JESUS WAS AN AMAZING storyteller! His parables are simple and filled with important treasures to help us grow in faith and become more like Him. Parables are also like boxes filled with treasures, and we find new treasures every time we open them. Pause and think carefully about the stories that Jesus told, and see how much treasure you can find in each one!
Here are some fun ways to pause with a parable.
PARABLE “TREASURE BOX”
• Find a small box with a lid—a little “treasure box.”
• Choose one of the parable stories.
• Copy the Bible story of the parable onto a paper strip that fits inside the box. Roll it up like a scroll and tie it with ribbon or twine.
• How might Jesus tell the story differently if He told it in your town today? Write your version of the parable on another strip of paper. Roll it up and tie it with a different color of twine.
• Put at least one thing in the box that reminds you of the parable, such as a seed, a coin, or a toy sheep. You can also add several small items that you can use to help you retell the story to your family.
• Make another treasure box to add to your collection whenever you explore another parable.
PARABLE QUESTIONS
• Write each of the following questions on different cards:
– What do you like best about this story?
– What are some of the treasures and ideas that are hiding in this story?
– What do you think God is saying to you as you read this story?
– What does this story help you to understand about God’s love?
• Each time you pause with a parable, think about the questions on the cards or discuss them with your family.
PARABLE CREATIVITY
• Gather creative materials such as paper, glue, church magazines, stickers, marker pens, pencils, fabric scraps, and natural materials.
• Keep them in a box so they are ready to use whenever you need them.
• Create something that shows what you have learned from the parable, such as artwork, a poem, or your version of the parable— whatever brings you joy or whatever the Holy Spirit inspires you to make.
SLOW SCENES
• Pause and take time to make different scenes from a parable. You could draw a cartoon to tell the story or create 3D scenes using your toys, household objects, or natural materials.
• Show the scenes to your family and tell the story.
• Photograph the scenes to make a visual story to share on social media or use the scenes to tell a children’s story at church.
• If you can access the internet, ask an adult to help you look for animated Bible stories created with plastic toy bricks. There are many examples to explore and watch.
PERSONALIZED PARABLES
• Imagine you are one of the characters in a parable.
• You might be the farmer who scattered seeds, the woman who lost a coin, a servant of the king who had a great feast, the father of the prodigal son, or the man the Good Samaritan helped.
• Re-write the story from the perspective of this character.
• What did you learn from pausing with the parable in this way? How did it change your understanding of the story?
STUDY SOME PARABLES WITH YOUR FAMILY
Here are a few more ideas to help you and your family pause with the parables.
THE PRECIOUS PEARL (MATTHEW 13:45, 46)
• Read the parable of the precious pearl.
• This story is often read as if we are the ones who sell everything to follow Jesus. But what if each of us is a precious pearl, and Jesus is the merchant who sold everything to “buy” us because He loves us so much?
• Pearls come in many colors, like white, cream, gray, and pink. Cut a large circular “pearl” from paper. Write the two Bible verses of the story in a spiral from the outside edge to the center of the pearl. Write lightly with a pencil to make sure all the words fit inside the circle. You can trace over the words with ink or marker if you would like.
• Walk through your house and imagine selling everything you own, even your home, to buy a pearl. What does this say about the love that Jesus has for you?
• Think of all the things that Jesus gave up for us to show how precious we are to Him. On the reverse of the pearl, write the words and phrases of gratitude and praise that come to your mind as you understand how precious you are.
• Put your “pearl” where it will remind everyone how precious you are to God.
THE GREAT FEAST (LUKE 14:15–24)
• Read the parable of the great feast. Read the earlier verses in this chapter to discover why Jesus told this story.
• Any meal shared with love can be a feast. After reading this parable, who would your family like to invite to a “feast”?
• Draw a picture of your table showing all the food you would serve at your feast and the people you would like to invite.
• What are some sad excuses people give for not accepting God’s loving invitation?
• What kind of invitation has God “sent” to you? What answer would you like to give to God?
THE LOST COIN (LUKE 15:8–10)
• Read the story of the woman who lost an important coin.
• Cut out a large circle for each person in your family. Draw a picture of a family member on one side of the paper circle and write their name around the edge. Write “Lost and Found!’ on the other side of the coin.
• Ask an adult to hide the
paper coins in an area of
your home. See how quickly
you or everyone else in your
family can find the coins.
Make sure no one is lost!
• Hold hands in a circle around
the paper coins and thank
Jesus that He has a plan to
save each of us.
• Hunt for some spare coins
and buy something for a
lonely or sad person to let
them know how precious
they are to God.
