Children's Message: Parable of the Talents

In this children's message, help students understand the Parable of the Talents and what it means for us. God gives us blessings and abilities and wants us to use them to serve Him and one another. We don't want to hide, bury, or horde away what He gives us, but use it and share it! Here is one method of communicating the parable.
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“Use Your Gifts!”
Children’s Sermon on Matthew 25:14-30, the Parable of the Talents
Main Objective: The parable of the talents is much more than a financial tale. In this story, we see the importance of using our blessings wisely and sharing with others. This doesn’t just refer to monetary possessions or physical belongings, but to the time and talents that God gives all of us. By sharing this parable with children, we communicate the importance of recognizing that our abilities have purpose and value in many ways.
Law/Gospel Theme: Everything we have comes from God. The parable of the talents might seem to contain an element of works-based focus, as the suspicious man is admonished for not doing anything with his talent…but he is also criticized for demonstrating a lack of trust for the master. God is not angrily glaring, waiting for us to make a blunder or not match up to His expectations. All that He gives is done out of love, and He wants us to use our gifts in order to share and to receive even more blessings. In doing so, we live as Christ did, serving others and giving sacrificially in order to honor the Lord.
Optional Materials: Box with various “treasures” such as important jewelry or valuable items; or fun share-able toys.
Bible Passage: Matthew 25:14-30
• You can watch a teaching demonstration of this children’s sermon on our TH-cam
• Don’t miss the Bible craft ideas for this same passage
• See our full Sunday School lesson on Matthew 25:13-40
• Compare Don’t Bury Your Talent on Sermons4Kids
• Compare the children’s sermon on Matthew 25:14-30 on rfour.org
  
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
Matthew 25:14-30
“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. 15 To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. 17 So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.[e] You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here, I have made two talents more.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
-Matthew 25:14-30