Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Parable of the Faithful Servant Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48 Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives when His disciples came to Him with a question. The disciples had been puzzled when Jesus told them that the temple would be destroyed. (Matt. 24:2) They asked, What is the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age? (Matt. 24:3). Matthew 24 records Jesus response. He told of persecution and tribulation. The chapter ends with a parable about faithful service to Jesus. The parable of the faithful servant serves as a warning to believers, urging them to be prepared for Jesus return. Jesus described what the day will be like when He returns. He begins with a question: Who then is a faithful and sensible slave, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? (Matt. 24:45). Jesus told about a faithful servant whose master finds him working hard when he returns. The faithful servant will be put in charge of the master s possessions. But if the servant is wicked assuming he can do as he wants while his master is away he will be punished when the master returns. In the parable, the master is Jesus. He gave His disciples the specific task of teaching and preaching, of feeding His sheep. (See Matt. 28:18-20; John 21:17.) Jesus parable implores the faithfulness of everyone so that when the chief Shepherd appears, they will receive the unfading crown of glory (1 Pet. 5:4). The parable also serves as a warning to those like the scribes and Pharisees who take advantage of their positions for their own gains. Jesus gives believers the responsibility of caring for His world and sharing the gospel. No one knows the exact time Jesus will return to earth. We must always be ready so that when Christ returns or we come into His presence after we die, we do so without fear or shame. When Jesus returns, those who faithfully work for Him willingly and eagerly will be rewarded, but those who do not will be punished. YOUNGER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: Parable of the Faithful Servant Bible Passage: Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48 Big Picture Question: What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. Key Passage: Matthew 13:10-11 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus taught in parables so His followers would understand how to live in anticipation of His second coming. Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 1
Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Welcome time Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Small Group Time Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal (5 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY Parable of the Wedding Feast Matthew 22:1-14 Jesus often told parables, or stories, to teach people about God s kingdom. One of the parables Jesus used to teach people was about a wedding feast. Jesus said, This is what God s kingdom is like. A king s son was getting married, so the king prepared a big wedding feast. The king sent out his servants to tell everyone who was invited to the banquet that the feast was ready. The servants went out and came back. They told the king that the people did not want to come. So the king sent out his servants again. The king said, Tell the guests that I have prepared a feast! I have killed the best oxen and fattened cattle. Dinner is ready! Come to the wedding banquet! The servants went out, but the people did not listen to the king s message. One man went to his farm, and another man went to his business. Some of the people even captured the king s servants and killed them. When the king found out what happened, he was angry! The king sent out his army, punished the murderers, and burned down their city. Then the king told his servants, The feast is ready, but the people who were invited do not deserve to come to my feast. Go out to the streets and invite everyone you see. So the servants went out and did what the king asked. They invited all the people they saw good people and evil people. The wedding feast was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man who was not dressed in the right clothes for a wedding. The king said to the man, Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes? The man was speechless. The king ordered his servants, Tie this man up hand and foot, and throw him out. Jesus ended His story by saying, Many people are invited to God s kingdom, but only a few are chosen. Christ Connection: Salvation is a free gift. We can t earn our way into heaven. Jesus did all the work when He died for our sins on the cross. This story reminds us that we need to be clothed in Christ s righteousness. Jesus invites us to join Him in heaven the great wedding feast. When we receive His invitation, Jesus gets us ready by clothing us in His righteousness. Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 2
Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group SMALL GROUP OPENING Session Title: Parable of the Faithful Servant Bible Passage: Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48 Big Picture Question: What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. Key Passage: Matthew 13:10-11 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus taught in parables so His followers would understand how to live in anticipation of His second coming. Welcome time: Arriving Activity: Great expectations items, 5 or 6 pillowcase, fabric, or plastic sheet Place five or six items on a long table. Use a pillowcase, a piece of fabric, or a sheet of plastic to cover each individual item. Allow the kids to see the items. Choose a volunteer. Invite the other kids to close their eyes or turn around without peeking. The volunteer can rearrange the items however she wishes. She can even turn them at different angles. When she covers up the items again, encourage the kids to open their eyes. Choose a new volunteer to come to the table and guess the first item. If he is correct, he may guess the second item and so forth. If he is incorrect, choose another kid to continue guessing. The kid who gets the last item correct becomes the next volunteer to rearrange the items. Say When you play this game, sometimes you didn t see what you expected to see when you uncovered the item. Jesus warned the disciples in a parable that they might be surprised by His return. Activity page (5 minutes) Drawing Talent activity page, 1 per kid pencils Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say Everyone has abilities and gifts. We ll find out how God wants us to use our abilities in our Bible story. Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 3
Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Bring back tape large container pencils, 15 paper clips, 15 paper wads, 15 markers, 15 Tape a start line and invite kids to stand on the line side by side. Place a large container several feet away and fill it with 15 of each of the following items: pencils, paper clips, paper wads, and markers. Choose three volunteers by name. Give the kids commands, such as Bring back 3 pencils, 4 paper clips, and 1 paper wad. Do not repeat your command. If the kids you called complete the task you gave them, they continue playing. Replace the items, choose new volunteers, and play again. Play until one child remains. Say Today we will learn about two servants who were given specific instructions to follow. One obeyed. One did not. We ll find out what happened when their master returned. Option 2: Get ready tape adult- sized button- up shirt, 1 per group adult- sized pair of pants, 1 per group Form two groups. Tape a start and finish line several feet apart. Line up the groups single file behind the start line. Provide each group with an adult pair of pants and an adult button- up shirt. When you say get ready, the first kid in line must put on the adult clothes. He must button the shirt correctly. He then races to the finish line and back, removes the oversized clothing, and passes it to the next person in line. She will repeat. The first group to get ready wins. To make the game simpler, only use the button- up shirt. Say Jesus shared a parable encouraging the disciples to get ready for something very important. We ll find out what. Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 4
Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group SMALL GROUP LEADER Session Title: Parable of the Faithful Servant Bible Passage: Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48 Big Picture Question: What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. Key Passage: Matthew 13:10-11 Unit Christ Connection: Jesus taught in parables so His followers would understand how to live in anticipation of His second coming. Key passage activity (5 minutes) Key Passage Slide or Poster dry erase board and markers (optional) Note: Help younger kids understand that Jesus is in heaven, but He is alive! Jesus promised His disciples that He was leaving the earth to prepare a place for them, but He will return. (See John 14:2-3.) Make sure the key passage, Matthew 13:10-11, is visible for each child, either as the slide, printed poster, or written on a dry erase board. Read the verse together. Say Jesus used this parable to remind believers of their mission while Jesus is away. Before going to heaven, Jesus told His disciples to tell others the gospel, to make disciples, and to baptize people who trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Choose a volunteer to face away from the visible key passage. Encourage the volunteer to begin saying the key passage. If she gets stuck, the kids can secretly assist. That means they can whisper the next two words. They must only whisper. The volunteer will then continue. Choose another volunteer, and repeat as time allows. Bible story review (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Encourage the kids to find Luke 12:42-48 in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Say Which book of the New Testament is the Book of Luke? (third) Luke is found in the Gospels division. Luke was a doctor who loved Jesus and told others about Him. Does anyone know what other book of the Bible Luke wrote? (Book of Acts) Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in your own words. Invite the kids to find a friend and Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 5
Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group share one detail about the Bible story. Then, encourage the kids to share that same story with a parent and a friend who does not go to church. Say Being a believer comes with expectations. That is the message of this parable. Jesus gives His disciples a mission, and He expects them to complete it. The abilities and gifts God has given you and me help us tell others the gospel. The wise and faithful servant will trust in Jesus and serve Him faithfully. He will be rewarded. The unfaithful servant will not. He will be punished. Jesus also said that more will be expected of those who are given more responsibilities. Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Gifts and abilities tape large sheet of paper markers Tape a large sheet of paper on the wall. Invite kids to share something they are good at or enjoy doing. Write each response on the piece of paper. After receiving several answers, form two groups. Invite each group to talk about how they can use the first talent to serve Jesus. For instance, if the kids listed baseball, they could tell their teammates about Jesus. After about a minute let each group share what they came up with. Continue through each item on the list or as long as time allows. Say Often times, our gifts and talents are things we are good at or enjoy doing. If we are wise and faithful, we will find ways to use those things to serve God. What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. Option 2: Chore chart Chore Chart printable, 1 per kid (enhanced CD) laminator or sheets of clear contact plastic permanent markers stickers adhesive magnets Print a copy of the Chore Chart printable for each kid. Laminate each one if possible. Provide Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 6
Sunday, Mar 1, 2015 Kidzone KG and 1st Grade Small Group the kids with permanent markers and stickers. Encourage the kids to write in the larger boxes something they could do to be wise and faithful servants for their parents. For instance: they could clean their rooms, wash the dishes, take out the trash, and so forth. Provide a magnet for the back of the chore chart. Invite the kids to hang the chart on their refrigerator and mark with stickers or a checkmark the day or days they complete the task. Say Jesus was encouraging His disciples to be wise and faithful servants. What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. Journal and prayer (5 minutes) Journal Page, 1 per kid markers or crayons Bible Story Coloring Page Distribute each child s journal page provided with this session. Instruct the kids to draw a picture of themselves telling someone about Jesus. Writers can write ways they can serve Jesus. Say Let s not forget to serve Jesus this week as faithful servants. What will happen to the wise and faithful servant? The wise and faithful servant will be rewarded. If time remains, take prayer requests or allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Pray, thanking God for giving us the perfectly wise and faithful servant, Jesus. Pray for each child by name, asking God to help each kid see how he can use the gifts and talents God has given him to serve Jesus. Dismiss to parents Make sure to check security tags when dismissing children. Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Elementary 7
UNIT 30 Session 3 Parable of the Faithful Servant 2014 LifeWay OK TO PRINT Jesus Taught with Parables
2014 LifeWay OK TO PRINT UNIT 30 Key Passage Poster (NIV) Jesus Taught with Parables Matthew 13:10-11 The disciples came to him and asked, Why do you speak to the people in parables? He replied, Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.
Instructions: Draw something you are good at or enjoy doing. Unit 30 Session 3 Younger Kids Activity Pages Jesus Taught with Parables
Parable of the Faithful Servant Matthew 24:45-51; Luke 12:42-48
Chore Chart Instructions: Print and use as directed in the leader guide. My Chores I Need To... SUNDAY monday Tuesday Wednesday ThuRSday Friday Saturday UNIT 30 Session 3 Younger Kids Leader Guide 2014 LifeWay OK TO PRINT Jesus Taught with Parables