For Kids: The Two Sons | Lectionary 26 (Pentecost 18) | Year A

Opening Song: The Apostles' Creed

Note: Today's lesson is based on Matthew 21:23-32 in the Lectionary readings.

Big Idea: Don't just say something - do it!

Story: The Two Sons - Favorite Parables from the Bible, p. 58

Question: Do you ever say something and then not do it? How would it make you feel if you asked someone to do something and they said they would, but then they didn't?

Lesson Video | The Parable of the Two Sons

Ask:

- Who do we have in our story today? (A father/dad and his two sons)

- What does the dad ask his sons to do? (To help him)

- What does the first brother say? (No, I will not help you)

- What does the other brother say? (Yes, I will help you)

- Who ended up actually helping the dad? Which brother obeyed? Was it the one

who said he was going to help or the one who said he was not going to help? (The one who said he was not going to help)

Say: Jesus says that what we do is more important than what we say. Good actions are more important than good words. If we say good words (like the brother who said he was going to help), but then don't have good actions to go along with the words (like actually helping after we said we would), then our good words don't really mean anything. Even though the first brother said at first that he was not going to help, he ended up obeying his dad after all. So let's be like that brother who obeyed his dad. Let us listen to what Jesus teaches us and actually DO it! And what is it that Jesus wants us to do? He wants us to love God and to love other people! So let us not be like the second brother and SAY that we love God and other people, but let us be like the first brother and actually DO it!

In Jesus' Upside Down Kingdom, good words aren't good enough — it matters what we do!

Song for Kids: We Are the Church

Activity Sheets or Play

After the song, hand out the activity sheets. Younger children are welcome to play with the Duplos (encourage them to play out a story that fits with the lesson).

End with the Lord's Prayer when the Usher comes to let you know the prayers have started.

(If you need more time)

Go around the room and ask the children to share something they are thankful for this week.
Ask them if there is anything or anyone they would like to pray for this week.