Lesson 12, Matthew 6, Jesus Teaches us to Pray

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

XII. Jesus teaches how to pray                                                        Matthew 6:5 – 15, Luke 11:2-4,

          A. Private prayer                                                                    Matthew 6:5,6

          B. God knows what you need, be specific                             Matthew 6:7,8, Matthew 21:22, Romans 8:26,27

As disciples of Christ, how can we receive what we don’t ask for? Hannah’s prayer and many others were very specific prayers.

          C. To a Holy Father above                                                    Matthew 6:9, Luke 11:2

Prayers to any other are not heard. There are no other Gods but the Holy Father who is part of the trinity. No one else hears or deserves our prayers, and only God can answer our prayers, so our requests must be sent to the right one.

          D. His will be done                                                                 Matthew 6:10, Luke 11:2

Our mission in life is to see the will of God be done. If we don’t ask for things that are according to God’s will, we defeat our own purpose in life. James 4:3

            E. Asking for needful things                                                   Matthew 6:11, Luke 11:3

Asking for what we need gives God the pleasure of answering our prayers. Asking for what we do not need can hurt our faith and our reliance on God.

          F. Forgiveness                                                                        Matthew 6:12-15, 11:4

Forgiveness is essential to God’s plan for our lives. By Christ’s forgiveness we have eternal life. How can the forgiveness of God spread unless we have it in our own lives? Matthew 18:21, 35

I believe (the Great Commission in Matthew Chapter 10) that Christians are better to suited to witness when they have been taught to witness; not to go uninformed of God’s word. 

Lesson 11 Matthew 6, Deeds in Secret

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

XI. Deeds in secret                                                                 Matthew 6:1-4

          A. Alms, giving, good deeds are done before God not men   Matthew 6:1

Mark 4:22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.

Matthew 10:41.42

He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward.
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

When we do alms or good deeds, we will receive our reward and it will someday be made known to all. We are not missing out and God will reward those that diligently serve him.

The whole point of this discourse is to trust in God who you cannot see and not man who you can see; a true testing of Faith.

          B. Deeds in front of people                                           Matthew 6:2

Can man reward us better than God?

          C. Keep it hid as even from yourself                                      Matthew 6:3

They say the offering for the poor was placed on the right side of the door of the synagogues. Alluding to placing the offering discreetly in, so that not only did anyone else not see it, but not even your left hand.

          D. God is the great rewarder                                       Matthew 6:4, Luke 14:12-14

Our deeds are for God above and the needful here below. If we do things for our own selves, he miss the point of good works.

Lesson 10, Loving Everyone

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

X. Loving everyone                                                                          Matthew 5:38 – 47

          A. Jesus reminds of the law once again                                 Matthew 5:38, Deuteronomy 19:21

          B. Turn the other cheek                                                                   Matthew 5:39, Luke 6:29

Christianity is about going above and beyond for love; Christ’s love. If there is any doubt, we can read Isaiah 50:6

I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

The idea that is so unique about Christianity and salvation is that we have an example to follow that walked and partook of every trial he asks us to go through. He is our example and not a man made law, not cultural norms and not our own selves, but old testament fulfilling example of Jesus Christ.

          C. Sue you at law                                                                             Matthew 5:40, Luke 6:29

Notice this is not only Christian instructions but deeds Christ himself eventually performed. Matthew 27:28.

Also, this is not about law in a court so much as it is about teaching that there is no holding onto ‘self’ in our service to Christ.

          D. Go the extra mile                                                               Matthew 5:41

          E. Ready to Give                                                                    Matthew 5:42, Luke 6:30

What is the example of Christ but readily and willingly giving of himself for others that did not deserve his love.

          F. Loving everyone                                                                 Matthew 5:43-48, Luke 6:31-36

         

          To follow this example and to live this life seems hard and it is if you try to live this kind of life without Jesus. He is not only an example for this Christian life but also helps carry the load while we are walking with him.

Matthew 11:30

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Lesson 9, Vows, Oaths, Swearing

Sunday School Lesson for the Adult Class

Witnessing as Jesus and the Bible instructs us to witness

IX. Mean exactly what you say                                    Matthew 5:33 – 37

          A. Jesus again reminds them of the law             Matthew 5:33, Numbers 30

Jesus follows the pattern he speaks in previously. First he mentions the law, then he brings about his way that deals with the heart and conscience.

          B. Jesus commands us not to swear seemingly contrary to Old Testament law   Matthew 5:34

          C. Jesus tells them plainly not to swear by anything Matthew 5:35, 36

Jesus makes the case that whatever we swear by, it is not truly ours to give or even change. To swear by anything is pointless if we are not in a position to do anything about it. Also, a Christian should not need to swear by anything because everyone should know that a Christian’s word is exactly what they will perform.

If you swear or make any kind of oath, is it any different than if you say something and perform task to the best of your ability as you said you would? Isn’t this about matching words with deeds?

          D. Any promise other than to say yes or no is invite sin        Matthew 5:37

It is human to desire to convey how earnest we feel about performing a task we say we will perform whether keeping a secret or doing a favor. In the end though, to say yes or no and perform it just that way is the best thing we can do to show our word is true like God’s word.

         

I believe (the Great Commission in Matthew Chapter 10) that Christians are better to suited to witness when they have been taught to witness; not to go uninformed of God’s word. 

Lesson 8 in Matthew, Marriage and Divorce

VIII. Marriage and Divorce                                         Matthew 5:27 – 32, Mark 9:43 – 48, 10:11, 12, Luke 16:18

          A. Law vs. the Heart                                           Matthew 5:28

Can we all agree that you just don’t show up at the destination of murder and adultery?

There is something that happens first in the mind and heart, and after it festers is acted upon. Jesus is trying to get Christians to deal with sin in the heart before it becomes physical. Many times, once it becomes physical the damage cannot be contained.

          B. Pluck it out                                                     Matthew 5:29

                   No sacrifice is too great if it enables us to conquer a lust which cuts us off from Jesus.

         

          C. Cut it off                                                                   Matthew 5:30

                   Cost of Discipleship pg 132

          D. Divorce, Sin and the Law                               Matthew 5:31, 32, Mark 10:11, 12, Luke 16:18

          Do we understand that once the law comes into play, Sin has already taken place?

          Sin happens and Christ gives us true and real forgiveness of sin where the law fell short. So now, with a heart changed by Christ, we can sin no more if we lean on him. When we lean on our own understanding, or the law, or on anything but God and his love, we will sin again and again.

          Marriage is the illustration that God uses when telling us of the return of the Groom (Jesus) to claim his bride (the Church). Let us take all of God’s precepts seriously, but marriage is a precept that shows the Christian example to the world.

I believe (the Great Commission in Matthew Chapter 10) that Christians are better to suited to witness when they have been taught to witness; not to go uninformed of God’s word.