B26. The Rich Young Man Luke 18:18-27

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1 B26. The Rich Young Man Luke 18:18-27 Learning Objectives 1. The children will explore the story of the rich young ruler. 2. The children will recognize that the most important thing they can do each day is follow Jesus and His Commandments. Memory Verse: But He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. --Luke 18:27 Getting Started All Ages Give it All to Jesus See: NT Teacher Guide Page 6 The Rich Young Ruler Page 5 For this activity, you will need several magazines, construction paper, scissors, and glue sticks. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. For the intro activity, only have the children create their collages. Give them a time limit (10 minutes) to do so before putting them aside and continuing with the lesson. You will come back to this activity later. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: Following Jesus is the most important thing you can do each day! Jesus and the Rich Ruler 18 A certain ruler asked Jesus a question. Good teacher, he said, what must I do to receive eternal life? 19 Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good except God. 20 You know what the commandments say. Do not commit adultery. Do not commit murder. Do not steal. Do not give false witness. Honor your father and mother. (Exodus 20:12 16; Deuteronomy 5:16 20) 21 I have obeyed all those commandments since I was a boy, the ruler said. 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, You are still missing one thing. Sell everything you have. Give the money to those who are poor. You will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me. 23 When the ruler heard this, he became very sad. He was very rich. 24 Jesus looked at him. Then he said, How hard it is for rich people to enter God s kingdom! 25 Is it hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle? It is even harder for the rich to enter God s kingdom! 26 Those who heard this asked, Then who can be saved? 27 Jesus replied, Things that are impossible with people are possible with God. Page1

2 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Continued Teacher Note: This story talks about money. It is very common for us to love money and put our love of money before God. But Jesus is not only talking about money, but anything in our lives that separate us from God. That is, anything that becomes more important to us than what God wants. Jesus was NOT saying that it is nearly impossible for rich people to enter Heaven or that it was hard for rich people to give up their money. Jesus was saying that money had become more important to this young man than his desire to serve God. When the disciples asked: "Then who can be saved?" Jesus replied, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." Perhaps Jesus was saying, "It is impossible for men to change their own hearts. But when we give our hearts to His transforming love, God can change our hearts. His priorities become our priorities. What is important to God becomes important to us. Discussion Questions: 1. The rich young man appeared to keep the commandments, but what sin kept him from following Jesus? (Covetousness, he was extremely materialistic.) 2. What does materialistic mean? (A desire for wealth and material possessions with little interest in ethical or spiritual matters.) 3. Why did the rich young man go away sad? (Because he had great wealth and would not give up his possessions to follow Jesus.) Application to Real Life Sweet Desserts For this activity, you will need cookies for each child. You will also need either a piece of cake with whipped cream and sprinkles, etc. OR a banana split. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. This activity will teach the importance of waiting for your reward in heaven rather than indulging yourself in "worldly rewards" here. When you have completed the activity, allow the children to enjoy their snacks. Remind them that Jesus wants our total love. Our love for Him cannot be shared with anything this world has to offer. Nothing can be more important in our lives than Him. Following Jesus must be the number one priority each day. Review the message and memory verse. Memory Work Fun 5 minutes 1. Recite the memory verse. 2. Practice finding the memory verse and/or Bible text in their Bible! 3. Review the first commandment. Explain what it means in your own words. Page2

3 Activity Ideas Choose One All Ages Give it All to Jesus See: NT Teacher Guide Page 6 The Rich Young Ruler Page 5 Use the collages created in the intro activity. Have the children put their collage in front of them and share what is on their creation. When the children are all done, you will pass a basket around the room and have your students deposit their masterpieces in the basket as an act of surrender of the things we really love to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to physically help them decide if they can put Jesus first in their lives. Review Message Statement and memory verse, using the memory verse to remind the children that even if it seems difficult to do, with God anything is possible. Ask Him for help! Grades K-2 The Hokey Pokey See: NT Teacher Guide Page 6 The Rich Young Ruler Page 8 Have your class assemble in a circle around the room. Lead them in the "Hokey Pokey" song. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Finish the song with "put your whole self in." Then explain to your class that this is what we must do for God; give Him our whole selves. We want to make following Jesus our number one priority each day (message statement). And when that seems to be challenging, we can always call on God for help, because He makes all things possible! Review the memory verse. Grades 3-5 Following Jesus We must decide every day what is most important to us. Is following Jesus more important than our friends, earning money or going to a baseball game? We answer the question by our actions. In our story, the rich young ruler could not put Jesus first. His money and his reputation were more important to him. So, what is more important to you? When we understand what He has done for us and the grace He has given us, then we will want to serve Him always and we will serve Him with joy. Read each of the following situations and ask the children what choices they would make. (Discuss together). 1. A neighbor asks you to rake the leaves in her yard. But the only time she wants you to do it is 8:30 a.m., Sunday morning, just when you need to leave for church. You could really use the money she would pay you for the job. What will you do? (see Hebrews 10:25) 2. Your Sunday school class has decided to do a special project to help the elderly people in your church. You must be available Wednesday this week to do odd jobs for these folks. Your best friend just invited you to a concert that you have wanted to attend for months. The concert is on the same day. What will you do? (see Acts 20:35) 3. You want to read your Bible and pray every day, but somehow you just can't get up any earlier in the morning, after school you are just too busy, and by bedtime, you are just too tired. What will you do? (see 1 Peter 2:2-3) 4. A friend at school has forgotten his lunch money. You've got a dollar (enough to pay for his lunch) in your pocket. But you were saving it for a candy bar this afternoon. What will you do? (see 1 Timothy 6:18) Page3

4 Activity Ideas - Continued Choose One 5. Your parents have told you that you are not to watch a certain program on TV. But your parents are not at home and the baby sitter has said you may watch it. What will you do? (see Ephesians 6:1) 6. You want to welcome the new girl or boy in school, but your friends don't like the way he or she looks. You are afraid they won't be your friends anymore if you talk to the new person. What do you do? 7. Many of the kids in your school pick on one kid in your class. They often make fun of him and do mean things to him. What do you do - go along with them, or speak up and tell them to stop? Remind the children that Jesus wants our total love. Our love for Him cannot be shared with anything this world has to offer. Following Jesus and His Commandments must be the number one priority each day. Review the message and memory verse. Journal Optional Choose One Grades K-2 Have you shown kindness to a friend lately? Draw a picture of what happened. How did being kind to someone else make you feel inside? Write about it. Grades 3-5 How has this lesson changed your thoughts on what is the most important priority in your life? Write about it. Is Jesus your number one priority in life? Why or why not? Be specific. Write about it. Homework Ideas - Read at home with a grown up The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids (Matthew 25:1-13). - Learn the memory verse: So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. --Matthew 25:13 (NLT) - Work on memorizing commandment #. - Complete The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids activity sheet as your parents read you the Sunday School Lesson. Return your activity page for a sticker. - Have you ever been late for something or missed it altogether? Do you remember how your felt? Be ready to share in class. Other Resources NT Support Curriculum Page 6 The Rich Young Ruler Page4

5 Coloring Page Name: The Parable of the Ten Bridesmaids So you, too, must keep watch! For you do not know the day or hour of my return. --Matthew 25:13 (NLT) Page5

6 Take Home Page: B26. The Rich Young Ruler Today I learned Today your child learned following Jesus is the most important thing we can do each day. Children explored the story of the rich young ruler. They also discussed what it means to follow Jesus and His Commandments. Help me learn my memory verse But He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. --Luke 18:27 Ask me 1. What do you remember about today s story? 2. Why do you think the rich young ruler had such a hard time following Jesus? 3. If you were in the same position, would you have trouble following Jesus too? Why or why not? Live Your Faith Play a brief game of follow the leader with you child. Then fill up a bag/backpack (or your arms) with as many things as you can find (heavier too) and play another round of follow the leader. Talk about how easy or challenging it was to keep playing while carrying all those things with you. Remind your child that Jesus wants us to follow Him and His Commandments with our whole hearts. Page6