BREAD
"Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God"
(Matthew 4:4).
Preparation:
Take a piece of bread - slice, bun, etc. Place on paper
plate. You may want to give each child a pinch of it.
Lesson:
There are two types of bread.
1.There is the kind we make sammies with; eat with a meal, etc. We need
bread to help keep us healthy. Bread has been called, "The staff
of life." It has always been part of everyone's diet. We need food
(bread) to gain strength and help us grow.
2.The other type of bread is spiritual bread. Jesus said, 'I am
the Bread which came down from heaven" (John 6:41).
Spiritual Application:
In John 6:48 Jesus says,
"I am that bread of life."
Jesus then uses an illustration of the manna
from Israel's history in the wilderness. God provided it and they had
to get it every day in order to live. Jesus is teaching that we are
to take of Him every day in order to live spiritually. We take of Him
when we read His Word and pray every day. That is where we get our spiritual
life. We need food to grow physically and spiritually. Jesus is saying
that His life must become our life.
If we eat of that eternal Bread (Christ), Jesus says
we will not die (spiritually). V. 50. If we have Christ we will live
forever. Jesus satisfies our hungry souls, He is our Bread of Life.
Have you accepted Him? Do you feed on Him and his Word every day?
"This is the bread that came down from heaven, not as your
fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall
live forever: (John 6:58).
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2nd
A Day of Fishing
FISHERS OF MEN
" ... Follow me, and I will make you fishers
of men." Matthew 4:19
Preparation:
You may want to take a few fishing items with you to show the children.
Line, bobbers, pole, reel, net, lures, etc.
Lesson: Matthew 4:19
Everyone (almost) likes to go fishing. We all know what it means to
fish for fish. What is the biggest fish you ever caught? What was the
smallest fish you ever caught? Did you ever get skunked? Briefly tell
of a fishing trip you took.
Application:
Do you know what it means to fish for men? Jesus is walking on the beach
on the Sea of Galilee and He sees Simon (Peter) and his brother, Andrew
fishing. That is what they did for a living. They were fishers. Jesus
calls out to them and tells them that if they follow Him, He will make
them fishers of men, instead of fishers for fish.
Jesus calls on them to stop fishing for fish and start looking for lost
souls that they can bring to Jesus. Jesus is calling them to minister
to others to bring them to Christ. What do you think is more important
- catching fish or bringing people to know the lord?
There was only one condition for being a fisher of men. They had to
leave their fishing nets and FOllOW JESUS. That means that they had
to be with Jesus, listen to His teaching, follow His example of witnessing
and serving others. That was a big ask for Peter, but both he and Andrew
followed Jesus that day. Also James and John followed Jesus and became
fishers of men that day. Will you follow Jesus and become a fisher of
men? That means soul winning and witnessing.
A FISHING NET
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto
a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind."
Matthew 13:47
Preparation: Bring a fishing net. If you do not have one, borrow one
or find a picture of a fishing net.
Lesson: Matthew 13:47-50
This is the next to last of the parables of the Kingdom of Heaven in
Mathew 13. The lesson is of a fishing boat and crew. They go fishing
and throw out their dragnets and let them sink to the bottom. They travel
a way and then pull the nets in, go back to land, and sort their catch.
They keep the good fish and throw the bad fish away. This parable has
the same lesson as the parable of the wheat and the tares.
Application:
We see good fish and bad fish in the same net. The drag net gathers
all sorts of critters. Do not equate the sea with the Church. It is
the same as the "earth" and the "field" in other
parables. The sea symbolically refers to masses of people. There are
true and false believers in the world today. God is taking out a people
for His Name. The time is coming when He will return. This is after
the rapture ofthe Church, so the Church is not in view here. "When
it (the net) was full they drew it." The
net of God's saving grace will not always be available. People must
avail themselves to it while it is being offered. "And as
it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"
(Hebrews 9:27). The time will be the end of this age. Their character
determines their destiny. So does yours! The Lord knows them that are
His. There is a separation coming. The good are put into vessels
and the bad are cast away. The sorting will be done at the last judgment.
It is called The Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 19: 11 ff). God will
separate believers from unbelievers then on the earth. The believers
were saved after the Rapture of the Church and during the Tribulation
Period. They are the good fish.
Today is the day of salvation. The unsaved (unbelievers) will be cast
into the Lake of Fire. Are you ready for the Lord to come? Trust Him
today!
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3rd
SALT
"Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the
salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thence-
forth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under
foot of men." Matthew 5:13
Preparation: A salt shaker. Perhaps different salts, block, etc. Allow
the children to taste the salt.
Lesson: Matthew 5:13
Jesus told His disciples (and all Christians) that they were the salt
of the earth. Do you like salt in your food? Is food any good without
salt? Jesus goes on to say that if salt is not salty anymore, it has
no value and you just throw it away. Just throw it out on the footpath.
Salt had several functions in the Bible
- Seasoning food, used in sacrifices, insuring a covenant, cleaning
infants at birth, and destroying land.
Application:
We are to take the Gospel of Christ to those who do not know Him. As
such, we are the salt of the earth. We help preserve souls and lives
against corruption. We must make every effort to influence those around
us for Christ. We have Christ and He is the giver and preserver of life.
If our lives are not "salty" or different from the lives of
the unsaved, what good are we? Christians are not to be like the world.
We should influence our friends and neighbors to want to come to Christ.
As such we are preservatives. If we are not "salty", we are
of no use to God. He may as well take us on home and be done with it.
Salt is used for flavoring. We are to make others thirst for the Lord
Jesus by our "salty" lives. Salt makes one thirsty. Can others
see our lives and thirst for our God?
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4th
CANDLE/CANDLESTICK
"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under
a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are
in
the house." Matthew 5:15
Preparation: Show a candle and holder. A candlestick held the candles
to provide light. If no candle/stick is available, use a picture
of one.
Lesson: Matthew 5:15
Jesus is talking to His followers and tells them that no one lights
a candle and puts it under a bushel. A bushel is a basket woven out
of reeds and dried. It would burn up very quickly. If one lights a candle,
he puts it on a candlestick or a holder so it can spread its light around
the room. To put it under a bushel would either put the candle out from
lack of oxygen or it would burn the basket up.
Application:
Jesus applies the light to our lives. We are to let our lives shine
for Jesus so people can see our good works and glorify our Father, which
is in heaven. If our lives have been enlightened by our coming to Jesus
Christ, who said, "I am the Light of the World," and we know
Jesus as our Saviour, then our life is to shine for Him. We are not
to hide our light so people will not know we are Christians. The reason
we are to "shine" for Jesus is so others will possibly come
to know Him as their Saviour. Do not be ashamed to admit that you are
a Christian. Let your light shine!
We sing the song, "This Little Light
of Mine, I'm going to let it shine."
Don't let Satan puff it out, I'm going to let it shine.
Let it shine till Jesus comes. Shine all over the whole wide world.
Is your light shining or are you trying to hide it under a bushel?
Will you sing the song with me? "This Little Light of Mine."
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5th
GIFT-GIVING TO GOD
"If thou bring thy gift to the altar, and
there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there
thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer thy gift." Matthew
5:2324
Preparation:
Giftwrap a few presents as if you were giving them to God. Write "My
love," "My devotion," "My time," or "Myself,"
on each present that you have to present to Christ.
Lesson: Matthew 5:21-24
The Apostle Paul commands us to "present our bodies"
(Rom. 12: 1-2) to our Lord for Him to use as He sees best. However,
if we come to a place of giving something or ourselves to Him, and we
have bad feeling toward someone else, Jesus said to leave the gift on
the altar, go and find that person and ask them to forgive you of the
bad feeling you have, or the bad things you have said about them, or
the mean things you have done to them. Then come and offer your gift
to Him.
Application:
God will not accept the gifts we bring to Him if we hold bitterness
and hatred in our hearts toward others (anyone). Full stop! We may offer
ourselves to Him but He will not accept us for service or bless us if
we hold unkind thoughts and actions against others. Is there something
you are keeping inside about others that you need to confess to Jesus
and to them. Get the sin problem settled before you try to serve God.
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive
us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1
John 1 :9).
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6th
ALMS
"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them:
otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which
is in heaven." Matthew 6:1
Preparation:
Prepare a list with a number of good deeds (alms) listed. You may include:
helping Mum, emptying the trash without being told, making your
bed, cutting the grass, visiting a shut-in, witnessing, etc.
Lesson: Matthew 6:1-4
Jesus tells us that we are not to serve Him and look for approval from
the world. Why do we do the things we do for the Lord? Is it because
we want other to look at us and think we are superspiritual? That
is why the leaders of the synagogue did good things for others. Jesus
called them hypocrites. All their devotion was to be "seen of men."
Why do we go to Church? Why do we witness? Why do we sing at Church?
Application:
Jesus is teaching that why we do what we do is more important than what
we do. Jesus looks on the heart. People look on what we do but God is
concerned about why we do it. A person who does good deeds for appearances
only is a hypocrite. Your actions may be good but your motives are wrong.
Those empty acts are your reward for what you do, but sincere alms will
be rewarded by a faithful, all-knowing God, who knows your heart. Believers
should avoid giving just to get something in return. While the Lord
is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him (Heb. 11 :6),
He is not a rewarder of those who seek glory for themselves.
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7th
PRAYER
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou
hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father
which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly." Matthew 6:6
Preparation:
Use either a picture of a person praying or personally demonstrate how
a person may pray to God. Head down in humility, reverently.
Lesson: Matthew 6:5-7
Jesus is contrasting the practices of the hypocrites and heathen and
the way to pray that God approves. Hypocrites stand in public places
to be seen of men, they use vain repetitions (same things over and over),
and make long prayers thinking God will hear prayer if it is long. Jesus
says they have their reward (the approval of men) but God does not approve
of their methods, nor hear their prayers.
Application:
The hypocrites and heathen practiced their religion (alms giving, prayer,
and fasting) to try to impress others about their supposed holiness.
Jesus was not impressed. He warned the Disciples and His followers to
not follow their example. Jesus then instructs His followers on how
to pray:
1. Go into a secret place by yourself.
2. Shut the door. Prayer is a conversation between you and God. Shut
the world out, shut distractions out, and shut interruptions out.
3. Pray to the Father in secret. Tell Him your hearts sorrows and
joys. Make your requests known to Him.
He has promised to hear such prayers by His people, not the Devil's
mob. God will not only hear but He will reward with answered prayers.
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8th
FASTING
"But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thy head, and wash thy
face; that thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, which
is in secret; and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee
openly." Matthew 6:17-18
Preparation:
You must explain the concept of fasting. Many Christians do not know
about it and have never practiced it. Fasting is going without food
for a set period of time and using the time to pray and seek the face
of God, usually over a matter of great concern such as sickness, revival,
lost son or daughter, etc. Fasting is not commanded by Christ but He
practiced it and many still practice it today. Here He commends it and
gives instructions on how it should be done.
Lesson: Matthew 6:16-18
Jesus is contrasting the practices of the hypocrites and how He says
it should be done. The hypocrites acted sad and marked their faces with
charcoal or other things to make it look like they had been fasting
a long time and the fasting was taking its toll on the body, but it
was all a trick to fool people. Jesus said, "Don't fast like that.
Here is how you do it."
Application:
Jesus was not condemning fasting but the hypocrisy He saw. They did
it to be seen of men. Looking sad is not holiness. Marking your face
to make it look like you are sad is not acceptable to God. God said
to anoint your head, wash your face and try to look like you are not
fasting. God sees in secret and will reward you openly. Jesus commended
acts of self sacrifice (alms, praying, fasting) done quietly and sincerely,
not for display.
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9th
MOTE/BEAM
"And why beholdest thou the mote that is
in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine
own eye?" Matthew 7:3
Preparation:
Bring a small twig or perhaps a tooth pick, or something that might
fly into one's eye accidentally and bring a much larger stick to contrast
between the two sticks.
Lesson: Matthew 7: 1-5
Jesus begins this chapter with an exhortation: "Judge not,
that ye be not judged." The kind of judging Jesus speaks
of is tearing down others so you may look good. It is a call to be
discerning but not negative. Here a man is critical of another for
some "small thing" while the accuser has glaring sins in
his own life. We need to trust God to be the final judge of other's
motives, not us. Before we are critical of others, let us make sure
we do not have "bigger sins" in our own life.
Application:
There are five verses given to this topic in Matthew 7. Read
them all. Jesus says that you will be judged by the same standard
you use to judge others. How can you get a mote out of your brother's
eye if you have a beam in your own eye? Jesus is instructing us to
first get the beam out of our eyes and then we can see to help our
brother get the mote out of his! To try to help him with his mote
while we have a beam in our eye is being a hypocrite. Do you find
it easy to magnify the faults of others and ignore your own faults?
That is being a hypocrite! Before you are critical of others, check
your own life and make sure all your own sins are confessed and forgiven.
We often spot "sins" in other's lives because we see them
in our own.
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10th
DOGS AND HOGS
"Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither
cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their
feet, and turn again and rend you." Matthew 7:6
Preparation:
Get pictures or figurines of a dog, a hog (pig), and a sheep. Show them
as you talk.
Lesson: Matthew 7:6
Christians should be careful about applying Christian principles to
the unsaved. Not everyone is a sheep (a Christian). Some are dogs, some
are hogs, and some are wolves in sheep's clothing .
Dogs were unclean animals that wandered the streets eating dead things.
Christ compares them to Gentiles (Matt. 15:26). They were often
violent.
Hogs - Only a fool would throw pearls to swine. They also were unclean
to the Jews. The Jews were not to raise, feed, sell or eat pork.
The reason for the judgment was not to condemn but to discern their
condition and witness to them.
Application:
God's truth is very precious. Some of it is to God's people only. There
are many precious truths that the unsaved cannot understand. Spiritual
things are spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2: 14). The unsaved
cannot understand spiritual truth. Do not take the pearls of God's Word
and offer them to the unsaved. All unsaved people can understand about
the Bible, is that they are sinners and need a Saviour. Neither Jesus
or Paul would share some eternal truths with Pilate, Herod and other
nonbelievers. That is one reason we do not use unsaved folk to teach
in our Sunday School and other ministries of the Church.
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11th
FOOD, DRINK, AND CLOTHING
" ... Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or
what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on ....
" Matthew 6:25
Preparation:
Take an article of food, something to drink, and a piece of clothing.
Exhibit them, explaining how important they are to us.
Lesson: Matthew 6:25-34
Jesus is instructing His followers about trusting Him. If they fully
trusted Him, they did not need to worry about the matters of this life.
God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies of the field. Did you ever
notice the beauty of the wild flowers? God made them to bloom. Solomon
in all his fine clothes was not as beautiful as a wild flower. Yet the
wild flower fades overnight. God is far more concerned about His children
than the wild flowers, or what you have for tea or to drink. To not
trust God is to have little faith in Him to meet your needs.
Application:
The unsaved are concerned about the matter of food, drink, and clothing.
A Christian should not be overly concerned about these matters. If you
are God's child, He loves you and will provide these things if you do
one thing: You must put God first in your life. Matthew 6:33
says, 'Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness;
and all these things (food, drink, clothing) shall be
added unto you."
How much faith do you have? Is your God big enough to take care of His
own? Serve and obey Him, read His Word and talk to Him every day, talk
to others about Him and invite them to trust Jesus. This is what it
means to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
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12th
THE DIRTY CUP
"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they
are full of extortion and excess." Matthew 23:25
Preparation:
Take an ordinary cup that you have prepared and wash the outside but
inside put dirt and grease, etc. Cover the cup with foil, etc. to conceal
the inside, ready to remove at right time.
Lesson: Read Matt. 23:25-34.
These people were very careful about cleanliness. They washed their
hands many times a day. They cleaned the outside only. Would you drink
from a cup that was only washed on the outside? Jesus told these religious
leaders they were like dirty cups and plates, clean on the outside but
dirty (sinful) on the inside. Does it really matter if the inside is
clean or not? These leaders did not think so.
Application:
What is the most important, the outside or the inside of the cup? These
people acted nice and dressed very nice but Jesus said their hearts
were evil inside. Do you see my lovely cup? Do you see how clean it
is on the outside. I washed it myself. Would you like to have a drink
from my clean cup? (remove the cover). Our hearts need to be cleansed
from sin. We need the inside clean. That is more important than wearing
clean clothes. Jesus can make you clean in your heart if you ask Him
to be your Saviour and to cleanse you from your sin. You become clean
by using the Word of God. "Now ye are clean through the Word
which I have spoken unto you" (John 15:3). You become clean
when Jesus forgives your sins. Why not ask Him to make you clean, inside?
Matt. 23:25-34. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter,
but within they are full of extortion and excess.
[26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup
and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
[27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like
unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are
within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
[28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within
ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
[29] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build
the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
[30] And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not
have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
[31] Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children
of them which killed the prophets.
[32] Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
[33] Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation
of hell?
[34] Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and
scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them
shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to
city:
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13th
THE NARROW WAY
"Enter ye in at the strait gate ... because strait is the
gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there
be that find it." Matthew 7:13-14
Preparation: Draw a picture or find a picture of a narrow doorway with
a few stick folk entering the door. Using newspapers, mags, etc. cut
out folk walking along a road, quite lonely.
Lesson: Matthew 7:13-14
Jesus is teaching about a road. There are two ways on this road: These
are the way to Heaven and the way to Hell. The word "strait"
means "narrow." The narrow way is not as popular as the broad
way. There are not many on the road to Heaven. Only a small percentage
of the population is actually Christian. The majority is usually wrong--
and they are in this matter. People are on the narrow road because they
have accepted Jesus Christ as their Saviour.
Application:
One cannot walk the narrow way of following Jesus with a load of sin
on his back. He will not be able to enter a narrow gate. One must rid
themselves of the load and baggage of sin if he is to enter the narrow
gate. "Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling."
In Bible times, after dark in getting to the gate of a city, a loaded
camel could not enter. They had to stop and unload the camel of all
its burdens before the camel could get down and enter the low, narrow
gate. He had to come in on his knees. What a wonderful picture of someone
coming to Christ and having to get rid of the load of their sins before
they can enter Heaven's gate. Have you ask God to forgive you of all
your sins so you can travel the narrow way with God? He invites you
to come to Him and lose the burden of sin you have been carrying.
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14th
THE BROAD WAY
" ... wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction,
and many there be which go in there at:" Matthew 7:13
Preparation:
Draw or find pictures of masses of people
going down a road. Make the gate wide open so all can enter.
Lesson: Matthew 7:13
Jesus is teaching that there are two roads.
Everyone is on either the narrow (strait) road or on the broad (wide)
road. There are few people on the narrow road but there are masses of
people on the broad wide road. The broad road leads to destruction.
The word here means "loss." It is a loss of that which could
save them and satisfy their needs if they would but come to Christ.
It is a terrible loss. It is a loss that they do not have to suffer.
But they have plenty of fellow-travelers on this broad road. It is easy
going down hill.
Application:
Just as the narrow road leads to Heaven, the broad road leads to Hell.
The travelers on the broad way are all those who have not accepted Christ
as Saviour. It includes all involved in demonism, drugs, witchcraft,
drunkards, murderers, all Christ rejecters, all the unjust, all the
idolaters, and all the whoremongers (sexual deviates). All who have
not come by faith to the Lord Jesus, confessed their sins and have
trusted Him to save them. What a horrible crew to spend eternity
with. Their destination is Hell. It is literal, it is hot, it is eternal,
it is consuming. Most of the world is on this road. Would you like to
get on the narrow road that leads to blessedness and Heaven today and
leave the broad road that leads to destruction? There are only two roads
- God's and Satan's! Choose!
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15th
RAVENING WOLVES
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." Matthew
7:15
Preparation:
Find a picture of the Big Bad Wolf dressed up like Grandma from Little
Red Riding Hood. Copy, enlarge it, etc. and put it on a poster.
Lesson: Matthew 7:15
Jesus is teaching us that we must be careful to whom we listen. In
this day, with the deceitfulness of the wicked one, we cannot believe
everyone that is willing to talk to us. There are people who profess
to be Christians but are not. We should not listen to them. They are
dressed up like Christians, talk like Christians, even act like Christians,
but they are not Christians. They are wolves dressed in sheep's clothing
to fool you. They have another gospel to preach other than the Bible's
Gospel.
Application:
Why are they dressed up like sheep? The better to deceive you, my
dear! God's people are called sheep so when we see a sheep we assume
that they are Christians. If they came to us as wolves, we would know
what they were up to and not listen to them, so they disguise themselves
as sheep and other sheep are not suspicious of them. Satan is
very tricky and will mislead many, many people. Most false teachers
are motivated by money, fame, power, or all three. Listen to them;
they promote themselves or their ministry instead of Jesus Christ.
Beware of them, be warned that they are out there and are after you
and your money. They want to use you in their cause.
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16th
DOVES
" ... be ye therefore ... harmless as doves."
Matthew 10:16
Preparation:
Obtain a picture of a dove.
Lesson: Matthew 10:16-42
Jesus is sending His Disciples out to minister in Matthew 10. He has
been teaching and training them to minister, including performing
miracles. He informs them of the proper attitude in dealing with people
-- they are to be as harmless as doves. Doves were the only bird that
could be used as a sacrifice. They were known for their gentleness,
tenderness, and affection (Song of Solomon 1 :15; 2:14).
Application:
The dove was a picture of reconciliation with God (Genesis 8:8,10).
It is now used as a symbol of peace and of mourning. It symbolized
the Holy Spirit that descended on Jesus at His baptism. It has a peculiar
hovering motion as it lands (Matt. 3: 16; Mark 1: 1 0; Luke 3:22;
John 1 :32).
As God's servants go out, their attitude is vital to their ministry.
Jesus said we are to be gentle and kind. It is the goodness of God
that leads men to repentance (Romans 2:4). Our attitude must
not be hostile, belligerent, or judgmental. We need to be mindful
of the preceding phrase in this same verse, " as wise as
serpents." The Apostle Paul testified that it was "the
love of Christ that constrained him" (2 Corinthians
5:14). We go out of a heart of gratitude for God's love for us.
It was God's love for Paul that drove him on in gratitude.
Let's make sure our attitude is one of concern and compassion as we
seek the lost.
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17th
SPARROWS
"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? ... ye are
of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29, 31
Preparation:
Get a picture of a sparrow or many sparrows. You may find these
in a bird or nature books in the library.
Lesson: Matthew 10:29, 31
Jesus is sending His Disciples out to minister and He is warning
them about the persecution they will encounter and at the same time
encouraging them to trust Him. His presence will go with them. He
reminds them that He takes care of the little sparrows and He will
care for them. Jesus takes knowledge of one sparrow that falls to
the ground and then reasons that the Disciples are much more valuable
than sparrows so He will take care of them.
Application:
Each child of God, as he goes out to serve His Master, must remember
that God loves him and redeemed him at a great cost to his Lord
Jesus. He gave Himself as a sacrifice for sin that He might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people,
..... (Titus 2:14). He redeemed us from the curse of the
law (Galatians 3: 13). We were redeemed from under the law
"that we might receive the adoption of sons"
(Galatians 4:5). God and Christ did all that for lost mankind.
They did not do it to save sparrows. Mankind is special to God.
He loved us "even unto death." When we come
in faith to become a follower of Christ, he assumes the responsibility
of our safety. Jesus is trying to reassure the Disciples of His
presence, protection, and power as they go out to serve Him.
18th
A CUP OF COLD WATER
"And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these
little ones a cup of cold water ... , he shall in no wise lose his
reward." Matthew 10:42
Preparation:
You might take a pitcher of cold water and offer a drink to each
one that is thirsty. Take small, individual, disposable cups.
Lesson: Matthew 10:40-42
Jesus is instructing His Disciples about the ministry, preparing
them for what to expect when they go out. For a host to give a cup
of cold water it required a sacrifice; it meant going to the spring
or well and drawing out the water. They could not go to the refrigerator
and get cold water or ice cubes. It required an act of kindness
and sacrifice. This relates to homes the Disciples would enter on
their ministry. The cup of cold water would indicate their reception
of them and perhaps their message.
Application:
Jesus is talking about His Disciples going out to minister and the
reception they will receive. Many would not invite them into their
homes. Some would invite them in and offer them hospitality. Many
did not have a great deal to offer them but Jesus makes it clear
that they will be rewarded even "if it is just a cup
of cold water in His Name," they would be rewarded.
Winston Churchill said, "We make a living by what we earn and
a life by what we give." God measures us, not by what we have,
but by what we give. Remember the Widow's mite (Luke 21 :1-4)?
God notices every little deed we do for Him. He keeps good records
and will reward if it is done for Him. No one may see you but God
notices.
19th
FRUITS
"Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes
of thorns, or figs of thistles?" Matthew 7:16
Preparations:
Bring some good fruit (perhaps grapes for all) and some bad fruit
(old, wrinkled, dried up, etc.)
Lesson: Matthew 7:16-20
Trees bear fruit according to the kind of tree it is. Apples come
from apple trees, etc. However, a tree can get a disease and the
fruit will not be good fruit. A good tree will have good fruit.
A bad tree will have bad fruit. A good tree will not have bad fruit
and a bad tree will not have good fruit. A bad tree will be cut
down or pulled out and destroyed. You will learn to judge people
by what comes out of their lives (their fruit).
Application:
The context of these verses is v. 15 about wolves in sheep's clothing.
Jesus is teaching spiritual things from natural things. People produce
in their lives what they are inside. Fruit is our deeds or our works.
If their hearts are evil and full of wickedness, they cannot produce
spiritual works. They may have works but they are corrupt. You do
not get good works from bad lives. A bad life will produce bad works.
It may seem to be good but it is corrupt inside, "a goodly
apple rotten at the heart. 0 what a goodly outside falsehood hath."
(Shakespeare) Just as a evil heart will produce evil works, a good
heart will produce good works. The fruit is what comes from the
life. A good heart will produce deeds of mercy and kindness, Christian
attitudes and spirits, helpfulness, gentleness, and giving. How
can you know someone? By their fruits! What comes out of their lives?
What is in your life? Can people tell you are a Christian?
20th
THE HOUSE ON A ROCK
"Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them,
I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house on a
rock." Matthew 7:24
Preparation:
Find a picture or replica of a lighthouse and point out that it
is built on a rock. It has an important job and a good foundation
is vital to its purpose.
Lesson: Matthew 7:24-25
It is a wise man that is concerned about the foundation of his house.
He knows that a good foundation is necessary for the house to stand
when rains and winds come. He is concerned for his physical welfare
and the welfare of his family. There may be other good foundations,
but if he builds on a rock, he is very sure of its standing. Jesus
says that such a man is wise. It is not enough to just hear His
sayings, you must do them.
Application:
The foundation Jesus is speaking of is His words. If a man builds
his life on the Word of God, the teachings of God's Word, he is
a wise man. There are other foundations one can build on, but the
surest foundation is "the sayings of mine." Storms of
doubt and testing will come upon your life, and will test the basis
of your life. Tragedies will come, illnesses will come, death will
come, sorrows will come, and disappointments will come! What
are you building on? Reading, knowing, and loving the Word of God
will enable you to stand every crisis that comes into your life.
Without such a foundation or basis for your life, your life may
collapse around you. We sing, "The wise man built his house
upon a rock." That Rock is Jesus Christ and his sayings.
"The Lord's our Rock, in Him we hide, a shelter in the time
of storm." On what is your life built? Make sure you have a
good foundation.
21st
GOOD TREASURE / EVIL TREASURE
"A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth
forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth
forth evil things." Matthew 12:35
Preparation:
Make two posters, with a large heart on each and a pouch big enough
to place several bits of paper. On the bits of paper write bad things
(lying, bitterness, cheating, etc.) and on the other bits of paper
write good things (fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5:22-23). Have the bits
of paper in the pouches, pulling them out and reading them aloud.
Lesson: Read Matthew 12:31-37
Jesus is both instructing and warning the religious leaders about
what is in their hearts toward Him. They had accused Him of casting
out demons by the power of Beelzebub, the prince of demons. That
was blasphemy coming out of their mouths but which had its root
in their hearts. Jesus was saying what's in the well comes up in
the bucket! Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven.
It is rejecting the convicting power of the Spirit in dealing with
their sins. To refuse conviction is to sentence your soul to Hell.
The evil person will speak evil things but the righteous person
will speak righteous things.
Application:
What comes out of your mouth? Is it good, encouraging, blessed,
and kind things or is it evil words, blaming, unkindness, bitter,
unloving things? What comes out of your mouth will reveal what is
in your heart. Cleaning up your speech will not take the sin away
from your heart. It takes the blood of Christ to cleanse your heart
of sin. When you come to Christ, you will be given the Holy Spirit
and He will help you change your speech to a speech that glorifies
God and brings joy to Him. A Christian is to have love, joy,
peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and
temperance (Galatians 5:22-23). Now is a good time
to ask God to forgive you of the sins of speech which comes from
an evil heart of unbelief. God can and will forgive you if you ask
His forgiveness. Do not blaspheme the work of the Holy Spirit of
God. Get your heart right with God and the speech will then be correct.
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22nd
MUSTARD SEED
" ... The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard
seed, ... " Matthew 13:31
Preparation:
Try to find a picture of a mustard seed or a mustard tree. A Bible
Dictionary may have such a picture or a book on trees and shrubs.
Lesson: Matthew 13:31-32
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed in that it is very,
very small but when it is planted in favorable soil, watered, and
cared for in a warm climate, grows into a 3-4 metre tree. Birds
build nests in them. The kingdom of heaven started small but it
began to grow and is much larger than the tiny seed that was planted.
The size of the seed does not determine the size of the tree.
Application:
No matter how small one may be, he can be used by God for God's
glory. We are not talking about the physical size of someone
but how big they are in their own eyes in contrast to how big they
are in God's eyes. A person who is big in his own eyes, puffed up
with pride and arrogancy is not very big in God's sight. James
says in 5:6, "God resisteth the proud but giveth
grace unto the humble." God certainly gives different
abilities to His people but He wants us to use them for His glory,
not to promote ourselves. You can be big for God if you are
small to yourself. Pray a lot, read the Bible a lot, and serve a
lot.
A humble person can be depended upon to give God the glory for what
he accomplishes. "By humility and the fear of the Lord
are riches, and honour, and life" (Proverbs 22:4).
We are reminded of the wonderful verse in Zechariah 4:6, "This
is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, not by might, nor by power,
but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts."
Are you small enough for God to greatly bless and use? Small enough
to know that if you accomplish anything, it must be God doing it?
If you "humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, He
shall lift you up" (James 4: 1 0)
23rd
THE VINEYARD
" ... a certain man had two sons; and he came to the first
and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard." Matthew 21
:28
Preparation:
Obtain a picture of a vineyard. If there are vineyards close to
you, go take a picture, make a copy and get it enlarged at a copy
place.
Lesson: Matthew 21 :28-32
A man owned a vineyard and there was much work to be done in caring
and preparing it for the next grape harvest. He went to his first
son and asked him to go work but the son said he would not go and
work. The owner goes to his second son and asks him to go work.
He says he will go but he does not go work. The first son, comes
back around and goes to work. Jesus asks, Which son did the will
of his Father?" They answer, 'The first." Jesus condemns
them for not going to work in His vineyard.
Application:
The vineyard is the nation of Israel. The two sons are two types
of people in Israel, the self righteous religious people and the
rest of the people (Publicans and sinners). When Jesus came and
appealed to the leaders (religious and political) to turn to
Him, His own received Him not. "But as many as received
Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them
that believe on His Name" (John 1:12).
The nation of Israel was to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all
the world. They did not do it. Now, God appeals to His saved of
every nation, to take the Gospel. One of the main lessons here is
WORK. WHO is to work? Every child of God. WHAT are we to do? Sow
the Seed of God's Word everywhere we go. WHEN are we to do it? Work
today. It is the only time we have-yesterday is gone and tomorrow
has not come. Today is the day! WHERE are we to work? The vineyard
is now the world. " ... go ye into all the world and
preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16: 15).
24th
THE STONE
" ... The stone which the builders rejected, the same is
become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it
is marvelous in our eyes?" Matthew 21 :42
Preparation:
Find a picture of a large building stone (or draw one). Explaining
that a building must be built on a good foundation. Acornerstone
is "a stone for a corner." It was foundational.
Lesson: Matthew 21 :42-44
The setting is in the last week of our Lord's life before the cross.
The Priests and Pharisees were his audience. Jesus had been condemning
them and they were irritated about it. The parable of the wicked
farmers has just been spoken. Now Jesus accuses them of rejecting
Him. He was the Cornerstone that the leaders of Israel has rejected
and now this Stone that they rejected (Jesus Himself) would be the
means of their destruction. Their kingdom would be taken from them
and they would ultimately be destroyed. Jesus came as the Messiah
and they had rejected Him (The Cornerstone), now a new entity would
come on the scene, the Church. People would now turn to Jesus Christ
as the head of the Church and seek Him.
Application: 1 Peter 2:3-10
There are several Old Testament passages that deal with the cornerstone.
Isaiah 8: 14 says the Lord will be a stone of stumbling
and for a rock of offence. Many of the inhabitants of Jerusalem
would stumble (over), and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and
be taken. "Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone,
a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation"
(Isaiah 28: 16). One stone can affect people in different
ways, depending on how they relate to it. To Israel, Jesus was a
stumbling stone (Romans 9:32-33). They should had believed
on Him and built their lives, and society on Him. Christ, the building
block, will become a crushing stone to all who reject Him.
He offers grace and forgiveness now but promises judgment later
to those who refuse Him. Through His death, burial and resurrection,
Jesus founded the Church (Eph. 2:20-22). He is the Church's
one foundation!
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25th
TAKE UP YOUR CROSS
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will
come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow me." Matthew 16:24
Preparation:
Get a picture of a cross, even the cross of Christ. Then proceed
with lesson.
Lesson: Matthew 16:24-25
The purpose of the Roman cross was suffering, punishment, and death.
Jesus has just for the first time, told about His dying (Matthew
16:21-23). Peter, as usual, speaks about something he knows
nothing about. Jesus says Satan is behind what Peter said and that
Peter did not have the things of God in mind but the things of men.
Jesus then speaks about a cross and tells them to take up their
cross and follow Him.
Application:
Jesus informs His Disciples that they will have crosses to bear.
At Easter time you often see men who have made crosses and they
drag them through the streets to remind people it is Easter. That
is not what Jesus is speaking of. Jesus bore His cross. We are not
called on to bear Jesus' cross, but our own. In that day, the cross
meant suffering and death. No Roman was crucified. It was reserved
to enemies of Rome. Jesus does not mention crucifixion here but
He does later in the week (Matthew 20: 17-19).
To deny yourself is to be totally surrendered to God's will for
your life. There was the possibility of the Disciples losing their
lives for following Jesus. At this point, they were not ready to
do that. To take up your cross is to identify with Christ in His
rejection, shame, and suffering. It does not mean having trials
and problems in your life; everyone has those. A cross was a real
commitment to Christ and perhaps the risk of dying for Christ would
be a reality to them. In fact, most (all except John) would pay
the ultimate price for following Jesus. John was exiled by Domitian
to Patmos, which was a prison island and the prisoners were forced
to work the mines. Have you taken up your cross and followed your
Lord?
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26th
TALENTS
"And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and
to another one; to every man according to his several ability; ...
" Matthew 25:15
Preparation:
The talents are money. The man gave different amounts to each worker,
according to their ability to manage it. Explain that every one
has different abilities. Illustrate it by giving coins to children.
Older ones will receive more valuable coins.
Lesson: Matthew 25:14-30
The man gave talents (money) to three of his servants. A talent
was about 20 years salary. One with great ability received five
talents. One with average ability got two talents and one with limited
ability, one talent. The man then left on a trip. While gone, he
expected the three to invest his money and make a profit. After
a long time he returned and called the servants for an accounting
of his money. The word "money" in v. 18 means silver.
This parable is about accountability. How accountable are we with
the many gifts God has given us. The talents represents our opportunities
to use our abilities. It is a contrast between those who use the
abilities God gives and those who do not use their abilities God
has given them.
Application:
No one received more than he could handle. If the five-talent man
had received one or two talents, he would not have enough to do.
If the one or two talented men had received five, they would have
been frustrated with more than they could manage. No one would have
an excuse for not managing what was left them. Notice that the two
who were faithful, received the same reward and commendation from
the master. The one who hid his money, not only lost the opportunity
to serve but lost the one talent originally given him. We will lose
what we do not use for the Lord. We are thankful to God for one
talent people. They form the base of most work that is accomplished
for our Lord. There is one other aspect of this story. Jesus went
away and entrusted to us His work. He will come again and call for
an accounting. Are you looking for Him to return or are you fearful
because you have been unfaithful?
27th
FOOTSTOOL
"The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
till I make thine enemies thy footstool?" Matthew 22:44
Preparation:
From furniture catalogs or sales flyers cut out pictures of footstool
or a "feet seat."
Lesson: Matthew 22:41-46
Jesus asked the Pharisees, 'What think ye of Christ? Whose son is
he?" They answered, The son of David." Jesus' question
is "Whose son is Messiah? Psalm 110 (which David wrote)
shows that Messiah, David's son, would be greater than David. Jesus
then asks, "If David called him Lord, how is he his son?"
They were not able (or willing) to answer Him. The answer is David's
Son is the Messiah. Messiah's Father is God. Mary and Joseph were
descendents of David.
Application:
The teaching of this section is that Jesus Christ is the Son of
God, who will inherit all the world. Jesus' question was, "Whose
son is Messiah?" These men knew the Old Testament. They could
give Jesus the OT passages. Jesus than asks them another question,
quoting from Psalm 110, 'The Lord (Jehovah)said unto
my Lord (Hebrew "Adonai"), Sit
thou at My right hand, till I make thine enemies Thy footstool.'"
Every Jewish scholar interpreted this to mean the Messiah. Jesus
asked, "If Messiah is David's Son, how then could Messiah also
be David's Lord?" The earth is called God's footstool as God's
throne is in the heaven and his feet on the earth as a footstool.
God said in Isaiah 66: 1, "Thus saith the Lord, The heaven
is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. ... "
In Matthew 5:35 Jesus instructs us not to swear "by
the earth; for it is his footstool; ... " Christ's
work as our Mediator will last until all Christ's enemies are subdued.
All who oppose Christ will become His footstool, under Him. He will
rule in His Kingdom on the earth. There is no great concern for
us, God is in control, His will will be done. He will put down all
opposition and be King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Psalm 110
gives some of Messiah's credentials as King. "Even so,
come Lord Jesus" (Revelation 22:20).
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A HEN AND HER CHICKS
" .... how often would I have gathered thy children together,
even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would
not!" Matthew 23:37
Preparation:
Try to find a picture of a mother hen gathering her brood under her
at the hint of danger. Magazines, farm journals or children's animal
books may provide a copy.
Lesson: Matthew 23:37-39
We have all seen pictures of mother hens with her little brood of
chicks, either in pictures or in real life. If she senses danger,
she will cluck a certain sound that the chicks know and they come
running, her wings lift up and they all run under them and she folds
them to her side, securing her babies. Many weasels have sucked the
blood and life from a mother hen but she died protecting, successfully,
her brood. What a picture of our God. He indeed, died that we might
live.
Application:
Jesus has just delivered a scathing attack on the religious leaders
of Israel. Seven times He calls them hypocrites in this one address.
God has tried to get Israel to repent of her sins and to come back
to Him but they keep refusing. He has sent prophets, priests, and
others but they have refused. Finally, God sends His only begotten
Son, perhaps they will believe Him! Alas, We know what they did to
Jesus. "He came unto His own and His own, but His own received
Him not" (John 1: 11). God sets Israel aside for a time
(the Church Age) and offers salvation to "whosoever will."
Israel's judgment is the Gentiles' opportunity and invitation to the
love, mercy, and grace of God. Paul tells about it in Romans 9-11.
The Psalmists, six times mentions our being under His wings Psalms
17:8; 36:7; 57: 1; 61:4; 63:7; 91:4. What a wonderful, comforting
phrase. Are you abiding under the shadow of His wings?
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