Using the commentary in the leader guide, set the passage in the context of a
teaching opportunity that occurred as Jesus taught and healed. Summarize what
happened as Jesus delivered a demon-possessed man.
Write the following words on the board:
Son of David (v. 23)
Beelzebul, the ruler of demons (v. 24)
Ask:
Why did the people call Jesus "Son of David"?
How was their title a Messianic proclamation?
Why did the Pharisees attribute Jesus' work to Beelzebul?
Why do people have such varying perspectives of the identity of Jesus?
Why should we be careful with our words when speaking about God or His
work?
Read the excerpt from the article "The Kingdom of Heaven in Matthew" from the
Fall 2007 edition of Biblical Illustrator.
First, the kingdom is embodied in Christ. The early Christians
realized that the kingdom of God had actually arrived in Jesus Christ. As
Messiah, Christ was the anticipated King. But more than that, Christ
actually embodied the kingdom of God. He brought its mission to earth. He
carried bodily the full authority of God.
Matthew recorded events through which Jesus demonstrated His regal
authority. For example, when the Pharisees criticized Jesus for permitting
His disciples to eat grain and for healing a man on the Sabbath, Jesus
proclaimed Himself "Lord of the Sabbath" (12:8, HCSB). Jesus was
inaugurating the kingdom of God on earth and asserting His authority as
King. Matthew clarified the King had come and did so by quoting a passage
from Isaiah that anticipated the Messiah's arrival (vv. 15-21; Isa. 42:1-4).
Jesus further validated His kingly authority by casting out demons. He
taught that the contest between God and Satan was a battle of kingdoms. His
arrival on earth meant that Satan was defeated. To the Pharisees Jesus
declared, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of
God has come to you" (Matt. 12:28, HCSB).
Ask learners to read again the focal passage and answer the
following questions in light of the Biblical Illustrator article:
How did Jesus' actions confirm that He was the Messiah?
How did Jesus respond to His critics?
Why should we be careful when criticizing God's work?
Speaking about God's Spirit (Matt. 12:28-32)
Read the focal passage.
Ask learners to identify the sin that Jesus said would not be forgiven.
Read the following statement defining blasphemy of the Spirit:
The unpardonable sin is the
deliberate, lifelong rejection of the Spirit's work. It is unpardonable
because it isolates a person from the only help available for repentance and
faith - the Holy Spirit's work in the unbeliever's life. Christians cannot
commit this sin because, rather than rejecting, they already have
responded to the Spirit's convicting work in their lives. Someone who has
never heard of Christ or experienced His power might reject Him in
ignorance, but that is not the same as those who see and know the power of
Christ and yet disregard His work as the work of the devil as the Pharisees
did in Matthew 12. (Portions taken from John MacArthur's The MacArthur
New Testament Commentary, p. 56.)
Have learners write their own definition
of what it means to blaspheme the Spirit.
Ask:
Why should the unbeliever respond to the Spirit's work rather
than attributing it to Satan?
Why should the believer take care in how he or she responds to
the Spirit's work?
What role does the Spirit play in bringing the kingdom of God to earth?
Ask learners the following True/False
questions:
_____ 1. Only unbelievers can blaspheme the Spirit.
_____ 2. When unbelievers blaspheme the Spirit, that sin is unforgivable.
_____ 3. To reject the Spirit is to reject Jesus.
_____ 4. Believers can speak against the Spirit without blaspheming Him.
(Answers: 1-T; 2-T; 3-T, 4-T)
Say: Even though Christians cannot
blaspheme the Spirit in a way that is unforgivable, they can speak against the
Spirit's work. What are the effects when believers find themselves speaking
against God's work around them?
Case Study
FBC designed a new program to reach people in
its community. The outreach efforts started bringing people into the
congregation from the community, but they were different racially and
economically than the current make-up of the church. Many in the Sunday
School department are vocally expressing their reserve about this new
dynamic in their church. They worry about the safety of their preschoolers
or the fact that people do not seem to be "properly dressed" for worship.
How would you respond?
Speaking with Care (Matt. 12:33-37)
Ask learners to read Matthew 12:33-37 and describe how the analogy of the
tree and fruit relates to the wise use of words.
Read the following article about Mandisa Hundley's experiences on
American Idol.
GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
From the earliest moments of her American Idol experience,
Mandisa's character was tested. Although complimentary during the
audition, Cowell later dealt a few low blows about her weight.
"I had no idea. I was watching the premiere with my friends when I heard the
comments he'd made," she said. "I was devastated. I couldn't believe he said
that because of what he'd said to my face."
Encouraged by producers to "let Simon have it" on camera, Mandisa told
Cowell, "I want you to know that I've forgiven you and that you don't need
someone to apologize in order to forgive somebody. I figure that if Jesus
could die so that all of my wrongs could be forgiven, I can certainly extend
that same grace to you." Cowell said he was "humbled" and apologized.
"They were expecting me to cuss him out or something," Mandisa said. "They
weren't ready for what I said. But I knew what the Lord wanted me to say,
and now I know why. My entire American Idol journey could've ended
for me right then. That was redemption. To this day, it continues to be my
favorite moment on the show."
That grace under pressure endeared her to the audience even more - and made
great television. So when she blew the roof off Chaka Khan's "I'm Every
Woman," it was no surprise that Mandisa landed in the Top 12.
"I started out feeling calm and confident. No worries at all," she said of
those early days. "I was careful to have my time with the Lord every
morning. That kept me focused."
In the weeks that followed, the nicknamed "Mandiva" more than held her own
in the competition. In fact, she was considered a sure thing for the final
three. But a greater test would come.
EXTRA! is a supplement designed
to enhance and expand the effectiveness of printed curriculum provided by
LifeWay Church Resources.
EXTRA! is produced by Publishing
Services and Multimedia, LifeWay Church Resources, Copyright 2007, LifeWay
Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SPECIAL NOTE: Some Internet
addresses given in EXTRA! are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. Because of
the changing nature of the Web, EXTRA! editors cannot be held responsible for
content on pages outside their control. At the time of this posting, the
specific pages mentioned have been viewed and approved by the EXTRA! editorial
staff. However, at the time of your viewing, the information on these pages may
have changed. Links from the specific page addresses referenced in this material
possibly could link to inappropriate material.
EXTRA! Weekly Supplemental Teaching Plans
Adult
Bible Studies for Life
Bible Studies for Life EXTRA
October 7, 2007
Quality Is Job One
Dana Armstrong
Matthew 5:1-12
Life Answers Leader Guide corrected Oct. 7 lesson
PDF
Download the session here Life
Answers Oct. 7. This is the corrected version of the Life Answers Leader
Guide.
Chapter 5 opens with Jesus retreating into the hills of Capernaum. He had
been teaching, preaching and healing throughout Galilee. News about Him spread
like wildfire and crowds flocked to wherever He was. It's believed that He
withdrew to teach His disciples. He sat down among them, which was the normal
posture of teachers of that day. These disciples were new to this ministry, and
because Jesus' ministry was growing so quickly, as word of His teaching and
healing spread across the land, He realized the need to equip His
disciples. They were an average looking group, ordinary men called to an
extraordinary task. I am sure they felt overwhelmed at the response of the
people, perhaps even inadequate to be ministering alongside their Savior. Jesus,
being the great teacher that He is, and because of His love for these men,
slipped away from the crowd to the hills in order to sit with them and teach
them.
Say: According to Matthew Henry's commentary on chapter 5 of
Matthew, "To them he directed his speech, because they followed him for love and
learning, while others attended him only for cures. He taught them, because they
were willing to be taught . . . but though this discourse was directed to the
disciples, it was in the hearing of the multitude; for it is said, the people
were astonished. No bounds were set about this mountain to keep the people off,
as were about Mt. Sinai, for, through Christ, we have access to God, not only to
speak to him, but to hear from him."
Say: Whatever God calls us to do for Him, He will equip us to
the task.
Enlist two volunteers to read Jesus' Beatitudes and the Worldly Beatitudes from
the handouts. For the best effect, have each person take turns reading each
Beatitude.
Matthew 5:3-10
Read Matthew 5:3-10.
Living by the guidelines Jesus gave us means that we are living upside-down
in the world's eyes. Some theologians believe that the word blessed in
these verses means happy. The greek word in these verses is makarios,
which means happy. It's believed by some that these eight Beatitudes are a
divine formula for human happiness. Still others believe that the "blessed are
the . . ." could also be read "blessed by God are the . . ." However, Jesus
taught these eight truths to His disciples to explain the kind of people who
belong to God's eternal kingdom. The eight godly qualities are meant for us to
live by in this world, qualities that the world does not value. He was not
prescribing a theory of subjective human happiness.
Read the following excerpt from Herschel Hobbs Commentary:
"Each Beatitude is followed by a clause beginning with the word for. The
clauses describe the blessing given to the specific kind of person. For
example, the blessing given to the poor in spirit is that theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. The Beatitudes are unlike the spiritual gifts in which
the gifts differ from person to person. "These are not eight separate and
distinct groups of disciples, some of whom are meek, while others are
merciful and yet others are called upon to endure persecution. They are
rather eight qualities of the same group who at one and the same time are
meek and merciful, poor in spirit, and poor in heart, mourning and hungry,
peacemakers and persecuted. Just as the eight qualities describe every
Christian (at least in the ideal), so the eight blessings are given to
every Christian" (pp. 64-65).
The qualities listed in these verses are so different from the
world's way of looking at things. Being poor of spirit is undesirable. No one
thinks of mourning as a good experience. Being meek is equated with being
in subjection to another person. Each quality Jesus described is followed by
blessing.
Go back over the Jesus' Beatitudes worksheet. Ask members to
define the quality described in each verse and its reward or blessing.
Allow five minutes and ask for responses. As each group expresses their
definition, add the following comments as an additional explanation of the
meaning:
"poor in spirit" - those who have humbled themselves before God
so His grace can do its part. Those who turn to God are not the proud but
the humble.
"mourn" - the proper attitude of people who recognize their spiritual
poverty. They mourn their plight and the plight of a world of sinners. Some
people think it also testifies to God's empathy with all who mourn life's
inevitable losses. The verse seems to focus on mourning our own sins and for
a lost world awaiting deliverance from moral and spiritual darkness.
"meek" - the greek word used here is praus, which means gentle. A
gentle person is not the kind of person the world assumes will inherit the
earth.
"hunger and thirst" - people of Jesus' day did not take food and water for
granted. Many lived day to day in survival mode. They had known the gnawing
agony of real hunger and thirst. When one is truly hungry, the thought of
food is consuming. Jesus used these descriptions of hunger and thirst to
describe how deeply we should be striving for righteousness.
"merciful" - there are two parts of mercy: forgiveness for the guilty and
kindness to the needy. Because God is merciful to sinners, believers should
also be merciful in forgiving those who hurt us. Because God helps the
needy, we should also show mercy by helping the needy.
"pure in heart" - sincerity toward God and others. A sincere person is
transparent and guileless. With such people, what you see is what you get.
"peacemakers" - the characteristics of a peacemaker include reconciling
sinners separated from God, promoting oneness among believers, praying, and
promoting peace in all relationships.
"persecuted for righteousness" - Jesus knew that His disciples would face
persecution in the future. He wanted them to know that being persecuted for
the sake of Christ was a blessed condition. This promise was not only for
that small band of disciples sitting around Him; it was for every believer
that would choose Christ over the world.
Say: Each of these qualities is followed by a
blessing or a promise. Jesus was teaching what being a follower of Christ was
about. As you have examined Jesus' Beatitudes, and as we compared them to the
world's attitude toward the same subject, do you see what is meant by "Live the
Upside-Down Life"? The qualities Christ taught the disciples and the qualities
He wants us to consider blessed are completely opposite of the world's view.
Ask: Describe what "living the upside-down life" means in
present day.
Matthew 5:11-12
Enlist a volunteer to read Matthew 5:11-12.
Jesus began the Beatitudes with "blessed are the poor in spirit, because the
kingdom of heaven is theirs" and ends with "blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness, because the kingdom of heaven is theirs." It's
interesting that He began and ended with the same blessing "because the kingdom
of heaven is theirs." He sat in the hills of Galilee with His chosen disciples
sitting around Him, teaching them and encouraging them to face the coming
opposition and persecution with rejoicing and gladness. According to the Herschel
Hobbs Commentary, "One of the amazing teachings of the New Testament is
that joy is not dependent on outward circumstances. In fact Christians can
rejoice in the worst of circumstances" (p. 70).
Ask:
What forms of suffering did Jesus mention?
How can we rejoice when we are suffering?
Read or paraphrase the following story of persecution for your class.
This is a story about persecution.
No one physically dies or burns at the stake. This persecution is subtle and
silent and pierces the soul. In this story, a Texas family follows God’s
call to the bush of Africa. They are banished from villages. Children throw
sticks and stones at them. Sometimes market vendors refuse to sell to
them—all because they are Christian.
Despite these hardships, their hearts ache for their neighbors to know
Christ. They will do whatever it takes to present the gospel and offer
support to new believers (only eight after seven years of work). Sometimes
support is the hardest part of their ministry. The new Christians are
shunned by their families and villages and suffer ten times more than the
Texans can ever imagine.
Welcome to the reality of ministering to some unreached people groups … it
can be a world of rejection and constant isolation mixed in with the
occasional miracle in the wilderness.
Please understand that the experiences you are about to read are not unique.
All missionaries suffer in some way or another because of their calling.
This family asks not to be put on a pedestal. They want only your prayers
for the thousands of missionaries who experience this same silent
persecution, but whose names and stories cannot be told because of where
they live.
Meet the Loftices As the hymn fades, Mike Loftice stands to start the sermon. The
congregation listens intently. In this church of five, it’s best not to
drift off to “lala land”—it might mean extra chores, warns one member.
“Dad’s always asking questions to make sure we are listening,” 11-year-old
Brian explains. “So, make sure that you pay attention.”
Older brother, Paul, pipes in that the singing alone is enough to keep most
people awake. “Dad’s the only one of us who can sing, the rest of us just
croak,” the 17-year-old teases as his sister, Ellen, whacks his arm. “Oh
come on—like you can sing!”
Sitting in the corner, Susan watches the horseplay. With her 19-year-old
daughter at college in the United States and Paul attending boarding school,
it’s been a year since everyone has been together.
She’ll replay this scene in her mind another day—a day that isn’t quite as
happy. Like the day someone left a dead, bleeding chicken on their doorstep
as a symbol they were not wanted and were cursed. Or the day she went to the
electric company to see why the power had been off for days and workers
replied, “We don’t need a church here—now leave.”
The Loftices moved to Niger, a country mostly made up of the Sahara Desert,
seven years ago. They minister to one of the largest unreached people groups
in West Africa, the Hausa (HOW-suh).
In order to reach the Hausa, the Loftices have lived in villages without
electricity and running water. Now, they live in the “Taj Mahal.” They have
water and electricity most days. With modern technology, the family watches
satellite television. They have freezers to store up to three months of
supplies they bring in from Niamey, a 10-hour drive.
“No matter if you live with or without conveniences, the hardest part is
still the isolation from like-minded people,” Susan admits. “When you don’t
have contact with other Christians it makes it really hard.”
Mike nods in agreement. Often the family feels like they are in the middle
of Satan’s playground, he says. They feel the weight of evil all around. For
years, the family has shared the gospel and been rejected time after time.
One time Mike shared with a Muslim holy man. That day the imam knew the
truth of Jesus Christ. His eyes welled up with tears, he looked at Mike and
said, “There is no other god but Allah, and Muhammad is his prophet.” Then
the imam got up and walked away.
Experiences like this happen almost daily.
“It’s not only how much of our lives are being spent on these people that’s
hard,” Mike says through tears. “But to see what it’s done to my family and
have no results that we can see … I mean, look what the children have given
up and their persecution.”
Growing up amidst persecution Brian experiences more physical persecution than other family
members. Around Muslim holidays, he doesn’t even bother to step outside of
the house. He knows that because he is a Christian, he is not wanted.
“The older guys don’t like Christians. They always throw rocks and stuff at
me,” he says with a shrug. “My best friend and I just play in our yard—no
big deal.”
Life in Niger has been the hardest on Ellen. Girls are not only married by
the time they are 12 years old, but they also have a ton of work and no time
to play. Raising a daughter in a Muslim culture means constantly watching
out for leering men and guarding against marriage proposals.
Isolation does have its upside. The family spends hours playing games and
just talking, creating a closeness they feel never would have happened if
they had lived somewhere else.
Ellen, Paul and Brian see their parents’ struggles. “People ask why we don’t
come back to the States,” Ellen says. “There are plenty of people there who
know Jesus and can learn to witness, but there’s nothing for the Hausa.
“Most of them don’t even know who Jesus is … now tell me honestly, how can
my family leave until God’s work is done?”
Miracles in the wilderness God is working in this barren land. Eight men have taken a stand
for Christ despite being shunned from their village and families. Another
village allows Mike to story the Bible twice a week with them.
Sometimes it is hard to watch the new Christians persecuted. Mike explains
that while his family suffers from a general nonacceptance and isolation,
the Hausa Christians are left to survive on their own. Despite this, the
Loftices are excited that someone is finally willing to take a stand.
However, many still do not know the name Jesus Christ.
“No matter how hard it is, we know that if we leave now—they won’t hear,”
Mike and Susan say. “We stay because God called us to this work.”
Go deeper: Learn how your Lottie Moon gifts support
families like the Loftices and why this year’s gifts are so critical using
the More Important Than Ever PowerPoint on the CD-ROM included with
your International Missions Emphasis planning guide or
on the Web.
Taken from: "Loftice family: Facing persecution to reach
the Hausa" by Sue
Sprenkle, October 01, 2003. Available from
www.tconline.org/stories/414216.html.
Say: The Loftices understand verses 11-12,
"Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and falsely say every
kind of evil against you because of Me. Be glad and rejoice, because your reward
is great in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before
you."
The world doesn't understand qualities lived out in the lives of
people like the Loftices. Neither do they understand Jesus teaching and
encouraging such qualities. It is unimaginable to the world that anyone would
desire to attain these qualities. Yet believers who seek after Him strive to
live a life that would mirror these Beatitudes.
Ask: Are you striving to live a life that mirrors the eight
Beatitudes? Do you find joy in all circumstances? Is God calling you to rejoice
in difficult or oppressive circumstances? Examine your life today and ask God to
reveal areas in your life that do not mirror His teachings in the Sermon on the
Mount.
EXTRA! is a supplement designed
to enhance and expand the effectiveness of printed curriculum provided by
LifeWay Church Resources.
EXTRA! is produced by Publishing
Services and Multimedia, LifeWay Church Resources, Copyright 2007, LifeWay
Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.
SPECIAL NOTE: Some Internet
addresses given in EXTRA! are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. Because of
the changing nature of the Web, EXTRA! editors cannot be held responsible for
content on pages outside their control. At the time of this posting, the
specific pages mentioned have been viewed and approved by the EXTRA! editorial
staff. However, at the time of your viewing, the information on these pages may
have changed. Links from the specific page addresses referenced in this material
possibly could link to inappropriate material.
