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Vertical Edge Large-Group Leader Guide: The Parable of the Three Servants Fall 2011 Copyright © 2011 Group Publishing, Inc.

All rights reserved. No part of this quadfold may be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without prior written permission from the publisher, except where noted in the text and in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For information, visit group.com/permissions or e-mail Permissions at inforights@group.com.

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Thanks to our talented Living Inside Out curriculum team!Zach Carlson, Wes Comer, Joyce Douglas, Kate Elvin, Sue Geiman, Deborah Helmers, Alison Imbriaco, Gary Locke, Randy Maid, Becki Manni, Peggy Naylor, Jennifer Nystrom, Paul Povolni, Bethany Schulenberg, Joani Schultz, Rodney Stewart, Ali Thompson, Kelli Trujillo, Shawn Vander Lugt, Joey Vining, Adam Walsh, Anne Wilseck, Christine Yount Jones, Andrea Zimmerman

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

978-0-7644-6562-8 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 13 12 11 Printed in the United States of America.

Interactive StoryGuessing Game

Large Group YOU’LL NEED

Tear off for easy planning.

© Group Publishing, Inc. © Group Publishing, Inc. Living Inside Out

Choose Your optionsEach option below is designed to last 10 minutes. The option used to tell the Bible story is designated with the Bible image. Always choose this option for your large-group time. Use the chart below to plan your large-group time in whatever order fits your needs.

YOU’LL NEEDYOU’LL NEED

Living Inside Out • groupslivinginsideout.comLiving Inside Out • groupslivinginsideout.com

Round 1 Round 1 Round 1 Round 1

Large-Group Leader Guide Week 3

LaY it outHand out a piece of butcher paper and crayons or markers to each small group. Say: hopefully, you’ve brought your artistic talents with you this morning—because we’re going to draw wisdom from a parable by actually drawing the parable.

DraWn to LiFeExplain that you’ll read a story that was originally told by Jesus. Say: “the Kingdom of heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. he called together his servants and entrusted his money to them whilehewasgone.Hegavefivebagsofsilvertoone”(have kids draw five big “bags” on the paper), “two bags of silver to another” (have kids draw two “bags,” a different shape and color from the first five), “and one bag of silver to the last” (have kids draw a different shape and color for the last bag of silver). the man divided the money in proportion to the servants’ abilities. “he then left on his trip.” (Have kids each trace their hand waving “goodbye.”)

ContinueRead Matthew 25:16-18. Encourage kids to draw double the number of bags where needed. For the servant who dug the hole, encourage them to interpret that however they like. Read Matthew 25:19-21. Have kids draw happy faces (with hair and ears) in the bags of the servant who had been given five bags of silver. Read Matthew 25:22-23. Have kids draw happy faces (with hair and ears) in the bags of the servant who had been given two bags of silver. Read Matthew 25:24-28. Upon reading “You wicked and lazy servant,” have kids draw a sad-faced person (whole body) and include whatever they drew for “burying the silver.”

ConCLuDeWhen kids have finished, have each group show its creation to another group. Then have kids sign their names by their drawings and sit with their small groups.

DisCuss in Groups DVD the Drawn-to-Life parable QuestionsCue screens as kids answer each of the following:

• Whydoyouthinkthemasterwassounhappywiththethirdservant?

• WhydoyouthinkJesustoldthisparable?

• HowcanyouusewhatGodhasgivenyoutomakeJesushappy?

MaKe the ConneCtionSay: God has given us all talents to serve him. it doesn’t do any good to bury our talents and never use them. u We use our talents for God. the more we use them, the more we can bless others. so get those talents out and start using them!

Bible • TV or VPU • DVD player • Sights & Sounds DVD • butcher paper • scissors • crayons or markers

the Drawn-to-Life parable

ChooseSay: i’d be willing to bet there are some of you who have hidden talents—wacky things that you’re good at but haven’t told anyone about. think about your hidden talents for a moment—and don’t tell anyone! Give the kids a minute to think. Then have five willing kids come up front and whisper their wacky (but real) talents to you, making sure the rest of the group doesn’t hear. Write down the talents. Examples of talents could be things such as can make a PBJ sandwich with closed eyes, can play the harmonica with his or her nose, and can ride a horse bareback. The more obscure or weird the talent, the better.

GuessIn no particular order, read the talents and have the group guess whose talent it is by holding your hand over the head of each of the kids while the group claps (the applause meter). Don’t reveal the answers until all the talents have been read and voted on.

reVeaLHave kids one by one step forward and reveal their hidden talents.

DisCuss in Groups DVD secret identity QuestionsCue screens as kids answer each of the following:

• You’veheardaboutsomehiddentalentsinthisgame.HowcouldyouusethosetalentstoserveGodorothers?

• Tellaboutyourhiddentalents.

• Whataresomewaysyoucandiscoverahiddentalent?

MaKe the ConneCtionSay: God gives talents to all of us. he doesn’t want us to hide them or keep others from seeing them. God wants us to use our talents to serve him and to serve others. even a wacky talent can be used for God. so rather than hiding our talents, let’s be willing to use them! it’s a great feeling when u we use our talents for God.

TV or VPU • DVD player • Sights & Sounds DVD • paper • pencil

Secret identity

Preschool Supplies Lower Elementary Supplies Upper Elementary Supplies

• paper• markers• trashcan

• tableorseveralsheetsofpaper • 1c.milk• sliceoflunchmeatorcheese• sliceofbread• 1smallpapercupperchild• 2paperplates• 2plasticknives• paper• timerorstopwatch

Bibles • Bible Memory Makers® • “Living Inside Out Every Day!” handoutsSmall Group WhAt GROUpS WiLL NEED

Teach the Key Verse anytime during large group.

Choose Your Options Get Your Supplies Planning Notes

Welcome Connect With Groups

• Sights&SoundsDVD

Sing It Out Praise & Worship

• Sights&SoundsDVD

Make A Scene Skit: What’s-a for Dinner?

• Sights&SoundsDVD• Can-DoSkits&Scripts• table• boxofpasta• canoftomatosauce• bagofflour• bagofsugar• headoflettuce• sign:“OneWeekLater”

Bring It To Life Reflection: Gifts With a Purpose

• Sights&SoundsDVD• whiteboard(orsomethingsimilar)• 1indexcardperchild• pencils,pens,ormarkers

Life In Action Guessing Game: Secret Identity

• Sights&SoundsDVD• paper• pencil

Live It Out Interactive Story: The Drawn-to-Life Parable

• Sights&SoundsDVD• butcherpaper• scissors• crayonsormarkers

Bible • TV or video projection unit (VPU) • DVD player • CD player

Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Three Servants

prepare aheadCut the butcher paper in pieces large enough that members of each small group can stand around their piece all at once.

Leader Tip

Permission to photocopy this page from Group’s Living Inside Out®: Vertical Edge granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Ave., Loveland, CO 80538. groupslivinginsideout.com

ALLERGY ALERt

Take your Drawn-to-Life creations and hang them somewhere in your room or your hallway for all to see!

Leader Tip

Key Verse

t The Point u

“Work willingly at whatever you do.” —Colossians 3:23

We use our talents for God.

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Allow 10 minutes Allow 10 minutes

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Praise & Worship

Connect With Groups

WelcomeWelcome

Skit Reflection

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© Group Publishing, Inc.© Group Publishing, Inc. © Group Publishing, Inc.Living Inside Out

YOU’LL NEED YOU’LL NEED

YOU’LL NEED TV or VPU • DVD player • Sights & Sounds DVD

YOU’LL NEED

Copy this page, and distribute to your leaders.

Living Inside Out • groupslivinginsideout.com Living Inside Out • groupslivinginsideout.comLiving Inside Out • groupslivinginsideout.com

Round 1 Round 1 Round 1 Round 1

Large-Group Leader Guide Week 3

easy options:• SingalongwithDVD

lyrics and motions.

• SingalongwiththeCD.

• Showmediaslidesprovided on the CD.

Leader Tip

prepare aheadOn a white board (or something similar), write a list of talents, such as musical, good with numbers, athletic, artistic, organized, crafty, good teacher, good with computers, good with animals, and more.

Leader Tip

It can be a scary thing to step out of our comfort zones and use our gifts and talents for others. However, God gave us our talents for the purpose of using them to serve him, not to simply enjoy them by ourselves. Take time this week to identify your own talents, and look for ways to use them for the Lord as often as possible.

LIVING INSIDE OUT

The Parable of the Three Servants

the paraBLeToday’s passage presents a familiar parable told by Jesus: the parable of the three servants. Although this passage refers to money, Jesus is talking about any gift that comes from God.

The parable tells the story of three servants, each given a certain amount of money when their master left on a trip. They were entrusted by their master to use the money wisely in the master’s absence. Two of the servants invested their money and made quite a profit. The third servant, however, simply buried his money in the ground. When the master returned, the first two servants were rewarded for their ingenuity while the useless servant was cast out.

a soLiD inVestMentIt’s easy to look at the parable and ask, “What was so wrong with hiding the money so it wouldn’t get stolen or lost?” Wisely using what God has given us involves more than just protecting it. Just as in other areas of serving God, we’re to make the most of our opportunities and gifts. Instead of hiding our talents, we’re to use them, honoring God and serving others in the process.

Greater responsiBiLitYNotice that those servants who used their money wisely weren’t rewarded with the opportunity to rest and enjoy their success—instead, they were given more responsibility. When we’re serving God, we can’t “retire” and simply enjoy the blessings around us. God expects us to continue to be faithful to him by investing our lives wisely and serving him!

DistriButeHand out cards and pencils to the groups, and say: My talented young future leaders! Look around you at all the talent in this room. Look at the person sitting next to you. in fact, look the person right in the eye, and say, “Wow! You’ve got talent!”

expLainSay: on our board, i’ve written a list of talents. Have someone read the list aloud, explaining those talents that need it. Say: on your card, write or draw one or more talents that best describe you. these are just suggestions, soifyoudon’tseeatalentthatbestfitsyouonthislist,writeordrawadifferent one on your card. Allow three minutes.

reFLeCtWhen the kids have finished, say:Thecoolthingaboutyourtalentisfindingout how you can use it. take a quiet moment, look at your talent, and in this time let God show you a way you can use that talent to help others. Allow three minutes of quiet time for kids to reflect.

DisCuss in Groups DVD Gifts With a purpose QuestionsCue screens as kids answer each of the following:

• WhydoyouthinkGodgivesdifferenttalentstodifferentpeople?

• SharehowyoucanuseyourtalentstoserveGod.

• Howcanyourtalentshelpotherpeople?

MaKe the ConneCtionSay: God has given everyone talents that can be used to serve others. he gave you those special gifts and talents for a reason. God didn’t give your gifts to someone else—he gave them to you especially for you. in return, when we serve others, u we use our talents for God.

TV or VPU • DVD player • Sights & Sounds DVD • white board (or some-thing similar) • 1 index card per child • pencils, pens, or markers

Gifts With a purpose

introDuCeSay: our talents are special gifts that God gives us. But God didn’t give them to us just so we could hide them away. he intended for us to use our talents to serve him and to bless others. Open your Bible to Matthew 25, and show it to the kids. our Bible passage today is about a master who went away on a trip. Before he left, he gave three of his servants something to take care of while he was away. right now, we’re going to take a look at a similar story—with a little italian seasoning.

aCtCue the actors to begin the “What’s-a for Dinner?” skit on page 5 of the Can-DoSkits&Scriptsbook.

DisCuss in Groups DVD What’s-aforDinner?QuestionsCue screens as kids answer each of the following:

• WhydoyouthinktherestaurantownerwassounhappywithChefAngelo?

• WhatdoyouthinkGodwantsyoutodowithallthethingshe’sgivenyou—likeyourtalents?

• WhatkindsoftalentshasGodgivenyouthatyoucanuseforhim?

MaKe the ConneCtionSay: God has given us special gifts and talents, and any talent worth having is one worth using! a God-given talent is not one to bury, or hide away from others.That’sasurefirewaytoendupwithamoldytalent.Wheneverweuse our talents to serve him and serve others, u we use our talents for God.

What’s-a for Dinner?TV or VPU • DVD player • Sights & Sounds DVD • Can-Do Skits & Scripts • table • box of pasta • can of tomato sauce • bag of flour • bag of sugar • head of lettuce • sign: “One Week Later”

sinG“Living Inside Out” (Song 1)

“Doin’ It for the Lord” (Colossians 3:23) (Song 2)

“Nothing Is Impossible” (Luke 1:37) (Song 4)

“Get Up!” (Romans 12:11) (Song 5)

praYThank God for our talents and for the opportunity to use them to glorify him, and ask God for help in finding ways to use our talents to bless others.

MaKe the ConneCtionSay: even if you don’t know it yet, every single one of you has special talents. Godplacesgiftsandtalentsinsideeachoneofusforustousespecificallytohonorhim!WefindwaystoblessGodandotherswhenu we use our talents for God.

Count DoWnPlay one of the countdowns. Have children get with their small groups, and get them excited to worship!

GreetHave small-group leaders greet kids in their groups.

announCeMake any announcements, and collect offerings.

TV or VPU • DVD player • Sights & Sounds DVD

Countdown

Matthew 25:14-30Matthew 25:14-30

The Parable of the Three Servants

Permission to photocopy this page from Group’s Living Inside Out®: Vertical Edge granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. groupslivinginsideout.com

Some of the younger kids will need help with this! Have older kids or volunteers spread out among the groups to help the younger children draw.

Leader Tip

Key Verse

t The Point u

“Work willingly at whatever you do.” —Colossians 3:23

We use our talents for God.

8 . 2 5 ” 8 ”8 . 1 2 5 ”8 . 3 7 5 ”