The best treasure is friendship with God
Sun 01 July 2007
| Bible Bite | The best treasure is friendship with God |
|---|---|
| Date | 2007-07-1 |
| Passage | Matthew 13:44-46 |
| Passage Text | The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field.\ |
| (NIRV) | |
| Tags | God, Salvation |
| Other Refs | Matt 6.19-24 |
| Matt 19.16-29 | |
| Luke 12.32-34 | |
| Luke 12.13-21 | |
| 2 Cor 4.7-18 | |
| Key Points | Jesus, God, the kingdom, are treasures that are worth much more than earthly treasures (Matt 6.19-24 -- heavenly treasure is safe and lasts forever; Matt 13.44-6 -- sell everything for the hidden treasure; Matt 19.16-29 -- The rich young man didn't see the value of Jesus, but treasured his own wealth more, and made the wrong decision; Luke 12.32-34 -- sell possessions, for you have the kingdom, the real treasure). |
| Valueing Jesus more than things of this earth, and thus being willing to give these up, to 'sell up' (e.g. pearl, treasure), even if this seems crazy | |
| Trust, faith, in waiting for the greatest treasure, even though it's unseen (2 Cor 4.17-8) | |
| What struck me from the passages is the sense that God\'s treasure is | |
| *better*, although unseen, and therefore it\'s worth selling up, giving | |
| up, other \'treasures\' for it - it\'s the \'sensible\', right thing to do, | |
| even though it might look silly to others. The other thing is that God\'s | |
| treasure is \'unseen\', and thus requires us to trust God. I try to bring | |
| these out in the script, and Mel it\'d be great if you could point back | |
| to these points in your talk. | |
| Props/Materials | Banana peel |
| Big box/bag of lollies for children to share, in a bigger box so that it cannot at first be seen by Stinky | |
| Mic for Stinky -- wireless? | |
| Preparation | Helper to wheel Stinky, set up mic, and do slides |
| Prepare overhead projector with slides, show front slide | |
| Debrief | Context: Big Treasure Day at St Michael's |
LEADER: Hello there. I want you to meet my friend Stinky, who lives in this bin. He's a bit funny, and he calls children 'little monkeys' -- I'm not sure why. I'm going to choose a helper to knock, and when he says 'Who is it?', we all have to say 'Come out Stinky!'. Some times he doesn't hear, so we'll have to say it again REALLY LOUD! Let's practice saying it [get kids to shout it]
[ [choose a volunteer to knock bin and child returns, call out 3 times, Mel opens lid, S comes out. Helper sets up mic pointing down] ]
STINKY: Hello Miss Mel!
LEADER: Hello Stinky!
LEADER: Oh! Look at all the little monkeys! I better say hello -- hello little monkeys!
[ Children encouraged to respond ]
STINKY: Oh, I'm very, very, VERY excited! And I'm very, very, VERY happy!
LEADER: Wow, why is that?
STINKY: Because! Today, I found a treasure in my bin!
LEADER: Wow, that's great! What kind of treasure is it?
STINKY: Oh, it's wonderful! It's amazing! It's dazzling!
LEADER: Really?
STINKY: Yes! It's so good you wouldn't think of it.
LEADER: [Excited] Well, you better show us Stinky, I want to see this treasure!
STINKY: OK, I'll go and get it.
[ Stinky goes down, and back with a banana peel. ]
STINKY: Ta dah! Here it is, my treasure!
LEADER: Errgh.... Stinky, that's a banana peel...
STINKY: Yes, it's my wonderful treasure! [Sniffs it] Aahh... Is so nice! It smells so putrid! And you know what, I want to share my treasure with all the little monkeys. I want to pass it around, and we can all have one sniff of the banana peel -- but only one, OK, don't be greedy!
LEADER: Oh... That's, eh, very nice of you Stinky. But guess what? I'd like to offer you an even better treasure.
STINKY: Really? How could it be better than my treasure? I don't believe it!
LEADER: OK, well, I tell you what. I'll show the children my treasure, it's in this box. They can tell you if it's better or not.
[ Shows big box of lollies ]
LEADER: Here is my treasure. But Stinky, this treasure is very big. You'll need to put down your banana peel so you can hold it. And if you choose to have my treasure, we can share it with all the little monkeys.
STINKY: Never! My banana peel is my treasure!
LEADER: OK, let's ask the kids -- What do you think? We're going to share the treasure that Stinky picks. Tell Stinky -- is my treasure in the box better than his banana peel?
[ Encourage kids to respond, then look to Stinky for choice ]
STINKY: OK, I'm thinking very hard... OK, I choose... my banana peel treasure!
LEADER: Oh, Stinky, I don't think that's a very good choice...
STINKY: Oh, but I can't see your treasure! This is hard!
LEADER: Stinky, I'm your friend. Trust me! I'm telling you the truth, my treasure is better, and it's worth giving up your banana peel for. Let's ask the kids again. Is my treasure in the box better than his banana peel?
[ Encourage kids to respond, then look to Stinky for choice ]
STINKY: [Straining to trust] Oh, OK then, I'll put down my banana peel, and I'd like your treasure please.
LEADER: OK then, good choice! Here is my treasure... [Shows Stinky box of lollies]
STINKY: Wow, a huge box of lollies! That's a GREAT treasure! Lots better than my banana peel! Oh, it was hard because I couldn't see it, but I'm so glad I trusted you Miss Mel and the little monkeys!
LEADER: I'm glad you trusted me too, Stinky! Now we can have these after our talk...
STINKY: OK, good idea -- that'll be good! Hey Miss Mel, I've got a question...
LEADER: Yes Stinky...
STINKY: What is the biggest, greatest, bestest treasure ever in the whole world?
LEADER: What a good question, Stinky! What do you think, children? What is the best treasure?
[ Children raise suggestions ]
STINKY: What does the Bible say is the best treasure?
LEADER: Ah! Well, let's ask Robbie the Robot and see what he finds...
[Slide -- Robbie with Bible passage:\ \"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure that was hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again. He was very happy. So he went and sold everything he had. And he bought that field."\ Matthew 13:44-46]
LEADER: Who would like to read the passage for us?
LEADER: Who can tell me what is the treasure the Bible is talking about? [children respond]\ What does the man do when he finds this treasure? [children respond]
LEADER: The Bible says that the greatest treasure is friendship with God. We live in his kingdom with Jesus as our king. That's why the man in the story was happy to sell all he had to have this treasure.
STINKY: Really?
LEADER: Yes! You see, God gave us a treasure when He made us and the world. He gave us life with Him, in peace.
STINKY: That's a great treasure!
LEADER: Yes, but we all reject his great gift. We all say 'No' to Him, and we try to live life our own way, with us as the boss.
STINKY: Oh! That\'s not right! God wouldn\'t be happy about that.
LEADER: No Stinky, that means we can\'t be friends with God.
STINKY: Oh no. How can I be friends with God? Maybe I can give him some presents? Do you think he would like my banana peel?
LEADER: No Stinky, instead God has given us something to make us his friends.
STINKY: Did God give us banana peels?
LEADER: No, God gave us his son Jesus. He helps us be friends with God!
STINKY: Ah, Jesus! Friendship with God is better than my banana peel!
LEADER: He is. Jesus is a lot, lot better. Jesus did an amazing thing. He died for us. He took the punishment we deserved for saying 'No' to God, so we could be forgiven.
STINKY: So he took our place?! Even though he didn\'t deserve to be punished? That\'s amazing!
LEADER: Yes, it is amazing! If we trust and follow him as our king, we can be friends with God. And that\'s the best treasure ever.
STINKY: Wow! That\'s AMAZING! So what\'s our lesson for today?
[ Slide shows Bible Bite: The best treasure is friendship with God. ]
LEADER: The lesson is this: The best treasure is friendship with God. Do you think we can say this together kids? [read] How about you Stinky, can you say it?
STINKY: Ah... I'm not very good at these, I might need a bit of help. Let me see... My banana treasure is my best friend...
LEADER: Oh Stinky! Let's read it all together again to help Stinky. [Read]
STINKY: Wow! That's the best treasure we could have.
LEADER: Yes. Jesus has told us friendship with God is a treasure greater than anything else -- but we can't see it right now, just like you couldn't see my treasure, Stinky. Jesus tells us to trust him, like Stinky trusted me.
STINKY: That's great, Miss Mel. I better go now -- could I have some lollies now please?
LEADER: Of course. And I'll give the children the lollies after my talk.
STINKY: OK, I'll say good bye now -- see you later little monkeys!
[ Stinky goes down; Someone moves mic, closes lid, and wheels him out. ]