Hosted by the Faith To Go team in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, David Tremaine and Charlette Preslar, and joined the each week by a special guest, the Faith To Go Podcast highlights themes from the Sunday Gospel reading for you to take into your faith discussions and reflections throughout the week.
Activity Time: Looking for God’s Kingdom
Supplies: two toilet paper rolls, string or yarn, tape.
Connect the tubes to each other side by side by poking holes in one side of the top and bottom of each tube and running string through the holes. Tie a knot to hold them in place. Use tape if you want a more secure connection. Poke an additional hole at one end of each tube (make sure you do it on the same end!)
Run string through one hole and tie a knot. Allow for about 2 feet of string, and then run the other end through the other hole. Tie another knot. You have now made binoculars. Go on a walk around your neighborhood looking for signs of God’s kingdom.
Take turns using the binoculars and reporting what you see..
Story Time: The Mustard Seed
Watch this video together and then use the discussion questions below to reflect as a family.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does it mean for something to be valuable?
2. What is something that is valuable to you?
3. Why do you think Jesus told this story?
4. How do you think the birds felt in this story?
5. How do you think the mustard tree felt?
Dinner Time: Imagine Heaven
Below is a prayer with which to start your meal and then discussion questions to explore this week’s topic with your family while you eat. Prayer -
Dear God, Please bless us with faith like a mustard seed so that we can grow in Your love. Help us to be like yeast in each other’s lives to lift each other up. Remind us that we need to look for You everywhere we go, and that we may find You in unexpected places. Help us to listen to Jesus’ words and to try to understand them every day. Amen
Questions:
1. We heard a lot of stories from Jesus this week. Do you remember what that type of story is called?
2. Which one of the parables was your favorite? Why?
3. Can you imagine heaven?
4. What do you think it is like?
Bedtime: Reflections for Children at the End of the Day
During your bedtime routine, invite your children into a time of reflection about their day, maybe by saying, "Did you know that God really wants to know what happened in your day today, and that God is always listening whenever you need to tell God something?" Then continue with these questions:
1) What are some things that happened today that you want to tell God about?
2) What is one happy thing that happened today? What is one sad thing that happened today?
3) Did you see God or feel God with you when those things were happening? Where did you see or feel God when those things happened today?
4) Read to your children this week’s scripture selection, then ask the questions that follows.
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (God’s Word, My Voice)
Jesus told the crowds another story:
God’s kingdom is like the littlest seed there is. When it grows into the biggest tree, all the birds want to come and build their nests in it.
Let me put it another way. God’s kingdom is like yeast. When you mix a tiny bit of yeast in flour, all of it is leavened and the dough rises into bread.
Or, how about this God’s kingdom is like someone who collects pearls. When he finds the most beautiful pearl of all in the market, he gets so excited that he sells everything he has so he can buy it.
Or this -- God’s kingdom is like hidden treasure, buried in a field. You would be happy to sell what you have so you could buy the field with the treasure in it.
Or this -- God’s kingdom is like hidden treasure, buried in a field. You would be happy to sell what you have so you could buy the filed with the treasure in it.
Or this -- God’s kingdom is like a net thrown into the sea that catches all kinds of fish. When the net is full, you put the good fish in one basket and throw out the rest. That’s what will happen at the end of the world. Angels will come to sort the bad from the good.
“Do you understand what I’m talking about?” Jesus asked his disciples. “Of course we do,” they replied. (Even though they didn’t.) And Jesus said, “Everyone fit for God’s kingdom is like the owner of a store who has a cupboard full of new and old treasures.”
Did the story remind you of anything that happened in your day today?
5) What are some things that you want to tell God that you are grateful for today?
Share some of your conversations in the comments below: