Bible Experience Application Guide A team Bible knowledge challenge for Matthew

Transcription

1 2014/15 Editin The Pathfinder Bible Experience Applicatin Guide A team Bible knwledge challenge fr Matthew Nrth American Divisin Pathfinder Ministries

2 2014 Editin Authr: Sctt R. Ward Nrth American Divisin Office f Pathfinder Ministries Cpyright 2014 by the Nrth American Divisin Crpratin f Seventh-day Adventists. All rights reserved. The handuts in this bk may be used and reprduced in lcal church printed matter withut permissin frm the publisher. It may nt, hwever, be used r reprduced in ther bks r publicatins withut prir permissin frm the cpyright hlder. Reprinting the cntent as a whle r fr giveaway r resale is expressly prhibited.

3 Intrductin K ing David didn t have a Bible and he never sat n a hillside reading a devtinal bk. He prbably culdn t even read and yet he knew Gd as well as anyne wh ever walked the face f planet earth. In fact mst peple yu read abut in the Bible were illiterate s they memrized large prtins f the Bible as they listened t it being recited by their parents and read by the priests and scribes in the lcal synaggues and the Sanctuary. It was by listening and memrizing it fr himself that David learned t lve the Bible. Thrughut Psalms David talks abut hw much he lves the Sanctuary and Gd s law he even says he meditated n it day and night. The mst imprtant passage f scripture in ancient Jewish culture is the Shema: Hear, O Israel: The Lrd ur Gd, the Lrd is ne. Lve the Lrd yur Gd with all yur heart and with all yur sul and with all yur strength. These cmmandments that I give yu tday are t be n yur hearts. Impress them n yur children. Talk abut them when yu sit at hme and when yu walk alng the rad, when yu lie dwn and when yu get up. When yu sit dwn and immerse yurself in scripture spending lng perids f time in just a few verses yu are fllwing in the ftsteps f the ancient Israelites and Jesus Himself. Reflecting n Scripture and memrizing it s lessns lcks it in yur mind where n ne can take it frm yu. This Living it Applicatin Guide is t help yu in this jurney f understanding scripture and especially with Living it. The chapter guides are nt cmprehensive they d nt cver every detail f each chapter that wuld take a few hundred pages. Each chapter guide chses a few key pints t help yu start thinking differently abut Scripture t remember it and internalize it. The guides fr the chapters are structured as fllws: 1. Warm Up: Questins fr individual reflectin/small grup discussin. These questins will attempt t help the participants relate aspects f their wn lives t the lives f the Bible characters. This will invlve persnal sharing. 2. Engaging the Passage: This will include sme discussin f the passage and ne r mre f the fllwing: a. Entering the passage as a participant r bystander t help imagine the scene. b. Relevant histrical/backgrund infrmatin. c. Reflectin/discussin questins that g deeper int the passage 3. Applying the Passage t Yur Life a. Thught prvking applicatin questins b. Calls fr cmmitment t actin 4. Time f Prayer: May include any r all f the fllwing: Adratin/cnfessin/requests/praises/silent prayer/cnversatinal prayer

4 Sanctify them by Yur truth. Yur wrd is truth. Jhn 17:17 (NKJV) Abve all, yu must understand that n prphecy f Scripture came abut by the prphets wn interpretatin. Fr prphecy never had its rigin in the will f man, but men spke frm Gd as they were carried alng by the Hly Spirit. 2 Peter 1:20-21 (NIV) It is nt safe fr us t turn frm the Hly Scriptures with nly a casual reading f their sacred pages... Rein the mind up t the high task that has been set befre it, and study with determined interest, that yu may understand divine truth. Thse wh d this will be surprised t find what the mind can attain. The mind must be restrained and nt allwed t wander. It shuld be trained t dwell upn the Scriptures and upn nble, elevating themes. Prtins f Scripture, even whle chapters, may be cmmitted t memry t be repeated when Satan cmes in with his temptatins. Ellen G. White Mind, Character, and Persnality, Vl. 1, Page 95 Yur wrd is a lamp t my feet and a light t my path. Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) 5. Outreach Ideas: Sme chapter guides will include ideas fr getting utside f yurself r yur grup and reaching the wrld arund yu that s hw yu Live it! The recmmended cmpanins fr this series are: Andrews Study Bible, Authentic: Cmmitted fr Life, by Sctt R. Ward, pathfinders May Jesus Christ Himself bless yu richly as yu embark n this jurney t making Gd s Wrd a Living and vital part f wh yu are. Pastr Sctt R. Ward Yuth Pastr, English Oaks Church, Ldi, CA Public High Schl Campus Ministries Crdinatr, NAD Executive Directr, Living it Discipleship Resurce Center (livingiths.rg)

5 Chapter Guide Outline: 1. Warm-up Questins fr individual reflectin/small grup discussin. These questins will attempt t help participants relate aspects f their wn lives t the lives f Bible characters. This will invlve persnal sharing. 2. Engaging the Chapter This will include sme discussin f the chapter and ne r mre f the fllwing: a. Entering the verses as a participant r bystander t help imagine the scene b. Relevant histrical/backgrund infrmatin c. Reflectin/discussin questins that g deeper int the chapter 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life a. Thught prvking applicatin questins b. Calls fr cmmitment t actin 4. Time f Prayer May include any r all f the fllwing: Adratin/cnfessin/requests/praises/silent prayer/cnversatinal prayer. 5. Outreach Ideas Sme chapter guides include ideas fr getting utside f yur grup and reaching the wrld arund yu that s hw yu live it! Recmmended Cmpanins fr this Series Andrews Study Bible, Authentic: Cmmitted fr Life by Sctt R. Ward, Living It High Schl Outreach Resurces fr Pathfinders, 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min)

6 Matthew Chapter 1 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Hw many generatins back d yu knw yur ancestrs? Talk abut r write dwn smething yu knw abut yur parents, grandparents, great grandparents and great, great grandparents. b. Tell yur favrite stry abut smething that happened t yur parents r grandparents when they were yur age. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) Backgrund: Matthew begins his gspel by ging thrugh all the ancestrs f Jesus. Mst peple tday think this is really bring but it was was imprtant fr Matthew t d this because it was imprtant t the peple he was writing t. Back then peple were very prud f wh their ancestrs were especially if they were descendants f smene imprtant. And it was especially imprtant fr peple reading the bk f Matthew back then t knw that Jesus was the descendant f King David. This was especially imprtant because well knwn prphecies said that the Messiah wuld be frm the Huse f David." Have yu ever seen any f the Chrnicles f Narnia r The Lrd f the Rings mvies? The epic battle scenes just Where I live in Califrnia, I have friends that are frm Filipin, African, Chinese, Mexican and ther cultures. D yu have any friends that are frm a different culture than yu are? Have a discussin with sme friends r in yur small grup abut things that ne culture values mre than anther. Things like music, types f fd and entertainment. What d yu think makes different cultures value different things? What are sme things that yu value mre r less than yur parents?

7 What are sme things that yu value mre r less than yur friends? What can yu d t help yu get alng better with peple wh value things differently than yu d? Hw can the things yu are learning frm these discussins help yu t understand and value the Bible mre? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Watch ne f the Chrnicles f Narnia mvies r anther Bible mvie with epic battle scenes t try and a. D sme research n a culture that yu have tended t be judgmental f in the past and try t understand it better. If pssible sit dwn with smene frm that culture and ask them t tell yu abut their wrld and what it is like t be a part f that culture. b. Ask smene frm yur parents r grandparents generatin t tell yu stries frm when they were a child. Ask them what the wrld was like and hw things are different nw. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Spend a few minutes praying fr peace in the middle east and ther places where there is frequent racial cnflict. Pray fr peple t be mre understanding and accepting f each ther. Pray fr Gd t give yu a greater lve and understanding f thse wh are different frm yu.

8 Matthew Chapter 2 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Talk abut hw mst peple act when they are abut t have a baby. Discuss the preparatins that take place and hw peple feel. Des it make a difference if the baby was planned r nt? b. D yu think dads and mms think abut different things when they are getting ready t have a baby? What d yu think sme f thse things might be? D yu think it s gd r bad fr tw peple t have a different fcus n the same event? What ther kinds f events might this happen with? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) Have yu ever wished yu culd ask Gd a questin and He wuld answer in a vice as clear as yur mm r In this part f the stry (Matthew 1:18-2:23) Jseph and Mary were bth surprised by the fact that Mary was pregnant. This was such an imprtant pregnancy that bth Mary and Jseph were visited by angels (Mary s angelic visit is recrded in the gspel f Luke) t receive instructins n what t d next and t make sure they knew it was a miracle frm Gd. D yu think Mary and Jseph felt differently abut Jesus birth? Why/why nt? What impact d yu think the angelic visits had n the way they felt? Hw wuld yu feel if an angel came t yu with a special message? Hw wuld yu knw it was really an angel and nt a trick frm the Devil? The next thing this passage talks abut is sme kings visiting frm a freign land. D yu knw hw ld yu were when yu received yur first ut f twn visitr? Hw d yu think it made yur parents feel t knw peple lved them s much that they wanted t cme and meet yu? Hw d yu think Jseph and Mary felt abut their freign visitrs and the amazing gifts they brught?

9 Next the passage talks abut Mary, Jseph and Jesus fleeing t Egypt and then a few years later cming back. D yu think that the angel that tld them t flee t Egypt was the same ne that tld them they were ging t have a baby? Hw d yu think Mary and Jseph knew it was Gd and nt a demn talking t them in dreams (r maybe just really bad indigestin)? What wuld have happened if Jseph and Mary hadn t believed the angel n any f the 3 different ccasins that he visited them? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Discuss hw imprtant it is fr yu t learn t recgnize the vice f Gd and what kinds f messages He might send t yu thrugh angels. Think f three ways that yu can be mre like Mary and Jseph and learn t recgnize His vice while yu are still yung. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray fr Gd t remind yu t spend time with Him everyday and fr Him t make His vice knwn t yu. Ask Him t be yur best friend and t make the Bible easier t understand when yu read it. 5. Outreach Idea Find a lcal wmen s shelter and ask if they need any clthes r tys fr newbrn babies. Organize a baby clthes drive t cllect these needed supplies fr these babies that may r may nt have been expected by their parents wh must be living in difficult circumstances. Make sure t include a bk that talks abut baby Jesus.

10 Matthew Chapter 3 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever seen a street preacher n a crner with a big crss yelling and telling everyne that they are sinners and they need t repent? Hw did yu feel when yu see and hear smene like that? Des it make yu want t cnfess yur sins and try hard t be better? Why/why nt? b. Wh is the mst interesting persn yu have ever met? What is it that makes them s interesting? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jhn the Baptist steps nt the scene. He was preaching in the wilderness instead f in a church. He was telling peple t repent because Gd was cming sn. He wre clthes made f camel hair and he ate lcusts and wild hney. Sme peple think the lcusts were bugs and thers think they were a plant. In either case he ate weird fd, wre strange clthes and preached in an uncnventinal place. Why d yu think peple came frm all ver t listen t him? Wuld yu g and listen t smene fitting this descriptin tday? What is the difference between ne f tday s street preachers and Jhn the Baptist?

11 Hw wuld yu feel if smene like this came and started arguing with the pastr and head elder at yur church? Wh s side wuld yu take? Hw wuld yu knw wh is right and wh is wrng? If yu lk at the ther passages (especially Luke 1) yu will see that the reasn Jhn the Baptist was such a pwerful and successful preacher, wasn t because f anything great abut himself, but because he was specially chsen by Gd t give that message. Everything abut Jhn the Baptist was miraculus in sme way: The prphecies that fretld his birth, the way his father was tld that he wuld be brn, the fact that his mther was s ld and yet cnceived, and the way he lived with such dedicatin t Gd and his missin. He was ne f the mst unselfish peple that ever walked the planet. D yu think that with s many miracles surrunding Jhn s life there was any way he culd mess it up? D yu think he was frced t be gd r did he have a chice? Why d yu think it was s imprtant fr the Hly Spirit t nt nly fill Jhn s life, but the lives f his parents as well? Des this shw in any way the imprtance f family wrship and attending church tgether? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Sit dwn and talk t yur parents abut yur spiritual life. Talk t them abut the spiritual influences in yur life like church, Sabbath schl, family prayer times and wrship. Talk abut what yu can d tgether as a family t be mre spiritual and what yu can each d individually as well. Make a list f 3 gals that can help yur family grw clser t Jesus. b. Search the internet and yur lcal Christian bkstre fr tls that can help families t grw clser t Jesus and be better witnesses t each ther and thse they meet. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask the Hly Spirit t fill yur hme and each persn wh lives there. Ask Jesus t help yu think f Him mre ften, t remember the lessns yu ve learned frm scripture and t help each f yu t be kinder t each ther and mre helpful

12 Matthew Chapter 4 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Name ne temptatin that yu struggle with. Why d yu think that giving in t this temptatin is wrng? What d yu think makes it s tempting? Hw d yu feel when yu fall fr this temptatin? b. Name a gd activity that yu enjy engaging in. Why d yu think this activity is gd? Why d yu think yu enjy it s much? Hw des it make yu feel when yu are invlved in this activity? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) This chapter starts ut by saying that it was the Spirit that led Jesus int the wilderness t be tempted. Hw d yu feel abut that? D yu think it was cruel f Gd t send the Hly Spirit t d such a thing? Did anything gd cme frm the temptatins in the wilderness? Wh was hurt by this experience? Wh benefited frm this experience? Can yu identify any times when yu think Gd may have allwed yu t be tempted? D yu think this temptatin helped r hurt yu? Why/why nt? The first tw temptatins, accrding t Matthew, was in regards t Jesus identity. Satan said, if yu are the Sn f Gd... Why d yu think Satan said, if? After 40 days f fasting Jesus must have been terribly wrn dwn, exhausted, and ready fr this rdeal t be ver. He had surely experienced sme tremendus cmmunin with Gd but nw His bdy was breaking dwn frm the experience and He may have been getting weak. Satan wanted t tempt Jesus t use His supernatural pwers fr Himself rather than thers here and he hinged it n Jesus relatinship with His Father. The temptatin was essentially: If yu are Gd, stp trusting in yur Father t take care f yu and take things int yur wn hands. Shw that YOU have pwer and satisfy yur hunger yurself.

13 Why d yu think it wuld have been wrng fr Jesus t satisfy His wn hunger in this situatin? Can yu think f a time in scripture where Jesus used His supernatural abilities fr Himself? Have yu ever been tempted t take things int yur wn hands rather than trust in Jesus t shw yu the way? Hw did the situatin turn ut? What d yu wish yu had dne differently? Why d yu think it is better t wait fr Jesus t guide yu rather than using yur wn judgment? Hw d yu knw when t wait fr Gd versus when t take decisive actin? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Have a discussin with yur small grup and/r a spiritual adult that yu knw t think f ways that yu can learn t trust in Jesus mre and t develp mre patience while waiting fr His guidance. b. Just like Jesus spent lts f time with His Father befre He was tempted, try t think f ways that yu can spend mre time with Jesus s that yu can be prepared fr temptatin as well. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) In yur small grup, and individually, pray fr peple that yu knw are ging thrugh trying times right nw. Pray that they will spend time with Jesus and be able t hear His guiding vice clearly. Next pray fr yur persnal relatinship with Jesus. Pray that yu will remember t spend mre time with Him s that yu can recgnize His vice and fllw His guidance mre easily.

14 Matthew Chapter 5 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Why d yu think peple need friends? Is it mre imprtant t be a gd friend r t have a gd friend? Why? b. Hw d yu chse yur friends? Tell yur grup abut ne f yur friends and why yu chse t spend time with him/her. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) At the end f the last chapter Jesus started chsing His disciples. His disciples were His clsest friends while He was n planet earth. Jesus chse His friends based n His missin in life. When He asked them t fllw Him He tld them, I will shw yu hw t fish fr peple! As sn as Jesus chse His clsest friends they drpped their jbs as fishermen and fllwed Jesus arund listening t Him teach and watching Him heal peple. They were His helpers in His missin t save the peple f planet earth. When yu are chsing new friends is it mre imprtant t yu that they are ppular r that they are gd Christians? Why? Have yu ever seen ne f yur friends influenced negatively by ne f their ther friends? What happened? Hw did that impact yu?

15 Nt lng after Jesus chse His disciples He preached the lngest sermn recrded in the Bible and it is called the Sermn n the Munt. In this sermn there is a lt f practical advice fr helping peple t make wise chices and decisins in life. D yu like listening t lng r shrt sermns? Why? Des it matter what the sermn is abut? Why/why nt? D yu feel like mst sermns and ther Christian teachings yu hear are practical and easy t apply t yur life? Why? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Have a discussin with yur friends and a Christian adult abut hw t make Christianity mre practical and relevant in yur life. Talk with either yur pathfinder leader, Sabbath schl teacher r pastr abut ways t live ut yur faith in yur hme, church and cmmunity 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray fr Jesus t help yu t understand the cnnectin between belief and actin. Pray fr Jesus t help yu see pprtunities t help thers that yu meet n a daily basis. 5. Outreach Idea Ask yur pathfinder leader, Sabbath schl teacher r pastr t help yu plan a humanitarian utreach prject in yur cmmunity that will help yu t put yur faith int actin. Ask them abut hmeless ministries, VBS ministries and ways t help ut with tutring yunger students wh need help. Lk at sme f the utreach ideas fund n the Living it website (livingiths.rg).

16 Matthew Chapter 6 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. What is the first thught that cmes t yur mind when yu think abut pr peple? Why d yu think that is yur first thught? D yu wish yu had a different attitude twards the pr? b. Hw d yu think mst peple treat the pr? D yu think this is gd r bad? D yu think mst pr peple chse t be pr in sme way? Why/why nt? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) This chapter features mre f the Sermn n the Munt where Jesus cntinues t give sme practical advice n hw t live yur life. One f the teachings in the middle f this chapter is n fasting and praying. What rle d yu think fasting and praying shuld play in peple s lives tday? Why? D yu think peple fasted and prayed mre in Bible times r tday? Why? Why d yu think fasting and prayer shuld g tgether? Can yu als pray withut fasting?

17 It is imprtant t understand that fasting isn t just frm fd it can als be frm TV, internet, music, the shpping mall etc. The pint is t give up smething yu nrmally d and t spend extra time with Jesus and helping thers during that time instead. What activities d yu think wuld be the easiest fr yu t fast frm? Why? What activities d yu think wuld be the hardest fr yu t fast frm? Why? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Make a list f all the tpics included in the Sermn n the Munt. Keep this list smewhere that yu will see it every mrning. At the end f each day put a mark by the teachings that yu were able t live ut that day. b. Spend sme time n the website: restreachild.rg. Make plans t research this website with yur pathfinder club r Sabbath schl class and learn as much as yu can abut this rganizatin s wrk t help suffering children in ther cuntries 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Start praying fr rphans arund the wrld especially fr thse in the cuntries where Restre a Child is wrking. Als pray fr less frtunate peple in the area where yu live and ask the Hly Spirit t help yu see ways t reach ut and help them. Pray fr Jesus t give yu an unselfish spirit. 5. Outreach Idea Talk t yur pathfinder club r Sabbath schl class abut signing up t participate in the DO Fast talked abut n the Restre a Child website and rganize a 24 hur fast fr yur grup. Ask yur parents and pastr t help yu prmte this activity with yur entire church.

18 Matthew Chapter 7 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. When yu are praying fr smething, hw ften d yu pray fr it? Once, twice, three times? What determines hw frequently yu pray fr smething? b. When yu pray is it typically fr things r situatins r is it mre f a cnversatin? Explain? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this last chapter that is part f the Sermn n the Munt Jesus teachings get shrter and He cvers a lt mre tpics: Nt judging, effective prayer, the glden rule, the narrw gate, the tree and its fruit, true disciples and building n a slid fundatin. D these seem t be just a bunch f randm ideas r is there smething unifying the tpics f this chapter? In the Andrews Study Bible the cmmentatrs say that in the Sermn n the Munt Matthew is trying t encurage peple t cmpare Jesus with Mses. S it seems that Matthew is laying ut a bunch f Jesus teachings in rapid successin smewhat like the 10 Cmmandments. The interesting thing is that Jesus was actually the ne wh gave Mses the 10 Cmmandments n Munt Sinai thusands f years earlier! In the end we culd prbably sum up the teachings in the Sermn n the Munt the same way Jesus sums up the 10 Cmmandments in Matthew 22: Lve the Lrd yur Gd with all yur heart, mind and sul, and lve yur neighbr as yurself (Matthew 22:37-40). If the pint is t lve Gd and thers, why d yu think the Pharisees made s many thusands f little rules back in their day? D yu think it was pssible fr anyne t keep all thse rules?

19 If the pint is t lve Gd and thers why d yu think there are 10 Cmmandments instead f just this ne? Hw many rules d yu need in yur life tday t help yu feel like yu knw what is expected f yu and fr yu t feel like yu are ding what yu shuld? D yu and yur parents agree n hw many rules that shuld be? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Sit dwn with yur parents and tell them abut this lessn and what yu ve learned. See if yu can cme up with a shrt list f rules that yu are bth cmfrtable with that will help yu t understand each ther better and their expectatins f yu. b. Make up a list f realistic expectatins yu have f yur parents. Things like: lve, respect, etc Explain t yur parents what wuld be meaningful t yu abut these expectatins. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t be the leader f yur hme and fr the influence f the Hly Spirit t be felt there each day. Pray that He will help yu establish gd guidelines that will help yu t stay clse t yur family and t Him.

20 Matthew Chapter 8 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) a. What is yur favrite stry f smene being healed in Bible times? Tell the stry with as much detail as yu can remember. Why is this stry yur favrite healing stry? b. What is yur favrite stry f smene being healed in mdern times? Tell the stry with as much detail as yu can remember. Why d yu lve this stry? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Matthew tells several stries f Jesus healing peple, Jesus calming a huge strm, and then casting the demns ut f tw men. In the midst f all these miracles and excitement there is a shrt passage called, The Cst f Fllwing Jesus. Here it seems that peple are getting s excited abut Jesus and all the cl stuff he can prvide and all the amazing miracles He can perfrm that sme peple are thinking they wuld like t be a superstar t! They must have been smething like rckstar grupies trying t get famus by assciatin. S, Jesus sat dwn and tld them hw it really was. He tld them that He was s cmmitted t His missin that He was basically hmeless and didn t even visit His mm regularly. His verwhelmingly number ne pririty was carrying ut the missin that His Father had sent Him n t save the peple f planet earth. D yu have a clear missin in life? What all des it entail? D yu wish yu had a clearer missin in life? Why/why nt? What kind f causes are yu mre drawn t? Things like missins, humanitarian rganizatins, military campaigns, sprts teams r ther frms f entertainment? Why d yu think that is?

21 If Jesus was walking planet earth tday d yu think yu wuld be drawn t Him and want t fllw Him even if it meant being hmeless? Why/why nt? D yu think it wuld have been easier t live Jesus lifestyle back then than it is nw? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Sit dwn with a small grup and discuss what it wuld lk like t fllw Jesus tday. What kind f lifestyle d yu think He wuld live? D yu think He wuld be frced t wn r rent a hme in 21st century America? What kind f causes d yu think Jesus wuld want yu t be invlved in and which nes d yu think He wuld be invlved in Himself? Discuss hw yu can adjust yur lifestyle t fit in mre with hw Jesus wuld live if He was here tday. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t help yu lk at yur lifestyle realistically and ask Him t shw yu hw yu shuld begin implementing sme f thse ideas in yur life nw.

22 Matthew Chapter 9 1. Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever judged smene in sme way and then later realized yu were wrng? Describe what happened? b. Has smene ever judged yu incrrectly r tried t make ther peple believe yu were a different kind f persn than yu really are? Hw did that make yu feel? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In the middle f this chapter Jesus called Matthew, the tax cllectr, t fllw Him. The Pharisees were apparently kay with fishermen and ther such simple peple but when Jesus called a tax cllectr they gt really upset! Verse 10 says that, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples t his hme as dinner guests, alng with many tax cllectrs and ther disreputable sinners. Then in verse 11 the NLT says the Pharisees asked Jesus disciples why their master eats with such, scum! Can yu imagine yur pastr calling anyne scum? What des this say abut these religius leaders? Desn t the Bible say t lve everyne? Why d yu think Jesus intentinally reached ut t peple despised by the Jewish sciety t becme His fllwers? D yu think Jesus was intentinally trying t make friends with peple knwn fr being sinners? Why/why nt?

23 If Jesus hadn t reached ut t this grup f peple, wh d yu think wuld have? Is it ever a temptatin fr yu t think f ther peple r peple grups as scum, r as lwer class than yu? Why/ why nt? D yu think Jesus placed peple in classes? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) In this passage Jesus said that it is nt the healthy peple that need a dctr sick peple d. Try t think f sme peple in yur cmmunity that are sick and in need f a dctr especially a spiritual dctr. D sme research n the peple grups that live in yur area. Find ut why they may have emigrated t yur area if they are frm anther cuntry. Try t find ut if they were fleeing persecutin f sme kind r if they were fleeing pverty and trying t find mre pprtunity fr their children and grandchildren t make a better life. Hw d yu think yu culd help these peple find a better life fr themselves? 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t change yur attitude abut peple that yu typically see as lwer class than yurself. Ask Him t help yu value and find ways t reach ut t these peple r peple grups.

24 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Wh is the unlikeliest friend yu ve ever had? That means smene yu thught yu wuld never be friends with but ended up being a gd friend. Hw did it happen? b. Is there smene yu were sure yu wuld be friends with because yu had s much in cmmn but it didn t end up wrking ut? Why d yu think it didn t wrk ut? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus gives Matthew the tax cllectr the guy wh hangs ut with sinners pwer t cast ut demns and perfrm miracles. Ww! Can yu believe that? He als gave the same pwer t Judas, wh wuld betray him. In additin t them there was a few fishermen, sme ther cmmn guys and a zealt Zealts in Bible times believed in armed rebellin against the Rmans and we knw frm the stry f Jesus arrest that Peter carried a swrd as well. N Pharisees r scribes r anyne with a great educatin r fficial spiritual training Sunds like a bunch f misfits and rebels with Gd s blessing and pwer! Hw d yu think it happened that Jesus chse such unlikely peple?. D yu think Jesus ever had t manage fights within this mtley crew? Can yu think f ne such incident the Bible recrds?

25 D yu think Jesus had limited ptins n whm He culd chse as fllwers r d yu think these guys were really the best Israel had t ffer? Why/why nt? At this pint in the stry mst f the disciples were still lking fr a Messiah that wuld kick ut the Rmans with military means. Why d yu think Jesus wuld send these guys ut with s much pwer when the still really had n idea what His missin was abut? Hw lng did it take fr these guys t figure ut was Jesus missin really was? If there was hpe fr Matthew and the ther disciples back then, d yu think there is hpe fr yu and yur friends tday? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) If yu culd d anything t help prepare yurself t be a disciple f Jesus what wuld it be? Wuld it be mre training n hw t study the Bible, hw t cnduct utreach prgrams r smething else? Have a discussin with yur Pathfinder r yuth grup leader and yur pastr t discuss hw they can help yu be better prepared t wrk with Jesus in His missin t save the peple f planet earth. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray fr Jesus t help yu see yurself the way He des. Pray fr Him t help yu see the ptential in yurself that He sees in yu. Pray that He will help yu t be willing t be used by Him with the understanding that it is His pwer and ability that are imprtant and that all yu need t be is willing. 5. Outreach Idea Based n the utreach ideas and pprtunities yu have researched earlier in this Applicatin Guide, plan anther utreach activity fr yur grup with the help f yur leaders.

26 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever been disappinted at the results f an utreach prject that yu thught wuld be amazing but wasn t? Why/why nt? b. Have yu ever been surprised at hw successful and utreach prject was? Why/why nt? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) This chapter fcuses n Jhn the Baptist wh was sitting in prisn. After successfully being used by the Hly Spirit t draw huge crwds t the wilderness t listen t his preaching abut the cming Messiah and baptizing hundreds, including Jesus Himself, Jhn is nw lcked up like a cmmn criminal. Hw d yu think he felt? Abandned and frgtten, r d yu think he may have felt like he was mistaken abut his whle missin? Why? Why d yu think Jesus never visited Jhn in prisn? D yu think it may have jepardized Jesus missin? Why? Hw d yu think Jhn wuld have respnded t a visit frm Jesus? Why? Why d yu think Jhn still had sme disciples with Him while he was in prisn?

27 D yu think that they didn t believe Jesus was the Messiah? After Jhn sent messengers t ask Jesus if He really was the Messiah and they came back talking abut the amazing miracles, d yu think Jhn felt satisfied that he had dne the right thing and that his missin was accmplished? Why/why nt? D yu think it s pssible that smene may have tld Jhn all the wnderful things Jesus said abut him after his disciples left that day? Hw d yu think it wuld have made him feel if he had heard what Jesus said? Why? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) As a human being Jhn prbably had his ups and dwns in prisn. That s why he sent messengers t ask Jesus if He really was the One even after baptizing Him and seeing Gd s favr pured ut there by the river. He may have been cnfused and grateful all at the same time. What d yu d when yu feel this way? It is cmpletely human t have dubts and t search fr answers. If yu have ever felt cnfused r had dubts abut yur relatinship with Jesus yu are cmpletely nrmal and it will prbably happen again. It desn t mean yu aren t a gd persn r have slipped in yur Christian walk, it just means yu are human. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t strengthen yur faith and draw yu clser t Him. Ask Him t reassure yu every day and help yu t spend mre time with Him grwing clser.

28 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Is the Sabbath yur favrite day f the week? Why/why nt? b. What d yu think an ideal Sabbath wuld be like f? What wuld yu d? c. What d yu think Sabbath will be like in heaven? What d yu think yu will d? Why? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus is cntinuing t teach His disciples abut His missin here n earth. At this pint they have spent time ut n their wn ding ministry (chapter 10) and nw they are back tgether fr mre training and untraining. Un-training because they have t un-learn sme f the things the Pharisees and ther religius leaders f their day taught. In this stry Jesus and His friends lve t live fr Gd and g n his missins every day f the week including Sabbath. Fr them the Sabbath was nt a day t lay arund and sleep it was a day f active service. The Pharisees, n the ther hand, made thusands f rules t keep the peple frm ding much f anything. In fact the religius leaders were s paranid abut smene accidentally wrking r sinning in sme way that they ften std arund almst like Sabbath plice watching the peple s every mve. S, if yu are wndering hw and why the Pharisees saw Jesus and His disciples ff in sme randm grain field eating a few kernels f grain that s hw and why. In fact it s pssible that the Pharisees may have even had undercver agents fllwing Jesus and His disciples t watch fr such a terrible crime as this! Hw d yu think the religius system f Jesus day had gtten t be s legalistic? D yu think it may have been an ver-reactin t all f the apstasies f the Israelites thrughut their previus histry? Why/why nt?

29 D yu think yu wuld have enjyed r hated living under that religius system? D yu think all the rules wuld have given yu the security that yu culd knw that what yu were ding was right r wuld it have driven yu crazy? Why? D yu think that yu live under a better religius system t day r wrse? Explain? What is the difference between living under a religius system versus fcusing n a persnal relatinship with Jesus? What d yu think Jesus disciples were fcused n fllwing rules r getting t knw Jesus? Which d yu think is better r is a cmbinatin f sme kind ideal? Explain? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Take a lng hard lk at yur life and try t determine hw much yur spiritual experience revlves arund rules and hw much it revlves arund relatinships. Talk with yur parents, yuth leaders and/r pastr t try and determine hw many rules yu really need t help guide yu int a better relatinship with Jesus. Just like we talked abut in lessn 7, it s imprtant t have sme rules, but t many can crush the relatinship. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t help yu structure yur relatinship with Him in a healthy way that will help yu t grw clser t Him. Be specific as yu pray thrugh all the utreach activities, restful times in nature, time spend in scripture and ther activities yu engage in with Him.

30 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Hw d yu learn best? By reading, r listening t facts, r by listening t stries, r sme ther way? Explain. b. What kind f stries are yur favrite: Scary nes, silly nes, mysterius nes r sme ther kind? Why? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter we see Jesus beginning t teach in parables. S far in the bk f Matthew Jesus has given lts f straight-frward teachings, including in the sermn n the munt, and in ther places as well. In sme instances He has used illustratins abut peple being light and salt, etc. but n parables. What is the difference between a parable and anther kind f stry? Why d yu think Jesus waited until nw t use parables? Why d yu think Jesus used parables at all? Why did He say He used them when His disciples asked?

31 Why d yu think Jesus tld parables abut farmers, shepherds and fishermen instead f abut Scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees? D yu knw hw Jesus parables differed frm the nes the Pharisees tld? (cnsult yu Andrews Study Bible if yu are nt sure. See n verse 3). 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Write a parable that will help peple t understand smething abut yu r yur life that they dn t understand very well nw. Ask yur friends t help give yu sme ideas. Write it dwn s that yu dn t frget the details. Share yur finished parable with yur friends and ask them if it makes sense and als ask hw yu culd make it better 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray fr Jesus t help yu understand the teachings f the parables clearly. Ask Jesus t help yu learn t use everyday illustratins t help yu cmmunicate the gspel t the peple yu meet and talk t including yur friends and family members.

32 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. What is the scariest thing that has ever happened t yu? Describe it in detail. What made it s scary? b. Describe the funniest thing that has ever happened t yu. Why did yu think it was s funny? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Herd had Jhn the Baptist beheaded. When Jesus heard abut what happened t His cusin he left fr a remte area s that He culd be alne. Why d yu think Jesus wanted t be alne? D yu think it reminded Him f the prphecies that fretld that He wuld be imprisned and killed ne day sn as the well? Why/why nt? What d yu d when yu get bad news? D yu ever want t be alne? Where d yu g? What d yu d t deal with difficult r sad situatins? D yu feel like yu culd use help in learning t deal with difficulties? Why?

33 Even thugh Jesus was prbably sad and just wanted t be alne the crwds fllwed Him and brught all their friends wh needed healing. Are yu surprised that Jesus unselfishly gave up His alne time t help thers? Why/ why nt? Are yu aware f any times when yur parents, yuth leaders r pastr have given up persnal time r things they really wanted t d in rder t help yu in sme way r be with yu? Explain. Hw ften have yu thanked the adults that help yu in yur life fr all they d fr yu? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Think abut all the difficult times yu have been thrugh in yur life. Try t determine if yu culd benefit frm a gd bk r website n dealing with pain and difficult situatins. Ask yur pastr and yuth leaders fr gd resurces that yu culd use when yu feel like yu need help. b. Visit: and brwse the tpics there s that yu are familiar with the help prvided s that yu can be prepared t help yur friends shuld they ever need it. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) a. Make a prayer list and pray fr the peple yu knw that are suffering. b. Remember t put dwn situatins that yu are dealing with as well. c. Have special prayer fr yur pastr, Sabbath Schl leaders, Pathfinder leaders and ther yuth leaders as well. Pray that they will have peple that they can talk t when they are ging thrugh difficult times as well. d. Thank Jesus fr always being there fr yu and pray fr Him t have cmfrt as He cntinues t deal with the Great Cntrversy that is bviusly very painful fr Him. He never wanted the wrld t turn ut like this. 5. Outreach Idea Take sme time t write a few thank yu ntes t the imprtant adults in yur life that have helped yu in sme way. As yu write yur ntes be sure t include as many imprtant details as yu can remember abut why their help was s imprtant t yu.

34 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Has smene famus r very imprtant ever cme t visit yu? Hw did it make yu feel? What did yu d during the visit? b. What is the mst meaningful visit yu have ever received? Wh was it that came t visit? What did yu d? Why was the visit s special? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter sme Pharisees and teachers f religius law frm Jerusalem came t visit Jesus. As the stry unflds it quickly becmes apparent that it was nt a friendly visit. The religius leaders were upset that Jesus wasn t uphlding their standards. But even thugh Jesus was in truble with these religius leaders f His day he wasn t afraid. Why d yu think that was? D yu think it is pssible fr the religius leaders f ur day t be mistaken abut sme things? Why/why nt? Hw shuld we respnd t mistakes by leaders in ur day? Why?

35 Have yur parents ever admitted t making a mistake in frnt f yu? Hw did that make yu feel t knw that yur parents culd make mistakes? Hw did it make yu feel when they admitted it? D yu think there will ever cme a time when yu will be perfect and n lnger make mistakes? Explain? Hw imprtant is it fr a persn t knw that what they are ding is right? Is it easier t stand up fr what yu believe if yu are thrughly cnvinced it is crrect? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think thrugh all the reasns why yu g t church and pathfinders, etc. Ask yurself why yu are invlved in these activities. Write dwn any questins yu may have abut them. If yu feel like yu wuld like t learn mre abut Gd and the Bible ask yur Pathfinder leader, yuth leader r pastr if they wuld be willing t teach yu mre r shw yu where yu find sme gd Bible study materials t help yu find answers t yur questins. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Gd t help yu t understand mre abut Him. Tell Him that yu dn t want t just g thrugh the mtins f being a Christian r fllw rules that yu dn t understand. Pray that He will bring peple int yur life that can help yu t understand mre.

36 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) a. D yu ever wrry abut what ther peple think f yu? D yu knw ther peple hw wrry abut what thers think f them? D yu think this is a cmmn human issue? Why/why nt? Give as many details as yu can. b. Talk abut hw yur view f Jesus has changed as yu ve grwn lder. Start with yur earliest memry f Jesus and what yu thught abut Him as a small child and hw yur understanding has grwn ver time. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus is wrking n clarifying His identity with the peple arund Him including His disciples. Jesus starts ut by asking His disciples wh the peple think He is. Jesus wasn t asking what ther peple thught f Him because He was insecure r wrried like s many f us are tday. It seems mre like He was trying t get a clear message thrugh t His disciples s that they culd help clear up ther peple s miscnceptins that s why He went n t ask His disciples, But wh d yu say I am? (vs. 15). When Peter answered crrectly Jesus praised him highly and made an awesme prnuncement f Peter s future rle in Jesus missin t plant the Christian church. But then just a few verses after that (vs. 23) Peter says the wrng thing and Jesus lks at him and says, Get away frm me, Satan! D yu think Peter felt cnfused r embarrassed by the fact that he culd say the right thing ne minute and then wrng thing the next frm ne extreme t anther? D yu think he just gt lucky with his answer the first time? Hw d yu think Peter culd be s right and then be s wrng? Have yu ever dne smething like Peter did in a class r with yur friends? Explain. Hw did it make yu feel? One bvius pint here is that it s kay t mess up we all d but just like Peter we shuld pick urselves up and keep mving frward. Peter ended up being an amazing disciple wh later gave his life fr Jesus and His missin!

37 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think abut what rle yu wuld like t play in Jesus missin t save the peple f planet earth. Have a discussin with yur yuth leader, Pathfinder leaders, parents r pastr abut the varius rles yung peple can play in the church tday. Identify at lease ne way yu wuld like t experiment t find ut what talents Gd has given yu fr His cause. These ways may include but are nt limited t: junir deacn/deacness, help teach Sabbath Schl, read Scripture r have special music r children s stry fr church, help with a humanitarian utreach prject (hpefully yu are already dne this as a part f previus utreach ideas in this guide), r maybe becme a TLT in yur Pathfinder club. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Spend sme time praying abut this chapter s applicatin and what new rle yu may be able t play at church. Ask Jesus t help yu t hear His vice and calling clearly.

38 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever witnessed supernatural activity f any kind? Describe what happened in as much detail as yu can remember. b. What is yur favrite miracle stry in the Bible? Tell the stry in yur wn wrds r read it ut lud. Why is this yur favrite? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) S far in the bk f Matthew, Jesus disciples have seen lts f miracles. There are miracles f healing and feeding peple and raising peple frm the dead and calming strms and casting ut demns, etc. Even when Mses and Elijah appeared t Jesus in this chapter Peter, James and Jhn were excited and wanted t build sme little shelters fr them. What is interesting is that when Gd spke, these same disciples were suddenly terrified and Jesus had t tell them nt t be afraid and He als tld them nt t tell anyne what they had seen until He was raised frm the dead? Why d yu think that is? D yu think yu wuld be terrified if yu heard Gd s vice tday? Why/why nt? Can yu think f anther time when Gd s vice was heard in Bible times and peple were afraid? Can yu think f a time in the Bible where smene heard Gd s vice and was nt afraid? What d yu think makes the difference? (Hint: see Exdus 20:18-20 fr ne example) D yu think Peter, James and Jhn ever frgt this experience? Why/why nt?

39 What is yur mst memrable experience f seeing r hearing Gd in actin? Was it scary r cmfrting r smething else? Explain. What d yu think is the best way t put yurself in a psitin t see and hear Gd s miracle wrking pwer? D yu think yu wuld be mre likely t see Gd s pwer n a missin trip r sitting at hme watching TV? Explain. 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Chse ne r tw: a. Think f the times in yur life when yu have seen Gd s pwer and nticed His activity arund yu? What else was ging n in yur life at that time? Hw invlved were yu with church and hw was yur devtinal life? b. Think f the times in yur life when yu did nt see Gd s pwer and activity arund yu fr a while. What else was ging n in yur life at that time? Hw invlved were yu with church and hw was yur devtinal life? D yu think there is a cnnectin r relatinship between hw yur spiritual life is ging and weather r nt yu see Gd wrking in and arund yu? Explain. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) It is nrmal t have ups and dwns in yur spiritual life but we bviusly want mre up times than dwn. Pray and ask Jesus t help yu draw clse t Him nw, at this time, and ask Him t help yu t be clse t Him and t see and feel Him in and arund yu wrking in this wrld.

40 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yur parents ever tld yu t, stp acting like a child! Or, Stp being childish? What des it mean when smene says that? What were yu ding when it was said t yu? b. Why d sme adults smile when they talk abut a child that is very mature fr their age? Why d yu think sme adults want kids t grw up quickly? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus talks a lt abut hw we shuld all becme like little children and He als talks a lt abut prtecting children and being humble like them. What d yu think Jesus means by all the references t little children? D yu think Jesus is being verprtective f children? Why/why nt? What d yu think is the difference between being child-like and being childish? In this chapter Jesus als teaches n frgiveness. Here Jesus tells a parable abut smene wh was frgiven a great deal wh then in turn refused t frgive sme wh wed him a relatively small amunt. Why d yu think this is such a terrible thing t d?

41 D yu knw f many children that hld grudges r is that smething that peple learn as they grw up? Explain. Des being frgiving have anything t d with being childlike? Explain? D yu knw f many children that hld grudges r is that smething that peple learn as they grw up? Explain. What d yu think is the ideal level f maturity t reach? Is it better t be mre flexible and pen t new ideas and risk making mistakes r is it better t just g with what has wrked fr yu in the past because yu have always been able t trust it? Explain. 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think f the times in yur life when yu have seen Gd s pwer and nticed His activity arund yu? Take a lk at yur life and try t determine hw pen yu are t change and new things. D yu think yu wuld be pen t the Hly Spirit leading yu in a directin yu and yur parents have never gne befre r d yu prefer t g with what is familiar t yur friends and family? If yu felt cmpletely cnvicted that yu felt Gd calling yu t be a missinary t a freign land hw hard wuld it be fr yu t drp everything here in America and g? 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t help yu t be pen t the leading f the Hly Spirit. Ask Him t help yu t be pen t whatever He sees best fr yu t d in this life. Ask Him t take away yur fears and prejudices and t help yu t be free t fllw the Spirit wherever He may g. 5. Outreach Idea G t the Adventist Frntier Missins website ( and chse a missinary t read abut and fllw. Als brwse the Peple f Peru website ( and read abut vlunteers like yurself that have gne n shrt-term missin trips. Chse a missinary t write and pssibly send a care package t. Inquire abut adpting a child t supprt n ne f these websites r n the site.

42 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Talk abut what des it takes t get gd grades in schl. Be specific and give all the details yu can think f. b. Talk abut what it takes t get bad grades in schl. Be specific and give all the details yu can think f. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter smene asks Jesus what it takes t have eternal life. Jesus tld Him t keep the cmmandments and then when the man asked what else he needed t d t be perfect Jesus tld him t g and sell all his pssessins, give his mney t the pr and fllw Him. This answer made the man turn and walk away. Wuld yu walk away frm Christianity if yu had t sell everything yu wn and give all yur mney t the pr? Why/why nt? D yu think it s different tday? Why/why nt? Is being a gd Christian similar in any way t being a gd student in schl? Explain. Is there a difference between being a gd Christian and trying t be a perfect Christian? Can we all chse what level f Christian we want t be r des everyne need t try and be perfect? Explain. 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think thrugh yur life and actins and try t decide hw imprtant Christianity is t yu. Are yu just trying t get by with as little cmmitment as pssible r are yu cmpletely sld ut t Jesus and cmmitted t spreading the gspel? D yu feel cnvicted that Jesus wants a greater cmmitment frm yu r d yu think yu are cmmitted enugh? If Jesus asked yu t give up all f yur pssessins and g be a missinary d yu think yu culd d it?

43 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus what mre He wuld like frm yu? Ask Him hw yu culd be clser t Him and hw yu culd spend mre time tgether. Ask Him t pen the drs befre yu t lead yu int the Christian life He wants fr yu. Try t talk t Jesus and check in with Him every hur r s fr the next week and see if His vice and leading becmes clearer t yu.

44 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever heard kids saying, N fair! Why d kids say that? Have yu ever said smething like that? D yu think life shuld be fair? Why/why nt? b. Is there anything the average persn can d t make life mre fair fr everyne? Explain. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) The frmer 6th grade teacher at my kid s schl was famus fr always saying, life isn t fair, get ver it! In this passage Jesus talks abut hw Gd is unfair in sme ways. T d this Jesus tells the parable f the vineyard wrkers. In this parable the peple wh wrked nly an hur at the end f the day received just as much pay as the peple wh wrked all day lng. What d yu think is the pint Jesus is trying t make? D yu think this is why sme peple say they will live life as they please and try things they knw are wrng but sund fun, and then give their lives t Gd when they are lder? What d yu think is wrng with this type f lgic? D yu think the wrld is really mre fun than fllwing Gd? Explain.

45 What wuld yu say t a friend that is deciding t get invlved in things that yu bth knw are nt right? Hw wuld yu try and cnvince them that fllwing Jesus is better? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Have a discussin with sme friends and yur yuth leaders and/r Pathfinder leaders and put tgether sme ideas fr telling thers why living fr Gd fr yur entire life is the best and mst meaningful way t live. Make ntes r write it ut wrd fr wrd and memrize it s that yu will be prepared t share these thughts with thers when yu have pprtunity. Be careful nt t be preachy! Be lving, practical and cnvincing. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Spend sme time praying fr friends and thers yu knw wh are nt fllwing Jesus right nw. Pray that the things f the wrld will nt be satisfying and pray fr the Hly Spirit t cnvict these peple f Gd s lve and care fr them. Then help answer yur wn prayers by reaching ut and being lving and kind t these peple rather than being judgmental.

46 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever knwn smene wh liked t make a grand entrance and get lts f attentin wherever they went? Describe ne such entrance. b. Have yu ever thrwn r seen smene else thrw a temper tantrum where they yelled and screamed and kncked things ver? Describe ne such instance. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus makes His triumphant entry int Jerusalem n a dnkey, then after arriving in twn He ges t the temple kncking ver all the tables and chairs and driving ut the mney changers and then He left t spend the night in Bethany. Why d yu think His stay in Jerusalem was s shrt after such a grand entrance and big display at the temple? What is the difference between Jesus grand entrance and ne that might be made by a mve star r celebrity f sme kind? What is the difference between Jesus destrying the temple curtyard and a little kid thrwing a temper tantrum? Why d yu think Jesus was s vilent? D yu think He culd have made His pint a bit mre plitely? Why/ why nt?

47 D yu think this is the first time Jesus has seen mney-changers in the temple? Why d yu think He had tlerated them befre but nt nw? D yu see any types f crruptin in yur church tday that wuld be similar t the crruptin that Jesus saw in the church f His day? Explain? What d yu think yu shuld d abut it? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think thrugh the psitive and negative aspects f church life tday. While we live in a sinful wrld there will bviusly be prblems in ur churches. What d yu think yu shuld d when yu see prblems in yur church r in anther rganizatin yu are invlved with? Have a discussin with yur yuth grup and leaders abut hw t knw when yu shuld be frgiving and accepting versus when t stand up and make a big deal abut things that are nt right. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) a. Pray and ask Jesus t help yu knw hw t be a persn that makes a psitive difference in yur church, schl and family and nt smene that causes unnecessary truble. Think thrugh the situatins yu are invlved in and pray abut yur rle in thse situatins and what yu can d t help. b. Pray fr thse that tend t stir up truble and cntrversy in yur area. Pray that they will find peace, lve and acceptance frm Jesus and learn t be less hstile twards thers.

48 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) a. What is the mst fun yu ve ever had at a party? Wh all was there? What did yu d? What d yu think made it s much fun? b. What d yu think are sme f the best ways t shw lve t ther peple? List at least Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus tells the parable f the great feast and He als talks abut hw the Mst Imprtant Cmmandment is t lve ne anther. In the parable all the riginal guests whm the king and his sn must have knw well refused t cme t the wedding feast. They were shwn lve and respect in the frm f the invitatin but they rudely turned away and sme even killed the messengers with the invitatins. Then lve and respect was shwn t ttal strangers by being invited mst f whm shwed up prperly dressed and behaving themselves well shwing appreciatin. Why d yu think the friends turned away and the strangers were grateful? D yu think this may be an illustratin f the Jews rejecting Jesus and the tax cllectrs, prstitutes and sinners accepting Him? Why/why nt? Why d yu think the Pharisees started pltting hw t arrest Jesus after He tld this parable? D yu think this is the perfect illustratin f what Jesus may have been trying t say? Why/why nt?

49 Hw d yu think the religius leaders had gtten t such a lw pint in Jesus day that they wuld be s devius, cruel and unlving? Explain. Hw des a persn get t that pint tday? Explain. What wuld yu imagine the hme life fr these crrupt leaders must be like? D yu think there is any lve in their lives at all r d their actins shw a ttal lack f lve in their experience? Explain. 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think abut all the relatinships yu have with thers bth gd and bad. Are yu better at affirming the gd relatinships r trying t imprve the bad nes? Why d yu think that is? Try t think f ways that yu can d bth shw gratitude t thse that lve yu (rather than taking it fr granted), and shw lve t thse that yu find difficult t deal with in an effrt t build better relatinships. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) a. Pray and thank Gd fr all the peple in yur life that shw yu lve (by name make a list if yu like). Pray fr Gd s blessing and lve t be seen and felt in their lives. b. Pray fr yur enemies as the Bible instructs. Ask fr Jesus t help yu turn yur enemies int friends. Pray fr Gd s blessing and lve t be seen and felt in their lives as well. 5. Outreach Idea Make plans t d r say smething nice fr all the peple wh play a significant rle in yur life weather it is psitive r negative try t be impartial. Perhaps yu culd write a nte and attach it t a small gift fr each ne t find annymusly.

50 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever been the victim f relentless false accusatin, lies r sme ther kind f trment? Hw did it feel t be mischaracterized and lied abut? What did yu d abut the situatin? Explain. b. Have yu ever been warned abut smene wh was suppsedly a bad persn and then fund ut that they were actually nthing like what yu were tld? Hw did it make yu feel t knw that yu evaluated that persn s character fr yurself rather than just believing rumrs? Explain. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) Yikes! This chapter is ne lng rant against the Pharisees and their arrgance and greed and then at the end Jesus seems distressed ver hw all f Jerusalem and its peple have cme t such a place f apstasy. He bviusly knew that in just a little while the leaders f the peple wuld call fr His executin as the crwds wuld be chanting, crucify Him! D yu think this may have been part f what was n Jesus mind at this time? Why/why nt? D yu think that Jesus may have als been getting a little frustrated because He knew His time was shrt and s many f the peple were still nt understanding r caring abut what He had t say? Why/why nt?

51 D yu ever wish yu culd see the future as Jesus culd? Why/why nt? D yu think it wuld be exciting r depressing? Hw wuld yu feel if yu knew yu were abut t be killed by the peple yu had been sent t save? Wuld there be any cnslatin in the fact that yu wuld be seeing yur Father again sn and enjying the cmfrts f heaven? D yu think that even crssed Jesus mind? Why/why nt? Is it hard fr yu t see the gd things that yu knw are cming in yur life when yu are in the midst f chas and truble? Explain. 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Sit dwn and try t imagine in detail what heaven will be like. Write an essay, draw a picture r d whatever it takes t imagine a perfect wrld where there will nly be happiness and lve. Discuss this future wrld with thers and share ideas f what it may be like. Try t think f ways that yu can remind yurself f yur future life with Jesus every day. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t remind yu f the gal f reaching heaven every day. Pray ver Hebrews 12:1-3 every day fr the next cuple f weeks until yu have it memrized

52 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Hw des it make yu feel t knw that ne day this wrld will be destryed? Hw des it make yu feel t knw that Gd plans t cleanse this planet with fire? b. Hw des it make yu feel t knw that ne day Jesus will re-create this wrld and make it mre amazing than ever? Are yu making plans t be there t watch Jesus re-create everything frm the New Jerusalem after it lands n this planet? Why/why nt? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus disciples inquire abut the end f the wrld and the signs f His secnd cming. Jesus ges n t paint a rather scary scenari f wars and destructin. D yu think this scared the disciples r helped them t feel cnfident because they knew what t expect? Explain. Hw des it make yu feel t knw that all these trubles are cming? Explain. D yu ever wrry abut the persecutin t cme and what yu may have t endure? Hw cmfrting is it t knw that Jesus will be with yu thrugh His Hly Spirit?

53 D yu knw f any peple that are fascinated with end-time scenaris and it seems like they nly g t church when these events are happening and they they quit ging when things get peaceful again? Shuld we base ur relatinship with Jesus and church attendance n the current events happening in ur wrld r n smething else? Explain. 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think thrugh yur relatinship with Jesus. D yu tend t spend mre time with Him when yu are scared and lnely r when things are ging well and yu have lts f friends and things t d? Why d yu think that is? Wuld yu like t change the way it is? Why/why nt. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and thank Jesus fr always being there fr yu n matter hw busy He is r hw many prayers He has t answer r wrld situatins t deal with. Ask Him t help yu t be as faithful and cmmitted t yur relatinship as He is.

54 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. What kind f persn are yu? Outging, intrverted, athletic, intellectual, girly girl, Tm-by, He-man r what? Ask yur friends and yuth leaders t describe hw they see yu in a psitive way. b. Talk abut yur gals in life. What yu want t accmplish in high schl: sprts and recreatinal activities yu want t purse, academic gals and ther dreams. Then talk abut what prfessin yu want t pursue when yu are an adult. Talk abut why these things interest yu. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus cntinues the end-time scenaris, but nw thrugh parables. The main pints are: are yu prepared t meet Jesus r just living yur life, are yu using the talents Gd gave yu t help thers learn abut Him, and the judgment is real and it s cming. Read Revelatin 14:6-12 and see hw many similarities yu can find. Des it ever seem like the Bible says a lt f the same things ver and ver but in different ways? Matthew 24, Matthew 25, and Revelatin 14 all seem t have a similar end-time theme dn t they? Can yu think f any ther prphecies, teachings and narratives that als have this theme? Why d yu think the Bible appraches the same tpic frm s many angles? D yu think that Jesus is intentinally trying t reach every persn frm every backgrund with all kinds f different mindsets and persnalities and pssible? Why/why nt?

55 Of the 3 end-time passages listed here which ne makes the mst sense t yu? Why? Which ne is the mst difficult fr yu t understand? Why d yu think that is? D yu think it is imprtant fr every persn t understand every end-time scenari passage in the Bible r shuld we each fcus mainly n the nes that make the mst sense t us? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think thrugh yur favrite passages f scripture and try t determine which bks f the Bible speak t yu the mst clearly. Ask yur friends, yuth leaders, parents and pastr t help yu try and determine where yu wuld be mst likely t spend mre time in scripture based n yur interests, temperament and persnality type. Plan t spend mre time in these parts f the Bible withut neglecting the rest f scripture. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t help yu find a deeper interest in His wrd. Ask Him t help yu understand mre deeply and t learn t apply the lessns f the Bible t yur life just like these Applicatin Guides have attempted t help yu t d.

56 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Are yu a tightwad, a spendthrift r are yu smewhere in between? Why d yu think that is? D yu wish yu handled yur mney and ther resurces differently than yu d? Explain. b. Have yu ever been betrayed by a friend r acquaintance? Hw did it make yu feel? Is there anything yu can d t keep yurself frm ever being betrayed again? Why/why nt? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) This chapter revlves arund Jesus betrayal and arrest. It is interesting t nte that Jesus has clly anticipated it all. He has been telling His disciples it was cming fr sme time. At the last supper He predicted Peter s betrayal befre it happened and then in the garden when apprached by a mb f armed gangsters Peter tries t start a battle by chpping a guy s ear ff t which Jesus respnded by healing the ear and by stating that thse very events were fulfilling prphecy. Jesus cmpletely calmed and cntrlled the circumstances arund His wn arrest. He culd have called thusands f angels r disappeared but deliberately chse nt t. What rle d yu think Jesus agnizing prayer in the Garden f Gethsemane played in preparing Him t be s cl and in cntrl during the actual event? D yu think Jesus was just putting n a cl exterir r d yu think He really had a deep peace as He went thrugh this time? Explain hw that wuld be pssible.

57 D yu think it s pssible fr yu t experience the same peace during difficult times that Jesus did? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Think abut ne f the mst difficult times yu have persnally been thrugh. Discuss the details f what happened with yur grup. D yu think that a deeper clser relatinship with Jesus/Gd/Hly Spirit culd have been helpful? Why/why nt? Discuss ways that yu can implement that deeper/clser relatinship with Jesus and hw it may help yu the next time yu face a difficult situatin. Talk abut the rle that baptism plays in yur relatinship with Jesus. If yu haven t been baptized yet talk t yur parents, yuth leaders and parents abut what baptism means and talk abut weather yu d like t study fr baptism. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t help yu learn what it means t pray withut ceasing. Pray and ask Jesus t send yu the Hly Spirit in a pwerful way. 5. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Ask yur pastr abut starting a prayer ministry at yur church where yu can take prayer requests and pray fr peple in difficult/stressful situatins n a regular basis. Try putting a bx fr annymus requests smewhere in yur church and make annuncements frm the frnt as well. Be sure t assemble a team that will pray faithfully fr the requests and make it a part f yur Sabbath Schl and Pathfinder club meetings if pssible as well.

58 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) D yu have an veractive imaginatin? Why d yu think yu d/dn t? Describe ne f yur mst verly imagined scenaris t yur friends/leaders. After hearing yur scenari d thse listening agree that yu d/dn t have an veractive imaginatin? Why/why nt. 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) In this chapter Jesus suffers and dies. He is a very healthy yung man wh is educated and well respected by many and yet He dies. This bviusly had t take sme extreme circumstances. We tend t becme callused t fact f Jesus death because we hear and talk abut it s much. But have yu ever thught f the reality f His death? Have yu ever imagined what it wuld have been like t be there and see it all happen? D yu understand what death is like? Have yu ever seen an animal r any type f mammal die? In the Old Testament times hundreds f thusands f sheep were sacrificed t help peple understand the cnsequences f sin and what death was really like. Ellen White says that we shuld spend a thughtful hur each day cntemplating the life f Christ especially the clsing scenes. Spend sme time ding this with yur grup nw. Clse yur eyes if it helps yu t fcus and pray fr understanding as smene frm yur grup reads this chapter ut lud. Mrs. White instructs us in this same passage t allw yur imaginatin t grasp each scene. Ask the reader t read slwly s that yu will have the time t grasp as much as pssible.

59 Describe what it was like t listen and try t picture everything that was taking place. Was it a gd r bad experience fr yu? Explain. Wuld yu like t engage scripture like this mre ften? Why/why nt? 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Spend sme time practicing reading scripture as we are instructed in the Spirit f Prphecy and as we have just dne nw using yur imaginatin and fcusing n the gspels. Here is the entire qute f hw this is dne prperly. It wuld be well t spend a thughtful hur each day reviewing the life f Christ frm the manger t Calvary. We shuld take it pint by pint and let the imaginatin vividly grasp each scene, especially the clsing nes f His earthly life. By thus cntemplating His teachings and sufferings, and the infinite sacrifice made by Him fr the redemptin f the race, we may strengthen ur faith, quicken ur lve and becme mre deeply imbued with the spirit which sustained ur Savir (Maranatha, p. 77). 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray fr the Hly Spirit t be with yu as yu read scripture in this manner.

60 Matthew Chapter Warm-up (5-10 min) Chse ne: a. Have yu ever seen and intense lightning strm? Hw clse were yu t the strm? Describe it in detail. Was it scary? Why/why nt? D yu think yu wuld ever cnsider being a strm chaser? Why/why nt?. b. Have yu ever been in an earthquake? Was it scary t have the earth mving beneath yur feet? Why/why nt? Which d yu think is scarier: a trnad in the Midwest r an earthquake in Califrnia? Explain. Where wuld yu rather live if yu had t chse between the tw places? Why? 2. Engaging the Chapter (15-20 min) Resurrectin! Earthquakes, angels with faces shining like lightning, and guards s afraid that they shk and fainted! Ww! Can yu picture that scene? Wuld yu like walk up n that scene like the tw Marys did? Why/why nt? Why d yu think the angel tld them t nt be afraid? Wuld yu be afraid? Why/why nt? A few verses later Matthew says the wmen were frightened but als filled with great jy at the same time. Have yu ever felt such cnflicting feelings at the same time? Explain. D yu think the disciples were glad t see the wmen when they arrived? Read the resurrectin stry in the ther 3 gspels and put all f the differing accunts tgether t get the full picture. Why d yu think Jesus gave the great gspel cmmissin as His final wrds t His fllwers? D yu think this makes the gspel cmmissin mre imprtant than Jesus ther instructins? Why/why nt?

61 3. Applying the Chapter t Yur Life (5-10 min) Try t think back thrugh the entire bk f Matthew. Sit dwn and read it thrugh all at nce s it is fresh in yur mind. D yu think yu culd live the life f a disciple f Jesus Christ? There were sme like the 11 faithful disciples that were called t drp everything and fllw Jesus. There were thers like the demniacs that were sent back t witness in their hmetwn. Others stayed in their prfessins being hnest and fair and all were witnesses fr Jesus in ne way r anther. Have yu made yur decisin regarding baptism? Be sure t discuss this decisin with yur parents and yuth leaders and pastr. What kind f witness d yu think Jesus may be calling yu t be? Explain. 4. Prayer Time (3-5 min) Pray and ask Jesus t send the Hly Spirit t fill yur heart, mind and sul and t inspire yu with what He wuld have yu t d as His fllwer. Ask Him t pen drs t the places He wuld have yu t g and t fill yu with the curage t stand up and be used by Him in miraculus ways. 5. Outreach Idea Frm a grup f sme friends and/r neighbrs r frm a grup at yur schl and g back thrugh this Applicatin Guide tgether. Ask a friend and/r yuth leader t help yu lead this grup.

62