Parables of Jesus Adventurer Award
Requirements
This information is taken from https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Adventist_Adventurer_Awards/Parables_of_Jesus
Read and discuss Matthew 13:44.[edit]
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field.” (NIRV)
Ask - “If you could find a treasure, what would you hope to find? Why would that treasure be so special to you?” “What would you be willing to give away to buy the treasure?” “Since Jesus told parables as a special way to tell us about spiritual things, what do you think Jesus meant? Do you think the treasure represents something else? What?”
What is a parable? Why and how did Jesus use parables?[edit]
1. a simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. 2. Jesus spoke in parables - earthly stories with a heavenly meaning. He did so that his disciples would comprehend his teachings and that unbelievers would be without comprehension. Those interested in understanding the truth of his message would understand while those not interested would remain without understanding "Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Matthew 13:13).
Name and learn the meaning of a parable Jesus told from each of the 4 gospels.[edit]
PLEASE NOTE: Most commentators don't see any parables present in the gospel of John.
Ideas:
NOTE: Most commentators, including SDA Bible Commentary, don’t see parables as being present in the gospel of John. The Good Shepherd, while not technically a parable would work for the purposes of this award. (John 10:1-5) Lesson: If we follow Jesus, we will know His voice and thus our conscience is less likely to be deceived.
The parable of the lamp - Matthew 5:14-16 Lesson Children who love Jesus will not be afraid to show His love to other people. SONG - “This Little Light of Mine…”
The Good Samaritan - Luke 10:25-37 - Lesson: Children who take care of those that other people ignore are a blessing to everyone.
The Unwilling Party Guests - Luke 14 - Lesson: Children who love Jesus will want to invite other people to know Jesus too, even if some people say “no thank you” to their invitation. Sometimes the people we invite to love Jesus won’t look or act like people we might think Jesus wants to have in His kingdom, but Jesus loves whomever accepts His invitation.
The Sower and the Seed - Mark 4 - Lesson: Choosing to accept Jesus’ love is like being good soil so that the seeds of Jesus’ love can sprout in our lives.