Christ the King! When kids hear king, they think of a powerful man, sitting on a throne, who is in charge of everything. It takes time and repetition to help them create the image of a king who serves others.
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Taking a risk can be scary for kids this age. They may need encouragement to name things they are good at. Remind them even the things they do well now were new and felt difficult at one time.
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Kids are very familiar with the concept of getting ready—for school, a meal, a game, going to bed, or the next grade. Getting ready for Jesus’ return is less familiar. Jesus tells us to prepare by actively following God’s way.
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Humility is an abstract concept requiring kids to think about something they cannot touch or see. Interacting with this idea at a basic level lays the foundation for future understanding.
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Rules. Remind kids that rules are more than things they can’t do. They are a way for people to be together in God’s love. “Love God and love others” sounds simple. Carrying it out can be challenging.
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Kids this age start to question authority—and rightfully so. This text gives them permission to weigh competing authorities, a very adult thing to do, and consider the possible outcomes.
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Kids this age discover that even kindhearted, God- fearing, churchgoing adults don’t always get along. Remind them that nobody is perfect, which explains why we all need encouragement.
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Be aware this is a violent story. Direct conversation to focus on the idea of being left out and the hurt feelings that result from not including people. Bullying is a form of rejection that kids this age have likely witnessed or experienced, either as a victim or as a perpetrator. The concept of rejection has real implications in kids’ lives.
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The word hypocrite may not be familiar to kids this age, but they are very familiar with the consequences of promises made and promises broken. They are likely to understand the father’s—and Christ’s metaphorical— disappointment in the promise that was made and broken by the second son.
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