NOTE: This object lesson appears in the series of 7 free object lessons available here.
Objects needed: Fig Newtons (preferably one small package, and one large package)
Theme/Main Idea: God waits patiently for us to respond to his love… what are we waiting for?
Presentation:
“Good morning! How are you this morning? Are you filling up your change cans at home or in your Sunday school class? I sure hope so! It makes a big difference in the lives of the children at Intermountain. You know what else makes a big difference… at least for me when I am hungry?
[Take out small package of Fig Newtons]
That’s right! Food. Food is really important, right?! In fact, I am so hungry, I am going to eat some right now.
[eat all of the small package of Fig Newtons and really ham it up… Mmmm… Mmmm… so good, etc.]
There… much better. Not hungry anymore. [pause]
Why are you all looking at me like that? Oh, you thought I had some for you? Hmmm… maybe I should have shared? Well, I’ll see what I can do about that later. But first I want to tell you a story. Actually, it’s a story Jesus told…
“A man had a fig tree,” Jesus said. “It was growing in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit on it, he didn’t find any. So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
“’Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year. I’ll dig around it and feed it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’”
What an interesting story, right? Do you think Jesus was really talking about fig trees?
[kids respond]
Well, here’s one thing I get from the story…
In the story, we’re supposed to think, ‘Yes. That is a really reasonable way to treat a tree that hasn’t produced any fruit for three years.’ Cut it down… why not?
Then, we are supposed to see how reasonable it is wait and hold out hope for maybe one more year, and with special attention, maybe the tree will bear fruit.
But, what about people? How long do we give them before we cut them down or cut them off? God shows us love and patience but I am wondering, does he get tired and want to be rid of us if we aren’t doing what we are supposed to? [children respond]
No. God doesn’t. God keeps patiently waiting for us, loving and caring for us way beyond what might be considered reasonable. And, I am so thankful for that! Let’s pray and thank God for just how patiently and loving he cares for us until we do what we should… which is not only to respond to God’s love, but to share that love with others… which is why…
[take out larger package of Fig Newtons]
I think I should share with you some of what I was greedily just enjoying myself. Do you think that’s a good idea? [children respond enthusiastically] Yeah, me too.
Let’s pray:
God, thank you for so patiently loving us. We are glad that, unlike the fig tree in the story, we can see the fruit in our lives as a result of your love flowing through us to others. For those who have not responded yet to Jesus’ call, or maybe haven’t got much fruit to show for all the love you have poured into them… Prompt them, Holy Spirit, to open their hearts to you this day. Bless our ongoing collection for Change for Children, and may it be a great way that we can show that we are ‘fig trees’ bearing much fruit! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Teaching Text: Luke 13:1-9 (NIrV)
Some people who were there at that time told Jesus about certain Galileans. Pilate had mixed their blood with their sacrifices. 2 Jesus said, “These people from Galilee suffered greatly. Do you think they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too. 4 Or what about the 18 people in Siloam? They died when the tower fell on them. Do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you turn away from your sins, you will all die too.”
6 Then Jesus told a story. “A man had a fig tree,” he said. “It was growing in his vineyard. When he went to look for fruit on it, he didn’t find any. 7 So he went to the man who took care of the vineyard. He said, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree. But I haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’
8 “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year. I’ll dig around it and feed it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ”
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