Special Supplement: Previously in Matthew 5 - 7 we read some of the verses where Jesus was delivering the "Sermon on the Mount". There are many lessons that can be gained from these passages. You may wish, as a family, to devote a period of time to study the truths given to us by Jesus. One suggestion is to have the members of your family read the passages and then list points in the sermon that have special meaning for each family member. During your family study time, you should share the results with one another.
Young Children:
Activity:
Draw or cut out from magazines people who live far away from us but help us, such as the baker, an electrician, a farmer, etc.. We can't see these people but they help us in many ways. We don't see Jesus, but He is real and He does help us in many ways. Jesus forgives sins (Matt. 9:1-8)
Help your child write down one bad thing he/she has done on a slip of paper. Put the slip/slips in a bag and hide the bag so that it can't be found. Jesus forgives our sins so completely that it is gone forever.
Young Men and Women and Adults:
1. The people who heard Jesus' Sermon on the Mount were not astonished at the tremendous teaching that occurred but were stunned at the tone of authority in which he spoke. (Matt. 7:28-29) Why do you think they thought this?
2. Jesus showed His power in 5 different ways in Matt. 8:14-26. Name those 5 ways.
3. Did Jesus give any "authority" to someone else? (Matt. 10:1)
4. Study Matt. 10 and write at least 6 statements which describe how a disciple should live.
5. Most expected their new King to come to them with great "power", yet he came as a servant King. Explain what some of their thoughts may have been about their servant King.