Big Idea
God gives each of us gifts and abilities—and he wants us to use them, not hide them away.
Memory Verse
“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:21
Object Lesson
Bring a backpack for a journey, bags of coins (real, fake, or chocolate), and a treasure chest that is “buried” or hidden. Use them to show how each servant chose what to do with the gifts entrusted to them.
Craft
All of Our Talents Leaf: Kids write or draw one gift or ability they have—kindness, drawing, singing, being a good friend, or helping others—on a paper leaf and add it to a class “talent tree” mural, showing how everyone’s gifts together make something beautiful.
Three ways this craft can look:
Materials
Two seeds, Cup of dirt, Small pot with soil and water, Paper leaves, Large tree outline for the mural, Markers
Full passage
Scripture Reading
14“For it is like a man, going into another country, who called his own servants, and entrusted his goods to them. 15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his journey. 16Immediately he who received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17In the same way, he also who got the two gained another two. 18But he who received the one talent went away and dug in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. 19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reconciled accounts with them. 20He who received the five talents came and brought another five talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents. Behold, I have gained another five talents besides them.’ 21“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22“He also who got the two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents. Behold, I have gained another two talents besides them.’ 23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter. 25I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the earth. Behold, you have what is yours.’ 26“But his lord answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant. You knew that I reap where I didn’t sow, and gather where I didn’t scatter. 27You ought therefore to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back my own with interest. 28Take away therefore the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29For to everyone who has will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who doesn’t have, even that which he has will be taken away. 30Throw out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Matthew 25:14–30 · World English Bible (public domain). Read this passage in the NIV
Back to top