Parable About Christ's Return

Parables About Christ's Return by Jennifer Tolbert

Jesus used parables to teach the people about important things He wanted them to know about God and His kingdom. One of the parables he told were about ten girls who participated in a wedding feast. Five of the bridesmaids were ready, and the other five were not. Jesus wanted the people to always be ready because we do not know the day of his return. 

1. A parable is a story about an everyday example that teaches a spiritual truth. 
2. Jesus taught us how to live to please God. 
​3. Jesus wants us to understand how important it is to be ready for His return.  

Memory Verse

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
​-I John 4:7

Songs

Books of the New Testament
This Little Light of Mine
​Give Me Oil in My Lamp
The Battle Belongs to the Lord
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands
I Will Enter His Gates
​Nobody Fills My Heart Like Jesus 
Oh Lord I Thought This Day Would Never Come

Story

Begin Class with Songs, Games, Table Activity, or Sharing Time
 
Open Class in Prayer

Introducing the Story Ideas
1. Suitcase: Bring a suitcase, along with items you might use on a particular trip. As you show each item, talk about why you packed that item, such as an umbrella in case of rain, etc. SAY: "Before we go on a trip, we need to be prepared. Jesus once told a parable about how we should be prepared for when He comes back to take us to heaven."  (missionbibleclass.org) 
​
2. ASK: Have you ever been to a wedding? What are some traditions or things that we usually do at a wedding? (ideas: bridesmaids catch the bouquet, ceremony, rings, kiss, cake, etc.) Allow the children to share experiences they had at weddings or what they know about a wedding. SAY: In Jesus's time, one of the traditions they had were that the bride and her friends would wait at her families home until the groom came to see her. When he finally came (which would sometimes take a while) the bride and her bridesmaids would go into the wedding. Jesus told a story about some bridesmaids who were not ready, and missed being invited in to the wedding! 

3. Clay or Playdough: Provide air dry clay or playdough. Let each child shape and form their own shallow bowl for a lamp. If possible, place an LED to represent the flame. Let the children help tell the story using their props. 


Story: Jesus wanted his followers to understand that they would not know the hour, or even the day of His return. So, it would be extra important for them to be ready for when He arrived so they could go to Heaven with him. 
 
READ The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids or tell them the story.  
EMPHASIZE that:

• Jesus wanted us to know how to please God. 
• Jesus teaches us how much God loves us. 
• Jesus teaches us using parables. 

Visual Aids

The Ten Virgins Parable Video

God is...

Connect the story back to God and his character. Explain how this story fits into God's overall story. 

Activities

Jesus Shows Me the Way Glasses from Oriental Trading

Be Ready for Jesus Crafts from Ministry to Children