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Children’s Sermon

Children’s Sermon

Matthew 22:1-14

Parable Of The Wedding Banquet

October 15, 2023

Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

Lectionary Year A

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ASK (a.k.a The On-Ramp)

Good morning!
Have you ever been to a birthday party that wasn’t for you?
Can you tell me some things that you did to get ready for the party? (maybe made/bought/brought food, maybe made/bought a gift and wrapped it)
Those are all very thoughtful things you did!
Another thing that you did, that maybe you don’t think about too much, is that you made the time and effort to BE at the party.
Because you can’t be at that party and at another party in a completely different place at the same time, can you?

TELL (a.k.a. The Freeway)

In today’s scripture story, Jesus tells a story about how the Kingdom of God is like a party.
Even though there’s a really great party happening, a lot of people in the story say that they won’t go to the party.
The reasons the people give for not going are that they think it won’t be fun, they think it’s not important, and they are planning to do other things instead.
Because of those reasons, the invited guests do not go to the party that they were invited to.
Jesus then says, “It is too bad that these people chose to not attend. They will miss a really big and exciting party – a party that everyone is invited to!”
This invitation, by the way, includes you, me, everyone in the congregation and everyone in the whole world! We are all invited to God’s party!

SHARE the Good News (a.k.a. The Destination)

But - and this is very important! - we have to remember that even though parties are fun, there are some things that we have to do to get ready for them.
The way we get ready for the Kingdom of God party is by learning how to be at God’s party.
We learn how to be at God’s party by reading and talking about the scripture stories, by coming to worship, and by talking and listening to God (we call that “prayer” and we can do that alone and with other people).
As we keep doing these things, we start to see and understand that God’s party is happening right here and right now in the life that we are living.
And once we start to see and know how God’s party is happening right here and right now, then we start to see and know how to live God’s party.
Then, when we know how to live God’s party, we also start to know how to share God’s party by inviting others to join us and helping them see how to attend.
And this is the good news for today: God is having this great party and we are all invited to it! Let’s pray.

CLOSING Prayer

This is a repeat-after-me prayer.

Dear God,

Thank you for Jesus…

…who teaches us about your party…

…the Kingdom of God.

Please help us live and share your party.

Thank you and Amen

Posted September 20, 2014

Updated on September 24, 2023
Written and edited by Nathanael Vissia

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