ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES For Sunday, May 15, 2016 This resource is designed to allow your family to have time in God’s Word BEFORE your children attend church. Because God’s plan is for parents to be the primary spiritual nurturers of their children’s faith, we want YOU to be the one to introduce this part of The Big God Story to them. HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource This monthly magazine gives your family ideas for creating fun, spiritually forming times in your home—setting aside sacred space in the midst of your active, everyday lives. Visit www.HomeFrontMag.com to subscribe to the print edition or to have a digital copy sent directly to your inbox.
GOD IS GRACIOUS Parable of the Workers in the Field Matthew 20:1–16 Jesus tells the parable of the workers in the vineyard to illustrate God’s grace. Though it may not always seem fair by human standards, God offers His grace to everyone.
JUST FOR FUN Talk with your children about scenarios they feel are unfair. Read the parable of the workers in the field in Matthew 20:1–16. Ask why the first workers felt upset when they found out the last workers got the same pay. Remind them that the first workers got exactly what they’d been promised. Encourage your children to look back at the scenarios they shared earlier. Explain that when we pray and see things from God’s point of view, it changes our perspective. God is not only fair, but also gracious, which means He shows mercy and compassion to everyone.
REMEMBER VERSE Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up on compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18
SUMMER U Over 235 elementary kids are registered for Summer U and some courses are full, so sign up today for Summer U, if you haven’t, at Summer U.org. Parents, we can always use your help to staff this event. You can register on the website to help when you sign up your child(ren). © 2016 David C Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.
Spring Lesson 11
DID YOU KNOW? • Each worker in this parable received the same wage—regardless of how late in the day he entered the field. • Though it might seem unfair that all of the workers were paid the same amount, none of them received less than the amount he’d agreed to. • Jesus told this parable to explain that He is gracious to all and gives as He chooses. • Though God’s grace doesn’t always look like what we would expect, He treats us all fairly and offers grace to all.
YOUNGER KIDS The shared beliefs and valuesthat your child finds in her faith community will continue to provide a strong foundation. Be consistent about bringing your child to church, and reinforce her friendships with those who share her faith.
OLDER KIDS Continue encouraging your older child to be involved in faith-centered activities that help him connect with those who share his faith. These connections, even if limited, provide a reprieve from the worldly pressures he’s beginning to experience elsewhere.
TEACHABLE MOMENTS After reading the Scripture passage, discuss the following together: • How do you think the workers hired later in the day felt when they received the same wage as the workers who worked all day? How would you have felt? • How do you think the workers who worked all day felt when they saw that the workers who came later received the same wage they received? How would you have felt? • What is the difference between grace and fairness?
BLESSING A blessing can be a spoken prayer of commission, a portion of Scripture, or words of encouragement and guidance over your child. For more information about blessing your child, see the Blessing section in HomeFront: A Spiritual Parenting Resource @ HomeFrontMag.com A blessing to pray over your child: (Child’s name), may you see God’s graciousness in your life. May you notice the ways He shows love and kindness to you.