Times have changed from when I was a kid. I could take a few party invitations and hand them out to my friends at school. Now, you must send an invitation for every kid in the class. While I may not want to throw a huge party for everyone, I do understand the change: everyone wants to feel included and be invited. Even as an adult, I like being invited to parties even if I know I can’t make it. Thankfully, we’re all invited to God’s table. He wants each and everyone of us up there with Him; we just need to accept His invitation.
Here is a snapshot of what we will show the kids this week:
Bible Story Focus: Jesus loves everyone. (Banquet Parable • Matthew 22:8-10)
Memory Verse: “Do everything in love.” 1 Corinthians 16:14, NIV
Key Question: Who does Jesus love?
Bottom Line: Jesus loves everyone.
Bible Story & Worship
Watch the Bible Story Video with your kids so you can recap and discuss it with them in the “Bring Jesus To Their Level” section. Then join your kids in worship as we sing and dance for God.
Bible Story Video – Banquet Parable (link)
Worship – Everyone Everywhere (link)
Worship – I Like To (link)
Activities
Next, use the Memory Verse video to practice our monthly verse. We will practice this verse all month. Be sure to use the hand motions as it helps the kids to remember. Also, think of a fun reward you can give them at the end of the month when they are able to say it all by themselves. The activity sheet and coloring page are fun resources to help reinforce story and/or big idea.
Memory Verse with Hand Motions (link)
Bible Story Activity (link)
Coloring Page (link)
Bring Jesus To Their Level
Follow the following script to recap the story, practice the memory verse and demonstrate to your young children how to pray. (You’ll make a list with your family to pray over so have a pen a paper ready.)
Say: “Today, our Bible story was a story Jesus told. Jesus told a story about a big, beautiful party, and EVERYONE was invited because [Bottom Line] Jesus loves EVERYONE!
“In the story, everything for the party was ready. The table was set. The food was ready. The drinks were poured. It was wonderful! All the party needed was people. So party invitations were sent out for EVERYONE to come to the party!
“Jesus told this story so we can know that He loves everyone and everyone is invited to His party. So tell me, who does Jesus love? (Togeher.) [Bottom Line] Jesus loves EVERYONE!
“He sure does! And the Bible verse we’ll learn will help us remember that because Jesus does everything in love, we should do everything in love, too. It says . . . ‘Do everything (march in place) in love’ (hug yourself), 1 Corinthians 16:14. (Open hands like a book.) (Practice this verse several times with your kids.)
“You did such a great job of saying the verse with the motions! (Give two thumbs-up.) Since [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone, we’ll make a list of people Jesus loves. They can be any person because [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! As we take turns, I’ll write down each of our names as well.
“Jesus loves [family member’s name]. (Write their name then write the name of the person they say. Don’t forget yourself.) Yay! [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Would anyone like to pray before I pray?” (Give each family member who wants to pray the opportunity to do so.)
Prayer: “Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to be our friend forever and show us how to love everyone the way He loves everyone. Jesus loves (list every name written, including each family member). [Bottom Line] Jesus loves everyone! Help us do everything in love the way Jesus does. We love You, God. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
As we wrap up, I would like to leave you with one of the kids’ favorite ‘good-bye’ songs:
Let Me See Your Alligator
Thank you for the opportunity to partner with you in the discipleship of your kid(s). My prayers are with you.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God and knows God.”
1 John 4:7
