BIG IDEA
Who was your favorite teacher growing up? Mine was my tenth-grade English teacher. She told great stories, was interesting, and made our entire class enthusiastic about reading classic literature, which is quite a feat. But, of all of the teachers in the world, Jesus was a master teacher. He captivated thousands of people and changed hearts, lives, and ultimately the world through His teaching. Today, we will study some of His most well-known teaching moments and be reminded that now we get to spread His teachings throughout the world.
BREAK THE ICE
Who was your favorite teacher growing up? Why?
SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS
Bible Study Questions
1. What comes to mind when you think of Jesus’ teachings?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Matthew 5:43-47. How is this teaching different from what the rest of the world often thinks?
Matthew 5:43-47
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. 46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. 47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
3. Read Matthew 16:24-26. Summarize this teaching from Jesus in your own words. Why did Jesus explain that the cost of following Jesus was well worth it? (See verse 26.)
Matthew 16:24-26
"Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. 25 If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul?"
4. Read Luke 15:8-10. What was Jesus’ point in telling this story?
Luke 15:8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Won’t she light a lamp and sweep the entire house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she will call in her friends and neighbors and say, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.”
Application
1. What do you find particularly effective about Jesus’ teachings?
2. Jesus taught that following Him had a cost. How have you experienced this to be true in your life? How has Christ proved that cost to be worth it?
3. Look back at Jesus’ story in Luke 15:8-10. What is of utmost importance to Christ, based on these verses?
MOVING FORWARD
As His followers, we are called to spread His message and teachings throughout the world. He told stories because He knew they were particularly effective and memorable. Let’s follow His example and practice telling our stories, specifically our two-minute stories of our lives before Christ, how we came to know Him, and the difference He has made in our lives. Break into groups of two or three and practice telling your story. The more practice you have sharing your story, the more you will be prepared to share your story with someone who is far from Christ when the opportunity comes.
Going Deeper
Being the master teacher, Jesus utilized several different teaching methods to teach all who listened to Him. Let’s take a few minutes to look at some of these methods to better understand Jesus’ teachings and the messages He wanted His listeners (and us) to understand.
Parable: The parable is perhaps the most well-known of Jesus’ teaching methods. The parable is a made-up story (that is always relatable to the audience) that Jesus told always had a deeper meaning. Take a look at one of His parables now:
Hyperbole: A hyperbole is an exaggeration. It is meant to prove a point rather than to be taken seriously. Take a look at a time in Scripture when Jesus used a hyperbole:
Difficult Teaching: As we have already seen, some of Jesus’ teachings at a glance were difficult to understand and probably did not make sense to the listener at first. However, these teachings were revolutionary and showed just how different life looks like as a follower of Christ. Let’s take a look at one of these teachings now.
Comparison: Another teaching method Jesus used was comparison. He often compared abstract or difficult to understand things like the Kingdom of Heaven to everyday things so that we could understand them more easily. Look at one of the times He used comparison in His teaching.
Reflect:
Think through the passages of Scripture you have read and discussed with your group. In what way did God challenge you through one of these teachings of Jesus today? Please share it with your group and one step you can take to become more like Christ.
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
John 13:34 So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
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