YEA Lesson Library
Stop the Noise!
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that things in this world can distract us from focusing on the return of Jesus. Our actions will follow whatever we focus on.
Scriptures
Exodus 15:26
Psalm 81:11-13
Isaiah 55:1-3
Jeremiah 6:16-19
Zechariah 7:9-13
Matthew 24:43
Matthew 24:42-51
John 8:42-44
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
1 Peter 3:14-15
Words to Know
TANTRUM - a violent demonstration of anger or rage
ACCUSTOMED - customary, usual or habitual
The Lesson
The checker at a convenience store hated it when parents came in with out-of-control kids. Sometimes they knocked over cans, bottles or other items during a temper tantrum. These rug rats could make so much noise and be so destructive. Then it was the checker’s job to put everything back all neat and tidy on the shelves.
The store was crowded with people when a mother came in with a screaming kid. Nothing would stop him from crying. You would have thought he had a bee in his diaper from the way that kid screamed.
Eventually that mother made her way to the check-out-stand. As the child continued to exercise its lungs, a man’s voice was heard to say, “Get Down.” But Bob, the checker didn’t hear it. He continued to add up the items in the lady’s basket. As he looked up from the cash register and said, “Ma’am, that will be $32.95,” he saw a gunman leaving the store with the money from all the other cash registers. Bob was shocked to see everyone else face down on the floor.
Looking up from the floor the lady said, “The second time the gunman said ‘Get Down,’ his gun was pointed at your head.” Because of all of the noise, Bob never even heard the gunman say a thing. And because of the noise, he didn’t know his life was in danger.
We become accustomed to noise. Birds sing, frogs crock, and dogs bark with hardly a notice. When you settle back in your seat for a cross country airplane trip, you soon don’t notice the hum of the engines. It’s easy to become accustomed to the noise in our world and the news of the day. Noise blocks out important messages just as it did with Bob.
Jesus gave us an important message. He warned us that we should pay attention, and not allow any noise to block out His message. This important message is, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father. . . . Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. . . So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him (Matthew 24:36,42, 44).
There is so much noise in the world that clamors for our attention. This noise isn’t just boom boxes, CD players, or your favorite TV program. Noise can come from the phone you’ve at last got in your room. It can come from a friend who is trying to convince you that you’re old enough to wear make-up. It can come from a schoolmate who tries to convince you to be sexually active. It can come from someone who wants you to try drugs. Yep, a lot of noise can come from well meaning friends – especially the wrong kind. When someone tries to get you to do things that you know you shouldn’t do, watch out! This is noise that needs to be stopped right now!
Christ knew people would think that they have all the time in the world and it doesn’t matter what they do. He told us this story: “But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 24:48-51 TLB). It’s so easy to not obey God and forget to live the Christian life when you don’t remember that Jesus is coming back. But the consequences of forgetting this can be very severe.
Bob’s life was in danger and he didn’t even know it. He never knew it because of the noise. Could your eternal life be in danger and you not know it? Have you allowed the noise in this world to block out the message that Christ will return? Staying focused on Jesus’ return will help you keep the big picture in mind. When friends or peers try to get you to do things you know you shouldn’t do, stop the noise and remember Christ will return with an awesome reward for you.
What’s in it for you if you use this noise stopper? “Blessings on you if I return and find you faithfully doing your work. I will put such faithful ones in charge of everything I own!” (verse 46). That’s awesome! And that sounds like a pretty important job.
You’re very important to God. He loves you, and wants you in His Kingdom. He’ll be with you every day as you use the noise stopper and live your life to please Him. Will you be glad to see Him when He returns to this earth?
Student Prayer
Holy Father,
Thank you for showing me how important it is that I always remember that your Son will come again. Help me to stay focused on this. And help this focus to change my life to please you.
In Jesus’s name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - John 8:42-44
Monday - Exodus 15:26
Tuesday - Psalm 81:11-13
Wednesday - Isaiah 55:1-3
Thursday - Jeremiah 6:16-19
Friday - Zechariah 7:9-13
Saturday - 1 Peter 3:14-15
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Discuss how “noise” in this world prevents them from staying focused on Jesus’ return and what these “noises” are.
2. Explain the results of saying “My Lord delays His return.”
3. State ways that they can use the “noise stopper.”
4. Explain that God rewards those who stop the noise and make it into His Kingdom.
Topics & Themes
Be Ready
Consequences of Sin
Eternal Life
God’s Kingdom
God’s Love
Holy Conduct
Jesus, Return of
Obedience
Materials Needed
Bible, (extra Bibles for students who may not have one with them), YEA students and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, butcher’s paper, marker pens, two notes for the lesson, blindfolds, three bowls of cereal, CD/cassette tape, music player, songbook, awards for the students for perfect attendance and memory verse recitation and for reciting Psalm 100, the memory work for this book
How to Teach This Lesson
Attach a piece of butcher’s paper to the wall. Have the students turn to Matthew 24 in their Bibles. Give each one of them a marker pen and say that each one of them is to make a “sign of the end times” on the butcher’s paper. Tell them their signs can be such things as “wars and rumors of war,” “famines,” “earthquakes,” etc. They are to find as many as they can in the 24th chapter of Matthew and make a sign for each one.
Now blindfold all of the students and have them line up in a single file. Tell them that you are putting three bowls of cereal on a table in front of them. Fill each bowl with a different cereal. Quietly pull two students out of the line, take their blindfolds off and give them each a note. One note tells the student to pretend they are eating the cereal, and they are to make disapproving noises, such as spitting it out, whining, etc. The other note tells the student to make approving noises as he pretends to eat the cereal. That student may even ask for more cereal. Both notes should tell them to really ham it up.
Next, tell the blindfolded students that they can change places in line, if they would like. After they rearrange themselves, tell them to take off their blindfolds.
Ask: When you heard the responses from the first two students, how did you feel?
How did the responses of the first two students affect your decision to change places in line?
How do your feelings about waiting in line differ from your feelings about the end time?
We learned about noises blocking out the message of Jesus’ return. Can you give some noises in your life that block out that message?
Have one of the students read Matthew 24:48-51 aloud. Ask: What do people who think that Christ will delay His coming start doing? They oppress their servants, party and get drunk. What are the consequences for doing this? They will be severely whipped and sent off to judgment.
Would you be pleased if you knew Jesus was returning to this earth tomorrow? Why or why not? Would you be ready?
What can you do this week to be ready for Christ’s return?
Teacher-Directed Activity
The lesson is an active form of learning and is the activity for this lesson. Have the students recite Psalm 100 – their longer memory work for this book. Give each student who can recite it an award.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Consider volunteering to co-moderate or co-lead a class or family Bible study to discuss this YEA memory verse, Matthew 24, and the YEA lesson. Read Matthew 24, highlighting or writing down important concepts or ideas that catch your eye or that you want to discuss during the study. Being prepared for the study is your responsibility. By co-moderating or co-leading the study, the lesson and Scriptures will be deeper ingrained into your understanding.
Open the Bible study with prayer. Remind everyone to share their ideas and comments respectfully. Wind up the Bible study with everyone giving a short summary of what they learned. Close with prayer.
Note: Was everyone reading from the same translation? Sometimes it makes for a very interesting Bible study or discussion if there is a variety of translations being read and used.
Where in the World?
The Book of Revelation speaks specifically about the return of Jesus Christ. Use Bible tools to locate Scriptures in Revelation that describe His return and what changes will occur here on earth. Discuss the Scriptures with your class or family.
They Did What Back Then?
Judas Iscariot is well known as the traitorous disciple, giving up the location of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Taking his own life seemed to be the only way to escape his guilt over the matter. But do you remember Ananias and Sapphira? They really had a life changing experience, too. What kind of noise do you think Judas Iscariot must have heard? And what about Ananias and Sapphira? Read the Scriptures to refresh your memory and then write your answers in your Bible notebook. Do any of their noises sound like your noises? Think about it and then pray for strength to overcome the noises that drown out the Word of God. He loves you and wants you in His Kingdom. Choose the narrow road and He will be waiting for you!
Making It Mine
Divide a sheet of paper in your Bible notebook in thirds. In the top third, write what your behavior would look like if you believed Christ wouldn’t return for another ten years. In the middle, write what your behavior would look like if you thought Christ would come next month. In the bottom, write what your behavior would look like if you believed Christ was coming today. Are your behaviors different in the three sections? There are certain things that we have to do in life to continue to live, but too many times, we give the activities of this life too much importance. You need to spend some time thinking and praying about how to prioritize your life in a godly way. That way, no matter when you think Jesus is returning, you wouldn’t have to change a thing in your daily behavior.
Worldview Collision
A biblical worldview says that Jesus will return to this earth at a time when no one knows and few will be expecting. Other worldviews say that Jesus is not returning—or that it will be a long time before He returns.
Let’s think of this in terms of your hardest class. If you believed your teacher could give you a pop quiz today, what would you do to get ready? What if you believed she would never give you a surprise quiz? What if you believed she was going to give a pop quiz, but it would be next month? How would your studying habits differ? In reality, if your grades are important to you, you would study all the time just in case today was the day of the pop quiz.
We should treat the return of Jesus no differently. We should live our lives as if His return was today. Who knows? It could be.
Song
“Shine Down” is on page 22 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the student make a circle and join hands. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer asking that God’s Kingdom will soon come to this earth and that they will be ready.
Printable Pages
