YEA Lesson Library
Wise Decisions
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches about Jesus’ childhood and emphasizes that He didn’t dishonor His earthly parents and neither should we.
Scriptures
Psalm 71:1-5, 15-17
Proverbs 3:15-18
Matthew 4:7-11
Luke 2:40-52
Luke 2:52
John 8:42-47
James 3:14-17
The Lesson
When you go on vacation, take a trip, or go to the Feast of Tabernacles, do you ever have the desire to get away from your parents and do something that you want to do? Why do you want to get away from your parents? Are you uncomfortable around them when you’re with your friends? Are you careful to make sure at least one of your parents knows where you are, who you’re with, and what you are doing? Are there times when you feel a real need to go to a private place, and pray or study your Bible? Jesus also had similar needs.
When Jesus was only 12 years old, He went with His parents to keep the Passover in Jerusalem. After this festival season was over, Mary and Joseph, along with many of their other friends and relatives, started back home to Nazareth. But Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem among the law teachers discussing some very deep things with them. The people in the Temple were amazed with His understanding of the Bible, especially because He was only 12 years old.
Mary and Joseph had assumed Jesus was in the crowd of people returning home from keeping the Passover. After the first day into their journey, they missed Jesus and started looking for Him. After searching everywhere for Him, Mary and Joseph decided they must return to Jerusalem to find Jesus. Three days later they found Him in the Temple with the law teachers.
Mary’s despair over Jesus not being with them was no different from other mothers’. When she found Jesus she asked, “Why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been frantic, searching for you everywhere.”
Jesus replied, “But why did you need to search? Didn’t you realize that I would be here at the Temple, in my Father’s house?”
Let’s think about this situation. Was Jesus being disobedient to His parents? What was His motive in staying behind? Did His parents know where to find Him?
Luke 2:49 tells us that Jesus was at the Temple, “in my Father’s house.” Jesus’ heavenly Father, His real Father, knew where He was, what He was doing, and who He was with. No, He wasn’t being disobedient to His parents, He was doing the work of His Father. His motives were to learn more about His Father and help others understand His Father’s way even better. His motives were pure.
Are your motives always pure when you want to get away from your parents when you’re on a trip, on vacation, or at the Feast of Tabernacles? Do you want to get away from them to learn more about God’s way or to help another person? It may not be wrong to want to be with your friends and have a good time—it depends on what you are doing. But remember, God is watching you. Would you be willing for your parents to see who you’re with, what you’re doing, and where you are? Don’t forget, God sees you and that’s even more important than your parents seeing you.
Student Prayer
Dear Father in heaven,
Thank you that Jesus set a perfect example for us when He was only 12 years old. Help me to always be obedient to my parents. They may not be able to see where I am, what I am doing, and who I am with, but you can see.
That is important to me because I want to please you. Please forgive me when I slip up.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Luke 2:40-50
Monday: Matthew 4:7-11
Tuesday: James 3:14-17
Wednesday: Proverbs 3:15-18
Thursday: John 8:42-47
Friday: Psalm 71:15-17
Saturday: Psalm 71:1-5
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that at least one of their parents should always know where they are, who they are with, and what they are doing.
2. Tell that at twelve years old, Jesus sat with the law teachers in the Temple and discussed the Scriptures.
3. State that God sees their every action whether their parents can see or not.
4. State that Jesus Christ is number one in their lives.
Topics & Themes
Bible Study
Honor God
Honor Your Father/Mother
Jesus, Childhood of
Mary and Joseph
Passover
Temple
Ten Commandments
Honor Your Father/Mother
Wisdom
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, chalkboard or newspaper pad, chalk or marker pen, pencils, strips of paper numbered to five for each student, CD/cassette tape and player and songbook
How to Teach This Lesson
By sequentially following the questions laid out below, you will be well equipped to stay on track, complete every section and meet the objectives of this lesson.
On the average, how many of you spend at least an hour at the mall each week? 12 How many of you spend two hours at the mall each week? How many of you spend three hours or more at the mall each week? (Get a show of hands for each of the above questions.)
Do you go with friends or with your mom? Would you prefer that your mom shop by herself and let you and your friends do your own thing? Why do you feel that way? Would you be happier if you could be dropped off at the mall to hangout with your friends, without your mom? Why do you think your mom wants to go to the mall with you? Allow as many students as possible to become involved in this discussion.
When Jesus was twelve years old, He went with His parents to Jerusalem for the Passover. A lot of people made this trip at the same time. How do you think Jesus felt about being with His parents on this journey? Have one of the students read Luke 2:46-47 aloud.
Was Jesus being disobedient to His parents when He remained behind? Which one of His parents knew where He was, who He was with and what He was doing? His Heavenly Father.
How did the world differ in Jesus’ day from what it is like today? It was a much safer place to live. There were no gangs, drug dealers weren’t on the streets or in the schools, the crime rate was almost nonexistent. People could be stoned for having sex outside of marriage. Mary and Joseph didn’t have to worry about Jesus getting involved with a gang or with drugs or smoking.
How would this affect Jesus not telling Mary and Joseph where He was, what He was doing and who He was with?
Why did Jesus stay behind? He stayed behind to be about His Father’s business.
What was He doing when He remained behind? How important was it that He was in His Father’s house?
How did the teachers of the law feel about what He was doing? How do you think it felt to have the kind of respect that Jesus had from the law teachers? Ask another student to read Proverbs 3:1-6 aloud. Write these things on the chalkboard as the student reads them: favor with God, favor with people, a reputation for good judgment, a reputation for common sense, God will direct you and crown your efforts with success.
How will you benefit if you remember the things you are taught from the Bible? By having all the things just written on the chalkboard.
What kind of advantage do you feel this will give you with your peers? Write their answers on the chalkboard. These things should include respect, trust, they will come to you for advice and will admire your success.
What kind of favor will this give you with God? What kind of pay is this for obeying God and honoring your parents by letting them know where you are, who you’re with and what you’re doing?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Ask each student to list their five top priorities in life on the strips of paper you give them. Ask them to put their top priority on the paper with a number one next to it, their next priority with number two, etc. Let the kids know their priorities will be discussed in an anonymous way, so they can be completely honest. Collect all of their top priorities and list them on the chalkboard. Then collect all of their priorities with a two on it, and so forth, and write them on the chalkboard. Now have one of the students read Matthew 6:31-32 aloud and have another one read I John 2:15. Allow the students to assess their priorities in light of what those Bible verses say. Ask: What are the majority of our top priorities? What do these Bible verses say our top priority should be? How can we make Christ our number one priority? Have the students read Matthew 6:33 aloud together. Then have all of the students to hold up their pointer finger and say, “Christ is number one in my life.”
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Wisdom is mentioned frequently in Scripture. What is wisdom? Can someone just ask for wisdom and receive it? Search the Old and New Testament to understand what wisdom means. Make a list of Scriptures that explain wisdom, how to achieve it, and how it can help you in your Christian life. Find at least two people in the Bible whom you consider good examples of living wisely. Explain why.
Where in the World?
Research the history of the city of Jerusalem. What is the meaning of the name “Jerusalem”? Use maps to compare Jerusalem of the past with Jerusalem today. What are the major differences? Create a travel brochure of Jerusalem as it looked in Jesus’ time. Would you have wanted to live in Jerusalem at that time in history? Why, or why not?
They Did What Back Then?
There was quite a crowd of people in Jerusalem for the Passover. It may be hard for you to understand if you compare it to how people observe Passover today. Why was Jerusalem crowded for this festival season? How did the people observe Passover? Compare it to today’s observance by your family, friends, and church. Discuss your thoughts and feelings about Jesus observing this festival season.
Making It Mine
If you are blessed to have great parents, make sure you let them know how much you appreciate them. Great parents have the kind of love for you that means they do what they think is best for you even when you don’t like it. Write about a time when your parents acted with this kind of love towards you.
If you don’t think you have great parents, write a prayer for strength and wisdom to keep God’s commandment to honor your parents anyway.
Worldview Collision (see introductory information for an explanation)
The Fifth Commandment says to honor your father and mother. This is the biblical worldview. A humanistic/secular worldview says that children have rights which should take prominence over the rights and desires of the parents. International society would make public education a right of all children, thus making it a crime (child abuse) for parents to homeschool their own children.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
“Seek Ye First” is on page 63 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask one of the students to lead in prayer.
Printable Pages
