Throwback - Week 3
From retro toys to fashion trends, we all love a good throwback. (Especially for grown-ups because it reminds us of being young again.) There are things that remind us of a moment in time, but other things feel timeless and like they’re always in style. In this four-week series, our families will travel through the decades and see that the teachings of Jesus in the Gospels are always trending. As we hear from Jesus, we’ll see it’s always good to be humble, we can always forgive, Jesus is always fair, and love always needs action.
BIG IDEA: Jesus is always fair.
BIBLE: Matthew 20:1–16; John 10:11–18
MEMORY VERSE
Elementary: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." Hebrews 13:8 (NIV)
Toddler Twist: "Jesus stays the same." Hebrews 13:8
WATCH:
Preschool- teaching video
Elementary- teaching video
SONG: You Are Everything, and Jesus The Same
DISCIPLE: Read Matthew 20:1-16 aloud to your family, then share a story about a time when you were a kid and you experienced something that felt unfair, such as moving to a new school and struggling to make new friends, not getting the gear or even haircut everyone else had, or feeling left out of a circle of friends.
Say: I'm sure you've felt like things were unfair in your life, too. We feel this way when we feel like we got something we didn't deserve (like a scolding) or didn't get something we felt we deserved (like a new toy or gadget).
In today's Bible story, it might not have seemed fair on the surface that everyone got paid the same even though some worked hard and some hardly worked at all, but it wasn't a story about what people earn and deserve. It's a story about how generous God is. We know this because God gave Jesus to everyone even though none of us earned or deserved him.
Everybody has a chance to connect with God and nobody is left out. Jesus is always fair.
Pray: Jesus, thank you for always being fair. You give everyone an opportunity to know God even though we did nothing to earn this gift. Help us to turn to you when life feels unfair, and help us to show fairness to others the way you do to us. Amen.DISCUSS:
How much did the landowner agree to pay each worker? One denarius
How much did the workers who worked all day and the ones who worked only one hour get paid? They all got paid one denarius each.
Do you think the landowner was being fair to the workers? Why or why not?
Read John 10:14–16. How is this an example of Jesus being fair? Jesus laid down his life for all "sheep," not just the ones in the "pen" that already know him. Jesus died for everyone.
How is Jesus' idea of fairness different than ours?
What is the gift Jesus wants to give us, and why can't we earn it?
What is one way we can be fair the way Jesus is?
Jot down the ones you are willing to try!
Pray: Jesus, thank you for always forgiving us. We could never pay you back, but we can pay it forward by forgiving others. Instead of holding grudges, we want to practice forgiveness. Show us who we can forgive and how. Amen.
DISCUSS:
What did the king do for the servant who owed ten thousand bags of gold? The king canceled his debt and let him go.
What did the first servant do to his fellow servant who owed one hundred silver coins? He attacked him and sent him to prison.
Why did the king hand the first servant over to the jailers? The first servant didn't forgive a fellow servant even though he himself had been forgiven a huge debt.
Read 1 John 3:1. How is it possible that we can be called children of God? God loved us and gave us this right. God forgave our sins.
Why can we always forgive?
What happens when we hold grudges for a long time?
Knowing that Jesus forgave us and continues to forgive, what are some things you can do to show forgiveness?