Adaptable Meeting Guide : The Parable of the Pearl / Hidden Treasure

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THIS WEEK’S PASSAGE MATTHEW 13:44-46

PREPARATION

You will need to gather some objects for the treasure hunt and spend some time devising the clues.

WHAT IS A PARABLE?

10 mins 

Ask the following questions and then gear your explanation appropriately to your context using the paragraph below, if helpful;

• What do we know about parables?

• Why do you think Jesus used parables to teach?

• Are parables relevant today?

Explain that parables are simple stories designed to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. Jesus wanted his disciples to think for themselves, be challenged by his teaching and use the world that surrounded them to assist them in their understanding of the kingdom of God. Parables remain relevant today as the spiritual truth expressed within them is timeless. What is sometimes more challenging is reaching beyond the context to comprehend the spiritual lesson.

TREASURE HUNT

20 mins 

Gather several objects of varying value and create a treasure hunt around your venue. Objects you could use include an iPod, a DVD, a CD, a chocolate bar, a mobile phone charger, a pen, a key and a £5 note. Split the group into teams, allowing them to compete against each other. The point of this activity is not the treasure hunt itself, but the questions and reflections that follow. When they have gathered the objects and each team has a complete set, challenge them with the following in a random order:

• Swap all you have found with the other group.

• Take one object from the other group.

• Hide one object you have found to ensure it cannot be stolen by the other team.

• Identify one object from the other group’s collection that you would be prepared to swap all you have for.

Decide which group is the winner and award a prize. Then ask the following questions.

• How did it feel to be told to swap what you had gathered with the other team?

• How did you decide which object to take?

• How did you decide which object to hide? Was this easy or challenging?

• How did you decide which object was worth swapping your entire collection for?

• Did this activity reveal anything to you about the things you value?

Explain that you are going to be thinking about what Jesus teaches about the value of God’s kingdom in the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl. This is, in part, about understanding the things we value and how this affects the decisions we make. It also challenges us to think about the world in a different way remember that the values of the world and the values of God’s kingdom are different.

WHAT DO YOU VALUE? PART 1

10 mins 

Give your young people a pen and paper and ask them to list all the things they value; anything from possessions to friendships, relationships, people and time. Ask the young people to show the three things they value most. Have a time of sharing and discuss the following questions:

• Was it easy to list the things you value? What was your starting point?

• Are the things on your list mostly possessions or people? What do you think this says about the things you value?

• Why is it important to think about what we value?

THE PARABLE

5 mins 

Use the video at this point in the session as a way of introducing the parable and creating an opportunity for discussion and conversation around it. The video is available at premieryouthwork.com/parablevideos

EXPLORE THE PASSAGE

10 mins

Having watched the video, read Matthew 13:44-46 before considering the following questions:

• What do you think these two short parables tell us about God’s kingdom?

• Who, or what, do the treasure and the pearl represent?

• Do you think it is important that the treasures are hidden? What do you think this suggests about God’s kingdom?

• Why do you think the merchant stopped looking when he found the pearl of great price?

• Why do you think Jesus uses these two short parables together? What might this say about the importance of his message?

WHAT DO YOU VALUE? PART 2

5 mins 

Having explored the teaching of Jesus in these two parables, return to the list of things you compiled earlier and ask the following questions:

• Would you like to change anything on your list as a result of what we have looked at today?

• If you would change your list, what might that mean for how you live your life from now on as a result of what you have learned?

RESPONSE

5 mins 

Give the young people some playdough and choose a song that will create a reflective atmosphere. Ask the young people to use the play-dough to shape something that they have learned this session. Encourage them to take a photograph of it, or even to take what they have created home as a reminder of the message they have taken from this session. Close with a prayer.