The Kingdom Fulfilled, Part Six
Week forty | October 6-12
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
The first four books of the New Testament are known as “The Gospels,” because they tell the good news of Jesus. Each one is from a different eye witness perspective of Jesus.The unique way of telling the historical events of each gospel reveals more of who God is and what his kingdom is like. In the book of Matthew, we find Jesus speaking often to his disciples and followers about the Kingdom of Heaven. Similar to the parables, Jesus uses comparison to help people understand what this Kingdom of Heaven is like. When scripture talks about the Kingdom of Heaven, it is referring to a different kind of kingdom unlike anything on earth. It is sometimes referred to as the Upside-Down Kingdom because it goes against anything the world teaches about being great and mighty. It is not a kingdom that can be earned, achieved, or won but rather is a gift of God’s grace that must be received with childlike faith. Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom of Heaven show us how to live as part of this kingdom. Jesus reassures us of the hope that he will return again as reigning king. Every other kingdom will be destroyed and everything will be made right, and people will live in perfect peace with God and one another, under his rule and blessing. All the promises God made to his people in the Old Testament find their complete fulfillment in Jesus. God is faithful, even when his people are not and in his perfect timing the Kingdom of Heaven will be restored, just as he designed it to be.
overview
Jesus teaches with authority about the Kingdom of God.
Memory Verse
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Matthew 13:44
Worship
Kingdom Come
Rebecca St. James feat. for KING and COUNTRY
Follow Me (Matthew 16:24-25) ESV
Seeds Family Worship
Day One
Read
Here are some verses for your family to read about two comparisons of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 13:44-50.
Matthew 13:44“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48 When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49 So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Discuss
Ask younger kids specific questions about the verses or to retell the passage. Ask older kids critical thinking questions. Here are a few suggestions:
What is Jesus talking about when he tells the story about the treasure and the pearl?
How valuable are these things to the men who found them?
Why is the man who found the treasure so happy to sell all he has?
What does Jesus say will happen at the end of the age?
What would your life look like if you believed that the kingdom of heaven was as valuable as Jesus teaches it is in these stories?
Pray
Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.
Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs)
Day Two
Read
Here are some verses for your family to read about what it means to be a follower of Jesus and thus be part of the kingdom of God:
Matthew 16: 24-28
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul? 27 For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. 28 Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”
Discuss
Ask younger kids specific questions about the verses or to retell the passage. Ask older kids critical thinking questions. Here are a few suggestions:
What does Jesus say you have to do to follow him?
What does it mean to deny yourself?
What does Jesus say will happen to those who try to save their life on their own?
What does Jesus say will happen to those who lose their life (surrender their life to Jesus)?
What will happen when the Son of Man returns some day with his angels?
If we do not put our faith in Jesus as our Savior and enter into his kingdom, what will happen to us?
Pray
Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.
Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs)
Father, you are a holy God. You cannot be in the presence of sin. We praise you that you care so much about our hearts. Father, so often when we do good works, we care more about what people think of us than what they think of you. Forgive our pride, God. Thank you for showing us that the way to heaven is through being known by you, not just by knowing you. Draw close to us Lord. Make your presence known to us. Give us a desire to walk in close relationship with you. In the name of your Son, Amen.
Day Three
Read
Here are some verses for your family to read about becoming like a child in Matthew 18:1-6.
Matthew 18 At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 2And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them 3and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, 6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Discuss
Spend some time discussing as a family the journey through scripture you have taken so far.
How does it make you feel that Jesus wants people to be more like you?
What does it mean to be humble?
What part of childhood does Jesus want us to mirror?
Why do you think the disciples wanted to know who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
What do you think they were hoping he’d say?
Jesus uses strong words to describe how it would be better for someone to drown than to lead a child astray to sin? Why do you think he uses such strong words?
Pray
Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.
Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs)
Day Four
Read
Here are some verses for your family to read about how it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven from Matthew 19:23-26.
Matthew 19:23-26 23 Then Jesus said to his followers, “I tell you the truth. It will be very hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Yes, I tell you that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25When the followers heard this, they were very surprised. They asked, “Then who can be saved?” 26Jesus looked at them and said, “For men this is impossible. But for God all things are possible.”
Discuss
Ask younger kids specific questions about the verses or to retell the passage. Ask older kids critical thinking questions. Here are a few suggestions:
Why were the disciples surprised?
Who does Jesus say will have a hard time entering into the kingdom of heaven?
Why do you think it’s so hard for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of heaven?
Who does Jesus say makes salvation possible?
Pray
Lead your family in a time of prayer over what you read.
Consider the ACTS model:
A – Adoration/ praise God (remember that this is part of worshiping God)
C – Confession (confess sin and your need of God)
T – Thanksgiving (thank God)
S – Supplication (ask God to supply your needs)
Day Five: Family Sabbath
Be Present
Set aside distractions (electronics, work, chores, etc.) and spend time with God and each other.
Sing
Hymn: Seek Ye First
Review
Review the memory verse for this week:
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Matthew 13:44
Pray
Spend time together in prayer, thanking God that he has ordained a day of rest and for the takeaways you’ve had from this week’s readings. Consider closing by praying the Lord’s Prayer together.
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Play
Choose a fun activity to do together as your family rests from work.
- Play a trivia game
- Play hide and go seek as a family inside your house
- Make popcorn and add your favorite add-ins or toppings.
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