YEA Lesson Library

Objectives

At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:

1. Explain the difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.

2. Give examples of how Jesus expects His people to conduct themselves on a daily basis.

3. State that keeping God’s law is for our good, but it is Jesus’ sacrifice that saves us from our sins.

Topics & Themes

Anger
Attitude
God’s Law
Jesus Sets Example
Jesus - Without Sin
Holy Conduct
Loving Others
Obedience
Prayer
Purity
Sermon on the Mount
Sin
Wisdom

Materials Needed

Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse chart, stickers, music cassette or CD and music player, marker pens, butcher’s paper

Preparation

Preteens struggle with submitting their will to others. They’re moving out of the self- absorbed stage of younger children. Pleasing parents and friends becomes a significant motivator. They learn to share because they want to be part of a group. They refrain from calling their friends names because they want to keep their friends. They start to learn self- control in playing sports and games and in interactions with others. Nevertheless, their self-control is often juxtaposed with their insistence on fairness. “That’s not fair!” is a common phrase among this age group. If someone hits them, they want to retaliate. If someone mistreats them, they have a long memory. Therefore this lesson will be difficult for them to accept. It doesn’t hurt to let juniors know that many adults struggle to keep the spirit of God’s law too. This should not excuse them. Encourage them to talk with their parents or other adults when they have these struggles.

Before the class arrives, place a ten foot strip of butcher’s paper on the wall. With a marker, divide the strip into ten one foot sections.

How to Teach This Lesson

Begin by role-playing the situations in the student book Activity. Students may have differing solutions – allow them to use their own.

Attitudes and Actions - Ask the students to name the Ten Commandments, and write one at the top of each section of the paper strip. Point out that each one deals with the actions of people. These are referred to as the letter of the law. They tell us what is right and wrong. There is no question about what they mean. But, there are other things that are not spelled out as plainly for us. These commands deal with our attitudes. For example: The law says - do not kill! But, Jesus said that if you hate your brother, you are guilty of murder. Jesus enlarged the law to include our attitude. When you obey God’s commands with the right heart attitude, we call that the spirit of the law.

Where does anger lead? Discuss how anger can lead to name calling, getting even, hurting others and hatred. It is easy to let anger get out of control. (Have someone read Ephesians 4:26.) Ask the students to give examples of how to win over anger.

Put your eye out? (Ask someone to read Matthew 5:29.) Ask: Does this mean that you should really put out your own eye? Explain that Jesus was making the point that you should do everything you can to get away from situations that could cause you to sin. Looking at dirty magazines and pictures could cause you have wrong desires or thoughts. So you should stay away from them. Example: When Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt Joseph, he left his coat behind and ran away – away from the temptation.

Actions speak louder than words - Swearing is often done by children to try to prove they are grown up, or to impress their friends. Bad language has been accepted by much of our society. But, Jesus tells us not to swear. Simply say yes or no, and mean it. You don’t need bad language to get your point across. If you follow through on what you say, people will learn to trust you. Your actions will speak for you.

Don’t Take Revenge - Ask: When someone is mean to you, what is your first reaction? Do you want to retaliate? (Have someone read Matthew 5:39.) What does Christ tell us to do? (Turn the other cheek.) That doesn’t mean you can’t defend yourself. It does mean that you shouldn’t seek revenge.

Love and Pray For Your Enemies - This may sound strange or even crazy! Ask: Why should you pray for someone who has been mean to you? When God becomes involved in someone’s life, He changes them. That person will no longer be mean and hateful if God is working in his life and he becomes a Christian. When you pray for your enemies, you will both be winners!

Me, Be Perfect? - You may say, “I thought Christ was the only one who lived a perfect life.” That is true! But, He laid down a pattern for you to follow. He expects you to do your best to try to live like He lived. The only way you can do that is with His help. If you ask, God will give you wisdom and strength to keep the spirit of His law.

Review Questions

1. Who is the only door into God’s Kingdom?

2. What is the key that will open the door to God’s Kingdom?

3. How do we show our faith in Jesus?

4. Why did Jesus say that it was hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom?

5. What does your memory verse say?

Teacher-Directed Activity

Give each child a marker and let them choose one or two of the commandments. Tell them to write in that section something they can do to not only obey the commandment, but to keep the spirit of the commandment. Example: Thou shalt not kill - Do not hate someone who is mean to me. Thou shalt not steal - Don’t even borrow something without asking permission.

REACH Activity

Word Study: Nomos
The word “law” in Matthew 5:18 is the Greek word nomos, which comes from a primitive word nemo meaning to parcel out, especially food or grazing to animals. Nomos means the law as it is used for our good, as a doctor might prescribe medicine. Think of how the word nomos relates to nemo. The law, as the set of regulations which God gave us for our good, is as necessary as the food and grazing which the animals need. When you see the context in which this word is used, it makes even more sense! Of course God isn’t going to “do away with” the law until everything is completed! The law is good for us and as necessary as the grazing is for the animals.

*Word Study notes are taken from Spiros Zodhiates’ Hebrew-Greek KJV Key Word Study Bible and Lexicon.

Did You Know?
In the YEA lesson memory verse is the phrase “smallest letter.” In Greek that was “iota.” In Hebrew the smallest word is “yodh.” Now you know what it means when someone says they aren’t giving one iota. They are not giving at all, not even an inch!

Music Notes: Spirit Song
This hymn is found on page 201 of the CEM Hymnal. The words and music were written by John Wimber. John Wimber (born February 25, 1934 in Kirksville, Missouri, died November 17, 1997) was a charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement. Wimber was raised in a non-religious family but converted to Christianity in May 1963. He had previously been the keyboard player in the band The Righteous Brothers. Some have attributed the formation of the band to Wimber (then as Johnny Wimber) since he was the one who brought Bobby Hatfield and Bill Medley together for the Paramours band in 1962. In the following years he attended a Quaker church in Yorba Linda, California. In 1974 he became the Founding Director of the Department of Church Growth at the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth, which was founded by the Fuller Theological Seminary and the Fuller Evangelistic Association. He directed the department until 1978. In this time a house church began to form in his home. This group began to embrace some of the beliefs of the Charismatic movement. This resulted in a split with the Quaker church to which this group belonged. Wimber pastored this new church, which would later become known as the Anaheim Vineyard Christian Fellowship, from 1977 to 1994. (Source: www.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wimber.)

Read John 14:15-31. Then read the words of this song. Compare them. Where can you find similarities?

Journal Jot
How do you feel when you ace a test? Win a race? Finish a book? Get an A on a school project? It gives us a good feeling to do a job well. It’s good that we like the feeling of having done our best because God wants to make us perfect. Oh, He doesn’t want better people because our carnal nature fights against God. He wants a new creature in Christ. He is working in our lives until we know we need Him and we’re ready for Him to create a new heart in us.

Read Philippians 1:6. Then write about these ideas in your Bible notebook.

Back to the Bible
Did you know that even Jesus Christ experienced times of anger? During the Passover Jesus found men in the Jerusalem Temple courts selling cattle, sheep, goats, and exchanging money. Jesus made a whip out of cords and. . . “drove all of them from the temple area.” Jesus then told them to get everything out of the Temple and said, “How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” (NIV). Jesus was quite upset that the Temple, a place of worship to God, was being used as a market. Jesus was angry, but He did not sin. He saw disrespect towards God and He was right to be upset. Ephesians 4:26 says, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.” Being angry is not a sin; it is how you choose to handle anger that can get you in trouble. Remember that you always want to be a bright light to others, even when they disappoint you and make you mad. But don’t let the dark stain of sin dim your light. Go to your brother or sister and try to fix your relationship. Teach them love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness through your words and actions.

Just Toolin’ Around
Use Bible reference books to find out what the Books of Psalms and Proverbs say about “anger.” Record at least two Scriptures from each book in your Bible notebook.

Stretch It Out
Role play the YEA lesson activity situations on page 9.

Questions?
Remember to write any questions that you have in your notebook. That way you will remember to ask your parents, teacher, or minister.

Song

“Thy Word Have I Hid In My Heart” is on page 75 of Kids Classics Collection.

Closing Prayer

Lead the students in prayer, asking for God’s guidance in keeping the spirit of His law.