Septuagesmisa Sunday
for Legionary Nathan and his Friends
O LORD, we beg you to hear the prayers of your people with mercy; so that we, who are rightly punished for our bad deeds, may be saved from punishment by your goodness and mercy, for the glory of your Name; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and rules with you and the Holy Spirit always, one God, world without end. Amen.
So the last will be first
BIBLE STORY
Matthew 20For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last.
[Contemporary English Version]Ease 84%, Level 5.3
LESSON Greetings Son, God's peace be with you.
Well, in today's story we hear Jesus again. He says what it will be like. He lets everyone know that all of his people will get the same heaven. It doesn't matter if they came to him early or late. It only matters that they believe in the Lord Jesus. They must believe really. They must make him their Lord. Then they shall get the same reward as all other saints get.
Now that is what a saint is. He is one of God's sons. He has been chosen from all the people. He believes in God. He worships Jesus. We will see all the saints in heaven one day.
One time two of Jesus' friends wanted to get more in heaven than the others. Jesus told them, it is not mine to give, but the Father's. The Father gives the gift of heaven because of what Jesus did for us. It does not matter what we do, or how long we do it. It matters what Jesus did for us. You see, no one can earn their way into heaven by working. The only way to heaven is by the grace of God. That is, that he allows us to come out of the goodness of his heart.
The vineyard in this story is like the Church. People are invited to come in and be with Jesus. Some come when they are babies, and stay all their lives. Others come when they are older, and may only spend a little time. But all who God chooses to be his will go to heaven.
GranddaddyEase 94%, Level 2.5
LESSON EXERCISES
* Can you name the people in this story, and tell about them?
* In you own words, what do you think this story is about?
* Draw a picture that tells the Gospel story. (You may copy or trace the one on the lesson if you wish.)
* Make up a story (parable) or share a true story that is like our lesson today.
* Sing a song about today's story Up in Heaven
Songs for Children
Notice: This is an open letter to my Grandson Nathan. It is under copyright protection: The Rev. Mark Carroll, MMVII
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