What is your thought process when that happens and why do you find yourself constantly talking about that topic? watch the video

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2 intro experience What is it that you can t stop talking about? Everyone has something that gets them super excited and they try to squeeze into every conversation. What is yours? What is your thought process when that happens and why do you find yourself constantly talking about that topic? lesson witness // day 1 my process: What impact does this have on others' awareness of that topic? watch the video witnesses.awanaym.org/lesson videos 5

3 lesson witness // day 2 core content Read Matthew 5: You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14a, NKJV). Have you ever considered the gravity of such a statement? Think about it. Every time you walk into a dark room, you look for a light. Every time you start a car at night, the headlights come on. When the power goes out in a storm, we look for a flashlight. A light is designed with two purposes in mind to be seen or the means by which we can see. It is designed to pierce through the darkness in order to guide, protect, and provide security. In the famous Sermon on the Mount in the opening chapters of Matthew, Jesus reveals what it looks like to be a disciple of Christ. And it begins with light. It begins with the intention to be seen, to shed light in the darkness, and to point people in the right direction. In today s reading we see Jesus beginning His ministry explaining the mission to go into the world as a witness, to be the light of the world and to shine as a light in the darkness so that our lives can point others to God the Father. nations who looked up at her. Instead, she became just like the rest of the world. Yet now it would be Jesus who would fulfill this mission, to be the beacon of hope for the world. His crucifixion and resurrection would begin a revolution that would turn hearts and minds back to God the Father. That mission began with Jesus disciples as witnesses of the risen Christ and the renewed mission to be the light of the world and a city on a hill. But the call to be that light extends far beyond the first disciples. Their mission was the mission of the Church. It is now our mission. What the disciples had experienced in Jesus had fundamentally changed them and therefore compelled them to live missional lives as lights guiding, protecting, and piercing through the darkness. They lived as witnesses of the good news. Their lives became living, breathing evidence of the risen Christ. They had witnessed the entire Old Testament story reach its climax and purpose that God's blessing would reach the whole earth. witness: One who testifies regarding an event But before Jesus gave the disciples the official word to go make disciples (Matthew 28:19), He needed to remind His first-century audience that He was there to restore Israel back to her original purpose. Now that Jesus was on the scene, the people of God s nation could finally be who they were supposed to be all along. God s original mission to Israel was to be a light (Isaiah 42:6, 49:6). She was to stand like a city on a hill one that reflected God to all surrounding As believers in Christ, our experience of the saving work of Christ is no less powerful and compelling and fundamentally changes who we are. We are called to be witnesses and proclaim the good news of God's blessing to the entire world. We are called to the same mission of being a light in the darkness. We, too, are called to bear witness and speak about what we have seen and heard about the risen Christ. based on the reading, write a question you might have. 6

4 core concept & verse core Concept: I am committed to speaking and living out the truth of the gospel. READ & write THIS verse: Matthew 5:16 lesson witness // day 3 Use the space below to help you remember this verse. Feel free to write, draw, or design in ways that make sense to you. about the verse Matthew Chapter 5 is certainly a sermon as well as specific instructions on what a disciple of Jesus ought to look like. But Matthew 5 is also the beginning of a revolution. It is in this sermon that Jesus begins to counter much of the religious teaching of the Jewish elite. Israel had continually failed to be who God intended her to be as a light to the rest of the world. Israel reflected the world more than she reflected God. Jesus words were not only a reminder of who Israel ought to be, but a scathing reminder of what she was not and the legalistic slavery the religious leadership had the people under. In addition, Jesus lays the groundwork for the Church to see Jesus as the ultimate example for life, faith, and the plan God had for salvation. Jesus words in the Sermon on the Mount serve as groundwork for the gospel message proclaimed by the apostles in the first-century church and through today. 7

5 lesson witness // day 4 exploration questions Choose two questions from below. Spend the next two days exploring them. Feel free to use reference books (like Bible dictionaries, commentaries, concordances), search online, listen to/watch sermons, and/or ask a mentor/parent/pastor. Record your findings below. 1. Why did Israel continue to fail in her responsibility to be salt and light to the rest of the world? 3. Who first coined the term city on a hill, and what was the message being shared? 2. Being a witness carries a big responsibility. At this moment, how prepared do you feel for the task? My own question from yesterday 8 want to know more? check out this book! Sharing Jesus without Freaking Out: Evangelism the Way You Were Born to Do It, by Alvin L. Reid witnesses.awanaym.org/library *References to websites and resources not created by Awana are provided for your information and further study. Awana may not endorse all content of these materials.

6 action plan Based on what you have learned over the last five days about what it means to be a witness, create an action plan for yourself. What questions do you still need answered? Make a list of three to five people you could share the gospel with (family, friends, neighbors, coffee shop barista, etc.). my plan list of five people lesson witness // day 5 notes citation track checklist >> days 1-6 core verses leader s initials date Are you on track with your bible reading? Record what you read here: 9