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© 2021 - 2025  Strandz

Matthew 10

BIBLE EXPLORE / NEW TESTAMENT / MATTHEW

Book of Matthew: Chapter 10


Jesus sends out the 12 (Matthew 10:1-8)

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About this passage

The disicples were Jesus' whānau, and they had already travelled with him on foot through Galilee. They had been there in the tough times, and had listened to him teach, share and encourage. They had watched him live by example, as the Son of God, walking and talking with him each day. And now it was their turn to go and try it alone. They still needed guidance, patience and tenderness as they trusted him to step out in faith, and he gave them the Holy Spirit to be with them. 

​Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge: “Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously."

Introduction

Ministry-to-children.com have a good ice-breaker for today's passage. Read out the examples of things listed, and brainstorm whether they are to be done by the “Original Disciples” or “Disciples Living Now” e.g. cleanse lepers, work at the hospital, teach someone English, don't travel with a backpack, become a scientist. 

Interactive Bible Stories

  • There is an interactive Bible Lesson on this Gracelink website, where children use body actions to help tell the Bible story, e.g. touching their eyes, ears, heart, foot, arm. View the pdf (page 94)
  • Jesus sends out the 12 skit - it starts the story, and encourages you to finish it off reading the Bible story.
  • This story on the Gracelink website looks at how the disciples were sent out two by two. View the pdf (page 98)​

Gospel Plane

An origami paper plane activity that helps unpack evangelism with children. Source and Instructions: ​Let the Little Children Come 
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Visio Lectio

A linocut print from Rev. Sarah West, from Visio Lectio - shared with permission
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Gospel Conversations

We're getting well into "Ordinary Time" now and it's time to start thinking about what we DO in response to all we've remembered and celebrated throughout Easter and Pentecost. The harvest is plentiful, apparently! Join Jonathan, Esther and - for the first time - Wendy as they and Michael ponder together what it might mean for us, today, to be sent out to work the fields.

Discussion Questions

  • Who are the lost, confused people that Jesus is sending out the disciples to? 
  • To be lost is to be disorientated, having lost your bearings or sense of direction, and you've lost sight of where you're heading. Who are the lost people in our community? 
  • How can we help people be less lost and confused? 
  • Jesus surprised the religious leaders by talking and spending time with the most unlikely people in the community. Why was that confronting for them? 
  • How can we live generous lives? 

Dominoes object lesson

An object lesson using dominoes to share how one Christian kid telling their friend about Jesus can have ripples across the world. A good introduction to evangelism! 

Memory game

This game would work well with a small group of children. Ask a child to think about something they would take with them on a journey. Begin the sentence with "I'm going on a journey, and I need to take _______. The next person in the circle repeats this, and adds on their own item. "I"m going on a journey, and I need to take ____ and ____. Repeat around the circle. 

Media

These videos are on the topic of the disciples of Jesus, which help provide context for this passage from the Gospel of Matthew

Do not be afraid (Matthew 10:24-39)

Jesus tells us not to worry, and to trust that Jesus is with us every day.
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Visio Lectio

A print from Rev. Sarah West, from Visio Lectio, shared with permission. 
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Rooftop questions

Jesus words are both a challenge and a huge encouragement
  • Do not be afraid what to say
  • Do not be afraid about what others will do to you
  • Do not be afraid of what will happen to you
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Some questions to consider: 
  • Which one would you find the easiest? 
  • Which one would you find the hardest? 
  • If someone told you the most amazing news, would you keep it a secret? Jesus says " you must announce from the housetops whatever I have whispered to you." 
  • How can we do that today? What does it look like to share Jesus message of love and grace 'from the rooftops?'

Interview

Preparation: Seek out one or two people from the congregation that have been Christians for a while and invite them to come to your children’s ministry for the morning to share what it has been like for them to be Christians. You may also like to have some questions written on bits of paper, and a gift for the guests as well as a card.

What to do: Get the children to sit in a circle and include the guests in that circle. Explain that today you have two special guests who have come to share about what it is like for them to be Christians.

Introduce briefly the guests and include a couple of ‘interesting’ facts eg. The colour of their toothbrush, the name of a favourite pet, etc.

Then, tell the children that going around the circle, each child will get the chance to ask a question of the guests. If they don’t know what to ask, get them to pick one out of the middle. 

If this works well, then end there. If it goes quickly for whatever reason, then invite the guests to share a little bit themselves.
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The key with this is to try and keep the children interested. So try getting the guests to talk about what they were like at school, if they ever did anything naughty at church, what they thought of church when they were young, why they believe in Jesus, etc.

Prayer labyrinths

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This prayer resource was put together by Teri Johnson-Frow, from Johnsonville Anglicans, for their Ascension Sunday children's ministry. You could also use this prayer idea as you consider how we 'journey with Jesus.' She says:

This term we have been on a journey with the disciples, of knowing Jesus in a new way. This week we farewelled Jesus from his post-resurrection earthly ministry, when he returned to be with his Father. 

If we are followers of Jesus then we are always on a journey – a journey of following Jesus, of growing and changing in relationship with him, of being transformed individually and as a community. 

PRAYER LABYRINTHS
This week in kids church we explored the idea of journey using prayer labyrinths.

Most kids, and many adults, struggle to pray while sitting still and doing ‘nothing’. It can be easier to focus if fingers or bodies are engaged with something. Just think about the latest fidget spinner craze! Visual, kinetic and tactile forms of prayer (like labyrinths) can really help kids connect with God. 

Walking a labyrinth (or using a finger labyrinth) is also a great way to slow down from our busy lives and pay attention to God’s presence with us.

If you or your kids are interested you might like to check out some larger outside labyrinths. There is a walking labyrinth at The Terrace Centre which is part of the Johnsonville Uniting Church on Dr Taylor Tce, Wellington. There is also one at Hutt Hospital. Both are free and open to the public.

Try making your own finger labyrinths out of lego, cord, or clay. Or here are some easy printable ones http://flamecreativekids.blogspot.co.nz/…/finger-labyrinths…
We also have some finger labyrinths at kids church you are welcome to borrow and try out.

Labyrinths have been used by Christians as a spiritual practice for many centuries. They were originally used as a symbolic alternative to pilgrimage when the physical journey could not be undertaken. There is nothing mystical, magical or inherently transformative about labyrinths – they are simply a visual, tactile, and kinetic way of praying – much like taking a long walk, lighting a candle, writing in a journal, holding a cross or prayer beads, or many of the other tools we use to help ourselves notice God’s presence with us. 
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May you be aware of God’s presence with you and your family this week.

Gospel Conversations

This Gospel passage is full of what are sometimes called "hard sayings" of Jesus, and yet it is also full of reassurances to not be afraid. How do we make sense of this challenging yet promise-laden set of instructions from Jesus to his brand-new disciples? Alec, Andrew and Anne join Michael to see if it's possible!

Do not worry, Rain for Roots

A beautiful, simple song on Youtube by Rain for Roots.
​This could be played in the background, taught to the children or used during a prayer time. 

Interview questions

Invite someone to come and talk to the children about what it is like to follow Jesus. You could choose a few different people, with different jobs, ages, and life stories. 
  • How do people know that you are a follower of Jesus?
  • Whose opinion matters to you?
  • When is it hardest for you to be a Christian?
  • Why are you a Christian?
  • What helps you to maintain your faith?
You may like to discuss these questions in small groups with the children too

Game - find the sparrows!

What you need: lots of the sparrows provided in the template, blue tack, cd/tape player and background music

Preparation: Hide all the sparrows around the room using the blue tack to attach them.
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What to do: Tell the children that you are going to play some music, and that while it is playing they need to dance around to the music. When ever it stops, they need to try and find a sparrow. (Just one per child). Once they have all found one, the music will start again. Do this for a few rounds. Encourage the children to help others who are having trouble finding the sparrows.
sparrows.pdf
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Helping those who worry

Kids Can, a NZ charity,  share that 254,000 children are growing up in hardship in New Zealand.

While our passage reminds us to trust God in all things and not to worry about our day to day needs, a quarter of our kiwi kids do not have the basics. 

Your church might have missional programmes in place, or charities/organisations that you support -- but perhaps today is a good day to ask the children how they can best share God's love with those who worry. 
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Some questions to ask:
  • What are families in your community worried about? 
  • What is the greatest need of the local school? (school breakfasts, shoes, lunches, waterproof jackets, literacy assistance?)
  • How can we help those kids who worry? 
We obviously don't want to install fear in any of our children, but we do want to give them opportunities to recognise and call out injustice, and serve those who need God's love. 

The worries of Aotearoa New Zealand

You can read the Salvation Army's State of the Nation 2023 report for more information about how we measuring up nationally, as we care for the last, lost and least. ​
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Do not worry video

This story is from Jesus teaching's on the sermon on the mount. He reminds us to not worry about anything because our heavenly father will take care of us like he takes care of the birds and the lilies. Although this video is from Matthew 625-34, it supports the teaching aim of today. ​

Welcome (Matthew 10:40-42)

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Welcome questions

"Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me. And anyone who welcomes me also welcomes the one who sent me"

Jesus talks about how important it is it welcome people -- and that when we are welcomed, or welcome others, Jesus is welcomed too. 
  • How can we welcome people well? 
  • How can we welcome new kids at church?
  • If you were going to a new place, how would you know that you were welcome? 
  • What things can you do to make sure children are welcome at your home, school or church? 
  • Can you remember the last time you were given a really warm welcome? 
  • Why do you think the Bible says that anyone who welcomes you, welcomes Jesus?

Intergenerational worship

This resource is the first of 5 weeks looking at how we can 'check our heart', using the upcoming gospel passages of Matthew. From Intergen Australia
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Craft - welcome mats

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What you need: 
  • Outdoor natural coir mats -- you can buy them from Bunnings for approx $10
  • Tester pots of outdoor paint. (Resene often donate these to community groups, although you might not get the colours you want!) Outdoor paint lasts well, although there are no guarantees in a high traffic area.
  • A thick paint brush for stippling paint onto the mat
  • Masking tape
  • Paper templates with 'welcome' or 'kia ora' printed in a typeface you like, and cut out using a craft knife or scalpel. Don't use a font that is too fine -- chunky sans serif typefaces are good! 

What you do:
Children work together to design and decorate the welcome mats. These can be used at church or given away to new people in the community, such a new refugee family. 

Have a template cut out in advance, with the letters for WELCOME or KIA ORA. Where a letter has a counter (e.g. the inside of an o) you might like to stick those down separately with masking tape. Secure the whole template to the mat with masking tape

Doing one colour at at time, dip the paint brush into the test pot and dab it onto the mat, keeping the brush vertical. Complete one layer, and you might like to add another layer once that one is dry. You could do a different colour per letter. 
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Give the mat to a new family in the area, or use them at church to welcome the community when they arrive. 

Game - welcome relay

A fun, active game to help kids think about welcoming people well. You could do this as one group, or divide the children into teams

What you need:
  • 2 chairs
  • 2 cushions
  • small table -- light enough for one or two kids to carry
  • 2 plastic cups filled with water
  • jug of water
  • A non breakable vase with a flower in it (such as a tall cup)
  • plate of biscuits or snacks
  • A bible
  • You can add other props if available, e.g. table cloth, your church newsletter, teapot. 

What you do:
  • Choose a child to be the 'visitor' who arrives at your door unexpectedly. If you have lots of children in your programme, you could do multiple visitors and houses.
  • You welcome them into your house and then realise that you have nothing to welcome them. 
  • Children run a relay race bringing things from one side of the room to the other, so that the guest is welcomed well. You could race teams to be the first team to finish, when everything is on the other side of the room.
  • Children should think about what order they should send things (eg. you need a table to put the cups of water on first!
  • Repeat if you have time. 
  • Highlight the importance of welcoming people well. It's not about having material goods, but making sure that we are prepared to be kind and hospitable to those who need us to be Jesus to them. 

Gospel Conversations

Thanks to the Diocese of Dunedin for their great Gospel Conversations each week. For some reason the lectionary, after giving us a long and complex reading last week, gives us 3 verses this week. What could we find worth spending time on in such a short passage? Bishop Kelvin, Nicki and Mark Wilson join Rev. Michael Godfrey to discover applications for our ministries, our relationships, and even the future of the church!

Visio Lectio

A Lino cut inspired image from Rev. Sarah West for this week's gospel reading, shared with permission. 
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Manaakitanga

Manaakitanga means hospitality, kindness, generosity, support - the process of showing respect, generosity and care for others.

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Strandz put together a video for the Wellington Diocese about Manaakitanga and Faith 5, introducing how we could invite Jesus to be a part of our meal times. 

Reward questions

  • What would be your ideal reward?
  • Have you ever received a reward?
  • As a Christian, what reward do we have?
  • Why do you think ‘Anyone who welcomes a good person, just because that person is good, will be given the same reward as a good person’ means?

Reward chart

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What you need: lots of stickers, a copy of the template, cardboard, stuff to decorate with, glue

What to do. Glue the template to the cardboard. Decorate.

In the spaces provided, get the children to choose some things they would like to work on. Eg helping show hospitality, learning a particular bible verse off by heart, helping to clean up without being asked, praying before they go to bed, using kind words to welcome new children at school. 
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Give each child some stickers. Explain that whenever they do one of the things they have listed, they can put a sticker next to it on the chart. When they have five stickers by an item, then the next time they come to Children’s Ministry, they can share about what they did, and what it was like or what they learned and they will get a special reward. (this might be a pencil or bookmark. The main point of this is to get them to share with the group about their experience and what they learned.)

reward_chart.pdf
File Size: 32 kb
File Type: pdf
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Seven Minute Sermon

This seven minute sermon podcast from Rev. George Penk looks  Romans 6.14-23, and how grace makes Christianity unique. But does grace mean that we can keep sinning?
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