The kingdom of heaven
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Jesus used many similes -- especially
about those intangible things we cannot see -- such as the
kingdom of heaven. The teller of the children's sermon may choose
any or all of the similes Jesus uses in today's Gospel lesson.
All seek to explain that which is best explained by object
lessons or similes.
*If you planted a small bed of flowers at church last Sunday (or have an established bed going), point out how small the seeds were compared to the mature plants. Trees make wonderful object lessons. An acorn from an oak or a seed from a maple can show the dramatic difference seasons of growth make.
*Tie in the growth of plants with the spiritual growth of people and the importance of learning more and more about our Christian faith and traditions. Like a small tree seed, our faith begins and grows in small ways until it becomes strong.
*Make bread dough (of course, the modern bread machines make it easy) and periodically check on it as it swells. Note how our faith grows when it is nurtured. Again, this demonstrates the importance of Sunday school, home devotions, prayer, Bible reading, and so forth. (Perhaps the finished product could be used at a congregational communion service.)
*Make a list on the board or a large sheet of paper of all the things that are important to the children. Let them volunteer everything that is important to them. Then, when every child has had a chance to put as many items on the board she or he can think of, write in large capital letters, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, and explain how this is most important to Christians.
*Using the above list, show how Jesus told about a man who sold everything important to him (just like the list of things important to the children) and exchanged it for a great pearl. In the same way, the kingdom of heaven is more important to Christians than everything in the world.
*Using a blackboard or large sheet, make up new parables about the kingdom of heaven. Write: "The kingdom of heaven is like ..." and ask the children to complete the sentence. Let imaginations run as they try to grasp the richness of heaven promised to each believer.
*If you planted a small bed of flowers at church last Sunday (or have an established bed going), point out how small the seeds were compared to the mature plants. Trees make wonderful object lessons. An acorn from an oak or a seed from a maple can show the dramatic difference seasons of growth make.
*Tie in the growth of plants with the spiritual growth of people and the importance of learning more and more about our Christian faith and traditions. Like a small tree seed, our faith begins and grows in small ways until it becomes strong.
*Make bread dough (of course, the modern bread machines make it easy) and periodically check on it as it swells. Note how our faith grows when it is nurtured. Again, this demonstrates the importance of Sunday school, home devotions, prayer, Bible reading, and so forth. (Perhaps the finished product could be used at a congregational communion service.)
*Make a list on the board or a large sheet of paper of all the things that are important to the children. Let them volunteer everything that is important to them. Then, when every child has had a chance to put as many items on the board she or he can think of, write in large capital letters, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, and explain how this is most important to Christians.
*Using the above list, show how Jesus told about a man who sold everything important to him (just like the list of things important to the children) and exchanged it for a great pearl. In the same way, the kingdom of heaven is more important to Christians than everything in the world.
*Using a blackboard or large sheet, make up new parables about the kingdom of heaven. Write: "The kingdom of heaven is like ..." and ask the children to complete the sentence. Let imaginations run as they try to grasp the richness of heaven promised to each believer.
