Bible Study – Be Prepared
Share: Your highs (something that made you happy) and lows (something that made you sad) this week with others around you or write them down.
In this season after Pentecost, we hear stories of Jesus’ ministry in the world and our call to engage in that mission. This season is also known as Ordinary Time coming from the word “ordinal” which means counted time. This time is not ordinary as in common or regular, but it is the time of counted weeks between Pentecost and Advent. The color for this season is green and it is often referred to as the green growing time as we hear stories of what God is calling us to do in the world, we join in that call, and we grow in our faith.
Jesus is now finished with the confrontations and moved on to talking about preparing for what is ahead. This parable warns of what happens when one does not prepare for something you know is going to happen.
In that culture, weddings were a bit different than they are in our culture. The bridegroom, his family and guests would gather in their house, the bride, her family and guests would gather at their house. When they were ready, the groom and his family would make their way to the bride’s house. Upon their arrival, the groom would take his bride inside the house to consummate the marriage, and they were then married. After the bride and groom join their family and guests again, the party would begin.
This being the case, there was not a definite start time, but you knew it was going to happen on a given day or the day after. You were to prepare and stay prepared and be ready for the celebration that ensued after the marriage took place.
Our lesson for Matthew today is saying that the kingdom of heaven is like this. How so? For Matthew’s community, it was about being immediately ready for Christ to come back and not to fall asleep on watch. 2000+ years later, the message is still to be ready, but in a slightly different way. The kingdom of heaven is both in the future and in the present. The kingdom of heaven is happening now – so how are we prepared? How are we sustaining our life of faith and lighting our lamps with extra oil to show the world who God is?
Opening Prayer: God, we come together today to learn more about you and how we can be prepared to follow you each and every day. Be with us as we hear your word and discover more about you. Amen
Please open your Bibles to Matthew 5:1-12 and read or read the scriptures below.
Matthew 25:1-13
The Parable of the Ten Virgins
25 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
13 “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.
Questions:
- What did you like about today’s scripture?
- Are there things you have questions about?
- What do you think Jesus’ parable means?
- What could it be telling us today?
- What words seemed important to you?
- What do you think this might have to do with us as people of God?
Click here for the young learner’s lesson
Videos (Click on url)
Matthew 25 Parables of Jesus: The Parable of the Ten Virgins The Bible: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwCavwlkp0A or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FaHtSkaHAM
Gospel of Matthew Summary: A complete Animated Overview (Part 2) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGCF3OPWN14
Song: Give Me Oil in My Lamp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sDJRVIMYQ4 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8t8zA1N6mCY
Activities:
Prepare: PACE
As we heard in our lesson from today, it is important to be prepared. Have you ever gone on a trip? What are the things that you do to prepare for a trip? Do you pack anything?
Today, we are going to think about ways that we can be prepared each day as we walk with God as our guide. We don’t want to get caught with our lamps out!
Here is one way that you can connect with God – you can keep on PACE. To keep on PACE, you need to:
- Pray each day
- Act as God calls you to
- Connect with others
- Engage with needs around you
Take a sheet of paper and write the words at the top of the page. Think about how you might do each of these things and then write or draw your response as to how you might keep PACE in order to stay prepared on your journey with God.
How are we Preparing? How does our church prepare us? How we might prepare and be ready for the Kingdom of Heaven. (prayer, doing acts of justice, taking care of others, reading scripture, showing God to others, etc.)
Parable of the Ten Virgins – Lamps of Faith: These are made from clay. Review the following url’s. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/130604457924029285/ or https://www.pinterest.com/pin/4151824644796817/
Give Me Oil In My Lamp - Crossword: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-ten-virgins
Give Me Oil In My Lamp - Word Search: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-ten-virgins-2
Give Me Oil in My Lamp – Multiple Choice: https://sermons4kids.com/activities/parable-of-the-ten-bridesmaids
Prayer: Gracious God, We thank you for our time together today. Help us to be constantly preparing and ready for you in our lives. Be with us as we go into the world to do your work that we will be ready, with lamps lit when you come among us. Amen.
