How Children Can Serve God Teach Children to Serve God by Serving Other People Choose any of these children's learning activities. 1. Let an older child or teacher read or recount Matthew 25:14-30, about faithful servants. The story shows that God gives
each one of us a job to do for him. We are his servants; · Explain that a “talent” was an extremely valuable golden coin. ·
After relating the story, ask these questions. ü How many talents did the man give to each of his three servants? (See verse 15) ü What did each servant do with his money? (16-18) ü What did the master say when his servants used their money wisely? (21) ü What did the lazy servant do with his one gold coin? (25) ü
What happened to this servant? (30)
2. Dramatize parts of the story of the faithful servants. · Arrange with the leader of the main congregational worship to present this drama. · Use your time with the children to prepare the drama. · You do not have to use all the parts of the story. · Have the older children help the younger ones prepare. · Have the children prepare fifteen big coins. They can cut them out of paper. Older children or adults act out these roles: Narrator. Summarize the story and help the children remember what to say and do. Master of the House. Carry a travel bag and hold eight coins. Younger children act out these roles: Faithful Servants #1 Has five of the coins and a sheet of paper in a pocket, for the second part of the story. Faithful Servant #2. Has two of the coins in a pocket’ and two sheets of paper for the second part of the story. Lazy servant Merchants. Have ready: (1) Three sheets of paper; (2) Things that represent a business, such as tools or boxes. (3) Seven of the large coins. Narrator:
Tell the first part of the story, Matthew
25:14-18. Then say, Master of the House:
Put your bag on your shoulder
and say, Faithful Servant
#1: Go
to the Merchants and say, Merchants: (Some say) “You made a very wise purchase.”
(Others say) ”Here is
the title deed.” Faithful Servant
#2: Go
to the Merchants and say, Merchants: (Some say) “That is a wise investment.”
(Others say) ”Here are
the title deeds.” Lazy
servant:
Look around to pretend that you make sure nobody is watching. Narrator:
Tell the second part of the story, Matthew 25:19-23.
Then say, Master of the House: “I have
returned from my journey. Faithful Servants
#1 Go to the
Merchants again and tell them, Merchants:
(Some say) “You have made a
good profit from your investment”. (Hand Faithful Servant #1 ten coins.) Faithful Servants
#2 Go to the
Merchants again and tell them, Merchants:
(Some say) “You have doubled
your investment.” Faithful Servant #1:
Return to
the Master and say, Faithful Servant #2:
Give the
master the four coins and say, Master:
“Well done, faithful servants. Come live with me. Narrator:
Tell the third part of the story, Matthew 25:24-30.
Then say, Lazy
servant:
Go get the one coin that you hid, and give it to the
master. Then say, Master:
“Lazy servant! You did not invest the coin I gave you. Narrator. Thank everyone who helped with the drama. 3. Draw a picture of five big gold coins and let the children copy it. · Let the older children help the younger. Some children may like to copy or colour the picture found at the end of this lesson. ·
Children show their pictures to
the adults during worship time or to parents at home. Let the children
explain that the coins illustrate how God gives to us gifts and
blessing to use to serve him, instead of storing them up for ourselves.
4. Memorize Matthew 6:24. “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” 5. Poem: let three children each recite one of the verses from Psalm 65:4, 5 and 9. 6. Let older children write poems, songs or drama about using God’s gifts to serve others. 7. Let an older child pray:
More detailed drama, illustrating another of Jesus’ parables, Sheep and Goats, about serving others: http://biblestoryskits.com/021-jesus-parts-sheep-from-goats-that-lack-practical-love-3/
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