Worship at home resources for everyone linked to Matthew 13.31-33,44-52
Go to: Resources for families; Resources for adults
Copyright
You are welcome to copy this material for use in your own resources e.g. printed sheets or web pages including audio/video recordings. If you do so, please include this acknowledgement to ROOTS:
© ROOTS for Churches Ltd (www.rootsontheweb.com) 2002-2020.
Reproduced with permission.
For families
Introduction
Another parable – story with hidden meaning – today helps us to learn more about God’s kingdom: what it’s like, how much it’s worth and who it’s for. We can be thankful that we are invited to share in these secrets of God’s kingdom. Let us pray that we would value God’s kingdom in the way that this Bible passage asks us to.
Gather
Use this prayer as you begin your time of worship together. Nominate a leader or all join in together.
You could listen to this track to begin your time of worship together: Greatness of our God, Newsboys on United
God, your kingdom is like:
a mustard seed – full of possibilities;
yeast – it helps us to grow;
treasure – worth searching for;
a precious pearl –
worth giving everything up for;
a net – ready to gather us in.
Help us to discover these secrets.
Amen.
Read
Share the Bible story using the idea below to help you explore it together.
Bible story
Open the Bible at Matthew 13.31-33,44-52: Jesus gives his followers five examples of what the kingdom of God is like.
The hidden parables
Print off the reading and cut it into the five sections, representing each of the five symbols of the kingdom. Put each part in an envelope and number them one to five in order, then hide them around your space. Encourage everyone to take part in a ‘treasure hunt’ to find them, open them and read the story in order.
Stu McLellan, stumclellan.co.uk
Here are some parables that Jesus told the crowd:
The parable of the mustard seed
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, sown in a field. It is the smallest of seeds but grows up into a huge bush, and the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.’
The parable of the leavened bread
‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman mixes with three lots of flour, until it is all leavened and ready to rise.’
The parable of the hidden treasure
‘The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. Someone finds it, hides it again, and then is so very, very happy, he goes and sells everything he has to buy the field.’
The parable of the fine pearl
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who is looking for fine pearls. He finds one very special and valuable pearl, and goes and sells everything he has to buy it.’
The parable of the good and bad fish
‘The kingdom of heaven is like a net. The net is full of fish, of all shapes and sizes. It is pulled ashore. The good fish are put in baskets while the bad fish are thrown away. And it will be like this at the end of time when the angels will separate the good people from the bad.’
Glossary
leavened yeast is added to bread to help it rise;
merchant a trader.
Activities
You may wish to use these additional resources to worship together and/or the activity sheets for children.
The whole story
An exploration of the images in today’s passage
You will need: four tables, one for each station, set up as follows:
- Mustard seed table – mustard seed (enough for one each); glue; paper; pencils, crayons and felt pens.
- Yeast table – dry yeast; sugar; warm water; balloons that have been inflated a few times; empty 500ml water bottles.
- Pearl table – beads of one size but different shapes; plastic pots or cups; a lidded box containing a large ‘pearl’; thread.
- Fish table – four fishing rods, made from garden sticks with a piece of string and a small magnet on the end; 8 cut-out fish shapes with a paperclip on each head.
If you have enough people, the group can be split into four and rotate around the stations. Otherwise all move together.
- Mustard seed table – Invite everyone to glue the seed on the paper, asking them to wonder what it will grow into and to draw it.
- Yeast table – To an 500ml empty water bottle add about 2cm of warm water. Add 2 teaspoons of dry yeast. Swirl the bottle and add 1 teaspoon of sugar, then stretch the balloon over the bottle neck and see the balloon stand up (this could take up to 20 mins to work).
- Pearl table – Have each kind of bead in a separate pot or cup, and the box in the centre containing the large pearl. Invite everyone to thread the beads, and to wonder what is in the box. Open the box to reveal the great pearl.
- Fish table – Set up a fishing game with the rods and the 8 fish. Let everyone have a go at catching the fish by hovering the magnet end of the rod over the paperclips.
Frame it!
Divide everyone into groups of three or four. Invite them to create still life images of God’s kingdom today, using props, words or drawings, as desired. Ask a volunteer from each group to take a photo of their image. If possible, print the photos off and display them.
Activity and colouring sheets
(Links to the PDFs for these can also be found at the end of the page.)
For adults
Live your faith
This week's Live your faith sheet for adults with Bible notes, prayers, a picture and questions for reflection, a live your faith action
A prayer of intercession
God of love and wisdom,
in our prayers today we bring to you
the nations of the world and their leaders
amid growing tensions, accusations and mistrust.
We give thanks
for those pooling their resources to find a vaccine for the corona virus;
for those offering sanctuary to refugees.
We remember and pray for those countries where we have family and friends,
and all those places whose suffering touches our hearts.
Lord, may the truths of your kingdom be our strength.
We pray for those industries hardest hit economically;
for all who are struggling with self-worth after losing their jobs;
for young people applying for university;
for those applying for benefits;
for charities struggling to cope with increased demand and reduced income.
Lord, may the truths of your kingdom be our strength.
We pray for churches and places of worship
as they welcome congregations back;
for courage as they encounter new challenges
and joy as they embrace new opportunities.
We pray for one another as we reflect on the parables and live out our faith.
Lord, may the truths of your kingdom be our strength.
We pray for those heading to the coast this summer for days out and holidays;
for safety on the roads, on the beaches and in the sea;
for those who work in the emergency services;
for lifeguards and lifeboat crews.
We pray that everyone would respect the environment
and we pray for those who collect litter.
We pray too for those unable to get away or take a break.
Lord, may the truths of your kingdom be our strength.
And we pray for those who are ill,
those in hospital and those at home;
those awaiting operations and treatment;
and those receiving palliative care.
We remember those who have died,
and pray for those who are grieving –
especially those who were unable to gather to comfort one another.
Lord, may the truths of your kingdom be our strength.
In Jesus’ name we pray.
Amen.