4 October 2026
Bible readings for today
Liturgical Colour: GREEN Today is St Francis Day. |
CollectMerciful God,
in Christ you make all things new; transform the poverty of our nature by the riches of your grace, and in the renewal of our lives make known your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. Amen. E te Atua Atawhai, nāu i whakahou ngā mea katoa i roto i a te Karaiti; hurihia te kuaretanga o tōku āhua tūturu mā te nui o tōu aroha noa, me te whakaora i ō mātou āhua kia mōhio ai ki tōu korōria o te rangi; Ko Īhu Karaiti tō mātou Kaihoko. Āmine. |
The Parable of the Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46)
Input for leadersIn today's parable, Jesus produces a tragi-comic representation of the hypocrisy of (probably some of …) the religious leadership of his day... Jesus strips his opponents of credibility with slapstick overstatement: no tenant would behave as the tenants do in this parable. The symbols of the parable shift meaning as Jesus develops his theme: the vineyard “shape-shifts” from Israel (21:33) to the “Kingdom of God” (21:43): might it shift again as the Christian Community of God fails in its commitment to love, justice and compassion? - Rev. Michael Godfrey
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Many of Jesus' parables are very uncomfortable, and the one he tells the religious leaders about God's vineyard and those who care for it is definitely one of the most unsettling. How are we to understand it today? Where are we in the parable? Archdeacon Michael, from the Diocese of Dunedin, brings together Jonathan, Lisa and Mark to come at this passage from myriad directions, and leave us with a wealth of things to consider.
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Intergenerational worship
TalksWater colour illustrations of the Parable of the Tenants - art by Henry Martin.
Giving God his due (Ministry to Children) - full lesson plan with activities. Last of all, He sent his son (Sermons 4 kids) - we have God's forgiveness through his Son. Activities and games to go with this talk. Parable of the tenants (Ministry to Children) - full lesson plan with activities. Parable of the vineyard thieves (RFour) - ask, tell, share with fun demonstration. 
Games & activitiesGathering the Harvest (Ministry to Children)
Needed: Bibles, fruit or paper wads, paper wads, soft balls Divide students into two teams and have them line up at one side of the room. Give each team a bowl. At the other end of the room, place a bowl full of fruit or small wads of paper to stand for fruit. One by one, the members of each team run to their bowl and bring back a single piece of fruit. They then add their piece of fruit to the team’s bowl. The first team to retrieve all their pieces of fruit wins. Fruit Harvest Tribute (Ministry to Children) Needed: Bibles, fruit or paper wads, paper wads, soft balls Scatter wads of paper on the floor and around the room to stand for fruit. Give students a 10-second time limit and tell them to collect as many pieces as they can to bring to you. After 10 seconds, yell, “Stop!” It’s the end of the harvest season. The student who brings you the most strips wins. Play a few times to give others a chance to win. Grape Chopsticks Get two bowls and a pair of chopsticks. Players must pick up single grapes with the chopsticks and move them from one bowl to the other. The goal is to transfer as many candies as possible in one minute. The winner is the person who moves the most. [Safety notes: grapes can be a choking hazard, don't leave them around]. Parable of the bad tenant Games (Jesus Without Language) - various game ideas.
Grape craft activities (Kids Art n Craft) Parable of the bad tenants Craft (Jesus Without Language) |
Questions
Pray it!
Preschool PlayThis is a difficult parable for little ones. Rather than trying to explain who every person in the story represents, focus on something preschoolers can experience: the vineyard was something good that had been entrusted to the workers to care for — but they didn't care for it or share its fruit as they should. God gives us good things to enjoy, care for and share with others.
Tell the Story – The Farmer's Vineyard Use blocks, toy people, greenery and pretend grapes or purple pompoms to build the story as you tell it. A farmer planted a vineyard. He dug the ground. He planted the vines. He built a fence around it. He made everything ready. Then he asked some workers to look after his vineyard. “Please take care of my vineyard while I'm away.” The grapes grew. Lots and LOTS of grapes! When the grapes were ready, the farmer sent some helpers to collect his share. But the workers wouldn't give them any. They were unkind and sent the helpers away. The farmer sent more people. But the workers still wouldn't listen. Finally, he sent his son. But the workers wouldn't listen to him either. Jesus asked, “What do you think the farmer should do?” The vineyard was something precious. The farmer had trusted the workers to look after it — but they hadn't cared for it as they should. Build a Vineyard Provide blocks, Duplo, greenery, toy people, baskets and purple pompoms or playdough grapes. Children can build walls, plant vines, make a tower and create their own vineyard. Chat about: What would your vineyard need? How could you look after it? I wonder why the farmer trusted the workers with something so special? Grape Harvest Create pretend grapevines using purple pompoms, balls or scrunched-up paper. Provide baskets for gathering the “grapes.” Once you've gathered lots, encourage the children to decide what to do with them. Chat about: Look how many grapes we have! What could we do with them? Could we share them? Who could have some? Care for It! Set up some simple real-life caring jobs: watering plants, sweeping, wiping tables, feeding a pretend pet, sorting toys or tending a small garden. Let children choose what they would like to care for. Chat about: What are you looking after? What does it need? What things do people trust you to care for? Sharing the Harvest Set up a pretend fruit and vegetable stall with baskets, play food, bags, a toy till and plenty of customers. Let children harvest, sell, buy, give and share the produce. You could introduce a toy person who has nothing and see what happens. Chat about: Is there enough to share? What could we give away? How does it feel when someone shares with you? Playdough Vineyard Provide playdough with twigs, leaves, stones, toy people, baskets and purple loose parts. Let children create vineyards, grapes, food or whatever emerges through their play. Chat about: What are you growing? Who is looking after your vineyard? What will you do when the grapes are ready? 
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Media
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The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-4,7-9,12-20)
Intergenerational Worship
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Activities
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Media
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The Ten Commandments Film (2009)
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