📖

Jesus Teaches Through Stories

Jesus' Parables of Love

Day 180of 180
Week 36of 36
25Minutes
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Learning Objectives

1

Understand that Jesus used stories (parables) to teach about God's love

2

Identify how parables help us learn important spiritual lessons

3

Develop appreciation for Jesus' creative teaching methods

Matthew 13:34-35

Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables. He did not speak to them without a parable, so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 'I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden since the foundation of the world.'

Matthew 13:34-35 (WEB)

Demonstrates Jesus' intentional use of storytelling to communicate spiritual truths

📦 Materials Needed

  • Construction paper
  • Scissors
  • Glue stick
  • Crayons or markers
  • BibleMouse Parable Craft Template (optional)

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

In today's BibleMouse lesson, we'll discover how Jesus used special stories called parables to teach about God's love!

💭 Review Question: Can you remember the story of the Prodigal Son we learned yesterday?
2Teaching (8 min)

Parables are like special stories that help us understand big ideas about God. Jesus was a master storyteller who used simple examples to teach deep truths.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Parables use everyday things to explain spiritual lessons
  • Jesus told stories about things people knew - farming, cooking, families
  • These stories help us understand God's love and how to live
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • What makes a good story?
  • How do stories help us learn?
3Activity: My Parable Storybook (10 min)
craft

Create a simple storybook showing what a parable is

📝 Instructions:
  1. Fold a piece of construction paper in half
  2. Draw a picture of Jesus telling a story
  3. On each page, draw something from a parable
  4. Write a simple sentence about what the parable teaches
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn BibleMouse template

Challenge: Write a short original parable about love

4Closing (3 min)

Review of how Jesus used stories to teach

📝 Review Questions:
  • What is a parable?
  • Why did Jesus tell stories?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear Jesus, thank you for teaching us about God's love through your wonderful stories.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll explore another amazing parable about God's love!

Luke 15:7

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

Luke 15:7 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Parable Parade: Children march around the room, stopping to shout one word of the verse when the music pauses

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

Parables are metaphorical stories that use familiar imagery to explain spiritual concepts

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use dramatic voice when retelling parables
  • Encourage children to imagine themselves in the story
  • Connect parable lessons to real-life situations
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children may find abstract spiritual concepts challenging

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Child's ability to explain the basic meaning of a simple parable

Extension Activities

  • Act out a parable as a family drama
  • Listen to BibleMouse Parable Song Collection
  • Read additional parable stories from the BibleMouse Read-Aloud Library

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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