matthew 13:44 Countless children’s books and tales through time have been written around themes of a hidden

treasure. As humans, we are fascinated by how something small and undiscovered can have such great

value. The value of an object, however, is often dependent on how great the demand or need for it is.

In one old children’s book, a sailor dog washed ashore by a storm finds “hidden treasure” that is a

toolbox full of tools – perhaps they were old and rusty and had no monetary value, but they were of

great price to him because they were just what he needed to repair his boat!

There is no question that the human race is in desperate need of salvation, and so truly this treasure,

the greatest treasure, is one of high value. But it is also one that is easily overlooked. In order to find

salvation, the “seeker” must know what they are looking for. Throughout the “Kingdom Parables” that

form this lesson, we see something small become something very significant. In each of the stories and

examples given, the “most important thing” was something that could have been easily underestimated.

The mustard seed, the pearl, and the treasure were all valuable, but the “seeker” had to know and

understand the value of those objects in order to recognize his or her need for the treasure.

Because we are believers, we as teachers understand the value of the gift of salvation, and how it is

worth giving up everything else. We can reflect on all of the lesser things we didn’t want to give up in

order to obtain this greatest treasure, and we can see clearly how none of those things was worth

keeping in place of this priceless gift. But we may be teaching students who do not yet understand the

immense value of what the Father offers, and so we must teach them to know what they are looking for.

We must teach them the fallen state of man and his need for a Savior. Life can be relatively carefree for

an American student, and so they may find themselves struggling to understand what could possibly be

better than what they are living.

We can shed light in the darkness and help “seekers” know and understand the value of salvation by

consistently returning to the Truth, and by demonstrating how far the world has fallen from the

standard that Jesus set. The Devil loves to undermine the reality of sin – he loves to convince people

that “it’s not so bad.” But in order for the lost souls to be found, they have to understand the Truth, so

that they can hold every untruth up next to it and discover the reality – that the Truth is the greatest

Treasure of all, and that all other things that the world might value shatter and pale in comparison.

Then when a fake bill comes up, they are able to instantly recognize that something about it isn’t the

same. When we consistently teach truth to our children and to our students, we are equipping them to

view all of life through God’s lens. In order to understand the value of salvation, we must know all

about it and be aware of what we are seeking, so that when any other opportunity or temptation comes

up, we learn to recognize it as something less valuable. We are seeking the pearl of great price – not the

pearl that only looks beautiful today.

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Mustard Seed

Mustard is mentioned in Matt. 13:31 and 17:20; Mark 4:31; Luke 13:19 and 17:6. The black

mustard (Sinapis nigra) is generally thought to be the mustard tree of the Bible.

The parable of the mustard seed also is told in Mark 4:30-34.

Rather than building nests in the mustard tree, it is probably more accurate that the birds came

and settled on the mustard plant for the sake of the seed, of which they are very fond.

Some wild mustard plants reportedly grow as tall as a horse and rider. In a cultivated garden, it

might grow far taller.

Although mustard seed is quite small, there are many seeds which are smaller than mustard.

However, it was the smallest of all garden seeds.

The Pearl of Great Price

Pearls are also mentioned in I Timothy 2:9 and Revelation 17:4 and 21:21. They were

considered among the most precious of gems, and highly esteemed as ornaments.

In Matthew 7:6, pearls are used to stand for anything of value, perhaps especially for wise

sayings.

The finest pearl specimens are yielded by the pearl oyster, found in abundance in the Persian

Gulf and near the coasts of Ceylon, Java, and Sumatra.

The size of a good Oriental pearl varies from that of a pea to about three times that size. Pearls

have been valued as high as $200,000 to $300,000.

Prior to the 20th century, only society’s elite was able to afford pearls because they were so rare.

With the creation of cultured pearls on 1893, the supply of pearls available on the market began

to steadily increase. Today’s pearl prices range from $150-$2500.

During the Roman Empire, pearls were valued above sapphires or emeralds. Opening a new

pearl market was said to be of the motives for Emperor Claudius to invade Britain.

The Parable of the Hidden Treasure

The word “parable” is in Greek parabole, meaning “placing beside” or “together,” a

“comparison.” A parable therefore is illustrating one subject by another. It is a short narrative

under which some important truth is veiled. It hid the truth from those who did not believe,

while challenging those who wished truly to understand Christ’s teaching to come to him and

ask their teacher for explanation.

A parable’s worth as an instrument of teaching lies in its ability to both provide a test of

character and present lessons for deeper understanding of truth.

For a peasant laborer, finding the hidden treasure, perhaps left by a previous owner of the field

who has died, was a dream come true. In order to guarantee his ownership of the treasure, he

must sell all he has to buy this field.

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LESSON PLAN

1 | OPENING

2 | READ STORY(IES)

Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32, Mark 4:30-32, Luke 13:18-19) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 394, “The Grain of Mustard Seed” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 407, “Stories About the Kingdom of Heaven”

Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44) “Once a man was working in a field. As he was digging in the dirt, he uncovered a treasure that someone had left there. The man was so excited that he hid the treasure in the field. He went back home to get some money to buy the field. He didn’t have enough money so he sold everything he owned to have the money to buy the field. He was happy to do this! Now, he had enough money so he could buy the field. Since he now owned the field, he also owned the treasure! It was worth the cost to sell everything he had for this treasure. The kingdom of heaven is like the treasure. When we find the kingdom of heaven, we are so happy that we will give up everything to follow Jesus!” (adapted from missionbibleclass.org)

Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45-46) “Once there was a pearl merchant who looked for valuable pearls. He was always looking for the finest pearls. One day the pearl merchant found one pearl that was very valuable. It was the most beautiful pearl he had ever seen. The merchant sold everything he had so he could have enough money to buy that one pearl. The precious pearl is like the kingdom of heaven. It is worth giving all that you can to enter the kingdom of heaven!” (adapted from missionbibleclass.org)

3 | DISCUSS STORY

Focus/Themes:

It’s not an earthly treasure that we seek. Don’t overlook the small things. It doesn’t have

to be huge to make a difference. If you don’t know what you’re looking for, you’re going

to miss it.

Discussion Questions: Mustard Seed

1. What type of seed did Jesus say is the smallest seed planted in a garden? (A mustard seed)

2. What happens when the small mustard seed is planted? (It grows and grows.) 3. How is the mustard seed like the kingdom of heaven? (The kingdom of heaven will

grow and grow to include anyone on earth who turns to Christ.) Discussion Questions: Hidden Treasure and Pearl of Great Price

1. What was hidden in the field? (A treasure)

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2. What did the man do when he found it? (He buried it, sold all that he had, and then went and bought the field.)

3. What was the merchant looking for? (Pearls) 4. What did he do when he found one precious pearl? (He sold all that he had and

bought the most valuable pearl.) 5. What do these parables teach us about the kingdom? (The kingdom of heaven is a

treasure and more valuable than anything in the world.)

4 | ACTIVITIES

Choose any combination of the following to use as time allows.

COLORING PAGES:

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a Mustard Seed Worksheet 3A

Treasure in the Field Worksheet 3B ACTIVITY: HOW A MUSTARD PLANT GROWS

After the students color Worksheet 3A, have them cut apart the six squares. Then ask them to mix up their squares and arrange them back in the correct sequence to show how a mustard plant grows from a seed to a large plant.

CRAFT: A PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

Gather supplies to make a ‘pearl in an oyster shell’ as you review the parable. Activity 3A

CRAFT: MAKE A MUSTARD SEED BOOKMARK

Make a bookmark out of card stock paper. Write a scripture verse on it such as Matthew

13:31 or Matthew 6:2. Color, decorate, and glue mustard seeds on the bookmark. Cover it

with clear contact paper. (You can buy mustard seeds in the spice section of a grocery

store.) Activity 3B

OBJECT LESSON: “PLANTING” A MUSTARD SEED

Show the students a grain of mustard seed and ask them if anyone knows what it is.

Talk about mustard plants - how big they get (even though the seed is really little) and what the plant needs to grow.

Explain how God’s word is like a tiny seed that is planted in our hearts and minds and grows

when we think and when we understand and when we learn about the kingdom of heaven.

You can “plant” more seeds when you share His love with others.

Share how a small action can lead to big things. Have students make a card for someone

who is sick or sad or lonely. Discuss how this would be helpful in growing the kingdom – it

could encourage someone who is not feeling important or useful. When someone is

discouraged, it is difficult for them to share their talents in the church.

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OBJECT LESSON: FIND THE HIDDEN TREASURE

Hide various “treasures” around the room (such as pennies, chocolate candy coins, ring

pops, play necklace, etc.) along with the Bible.

Have students look for the treasure. With each item they find, tell them whether or not

they’ve found the treasure. Ultimately, the treasure you want them to find is the Bible.

Discuss why the Bible is the treasure.

5 | SONGS

A Mustard Seed of Faith – The Children’s Harp #91

When He Cometh – The Children’s Harp #24, Tabernacle Hymns #332

6 | CLOSING

Review weekly and daily memory verse. Gather and put away materials.

Weekly Memory Verse: “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)

Today’s Memory Verse: “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:21)

Worksheet 3A – “The Kingdom of Heaven is Like a Mustard Seed”

Worksheet 3B – “Treasure in the Field”

Activity 3A

A Pearl of Great Price

Supplies: Egg carton, scissors, masking tape, glue.

For inside of shell: pink felt or paper cut in 1.5 inch diameter For the pearl: you can choose from a small white pompom, a cotton ball cut to about a ½ inch diameter in size, or purchase pearl beads from a craft store.

Steps:

1. Cut two eggs cups out of the egg carton and trim the peaks so the two cups will fit together.

2. Tape the two cups together on one side using masking tape so it sits open like a shell.

3. Glue the circular piece of pink felt or paper inside the bottom egg cup. 4. Decorate the “shell” using a thin black marker or write a small message. The sample has

written on it “A pearl of great price”. 5. Place the “pearl” (pompom, cotton ball or pearl bead) inside.

Activity 3B

Mustard Seed Bookmark

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Lesson 4 / Parables about the End Times

Memory Verse: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you…” (Matthew 25:34)

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TEACHER DEVOTION

Bible Reference: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43, Matthew 25:1-13, 31-46 For a decision or situation to be final and irreversible in our society is a little bit foreign. We hit the

“back” button on all of our technology countless times a day, and on a larger scale, authoritative

decisions are constantly contested and hotly debated. No one likes to be on the wrong side of the line,

and people fight against situations that are not in their favor in a variety of ways. The “End Times”

parables are sobering and yet true; as much as we’d like to believe a “final” decision is still debatable,

God makes it very clear that there will be a day when the line of Truth divides good from evil. We will

not be able to go back or make any further arguments or preparations – it will be too late.

Truth is not inherently judgmental or a respecter of persons – it is simply an accurate measure. It sets a

standard to which all things can be compared, and in a rather mechanical sort of way can create piles of

concepts and ideas on either side of it. While our post-modern society prefers to sort things into piles

relative to each other, Truth provides a refreshing way to sort things out according to a standard created

by the Creator Himself. No logic of man can ever surpass the wisdom of the One who created our very

brains! John 13:16 tells us: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither

he that is sent greater than he that sent him.”

When we acknowledge the Truth and submit to it, we will be ready for the day of the Lord. If we

understand that His commands are true and live accordingly, our lives will be lived in preparation for His

return. It is when man refuses to believe the inevitable Truth that he finds himself among the tares,

among the goats, without oil.

As difficult as it is to separate ourselves from falsehood in a society that wants to include and embrace

everyone all together, we must examine our hearts and our lives to ensure that we have acknowledged

the Truth and made preparation. Man can convince himself of anything, but Truth will reign anyway – it

is our responsibility to submit to it and fill our lamps, brightly lighting our path toward our eternal

Home.

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Wheat and Tares

The tares were most likely a weed called “darnel” (Lolium tenulentum). The darnel before it

comes into ear is very similar in appearance to wheat. Yet once darnel has “headed out,” a child

cannot mistake it for wheat or barley. But where both are less developed, the closest scrutiny

will often fail to detect them. Sorting them out at harvest time was quite important, as the

grains of the darnel , if eaten, produce convulsions, and even death.

Wheat was cultivated from the earliest times, and first mentioned in Genesis 30:14. Egypt in

ancient times was famous for the growth of its wheat, especially the bearded variety. Syria and

Palestine produced wheat of fine quality and in large quantities (Psalm 81:16 and 147:14).

Wheat is reaped toward the end of April, in May, and in June, according to the differences of soil

and position. It was sown either broadcast and then plowed in, or trampled in by cattle (Isaiah

32:20) or in rows (Isaiah 28:25). The wheat was put in the ground in the winter and sometime

after the barley. In the Egyptian plague of hail, consequently, the barley suffered but the wheat

had not appeared and so escaped.

In the parable of the sower, the Lord alludes to grains of wheat which in good ground produce a

hundredfold (Matthew 13:8). The common Triticum vulgare will sometimes produce one

hundred grains in the ear.

Sheep and Goats

Sheep and goats often grazed together but were separated when it came time to shear the

sheep. Ezekiel 34:17-24 also refers to the separation of sheep and goats.

This parable describes acts of mercy we all can do every day. These acts do not depend on

wealth, ability, or intelligence; they are simple acts freely given and freely received. We have no

excuse to neglect those who have deep needs, and we cannot hand over this responsibility to

the church or government. Jesus demands our personal involvement in caring for others’ needs

(Isaiah 58:7).

In Hebrew life the flocks of sheep and goats had many uses. Both animals were a source of milk,

meat, and fabrics (Isaiah 7:21-22; Proverbs 27:27; Deuteronomy 14:4; Leviticus 13:47; Exodus

25:4). The sheep provided wool for garments to keep out chilly nights and windy days. The goat

provided bottles in which to store liquids. The uncut hide of either animal might have been the

wineskin of Jesus’ parable (Mark 2:22 = Matthew 9:17 = Luke 5:37-38).

Parable of the Ten Virgins

The Hebrews, like the ancient Greeks and Romans, were accustomed to burn lamps all night.

This custom is mentioned in 2 Samuel 21:17; Proverbs 13:9 and 20:20.

The custom in marriages was to have a fixed hour when the bridegroom arrived, generally late

in the evening. The bridegroom and bride, along with a great parade would be lighted by

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persons carrying flambeaux or terra cotta lamps fed with oil. They would return to the groom’s

house where a feast took place, often lasting a full week.

Olive oil in Bible times was used as a light source, as well as for food, for anointing the body (as a

lotion), for anointing bodies for a funeral, as a medical treatment, for ritual, and for offerings.

Oil was required to be among first-fruit offering (Exodus 22:29 and 23:16; Numbers 18:12).

Tithes of oil were also required (Deuteronomy 12:17).

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LESSON PLAN

1 | OPENING

2 | READ STORY

Wheat and Tares (Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43)

The Golden Children’s Bible - p. 394-395, “The Tares” and “The Meaning of the Tares”

Egermeier’s Bible Story Book -p. 406-407, “Stories About the Kingdom of Heaven”

Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories - p. 242-243, “Good Seed and Bad Seed”

Sheep and Goats (Matthew 25:31-46)

The Golden Children’s Bible - p. 438-439, “The Day of Judgment”

Egermeier’s Bible Story Book - p. 471-472, “Jesus Tells About the End of the World”

Ten Virgins– (Matthew 25:1-13) The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 436, “The Wise and Foolish Bridesmaids” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 470-471, “The Parable of the Ten Virgins” Marian’s Big Book of Bible Stories – p. 281-282, “A Story About Ten Girls”

3 | DISCUSS STORY

Focus/Themes:

God is merciful so He gives everyone time until the end to serve Him. What we do

matters, and we need to be prepared for when Jesus comes.

Discussion Questions: Wheat and Tares

1. What happened to the man’s field while he was sleeping? (An enemy came and

scattered weed seeds.)

2. What are tares? (Weeds) Who is the enemy that plants the tares? (Satan)

3. When did the man get rid of the tares? (He waited until harvest.)

4. Why didn’t he pull the weeds from the wheat sooner? (It was hard to tell the

difference between the wheat and the weeds; and he may have pulled out some

wheat.)

5. What did he do with each of them? (The wheat was put in the barn and the weeds

were burned.)

6. What do the tares represent? (Evil people) What does the wheat represent? (God’s

people)

7. Why do you think Jesus used weeds to describe the evil ones? (Sometimes they

“look good” but their heart might not be right. On judgment day, God will know who

was good and who was evil.)

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Discussion Questions: Sheep and Goats

1. What was the difference between the sheep and the goats? (Sheep are followers of

God. Goats are followers of Satan.)

2. What will happen to the sheep (the righteous, those who follow God)? (They will be

able to go to heaven.)

3. What will happen to the goats (the cursed, those who follow Satan)? (They will go

away to everlasting destruction.)

Discussion Questions: Ten Virgins

1. Where were the ten virgins in Jesus’ parable going? (To a wedding to meet the

bridegroom) Who is the bridegroom? (Jesus)

2. Why did they need an oil lamp? (To light their way because it was dark)

3. What did they need to bring to keep their lamps burning? (Oil – enough to keep

their lamps burning until time for the wedding)

4. What happened to their lamps while the virgins fell asleep waiting for the

bridegroom? (The lamps had gone out because the oil was used up.)

5. When they heard the bridegroom was coming, what did the ten virgins do? (The

wise virgins put in extra oil. The foolish virgins went to buy more oil.)

6. What happened when it was time for the wedding? (The wise virgins got to go to

the wedding. The foolish virgins were too late because the door was shut and could

not be opened.)

7. Why do you think it’s important to be ready at all times? (We don’t know when

Jesus will come again. Only God knows the time. We should watch and pray.)

8. What does it mean to be wise? (To know and understand what is right and true) To

be foolish? (To lack wisdom or good judgment)

4 | ACTIVITIES

Choose any combination of these to use as time allows.

COLORING PAGE:

Wheat and Tares Worksheet 4A ACTIVITY PAGES: SHEEP AND GOATS

Sheep and Goats Worksheet 4B

Cut out a set of word strips for each student. Students glue the words in the correct blanks under either the goat or sheep. Older students could write the words in the blanks instead of gluing them. These could be cut out to be used as bookmarks.

CRAFT AND ACTIVITY: ACT OUT THE STORY: WISE AND FOOLISH VIRGINS

Using card stock, have each student cut out a picture of a building. Activity 4

Cut the doors so they swing open. Cut out the wise and foolish virgins. Activity 4

For small children, these could be cut out ahead of time.

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Act out the story using the props on both pages of Activity 4 as teacher or student

retells the story.

OBJECT LESSON: WISE OR FOOLISH?

It is important to be ready when Jesus comes and to be wise in many situations. Being

wise in many situations will help us be a good example to others and be prepared.

Make a large square on the floor with masking tape (large enough so all the students

can fit in the area). Or, you can designate some area in the room that will represent a

building.

Below is a list of actions. As you read each one, if the students think that statement is

wise, they step inside the square which represents going into the building before the

doors are shut. If they think the statement is foolish, they do not go inside the square

(building.)

ARE YOU WISE (W) OR FOOLISH (F) IF YOU:

1. Cross a street without looking for cars first? F

2. Look both ways before crossing the street? W

3. Read the Bible regularly? W

4. Ignore what God has told you? F

5. Save part of your allowance for later? W

6. Borrow money from others for things you don’t really need? F

7. Pray only when you want something? F

8. Pray every day? W

9. Are careful about what you say? W

10. Say everything you think? F

11. Repent when you are first called? W

12. Do not repent? F

13. Help someone who is poor? W

14. Ignore someone who needs help? F

15. Give food to someone who is hungry? W

16. Give clothes to someone who doesn’t have much to wear? W

5 | SONGS

Give Me Oil in My Lamp – Wee Sing Bible Stories #38

This Little Light of Mine – The Children’s Harp #61

Watch and Pray – Hymns of Zion #121

6 | CLOSING

Review memory verses.

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Weekly Memory Verse: “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)

Today’s Memory Verse: “… Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you …” (Matthew 25:34)

Worksheet 4A

The Wheat and the Tares Color the grains with the good, helpful thoughts (wheat). Leave the unhelpful, negative

thoughts white (tares)

Worksheet 4B

Depart

Inherit the Kingdom

Worksheet 4B - Pieces

Cut these words out and glue them onto the correct spaces on Worksheet 4B.

Cursed Gave me no meat

Clothed me Left Hand

Visited me not Gave me meat

Gave me no drink Took me not in

Visited me Blessed

Right Hand Took me in

Clothed me not Gave me drink

Worksheet 4B – ANSWER KEY

Depart

Inherit the Kingdom

Left Hand

Right Hand

Cursed

Blessed

Gave me no meat

Gave me meat

Gave me no drink

Gave me drink

Took me not in

Took me in

Clothed me not

Clothed me

Visited me not

Visited me

Activity 4, Part A

The Parable of the Ten Virgins Use this

template

and the

template

on the next

page to act

out the

Parable of

the Ten

Virgins in

this lesson.

Activity 4, Part B

Use this template with the template of the church on the previous page to act out the story in

this lesson.

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Lesson 5 / The Invitation

Memory Verse: “… all things are ready: come unto the marriage.” (Matthew 22:4)

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TEACHER DEVOTION

Bible Reference: Luke 14:16-24

“Yet there is room… go out… that my house may be filled.” The master’s command to his servant in the

parable of the Great Supper is the same command that God gives us today. He has extended an

invitation to salvation and eternal rest in Heaven, and all are invited.

Much could be said about the excuses that were made by the prospective guests, much speculation on

how the master must have felt to have his invitation refused. But the truth is that no response of man

comes as a surprise to God. He knows the hearts of the people He has created, and that is why He has

given us His word and all of these parables that we have studied all week… to show us how we should

live. He has given us real-life examples, countless metaphors, succinct truths, and mental pictures we

can take with us to remember what it is about His way that is different from ours and different from the

world’s. The parables grate hard against our thinking and they challenge us to recognize the falsehoods

that we so easily accidentally believe. These truly are stories that changed the world, and they should

change us too.

As you read through this parable, ask yourself and ask the students: how will this change you? Will you

allow the Truth of God to penetrate your heart? To change the way you think? To turn YOUR world

upside down? It’s a question that we can continue to ask ourselves even if we have been following

Christ for a long time. Where has worldly thinking crept into my life? What is God re-teaching me

through these stories?

There is room for each of us to come and continually lay our lives before Jesus, asking Him what to do

next. His house is not yet full, and His grace has not yet run out. Can we let the stories that changed the

world, change us?

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HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The Great Supper

It was customary to send two invitations to a party – the first to announce it, the second to tell

the guests that all was ready. The guests in Jesus’ story insulted the host by making excuses

when he issued the second invitation. In Israel’s history, God’s first invitation came from Moses

and the prophets; the second came from His Son. The religious leaders accepted the first

invitation. They believed God had called them to be His people, but they insulted God by

refusing to accept His Son. Thus, as the master in the story sent his servant into the streets to

invite the needy to his banquet, so God sent His Son to the whole world of needy people to tell

them God’s kingdom had arrived and was ready for them.

The Parable of the Great Supper is Jesus' response to a fellow dinner guest exclaiming, "Blessed

is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

Jesus pictures God's choice in the kind of guests He desires at His table. The parable shows a

progression of urgency as time grows short. The first invitation is conveyed to the Israelites

simply as "come." The second, "bring in," is directed at the spiritually poor, injured, crippled,

and blind, symbolizing the Gentiles without previous access to the truth. The third, "compel,"

affects an even lower class of people representing the spiritual fringes of this world.

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LESSON PLAN

1 | OPENING

2 | READ STORY

Bible references - Luke 14:16-24; Matthew 22: 1-10 The Golden Children’s Bible – p. 432, “The Unworthy Guest” Egermeier’s Bible Story Book – p. 446-448, “The Parable of the Supper”

3 | DISCUSS STORY

Focus/Themes:

We often make excuses for why we can or cannot do something, but God wants us all to

come celebrate with Him! What are our priorities in life? What do we take time to do?

Discussion Questions:

1. What excuses did the people who were invited to the wedding feast give? (One had bought a piece of land and had to see it; one had bought oxen and had to test them; and another had married a wife.)

2. How did the master feel when no one would come to the wedding feast? (He was angry.)

3. Who did the master ask the servant to invite when the first people had excuses? (He asked his servant to call the poor, lame, and blind.)

4. Was there still room? (Yes) 5. Where did he go next to find more people for the supper? (The highways and hedges) 6. Who does the “master” represent? (Jesus) 7. Who do the “invited guests” represent? (Jews) 8. Who do the people represent that the servant invited after the others made excuses?

(All who are invited to follow Jesus and accept the invitation) 9. What are some of the excuses that people make today for not following Jesus? (Takes

too much time to go to church. I have other things I want to do on Sundays – like sports, jobs, friends, play, etc.)

4 | ACTIVITIES

Choose any combination of these to use as time allows.

COLORING SHEET: The Wedding Feast Worksheet 5A

ACTIVITY SHEET: Come! All Things Are Ready! Worksheet 5B

Have each student draw a picture and color their drawing for each excuse. Excuse #1: draw a field with crops growing. Excuse #2: draw oxen working. Excuse #3: draw a picture of a newly married couple.

OBJECT LESSON: EXCUSES, EXCUSES GAME

Write “Yes” on some notecards and “Excuse” on some notecards.

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Fan the cards face down in front of student. Student draws a card and then is asked a question (examples listed below). If the student draws a card that says Yes, he answers “yes.” If the student draws a card that says Excuse, the student has to come up with an excuse for the answer to the question.

a. Did you make your bed today? b. Have you helped with dishes today? c. Are you treating your sister/ brother kindly? d. Have you taken care of your dog? e. Did you go to church on Sunday? f. Did you read your Bible today? g. Did you help your teacher today? h. Did you get up this morning the first time you were called?

Discuss why we make excuses and if they are good excuses. Talk about how often our excuses don’t really matter and sometimes sound silly.

5 | SONGS

Come, For the Feast is Spread – Hymns of Zion #206

Come and Go with Me – The Children’s Harp #30

Come and Dine – Melodies of Praise #20

6 | CLOSING

Review memory verses and conclude the week!

Weekly Memory Verse: “And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.” (Mark 4:33)

Today’s Memory Verse: “… all things are ready: come unto the marriage.” (Matthew 22:4)

Worksheet 5A

Worksheet 5B

Excuse #1 Bought land. Must see it.

Excuse #2 Bought oxen. Must test them.

Excuse #3 Married a wife.

The Parable of the Great Supper - Luke 14:15-24