Aim

To help children understand the Christian belief that God values actions over words.
To become familiar with the parable of the Two Sons.

Preparation

Before the lesson read parable (Matthew 21:28-32).
Prepare self-monitoring sheets.

Lesson

Begin lesson by discussing the issue of promises.

Have the children's parents/friends ever failed to carry out promises made to them. How did they feel?

What about themselves? Do they always carry out the promises which they make to their parents / friends?

Following discussion ask the children to consider which is more important - making a promise or keeping a promise?

Inform the children that Jesus told a story about 'saying' and 'doing'. Christians call it the Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21:28-32).

Share the parable with the children, finishing with the same question Jesus poses to his listeners, "Which of the two did what his father wanted?"

Following the story, consider the rules of your class. (If you don't have any class rules, now might be a good time to formulate some.)

How do you expect the children to respond to these rules - through words or actions?

Activity

Using the prepared sheet, the children are to monitor their compliance to a class rule over a short period of time.

Conclusion

Conclude lesson by asking the children what Christians believe God wants them to do and how are they supposed to respond. (Answer - Christians are to love God by actively serving their neighbour)