The Unshakeable Kingdom | Matthew 20:1-16

This week, we are excited to hear from Dave Lindemulder! He will teach on the parable of the laborers in the vineyard from Matthew 20, focusing on the nature of the kingdom that Jesus is bringing in. Although you cannot see or touch a kingdom, they are real and important. Over time, they have come and gone; in our age, they seem less important and a bygone era. But those that still exist use symbols and traditions to make the intangible understandable. Things like crown jewels, royal palaces, and royal guards provide visual representations of royal power and authority. Jesus promised to usher in a new kingdom and used stories to illustrate how this kingdom would be unique. A dozen parables begin with the introduction, the kingdom of heaven is like. Tomorrow, we will examine what a story about an unusual business model and some disgruntled day laborers can reveal about the unshakeable kingdom. Discussion Questions for Kids / With Prompts for Parents What happened in the story Jesus told about the workers and the vineyard? (Prompt them to recall the different times the workers were hired and how they were all paid the same.) Was it fair that the workers who worked less got the same pay as the ones who worked all day? Why or why not? (Encourage them to reflect on fairness and grace. You can say: “Jesus was showing us something special about God’s kingdom.”) How is God like the vineyard owner in the story? (Help them see God’s generosity, mercy, and grace. He gives more than we deserve.) Have you ever been upset because someone got something you didn’t? How does this story help you understand how God sees things? (Leads into a conversation about envy, comparison, and grace.) What does this story teach us about how we are saved—by being good enough or by God’s kindness? (Point them to the gospel truth: we don’t earn God’s love—he gives it freely.)