Rejected
Children's Activity
Object:
Teachers or Parents: Rejection stings, but Jesus understands
our rejection because he was rejected himself.
*Many churches will observe "World Communion Sunday" today and emphasize the fact that we are all accepted by God and share one world and one communion. This is a nice counterbalance to the rejection everyone has felt at one time or another.
*On this date in 1536, William Tyndale, translator of the English Bible, was executed for the crime of translating the Bible! People reject others for strange reasons. Even though Tyndale was rejected at the time, he is now considered a hero of the church and a martyr. Look up Tyndale's story and tell it on a child's level.
*By our sin we were all rejected by God. Christ endured the rejection and scorn of people so that he might save us! Like the stone Michelangelo saved, we have been saved by the grace of God in Christ.
*Identify ways we reject people today: race, gender, nationality, language, and so forth. Ask: "How can we become more accepting of others -- especially those who are different from us?"
*Retell the parable Jesus used of the wicked tenants. Explain how Jesus used parables to tell about real life. Translate the characters in the story:
Landowner -- God
Vineyard -- the earth
Tenants -- people who have the privilege of using the earth while they are alive -- even though they don't own it. (This might be a good time to illustrate the stewardship principle that everything belongs to God and we really own nothing.)
Slaves -- the prophets whom the people abused and rejected.
Landowner's son -- Jesus. Here Jesus predicts how he also will be rejected, abused, and killed.
*Explain "cornerstone" (v. 42) and how this is often considered the most important part of the building. If your church has a cornerstone, find out if there is anything in it. Explore the history of when it was set. Note it to the children.
*Many churches will observe "World Communion Sunday" today and emphasize the fact that we are all accepted by God and share one world and one communion. This is a nice counterbalance to the rejection everyone has felt at one time or another.
*On this date in 1536, William Tyndale, translator of the English Bible, was executed for the crime of translating the Bible! People reject others for strange reasons. Even though Tyndale was rejected at the time, he is now considered a hero of the church and a martyr. Look up Tyndale's story and tell it on a child's level.
*By our sin we were all rejected by God. Christ endured the rejection and scorn of people so that he might save us! Like the stone Michelangelo saved, we have been saved by the grace of God in Christ.
*Identify ways we reject people today: race, gender, nationality, language, and so forth. Ask: "How can we become more accepting of others -- especially those who are different from us?"
*Retell the parable Jesus used of the wicked tenants. Explain how Jesus used parables to tell about real life. Translate the characters in the story:
Landowner -- God
Vineyard -- the earth
Tenants -- people who have the privilege of using the earth while they are alive -- even though they don't own it. (This might be a good time to illustrate the stewardship principle that everything belongs to God and we really own nothing.)
Slaves -- the prophets whom the people abused and rejected.
Landowner's son -- Jesus. Here Jesus predicts how he also will be rejected, abused, and killed.
*Explain "cornerstone" (v. 42) and how this is often considered the most important part of the building. If your church has a cornerstone, find out if there is anything in it. Explore the history of when it was set. Note it to the children.
