Curriculum
Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids
Memory Verse:
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:13
Bible Background
What Kids Will Learn
Children will learn the importance of being ready for what’s to come. Each of us has a responsibility to be prepared to meet Jesus.
Scripture Summary
Jesus’ message often challenged what the religious leaders had taught for generations. Jesus told parables, or stories, to help the disciples and Jesus’ followers better understand His message.
This parable is set at a wedding within the Jewish culture. On the day of the wedding, the bridegroom would’ve traveled to the house of the bride. The ceremony would take place at the bride’s house. Then the bride, bridegroom, family, and friends would go to the house of the bridegroom for the feast. This feast could last as long as a week.
The bridesmaids in this parable were hoping to join in the wedding feast. The bridegroom didn’t show up when he was expected to begin the wedding celebration. During this delay, half of the bridesmaids ran out of oil for their lamps and ran to purchase more. While they were purchasing oil, the bridegroom arrived and the celebration began. Unfortunately the lack of preparedness meant the unprepared bridesmaids were excluded from the wedding celebration.
God created us with the gift of free choice. And each of us is responsible for our own choices and relationship with Jesus, including being prepared for Jesus’ return. Preparedness cannot be bought or borrowed at the last minute.
Why Is This Important
We can’t rely on someone else (even our parents) or their faith for our own salvation. Jesus loves everyone individually and wants a personal relationship with each one of us.
Teacher Devotion
Scripture
Don’t Be Left Out
“‘But while they were gone to buy oil, the bridegroom came. Then those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was locked.” Matthew 25:10
The Bible often describes Jesus as a bridegroom, and it’s a beautiful thought that shows His deep love for us, His bride. The point of this parable is that some of the bridesmaids weren’t ready. All 10 went out to meet the bridegroom. All 10 fell asleep. All 10 brought lamps. But five of the bridesmaids ran out of oil for their lamps.
The other five bridesmaids were prepared with extra oil in the event that the bridegroom was late. This made the difference between being welcomed into the wedding celebration and being left out after the door was locked.
Take a couple of minutes to ponder your answers to these questions:
- Why is it special that Jesus refers to Himself as a bridegroom? What does that tell us about Him and our relationship with Him?
- What do you think the oil represents in this parable?
As you go about your day today, show up for something (work, a meeting, school, an appointment) 10 minutes early. In that time, ponder the process of planning ahead–even for just a 10-minute early arrival. What did planning ahead entail? What was difficult about planning ahead? Was it worth it?
Being prepared for Jesus’ return will undoubtedly be worth it. The reward is being welcomed into the wedding celebration–into heaven–with open arms for eternity.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You for Your son, Jesus. And I thank You that He will return. Please help me be ready for His return, so I can be with You in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Bible Memory Verse
You’ll Need: “Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids” How-to video, Bibles - one per child
“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.” Matthew 25:13
Invite kids to open their Bibles to Matthew 25:13. Ask for several volun- teers to read the verse aloud.
After the class has familiarized itself with the verse, work together to make up a chant from the Bible memory verse.
Follow these steps:
- Travel around the church.
- Knock on the doors of other classrooms.
- Enter as a group and say in unison: “Be prepared. Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. Matthew 25:13.”
- Visit classrooms, as time allows.
ASK:
- What are some reasons you have or want to tell others to be ready for Jesus?
SAY: Just as we’ve heard the important warning to be prepared, we must share this news with others so they will learn of Jesus and be prepared to meet Him, too.
Interactive Bible Experience
You’ll Need: Bibles - one per, child, Newsprint - one large piece per child, Markers
Invite each child to turn in their Bibles to Matthew 25. Give each child a piece of newsprint and some markers.
SAY: Today’s Bible lesson is a parable that Jesus told. A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a point. That means it teaches the listener one main important truth. As I reread the story, you’ll do some illustrating yourself. Illustrate also means to draw; so as you listen, draw what you hear, and look for the main important truth in the story.
Read aloud Matthew 25:1-13, stopping every few verses to allow time for kids to draw. During these moments, encourage children to summa- rize what they’re drawing. This will help them to connect the story to Jesus’ main important truth.
ASK:
- Tell what you think the people in Jesus’ parable learned from what happened.
- Look at the story in your drawing. What main important truth do you think Jesus wanted everyone, including us, to know?
SAY: We illustrated Jesus’ story, and Jesus illustrated the import- ant point that we must keep watch and be prepared to meet Him.
Snack
Preparing Sundaes
You’ll Need: Bowls, Ice cream, Syrup(s), Toppings (M&Ms, fruit, sprinkles, whipped cream), Spoons, Napkins
Lay out all the supplies for today’s snack. The children will prepare their snacks during the activity.
SAY: Today we’re learning we need to be ready to meet Jesus. Getting ready means we take action to prepare ourselves. Who wants an ice cream sundae? (Pause for kids’ reactions.) Today you’ll get to prepare that sundae yourself. If you prepare well, your sundae will be delicious. If you don’t listen to instructions and prepare, you could miss out on some of the goodness.
To make the sundaes, have kids follow these steps:
- Invite kids to the preparation table one-at-a-time by name. Remind them to be prepared by listening for their names.
- At the preparation table, lead them through these steps in the following order:
- Grab bowl
- Scoop ice cream
- Cover with syrup
- Add toppings
- Get spoon and napkin
- Return to seat
- Kids who followed instructions get whipped cream on their sundae if they would like to have it. (If a child doesn’t like whipped cream, he or she could get an extra scoop of a favorite topping.)
ASK:
- Tell about something you’ve prepared for that helped you be ready for something great.
- Tell about a time you were not prepared, such as for a test or a soccer game.
SAY: Following instructions and preparing gave you all some yummy sundaes. While these sundaes may be tasty, nothing is greater than meeting Jesus. Being prepared to meet Him means we won’t miss out on the most amazing friendship we’ll ever have.
Game
Pin the Oil on the Lamp
You’ll Need: Newsprint, Tape, Yellow construction paper
Get Ready:
Before class, draw an oil lamp on the newsprint and tape the newsprint at eye level on the wall. Cut the yellow construction paper into circles.
SAY: Let’s play a game. The goal is to get the oil—a yellow circle—on the top of the lamp to make it look like the lamp is on. Here’s the catch: You’ll have to close your eyes and spin first.
Follow these steps to play the game:
- Give each child a yellow circle with tape on the back.
- One by one, invite kids to close their eyes. Help them spin three times. Then tell them to walk to the newsprint, with eyes closed, and stick the “oil” to the lamp.
- The child whose oil is the closest is the winner.
SAY: Great job getting the oil in the lamp. Remember that only half of the bridesmaids were prepared and had enough oil to meet the bridegroom. We want to be like the half who were prepared so we’re ready for Jesus when He comes.
Craft
Flag Parade
You’ll Need: Long dowel rods - one per child, Construction paper, Markers, Tape
Get Ready:
Before class, write BE PREPARED on each piece of construction paper.
Explain to kids they’ll be making some flags they can use to tell others to be prepared for Jesus.
To make the flags, have kids follow these steps:
- Decorate the construction paper, which will be their flags.
- Once decorated, tape the flag to the dowel rod.
Once flags are made, follow these steps to display the flags:
- Have kids march around a designated area and wave their flags.
- Occasionally say, “halt,” and have the kids stop and recite the Bible verse together.
- Repeat, as time allows. You may add some variation, such as having the girls recite the verse one time and the boys recite the Bible verse another time.
ASK:
Tell about someone you want to see the message on your flag.
SAY: We made our flags to remind us and others to be ready when Jesus comes to meet us. Meeting Jesus will be so wonderful, so we want everyone to know.
Prayer
Share Love Prayers
You’ll Need: Battery-powered, tea light candles – one per child
Give each child a battery-powered tea light candle. Tell them to leave it off until you call their name. When they hear their name, invite them to turn it on.
SAY: Today we learned that five bridesmaids were ready with plenty of oil while five others were not prepared and missed out on meeting the bridegroom. I am going to pray for each of you by name asking God to reveal Himself to you and give you eyes to see your need for Jesus one day.
Pray for each child by name. When you say their name, they are to turn on their candle. Continue until all the candles are lit.
ASK:
- What kinds of things can you do to be prepared to meet Jesus?
PRAY: Dear God, we thank You that You love us. Please help each of these kids to continue to learn more and more about You. Help them see their need for a Savior who is Your Son, Jesus. Help them be prepared. In Jesus’ name, amen.
