21 Days of Family Devotions - Day 8: Parable of the Great Banquet
Today’s lesson is about the parable of the great banquet.
Read the Passage: Luke 14:12–24
[12] He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. [13] But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, [14] and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”
[15] When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” [16] But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. [17] And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ [18] But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ [19] And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ [20] And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ [21] So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ [22] And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ [23] And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. [24] For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.’”
Watch the Video:
Tell the Story: CLICK HERE to view the story slides
NOTE: If you click on the first slide it will go full screen and a script will be on the bottom of the screen.
Discuss the Questions:
Do you remember what a parable is? (A story Jesus told to illustrate/show a spiritual truth)
Do you know what a banquet is? (A party with a big meal)
In the parable, who did the man invite at first to his banquet? (His friends)
When he sent his helper out to his friends to tell them everything was ready, did they come? (No)
What excuses did his 3 friends give? (1 – I just bought a field and I have to check it out. 2 – I just bought some oxen and I have to check on them. 3 – I just got married so I can’t come)
Did that make the man giving the banquet happy? (No)
What did the man ask his helper to do? (Go out and bring in the poor and disadvantaged)
When there was still room left, what did the man ask his helper to do? (Go out on the streets and fields an get everyone you can to come – I want this place filled!)
In this Parable, who do you think the man throwing the banquet is? (God)
What does the great banquet represent? (The Kingdom of God – heaven)
Who is the helper? (Us)
Why do you think Jesus told that parable? (Give you kids some time to think through this – He wants us to know that the Kingdom of God is for everyone and wants us to help bring as many people as we can to Jesus.)
Have some Fun:
Sing some Songs:
