Teaching

In the video, we saw how Jesus made time for everyone. It may be hard for you to imagine, but in Bible times, there were no computers, cell phones, or the internet. To communicate, you could talk face to face or send a message to someone. Do you think that if there had been social media back in Bible times that Jesus would have used it? (Children respond.) Why?
Jesus often used familiar things around Him to engage people. Through social media, He could quickly reach a lot of people and invite them to follow Him! I think He might constantly be saying, “Friend Me!”

God tells us in Isaiah 55:11:

Of course, social media can never replace personal relationships—and Jesus definitely wants to have a personal relationship with every single person. And we need to have personal relationships with other people, too!

Hold up the invitation. Raise your hand if you or your family have received something similar to this. Children respond.
Hold up the invitation. Raise your hand if you or your family have received something similar to this. Children respond.

Hold up the RSVP card. Often a card like this is included with the invitation. Can someone tell me the purpose of this card? To say if you are coming to the party or not.

The term “RSVP” originates from a French expression that means to “please respond.” By including this card or just writing RSVP on the invitation, the host is asking the guests to respond if they plan to attend or not. This helps the host plan for the event so they have enough food, chairs and tables for everyone.

Hold up the invitation. In the parable or story that Jesus told, the master sent out invitations to a banquet or feast. In Bible times, it was customary for the host to send two invitations to the guests. The first one was so they guests could make reservations or secure a spot at the event.

Hold up the RSVP card. That sounds a lot like an RSVP, doesn’t it! The guests had accepted the original invitation—in other words, they promised to come! The second invitation in those days was sent out when the feast was all ready!

Let’s think how this would feel if it happened to us. We’re giving a big party and a lot of people have promised to come. We worked very hard and spent a lot of money to put on a beautiful dinner—but then nobody actually came to the party! In the story, the master got upset because the guests made poor excuses about why they had changed their minds!     

In Jesus’ parable, the master represents God. The people who received the original invitation represent the Jewish people. Many of them rejected His invitation to accept Jesus as their Savior when He came into the world. This is described in John 1:11:

When the original guests failed to show up, the Master sent His servants out to invite other people to the feast. These people represent Jewish people considered unclean by the Pharisees—like the sinful woman or Matthew the tax collector who worked for the Romans! This would also include people who had diseases or were considered lower class.

Then, when the Master sent His servants out a second time, they extended the invitation to everyone. This represents non-Jewish people called Gentiles. They were looked down upon and considered very unclean. So the Jewish religious leaders must have been very shocked that Gentiles could be invited to God’s feast!  

The feast represents God’s Kingdom. Jesus came to invite all people into God’s kingdom regardless of who they were; all they needed to do was accept His invitation and believe in Him!

Jesus still invites people today. The invitation He sends is not through the mail. He invites people by speaking through His Word, through His Spirit, and through US!   

When we accept Jesus’ invitation to become believers, He continues to invite us to follow Him every day. In our walk as believers, there are times we may begin to stray or wander from God’s path.

Perhaps, like Joy, we may be doing good things—but we get too busy! These things may begin to replace our personal time with God. Jesus lovingly calls to us again and again, inviting us to come closer. In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says:

Jesus wants us to be very close friends who know all about each other. Let’s not make up excuses about being too busy—and let’s accept His invitation to spend time with Him each day!

Now, it’s time for our Discipleship Challenge where you will be challenged to spend time with Jesus and also with others—every day!        

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give each child a Disciple Card. Optional: Give each child three stickers to use on the card once they memorize the verses. Have the children write their names on the blank line. Use the model craft as you explain the challenge.

In the video, Joy said that true discipleship is thinking, feeling and acting like Jesus. That means following His example. Our Discipleship Challenge is about balancing our time each day so that we can be an effective disciple or follower of Jesus.

In Jesus’ parable, the invited guests made excuses not to attend. What were some of the excuses? They got married, bought oxen, bought land.

Raise your hand to name some activities that can fill our time. Hanging with friends, playing video games, internet time, soccer practice or a game, music practice, homework, chores, sleep, watching TV, family time, etc.

Lots of these things are very important, and we must do them. However, we always want to leave time to spend time with Jesus and to show others God’s love. If you’re too busy to love God and love others, you are just too busy! Jesus made time for everyone because every single person was important to Him.   

Hold up the Disciple Card. Read aloud the three daily challenges or, if time permits, have volunteers read them aloud.

1. Spend time with Jesus. Memorize Revelation 3:20

2. Spend time with Christians. Memorize 1 Thessalonians 5:11

3. Spend time with others. Memorize Matthew 5:16

Jesus took time to be alone with God, His Father, to pray for direction and strength. Your challenge is to spend time alone with Jesus each day, praying. Your extra challenge for this lesson is to memorize Revelation 3:20. Once you’ve memorized it, put a sticker on the circle or color it in.

The next challenge is to spend time with Christians each day. It may just be a minute or two, even by text or a phone call. The important thing is to be in contact with people who pray for us, love us, and help us stand firm in our faith. We need their wisdom and encouragement as we walk with Jesus. And they need our prayers, love and encouragement, too!

The third challenge is to spend time with others outside of your “inner circle” of close Christian friends and family. Jesus spent time with those who were not His followers. His goal was to care for them and show them the love of God so they would want to follow Him. That should be our goal too—to influence others for Christ by showing genuine love, compassion and mercy.

You will be challenged to learn the other two verses in the next two lessons. For this time, just focus on learning Revelation 3:20 and spending a few minutes each day with God, friends, family, and others. If you spend more time, great! The important thing is to learn to balance your time.

We will discuss how this challenge went for you the next time we meet.