Level 2 Lesson Plan: The Three Servants
Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 30- to 45-minute lesson plan to fill out the post “The Parables of Jesus: The Three Servants.” (It can also be broken into two smaller sessions.) It goes with the lesson objectives “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b) and “Learn what putting love into action means, and that real love results in good deeds” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: God’s Law of Love-1f).
Read “The Parables of Jesus: The Three Servants.” (You can also read this parable in Matthew 25:14–29.)
Explain to the children how a person can put some money into a savings account in a bank that will pay a small amount of interest each year. Another example is investing in stocks in a company, which makes them the owner of a small part of that company. If the company succeeds, then the stocks they have bought will be worth more, increasing the value of the money invested.
Explain that this parable is not just about money, but it’s about our skills, our talents, our education and knowledge, our social skills, and the possibilities we are presented with in life to do good. Through this parable, Jesus encourages us to use our lives in the best ways possible and promises that He will reward us for that.
Read “A Thought for the Day: Grow Those Talents.”
Read “Talents and Skills.”
Ask the children what skills they have. Feel free to bring up other skills that you’ve seen they have. Talk about how those skills can be used to help others and better our world. Then talk about how to improve these existing skills, as well as the importance of gaining more skills through investing time and energy in education.
Read “11 Reasons for Investing in Your Education.”
Pause and consider what it is we each have that Jesus is most concerned about us investing. If we have money, is Jesus mainly concerned that we invest it to make more money? Or if we have a talent or skill, is Jesus’ chief concern that we invest our time and efforts to make that talent or skill the best possible? What talent or skill is Jesus wanting us to make the most of? What talent or skill do we have that should be the umbrella under which we use all the other talents God’s given us?
Listen to “The Love Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13.”
Read “1 Corinthians 13 for You Today!”
Read “Don’t Get Buried.”
Wrap up this time by talking about ways for each person to improve their talents and to put them to use in ways that will be a help to others. Include some appreciation for one another’s talents, pointing out the love they have manifested to others through those talents.
Additional reading:
Compiled by My Wonder Studio staff.Copyright © 2020 by The Family International
0-5 Lesson Plan: The Gift of Salvation
“The Gift of Salvation” is a 20-minute 0–5 lesson plan on the gift of salvation that we can receive through Jesus.
Read “God’s Gift of Salvation.” (If you would prefer, you can prepare the “Flannelgraph: God’s Gift of Salvation,” and use it to explain God’s gift of salvation.)
Ask the children to think about something wrong that they have done that they needed forgiveness for. Then discuss how Jesus knew that we would need forgiveness for our mistakes and wrongs, and this is why He came to earth and gave His life for us—so that we could receive that gift of forgiveness and salvation.
Read the devotional “Bright Pebbles: Only Jesus,” then together sing the song in the “Action” on the last page.
Explain how we can receive the gift of salvation by asking Jesus to come live in our hearts and lives. If your child has not yet received Jesus into his or her heart, talk about saying a prayer together. If your child wants to, then pray the following prayer together:
“Jesus, thank You for giving Your life for me and offering me Your gift of joy and love forever. I accept You into my life. Please help me learn more about Your loving ways and how to give joy to others too. Amen.”
Talk about how once we receive Jesus into our hearts and lives, He promises to always be with us.
Memorize the last part of Hebrews 13:5 (“God has said, ‘I will never leave you; I will never abandon you’”).
Listen to “Salvation Is a Gift” and select one of the coloring pages to color.
Additional material:
If you would like to do a more in-depth study on salvation with your children, please refer to the following lesson plans: “0-5 Lesson Plan: God’s Gift of Salvation and Forgiveness” and “0-5 Lesson Plan: Jesus Is God’s Gift of Love.”
Compiled by My Wonder Studio Staff.
Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2020 by The Family International
Level 2 Lesson Plan: The Pharisee and the Publican
Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 45- to 60-minute lesson plan to fill out the post “The Parables of Jesus: The Pharisee and the Publican.” (It can also be broken into two smaller sessions.) It goes with the lesson objectives “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b) and “Learn how to recognize the difference between acting in pride and humility, and how to work toward making one’s reactions humble” (Character Building: Values and Virtues: Humility-2f).
Read “The Parables of Jesus: The Pharisee and the Publican.” (You can also read this parable in Luke 18:9–14.)
Explain to the children that the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were a group of holy men who were very devout and strived to obey even the tiniest part of the Jewish religious laws as part of their passion for God. Talk together about why many people in those days would consider the Pharisees to be such righteous men.
Ask the children if they can name one or two well-known New Testament men who were Pharisees. Answer: Nicodemus (John 3:1–3) and Gamaliel (Acts 5:34–40).
Ask the children if they can recall stories about other Pharisees accusing Jesus of not upholding the law. Answers could include: The disciples ate corn from a field on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–8); Jesus healed a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:9–15). Other examples of the Pharisees’ interaction with Jesus where their legalistic reactions are exposed can be found in Luke 14:1–24 and John 8:1–11.
Explain to the children that the publicans in Jesus’ day were tax collectors, often Jewish, who collected taxes from the Jewish people for the Roman government. Then discuss how the people of Israel might hold the publicans in disdain because they collected taxes for the foreign Roman government that ruled their land and also would often make the people pay extra that these tax collectors would keep for themselves.
Ask the children if they can name two well-known New Testament men who were publicans. Answer: Matthew (see Matthew 10:3) and Zacchaeus (Luke 19:2).
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Reread the last paragraph of “The Parables of Jesus: The Pharisee and the Publican.”
Discuss together why Jesus said this.
Read “Power-Up Devotional #11: Spirit Fruit: Gentleness and Meekness.”
Read “The Benefits of Humility.”
Each one reflect silently on a time when he or she might have thought they were a better person than others and how that opinion can hinder a friendship or interaction.
Pray together for a meek and humble attitude.
Each one reflect silently on one’s personal life and consider occasions when he or she was greedy or selfish and what effect it had on others or on oneself.
Pray together a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s love manifested in His forgiveness and acceptance of each person.
Review the verses in “Crazily Cool Cards Set: Forgiveness.”
Additional reading:
Compiled by My Wonder Studio staff.
Copyright © 2020 by The Family International
Level 2 Lesson Plan: The Mustard Seed
Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 45- to 60-minute lesson plan to fill out the post “The Parables of Jesus: The Mustard Seed.” (It can also be broken into two smaller sessions.) This goes with the lesson objectives, “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b); and “Be able to identify steps to strengthen and increase one’s faith” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Faith-2c).
Read the first paragraph of “The Parables of Jesus: The Mustard Seed.” (You can also read this parable in Matthew 13:31–32.)
Explain to the children how though the mustard seed isn’t the smallest seed in the world, it is one of the smaller seeds to be sown in a garden. The type of mustard commonly grown in Israel during Jesus’ day could grow to be two or more meters (yards) tall. Jesus wasn’t making a scientific statement, He was using this commonly known seed and plant to express points about the kingdom of heaven and about faith. Faith—even a small amount of sincere faith—can bring about great things.
Read “Power-Up Devotional #8: Spirit Fruit: Kindness.”
Discuss with the children how the mustard seed in this parable represents our deeds of kindness and compassion shown towards others.
Read “Kindness Pays Forward.”
Read or listen to “Madeleine’s Misdemeanor.”
Listen to “The Smallest Seed—The Parable of the Mustard Seed.”
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Read the second paragraph of “The Parables of Jesus: The Mustard Seed.” (You can also read this lesson on faith in Luke 17:5–6.)
Listen to “Faith as Small as a Mustard Seed.”
Listen to “Audio: According to Your Faith.”
Read “The Fuel of Faith.”
Read “The God Factor.”
Read “Adventures in Hebrews 11” Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.
Ask the children what a mustard seed would need to grow. Answers would be: soil, water, and sunshine.
Discuss how faith can grow as we exercise it by taking needs and situations to Jesus for His help and solutions; it grows much as the mustard plant from its tiny seed as long as it is planted in the good soil of a warm, compassionate heart, watered by God’s Word and testimonies of faith, and shined upon by thankfulness and praise to God for the answers.
Talk together about answers to prayer, both big and small, that you and your children have experienced. God blesses our actions of faith even when we feel our faith is small and inadequate. Faith grows when it is put into action.
Review “Crazily Cool Card Set: Faith.”
Additional material:
- Level 2 tag: faith
Compiled by My Wonder Studio staff.
Copyright © 2020 by The Family International
0-5 Lesson Plan: When Day Is Done
“When Day Is Done” is a 20-minute 0–5 lesson plan that can be read as children settle for bed to give them the comfort of knowing that even when the busyness of the day is done, they can trust in God’s loving care to see them through the night.
Read “When Day Is Done.”
List some of the things you did in the day, then praise Jesus for being a part of your day.
Watch “Guardian Angel.”
Read “No Need to Worry.”
Talk about ways that your child can find comfort and peace if he or she wakes at night.
Listen to “Always with Me.”
Read and pray “As I Lie Down to Sleep.”
Compiled by My Wonder Studio Staff.
Published by My Wonder Studio. Copyright © 2020 by The Family International
Level 2 Lesson Plan: The Persistent Woman
Note to the parent or teacher: Here is a 30- to 45-minute lesson plan to fill out the post “The Parables of Jesus: The Persistent Woman.” It goes with the lesson objectives, “Study more of the parables that Jesus taught and their meaning” (Christian Life and Faith: Biblical and Christian Foundation: Jesus, God’s Son-2b); and “Learn to take one’s specific needs and the needs of others to the Lord in prayer, claiming God’s promises and expecting God to act” (Christian Life and Faith: A Personal Connection with Jesus: Prayer-2f).
Read “The Parables of Jesus: The Persistent Woman.” (You can also read this parable in Luke 18:1–8.)
Talk about answers to prayer that the children or you as a family have received recently. Follow that by talking about any prayers that you have not yet received the answers to.
Read “Are You Sure God Answers Prayer?”
Discuss how Jesus hears and answers prayers. Sometimes the answer materializes quickly, but often you have to wait, and while you are waiting, you can ask again. Unlike the woman who repeatedly asked the unjust judge, you aren’t asking Jesus repeatedly until He tires of you asking and then gives in to you. Rather, every time you pray, even if you’re repeating the same request, the act of praying draws you closer to Jesus. It can also encourage your faith that the answer is coming because you know you are doing your part in asking.
Read “A Thought for the Day: Cast Your Anxieties on Jesus.”
Listen to or read “A Bible Adventure: Samuel—A Child from Heaven.” Note that it is widely understood that what was meant by weaned in those days was not about Samuel being old enough to stop nursing, but that Samuel was old enough to live without his mother’s care and training, which would be when he was 12 years old.
Discuss what it must have been like for Hannah when she wanted to have children but had to wait many years before she had her first child. Then talk about how God answered prayer when the time was right for His plan for the firstborn, Samuel.
We don’t know why God waited so long to answer her prayer, but He did. Perhaps Eli wouldn’t have been ready to train 12-year-old Samuel if he had been born a few years earlier. Or perhaps Hannah was learning important spiritual principles that would enable her to train her son, Samuel, well enough so that he would be fit for further training from Eli.
As we read the story further, we learn how Samuel had a strong relationship with God and was eager to obey Him. (Read 1 Samuel 3.)
Read “A Thought for the Day: A Way of Life.”
Review “Crazily Cool Card Set: Prayer Power” and “Crazily Cool Card Set: Prayer Power, 2.” Feel free to print these out for your children to color and keep to remind them of these promises.
End on the encouraging note of “A Thought for the Day: Jesus Cares” while remembering the thought from “A Thought for the Day: Prayer Is the Mouse….”
Additional material:
Compiled by My Wonder Studio staff.
Copyright © 2020 by The Family International
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