B2. Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12

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Bernard Booth
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1 Page1 B2. Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12 Learning Objectives 1. The children will investigate the Beatitudes. 2. The children will explore how blessed they can be when they live according to the way Jesus taught us. Memory Verse: You are the light of the world. --Matthew 5:14 Getting Started Choose One All Ages Favorite Teacher Activity You will need a white board or easel and something to write with for this activity. Ask the children to think about their favorite teacher at school. If they do not have a favorite yet, ask them to think about what attributes would make a teacher special. List the descriptive words that the children suggest on the white board or easel. Then tell them that in today s lesson they will learn about how Jesus (the GREAT teacher) taught the people about how they should live. Continue the lesson. Grades K-2 Recipe for Happiness Coloring Sheet See: Login to the resource room Click on New Testament Lessons Click on Matthew Scroll down to Matthew 5:1-12 and click on Recipe for Happiness Scroll down to #3 Recipe for Happiness. You will need to print out one worksheet for each child before class. You will also need crayons or colored pencils for the children to use. Allow enough time for the children to color their pictures. Then talk about what each picture represents. Grades 3-5 Clashing Values See: New Testament Lesson #222 Teacher Guide Page 2 This is a demonstration that uses water and vegetable oil to show that the world s values can never mix with the Lord s values. You will need a clear glass, some water, food coloring and some vegetable oil. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. After the demonstration, illustrate that this shows us that we can never be a Christian and at the same time do what the world tells us to do. Jesus said that we are to be in the world, but never of the world. Explain that today we will learn how the things that Jesus taught us on His Sermon on the Mount might clash with what the world tries to tell us.

2 Page2 Getting Started - Continued Choose One Grades Continued What does it take to be Blessed? Worksheet(s) See: Grade School Activities What does it Take to be Blessed? (Part 1 and/or Part 2) You will need to print a worksheet for each child before class. The children will also need pencils in order to complete the worksheet. Go over the correct answers after they have had enough time to complete the worksheets. Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions Message: Choose to live each day as Jesus taught. Matthew 5 Jesus saw the crowds. So he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him. 2 Then he began to teach them. He said, 3 Blessed are those who are spiritually needy. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 4 Blessed are those who are sad. They will be comforted. 5 Blessed are those who are free of pride. They will be given the earth. 6 Blessed are those who are hungry and thirsty for what is right. They will be filled. 7 Blessed are those who show mercy. They will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are those whose hearts are pure. They will see God. 9 Blessed are those who make peace. They will be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who suffer for doing what is right. The kingdom of heaven belongs to them. 11 Blessed are you when people make fun of you and hurt you because of me. You are also blessed when they tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12 Be joyful and glad. Your reward in heaven is great. In the same way, people hurt the prophets who lived long ago. Discussion Questions: The children will not likely know the answers to these questions but let them give their responses before explaining the meaning of each verse in a way they will understand. 1. What does blessed mean in these verses? ( Blessing refers to anything that brings us closer to God and to spiritual joy and happiness from being a child of God.) 2. When does it mean to be poor in spirit? (Admitting you do not know everything but are totally dependent on God.)

3 Page3 Bible Lesson with Discussion Questions - Continued Discussion Questions (continued): 3. Why should we mourn and what does it mean? (We should mourn because God hates sin. To mourn is to understand and be sad that we are sinners because sin separates us from God.) 4. Who will inherit the earth and why? (The meek, because God favors those who are humble before Him.) 5. What is mercy, and how do we show mercy to someone? (By showing kindness and helping someone in need, such as with food or money.) 6. Besides clothing, food and money, what else do people need that we can give? (We can be a friend to someone who is lonely or not accepted by others and we can share the good news about the Lord Jesus and His love for us.) 7. How can we be pure at heart? (By being honest and strong in our faith. Not just going to church and looking holy, but by obeying God s every word in our life.) 8. What is a peacemaker and how can we be peacemakers? (A peacemaker is someone who does not let anger, hate, or bitterness destroy relationships between people. We can be peacemakers by striving to be like Jesus, and by obeying and following His teachings.) 9. Why is it a blessing to be insulted or made fun of because of Jesus? (Because that means that we aren t afraid to act the way Jesus wants us to act and God promised an everlasting reward to those who are strong in their faith.) Application to Real Life Enjoy a healthy snack together as you continue the conversation. In the beatitudes, Jesus teaches us the real meaning of having spiritual character and being children of God. As Christians, we must develop our spiritual character so that we are easily identified as believers in Christ. We do not just show mercy and kindness to those who need physical things like food and clothing, but we must also show mercy and kindness by meeting people s spiritual needs and share the good news about Jesus to those who do not know Him. Object Talk: Place a candle on a paper plate in the middle of the table and light it. Ask the children how long they think it will stay lit. After they have shared their answers, explain to the children that Jesus wants us to be a light to the world. This means that we must live according to the way Jesus taught the people in the Sermon on the Mount. Ask the children what will happen if you place a jar over the candle. After they share their answers, put a glass jar over the lit candle. Explain that the candle flame will dim and eventually will go out because the flame needs oxygen in order to continue providing light. We are to be the light of the world, and so we do our best to live our lives exactly as Jesus taught us to, because we love Him. Ask the children: What would you say if someone asked you about Jesus? What would you tell them? Discuss this together. Then review the memory verse and message statement. Memory Work Fun 1. Recite the memory verse. 2. Practice finding the memory verse and/or Bible text in the Bible! (Old or New?) 3. Can you name all nine fruits of the spirit? See how many you can remember.

4 Page4 Activity Ideas Choose One All Ages Doors to Blessings See: Grade School Games Doors to Blessings You will need three dark poster board sheets for doors, and a picture for each door (see website), along with index cards and treats for this activity. The children will complete a verse from the beatitudes with what s behind one of three doors. Please see the above website for detailed instructions. Crack the Code Worksheet Activity You will need to print enough copies of the activity worksheet so that each child has one. This activity will help review the memory verse. Grades K-2 Where Did It Come From? See: New Testament Lesson #222 Teacher Guide Page 5 On strips of paper write down several different things like "Air," "Cars," "Food," "Houses," "Water," "Jobs," etc. (for younger children you could use magazine pictures for illustrations). Have the children work together to sort the words or pictures into two piles; one pile of the things that God gives us, and the other the things we give ourselves. When the children are done, take the things that they have placed in the "things we give ourselves" category and show them that even these things come from God. (For example, "God gives us good health and minds to work at our jobs" or "God provides us the means to purchase our houses, cars, etc. ). Explain that everything we have comes from the Lord; we have no reason at all to be prideful, and every reason to be thankful to God in all things. Remind them that we are also thankful that Jesus taught the people and teaches us how to live our lives so that we can be blessed by God. Grades 3-5 Wants or Needs? See: New Testament Lesson #222 Teacher Guide Page 6-7 You will need masking tape for this activity. Make two small circles with masking tape next to each other on the floor; one representing wants, the other representing needs. Ask for a volunteer to jump into the appropriate circle depending on whether the things you call out are "wants" or "needs." Then call out several items giving the child enough time to jump. Call out things like "Food," "Carpeting," "Water," "Shelter," "TVs," toys, etc. Explain that many people spend their lives striving after the things they want, when they should be happy with just having the things they need. Jesus explains to us very clearly what we need to have or be and reminds us that when we have those beatitudes we are blessed. Review the beatitudes by using the Matching Worksheet (see attached). Help the children to use their Bibles to look up Matthew 5 if they need help.

5 Page5 Journal Optional Grades K-2 Draw a picture of Jesus teaching the people about the beatitudes. What do you think the people were thinking as they were listening to Jesus? Write about it. Grades 3-5 (Choose One) Think about each of the beatitudes. Which ones describe you? For example, are you someone who shows mercy to others? Do you try to always make peace? Is there a beatitude that you need to work on a little more? Write about it. Which of the Beatitudes do you think is the most important? Why? Write about it. Homework Ideas - Read at home with a grownup the lesson about The House Built on the Rock (Matthew 7:24-29). - Learn the memory verse: everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. --Matthew 7:24 - Work on memorizing commandment #. - Complete The House Built on the Rock coloring and activity sheet as your parents read you the Sunday School Lesson. Return your coloring page for a sticker. - What type of rock is the best (hardest) to build on? Do some research. Bring your answer to class. Other Resources New Testament Lesson 222 support curriculum

6 Activity: Crack the Code Page6

7 Matching Activity Worksheet Page7

8 Matching Activity Answer Key Page8

9 Page9 Coloring Page Name: The House Built on the Rock everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. --Matthew 7:24

10 Page10 Take Home Page: Beatitudes Today I learned Today your child learned that we want to choose to live each day as Jesus taught the people during his Sermon on the Mount. The children investigated the beatitudes and talked about how blessed we are when we live our lives according to the way Jesus taught. Help me learn my memory verse You are the light of the world. --Matthew 5:14 Ask me 1. What are the beatitudes? 2. Why do you think Jesus taught the beatitudes to the people? 3. Do you think the beatitudes are hard to follow or live by? Why or why not? Live Your Faith Think of ways that your family could use your talents collectively to bless another family or person and share God s love with them. Talk about and choose a family to bless this week and develop a plan together. After your family experience, talk about how it made you each feel to do what you did for others.

The Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12

Page1 The Beatitudes Matthew 5:1-12 Learning Objectives 1. The children will summarize and write each of the beatitudes in their own words. Memory Verse: the pure in heart, for they will see God. --Matthew