Dear Parents,

Thanks for joining us again as we do Children’s Worship from home!  

Note: Please let us know about how your family is enjoying Children’s Worship! Take some pictures of your family participating in Children’s Worship or share a story. You can post to the Gold Avenue Church Facebook page or send by email at goldavechurch@gmail.com

 

Talent Uncovered

Based on: Matthew 25:14-29, Colossians 3:23

EQUIP:  

(It’s not an activity, but just a little background on the story for you, the parent, to read.) 

 

I remember hearing today’s story as a kid. The teacher wanted us to think about how we could use our own talents to serve God. But I knew I didn’t have any talent worth showing to anyone— nothing for a talent show, no sports skills, nothing that would cause anyone to say, “You are so talented!” I was simply ordinary. It took a while before I could figure out that serving God doesn’t require special abilities. What He really wants is for His children to use to the best of their ability what He has given to them.

 

Not needing to be “talented” is comforting! Colossians 3:23 asks us to focus on the process of living for God, not the end result, or the product. Whatever we do, let’s work at it with all our hearts, all our energy and all our love, because we are working for the God who loves us more than we can imagine.

 

Jesus told the parable of the talents to teach the value of service. Jesus told all who follow Him to be prepared for His return by serving Him. Throughout the book of Matthew, we see Jesus as the King who we can serve. Living for Jesus demands our very best. It’s the kind of service we give to the King who came to Earth to love us and make our salvation possible: King Jesus!

 

Debbie Barber

Senior Editor

 

Activity One:  Read the intro. Watch the video.

Activity Two: Discuss the story using provided questions as prompts. Prayer.

Worship: Singing 

Activity Three:  Respond to the story by doing the activity. 

Activity Four:  Bless your children 

 

Activity 1:  STORY

Introduction:To read the children:

 

Jesus had told His friends that He was going away someday. He wanted them to know what to do while He was gone. This is a story Jesus told to help His friends know what He wanted them to do.

 

Watch the video:

 

Activity 2:  DISCUSSION

• What did the first two servants do with the money they were given?

• Why was the master angry with the servant he’d given one talent? (The servant did nothing to earn more money for the master.)

• What do you think Jesus wanted people to learn from this story? (To use the talents and abilities God gives us. To be trustworthy and dependable. To always do our best.)

Each one of us is unique. There is no one else on Earth exactly like you. And no one else has the combination of talents and abilities God has given you. No one else can sing quite like you. No one else can play soccer exactly the way you do. You might already know the talents God has given you, or you might be just starting to discover them. But you can know for certain that God has made you in a wonderful way!

 

Read aloud Colossians 3:23. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,

 

How does this verse tell you to work or use your abilities? (Work at it with all my heart. Do my work for the Lord.)  Whatever you do, you can do it for God. Construction workers can do their best work for God. Teachers and bus drivers can, too! Kids and grown-ups can serve God in everything they do! The next time you are sitting in class at school or doing your chores at home or playing basketball, remember that God has made you to do everything to the best of your abilities.

 

When we are working for the Lord, we try to do our best to love Him by serving others. God has given each of us some unique abilities. We can use the talents that God has given us to help others. Helping others is a way to show God that we love Him. Be ready to find ways that you can help serve someone this week.

 

When have you used a talent or ability to serve God?  Let’s pray and ask God to help us find a way to serve someone this week.

 

Encourage children to pray for these things with their own words. Then, transition into a time of prayer for personal requests.

 

Worship Songs:

 

 

Activity 3: RESPONSE ACTIVITY #1 Chromatography Science Experiment

 

This looks like a fun science experiment to help children see that God has given each of us many hidden “talents” to share with others. This website does not emphasize that aspect of our lesson so you will have to relate it to the story and the theme of this lesson with an introduction.

 

You will need washable markers

Coffee filters

Shallow glasses of water

Paper plates or paper towels

Popsicle sticks or plastic straws (optional)

Tape

Coffee Filter Science | Easy Science Experiment for Toddlers

Introduction: 
God made each of us special and different with unique talents and abilities. God wants us to use these talents and abilities to serve Him while He is away from us in heaven.  Let’s try a little experiment to see what happens when we use our talents and abilities to serve God. Sometimes we don’t see anything happen right away but after a while we may notice how beautiful those things can become.      

     

RESPONSE ACTIVITY #2   Print and Color

Activity 4: CLOSING BLESSING

 

Let’s all show God that we love Him with all our heart by doing our best in everything we do this week and finding some way to use an ability or talent to serve God. 

 

(______________),  May you always remember how special you are to God and serve Him with your whole heart!