OTHER Lessons, Ideas, Activities, and Resources for the Kingdom of God - Seed, Leaven, Pearl, Treasure

Post your Sunday School lessons, ideas, activities, and resources for the Kingdom of God - Seed, Leaven, Pearl, Treasure.

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Lesson Starter Idea:

Create a Treasure Map to hunt for the "Treasure in the Field"

Bury a locked/sealed treasure box somewhere on the church property and create a treasure map to indicate its location.  

See notes below about what to put in the treasure box.

At the beginning of the lesson, give the kids the treasure map (x marks the spot) that indicates where something is buried.  Send them out with shovels and the map to dig up the treasure.  When they dig up the locked box, have them dust it off and bring it back to the Sunday School room.  Then tell them that they did that activity because Jesus told a parable that talked about a treasure hidden in a field. (Ask: What is a parable?  Why do you think Jesus told them?)

Together, read the verse about the treasure hidden in the field (Matthew 13:44).  Point out that Jesus doesn't tell the crowd he's teaching exactly what the treasure is.  Also, point out that we have a locked treasure box in front of us, and we don't know what's in it.  Then have a discussion about what the treasure might be--what might we value so much that we go out to sell what we have and buy a field?

Ask:

What would YOU like to find in the box?

What truly "LASTING" things would Jesus put in the box?

Also discuss why Jesus doesn't tell us what the treasure is (do we have to find it ourselves? Does God want us to spend time thinking and wondering about the treasure?)  Conclude the discussion by saying that, just like Jesus' parable, we're not going to open the box to find out what's inside...instead we're going to let someone else have the joy of discovering and wondering about the treasure inside it.  Maybe the treasure of the kingdom is a little different for each person?

Following the discussion, invite the group back outside to find a new place to bury the box.  After your group buries the box, have them create a new map for the next group to find the treasure.  The group can decide how detailed to make the treasure map (or how old/ragged they want it to look).

What could be in your buried treasure box?

Obviously you don't want the kids to be disappointed, afterall, they are kids. So you might include a bag of candies but labeled, "sweet life."  Peeps or egg candies to remind us of the resurrrection/Easter that gives us the promise of new life.    "Heavenly candy" that reminds us of our future life with God. The Bible marked "guide book to living a full and rich life."  Paper cut out marked "best friends, love, support."   A church brochure marked "supportive community that helps you grow."  etc etc.

Then include mustard seed, yeast, pearl, and a treasure map that reveals Christ.  These are all points of discussion.