BIBLE EXPLORE / NEW TESTAMENT / MATTHEW

Book of Matthew: Chapter 22

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The Wedding Banquet (​Matthew 22:1-14)

Everyone is invited go God's celebration

Gospel conversations

This is a difficult parable. Is the person throwing the banquet really God? If so, what is the significance of the man who is thrown out because he is wearing the wrong clothes? We have a wonderful team from the Diocese of Dunedin (Michael, Gillian, Nicki and Alec) tackle these thorny questions - and, again, if you want to hear some more discussion of them, look out for the "Extras" we will put up soon.

Wondering questions

• I wonder which character you relate to in the story. 
• I wonder why the invited guests refused to come? 
• I wonder why the invited guests were so upset about the request, and hurt the servants? 
• I wonder how they felt when other people were invited in their place, even the 'bad' people? Were they still upset? 

You are invited bible story

A story about how everyone is invited to God's celebration. The story can be found Sermons 4 Kids.

The wedding banquet song

Rain for Roots have put together a song about the Wedding Banquet on Youtube

Activity sheets

Here is a wedding cake maze, a wordfind and a decoding activity

7 minute sermon

Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a party. The guest list is pretty big. You’re invited to attend! In this Seven Minute Sermon, Rev. George Penk shares about the Parable of the wedding banquet in Matthew 22

Media

The Parable of the Banquet in Luke 14:12-24 - different to the one in Matthew, but similar in theme. 

The most important thing (​Matthew 22:34-46)

Today Jesus tells us that the most important thing is to love God

All you need is love Bible story

A story that explores the theme of 'Loving God, Loving Others' which can be found on Sermons 4 Kids.

Discussion questions

• How do you love God with all your heart?
• How do you love God with all your soul?
• How do you love God with all your mind?

Loving others and loving ourselves

An activity to help children think about ways that they can show love

You will need: large piece of poster paper, colored pens

Introduce the activity: When Jesus said in todays passage that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul and mind he was really saying we are to love God with all that we are. We're going to do something now to hep us think about how we can use all that we are to show God and others love. 

Lay out two large pieces of paper and ask for two volunteers to lay down on their backs. Ask if they are happy to be traced and have a child do so.
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Once you have a basic outline write “Loving God” on the first body, and “Loving Others” on the second one.
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Ask a volunteer to come forward and draw/color each of the following body parts while as a group you come up with ways that you can use those parts to show love.  

• Ears (eg: listening when others are talking, listening in church)
• Eyes (eg: paying attention to others needs, reading the Bible)
• Nose & Mouth (eg: singing worship songs, speaking kind words)
• Mind (eg: learning about Jesus, reading the Bible, thinking of new ways to help others)
• Heart (eg: praying to God, telling your parents you love them)
• Hands (eg: holding the door, helping wash-up at church)
• Feet (eg: going on mission trips, walking with someone to their classroom)

As  a way to finish pray together, asking each child to pick one thing they could do this week and asking God to help them do it. 

Gospel Conversations

Our Gospel reading this week contains what must be one of the most familiar verses in the Bible for Anglicans who hear it weekly in their eucharistic services: the "two great commandments." Sometimes we can gloss over such verses simply because we have heard them so often, but our conversationalists take us back to the challenge and good news within them. Mary-Jo Holdaway joins the panel for the first time, along with Michael, Bishop Steve and Damon.

Memory verse

Memory Verse resource for "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind." Matthew 22:37

This resource includes colouring poster, booklet and instruction sheet for the teacher. See here for more information (to download, you'll need to sign up to the site)

Mosaic heart sun-catchers

Make a sweet mosaic sun-catcher, they can keep one to remind themselves to love God and make one for someone else as a way of loving others.
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Supplies: Clear-sticky plastic (Duraseal), small coloured squares/sequins/glitter, scissors

Cut out two squares of plastic per child
Give them one each to start with, placing it sticky-side-up in front of them
Have the children sprinkle the coloured squares over the plastic as they wish.Older children could do a more complex design.
When finished, stick the second piece of plastic on top of the first and press firmly to seal in the squares. 
Then from this cut out the shape of one or two hearts
These can be stuck on the window with blue tack to "catch the sun"
You can find more detailed instructions here ​

Media

The Greatest Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40)

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (New Living Translation)

Activities

• Pipecleaner Moses Craft (Bible Story Printables)
• Folding Optical Illusion (Jesus Without Language)
• One God Hand Craft (Catholic Icing)
• Paper Plate Heart Weaving (Red Ted Art)
• Heart Craft (True Aim Education)
• Water Colour and Crayon Messages (Flame Creative Kids)