In short
Themes: Christianity; The Parable of the Two Sons; stories Jesus told; responsibility; 'don’t judge a book by its cover'.
Summary: This assembly, which is suitable for an act of collective worship, focuses on one of the parables in the Bible that Jesus told - the Parable of the Two Sons.
Resources: The framework to download / print (pdf) and an image to display of the word 'Responsibility'.
The video
OMAR: Hello. I'm Omar and this is the brilliant story of The Two Sons.
There was once a man called… Something. Something wasn't actually his name, that would be silly, we just don't know what he was called.
MR SOMETHING: Hello, I'm The Man. No one knows what I'm called.
OMAR: Anyway, what we do know is that he had two sons. His first son seemed to only ever relax and have fun all the time.
SON 1: Hey, I'm the first son. Stay chilled.
OMAR: While his other son seemed to try very hard at everything all the time.
SON 2: Hello. I'm the second son, but I can't stop, I'm busy, busy, busy.
OMAR: Now, as well as two sons, the man had a wonderful vineyard that grew sweet and tasty grapes. And on this day, the grapes had to be picked and the man needed help. So, he went to his first son and asked him to stop what he was doing.
MR SOMETHING: Son, it is your responsibility to help me. Can you come pick some grapes?
SON 1: Dad, no way! Can't you see I'm busy?
OMAR: So, then the man asked his other son to stop what he was doing.
MR SOMETHING: Son, it's your responsibility to help me too. Can you come and help me pick some grapes?
SON 2: Sure, no worries, I'm on it, I promise.
OMAR: Later, when the man went to see his second son, he was surprised to see that he wasn't helping at all!
SON 2: Sorry, dad, I was too busy doing other jobs.
OMAR: His son had promised to be responsible and help pick the grapes but he'd broken his promise and now the man was very, very sad…until he saw something that made him jump out of his skin. His first son was right there in the vineyard working hard picking grapes.
SON 1: Hey dad, this is actually really fun.
OMAR: Who would've thought it? The first son turned out to be really responsible after all and that made his father, Mr Something, a very, very happy man indeed.
MR SOMETHING: I'm a very, very happy man indeed.
OMAR: This is a very old story that Jesus told and it's written in the bible. See you again soon! Bye!
This story is found in the New Testament in the Gospel of Matthew (Matthew 21:28-32). The four Gospels are the books in the Bible which describe the life of Jesus.
It's a story told by Jesus at a very important time in his life after he had ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey. Christians celebrate this event on Palm Sunday. After Jesus enters Jerusalem, he teaches people and uses lots of stories called ‘parables’. The video tells the Parable of the Two Sons. Jesus uses this story to invite the listeners to think about who is invited to join in with the father’s work and to show people that it isn’t always those we expect to join in, that do so. This can help us to reflect on the value of responsibility.
Duration: 3' 48"
Final words: 'See you again soon! Bye!'
Video questions
- In the story, what was the man’s name? (Mr Something - because we don't know his actual name)
- How were the two sons different? (One was very relaxed and the other was always very busy)
- What job did the man ask his sons to do? (Harvest the grapes in his vineyard)
- What did the second son do? (He agreed to help his father - then broke his promise)
- Which son actually helped his father? (The first son - the one the father didn't expect)
Assembly framework (pdf) document
Download / print the assembly framework ready for use
Responsibility. image
Click to display image full size
Suggested framework
1. Entry
As the children enter play your chosen music and display the word 'Responsibility' if you wish to.
2. Introduction
Draw attention to the word 'Responsibility' and ask the assembly what they think the word means. Gather some responses and then ask: Has anyone ever been given an important job to do? Again, gather responses and ask whether doing the important job made the children feel 'responsible'?Explain that everyone is going to watch a retelling of a story that is found in the Bible, in which there is an important job to do.
3. Play the video
The duration is 3’ 48” and the final words are: ‘See you again soon. Bye!'
4. After the video - Time to talk
Consolidate the children's recall and understanding of the story by asking some or all of the Video questions above. Then lead a discussion about 'responsibility' by asking:
- What do we mean when we say 'don't judge a book by its cover'?
- Did anyone make such a judgement in the story?
- What are some of the occasions when it is important to be responsible? For example - jobs.
- What are some of the occasions when you have to be responsible?
- How do we show other people that we are responsible and can be trusted?
- Why is it important to be responsible?
5. Opportunity to sing
Suggestions from BBC collections below.
6. Opportunity for reflection
Close your eyes as we think about some of things we've heard today…
Think about a time when you have been given responsibility…
What did you have to do? How did it make you feel?
Has there ever been a time when perhaps you've been distracted, and failed to show responsibility?
Acting responsibly around school can help to keep everyone happy and safe…
What are some of the ways you can show that you are responsible today…?
7. Opportunity for prayer
Begin with your usual form of address (‘Dear God’, ‘Let us pray’, etc) and:
Thank you for our story inviting us to think about being responsible.
Help us to avoid making judgements about people, based only on what others say about them.
Help us to be grateful for those who show responsibility everyday through their actions - whether in big ways or small.
Amen.
Suggested songs
Song: 'Keep the golden rules' (All about our school, no 5. Vocal version)
Chorus:
Every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules.
Then we’ll get on in a good way
With everyone at school!
Show respect for one another
And different points of view,
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
Verse 1:
They’re all there for a reason,
So everything is cool,
And every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules!
Chorus:
Verse 2:
There are rules for playing every sport
And every kind of game,
To get along together
We need rules just the same!
Chorus:
Every day’s a good day
When we keep the golden rules.
Then we’ll get on in a good way
With everyone at school!
Show respect for one another
And different points of view,
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
And take good care of each other
In everything we do.
'Our school' - All about our school, no 9 (© Kate Walker / BBC)
In our school
We work together,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We think of others,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We make good friends,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.In our school
We work together,
Yes, in our school
We try to help each other
Make our school
A happy place to be.
In our school
A happy place to be!
Song: 'You've got to move'. Come and Praise, no 107. Vocal version.
You’ve got to move when the Spirit says move,
You’ve got to move when the Spirit says move,
‘Cos when the Spirit says move,
You’ve got to move when the Spirit,
Move when the Spirit says move.You’ve got to sing when the Spirit says sing,
You’ve got to sing when the Spirit says sing,
‘Cos when the Spirit says sing,
You’ve got to sing when the Spirit,
Sing when the Spirit says sing.You’ve got to clap when the Spirit says clap,
You’ve got to clap when the Spirit says clap,
‘Cos when the Spirit says clap,
You’ve got to clap when the Spirit,
Clap when the Spirit says clap.You’ve got to shout when the Spirit says shout,
You’ve got to shout when the Spirit says shout,
‘Cos when the Spirit says shout,
You’ve got to shout when the Spirit,
Shout when the Spirit says shout.You’ve got to move when the Spirit says move,
You’ve got to move when the Spirit says move,
‘Cos when the Spirit says move,
You’ve got to move when the Spirit,
Move when the Spirit says move.
