The Kingdom Fulfilled, Part Four
Week thirty-eight | september 22-28
Day One
Day Two
Day Three
Day Four
Day Five
Jesus’ ministry took him and his disciples from one place to another throughout Galilee, Judea, and Samaria teaching, healing, and confronting the religious leaders of Israel. One of the greatest recorded sermons Jesus gave came to be known as the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon Jesus describes what it is like to live in God’s kingdom under his rule and blessing. A true disciple, follower of Jesus, desires to be like Jesus in both their heart attitude and outward actions. Jesus gives ten statements called The Beatitudes, which means a supreme or exalted blessedness, to help us understand what it means to be blessed. Being blessed in God’s kingdom is very different from the world’s perspective of being blessed. It is about being right with God through faith in Jesus and finding our true happiness in him, not just in doing right. The difference is a matter of the heart. Jesus also teaches people how to pursue God in prayer through the pattern given in the Lord’s Prayer. Communicating with God in prayer reminds us of our dependence on him alone, not on ourselves. The Sermon on the Mount gives us a picture of God’s kingdom, just as he designed it to be.
overview
Jesus teaches the Beatitudes and Lord’s Prayer.
Memory Verse
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6
Worship
The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:1-12a)
Slugs and Bugs
Our Father in Heaven
Shai Linne
Day One
Read
Here are some verses for your family to read about the first six Beatitudes:
Matthew 5:1-6
Matthew 5:5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.
2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
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:
Special note: As you discuss, it’s helpful to explain to your kids what Jesus means when he says “blessed.” Blessed also means happy, but should not be mistaken for the kind of self satisfying happiness we tend to seek in worldly pleasures. It refers to a joy that is unchangeable because it is found in Christ Jesus. This section called the Beatitudes is an example of how our attitude as followers of Jesus should “be” in the kingdom of God. Take time to explain the meaning of these words as you go.
What was Jesus teaching about?
What makes the people who are sad happy?
What does Jesus mean when he says that the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who know they have a great spiritual need?
Why do you think Jesus chose to teach about how to be blessed?
How can we be fully satisfied?
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)
Lord God, we praise you that you are a good God who desires that his children be truly happy. Sometimes we look to the wrong thing to make us happy, and we know that that is sin. Thank you God for sending Jesus to teach us that true happiness has to do with the attitude of our hearts. God, help us look to you and your word as we find happiness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day Two
Read
Here are some verses for your family to continue to read about the Beatitudes:
Matthew 5:7-12
Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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:
Special note: As you discuss, it’s helpful to explain to your kids what Jesus means when he says “blessed.” Blessed also means happy, but should not be mistaken for the kind of self satisfying happiness we tend to seek in worldly pleasures. It refers to a joy that is unchangeable because it is found in Christ Jesus. This section called the Beatitudes is an example of how our attitude as followers of Jesus should “be” in the kingdom of God. Take time to explain the meaning of these words as you go.
Who does God give mercy to?
How can you “work to bring peace” with your friends, brothers and sisters, and classmates?
Why does Jesus say we should rejoice?
Why would people say bad things about you because of Jesus?
How could this be considered a blessing?
After reading about the attitudes all followers of Jesus should have in the Kingdom of God, what adjustments do you need to make in your life?
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 Three
Read
Here are some verses for your family to read about Jesus’ teachings of how to live in God’s kingdom in Matthew 5:43-48; 6:1-4
Matthew 5: 43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 6:1 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. 2 “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Discuss
Spend some time discussing as a family the journey through scripture you have taken so far.
What “upside-down” statement does Jesus give that goes against the ways of the world?
How does Jesus warn us not to practice righteousness?
How should we practice righteousness?
Why does Jesus point out the difference between practicing righteousness outwardly as a “show” to get people’s attention versus humbly without drawing attention to yourself?
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
Read together about the Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6:9-13.
Matthew 6:9-13 9Pray then like this:
“Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11Give us this day our daily bread,
12and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
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 do you think Jesus taught us how to pray?
Does God only hear us if we pray this exact prayer?
What does Jesus mean when he says “hallowed be your name?”
How do you see our ACTS prayer model in the Lord’s Prayer?
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: Before the Throne of God
Review
Review the memory verse for this week:
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Matthew 5:6
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.
- Make homemade pizzas
- Play freeze tag
- Build a town out of Lego, with each family member contributing a building.
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