YEA Lesson Library
Family Matters
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches how God has made it possible for all of us to be adopted into the family of God, to have Jesus as our Older Brother.
Scriptures
Matthew 12:46-50
Matthew 12:49-50
Matthew 13:53-58
Mark 3:31-35
Mark 6:1-6
Luke 8:19-21
John 6:39-40
John 14:15-16
Romans 8:14-17
Romans 8:35-39
Galatians 5:22-23
Hebrews 9:1-28
James 1:1-16
2 Peter 3:1-18
Revelation 21:1-7
Words to Know
BULLIES - people who hurt or browbeat those who are weaker
COMPREHEND - to understand fully
DISRESPECTFUL - to treat with little or no regard
The Lesson
How many people make up your family? Do you have a mom and dad in your home? Do you have brothers and sisters? If you are especially blessed of God you may have an older brother who is good to you. He helps you with your homework. He lets you tag along on his activities. He protects you from bullies and things that might hurt you. Oh, sometimes he may say you are a pest. But, you know he really loves you! This is just a little glimpse of how fantastic it is to have Jesus Christ as your Older Brother! You might ask, “How can Jesus be my Brother? Jesus Christ is God!”
One day Jesus was teaching a crowd of people. He said, “Anyone who does what my Father in heaven wants is my brother or sister or mother.” What encouraging words. It is possible to be the brother or sister of Jesus Christ! Wow! What would that be like?
Our relationship to Jesus is much better than with any earthly brother. He promises to give eternal life to those who believe in Him and seek to do the will of God. One day Jesus will return to earth. He will raise His people to be kings and priests with Him. He has prepared a place for us. In this place there will not be sorrow, pain, or trouble. We can live with Him forever!
But Jesus has not set up His Kingdom on earth yet. Who will guide us, help us, and comfort us? Jesus promised, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever” (John 14:15- 17 NIV). This “Counselor” is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will encourage you to make wise decisions. God’s Spirit will develop these character traits in you: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit will teach you and help your life work much more smoothly.
When you become a child of God, He gives you His Holy Spirit. You receive the mind and power of God to help you become more like Him. Having the Holy Spirit in your life is proof that you are God’s child. Wow – think about that! You have evidence that you truly are a child of God! There’s a good reason why we call Him Father!
The book of Romans tells us one day we will inherit everything our Older Brother, Jesus, inherits – “We will share what Christ receives.” That is almost too incredible to comprehend! When Christ returns to set up His Kingdom, we will inherit this world because we are God’s children. He is the King of kings. You will be princes and princesses with Him! Awesome!
Why would Christ do all of this for us? Because He loves us and wants to show us His love! There is nothing in the world that can take His love away from us! Yes, sometimes we turn our backs on God, but He will never turn His back on us. He will never walk away from us if we love and obey Him. And what’s more, the Apostle Paul tells us, “I am absolutely sure that not even death or life can separate us from God’s love. . . Nothing at all can ever separate us from God’s love because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done” (Romans 8:38-39 NIrV).
Mark 6:3 tells us that Jesus’ mother, Mary, had other sons and daughters. These would be Jesus’ half-brothers and sisters. Yet, Jesus calls His disciples His brothers, sisters, and mother. Is this confusing? Was Jesus being disrespectful to His mother and family? Didn’t He care about them at all?
As Jesus hung dying on the stake, His last thoughts were for the care of His family. He loved them very much. Even in His great pain, Jesus wanted to make sure Mary would be cared for. He told John to take care of her as if she were his own mother. Jesus was not being disrespectful to His family when He referred to the disciples as His family. He was talking about expanding His family! He was including you and me and all those who follow Him in His family.
What a wonderful opportunity Jesus has given us. We can become part of His family and He will be our Older Brother! This fantastic promise is given to all those who love Him and do His will. It is proof that Family Matters!
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be in your family. Help me to love you, to follow your ways and to do your will.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Luke 8:19-21
Monday - Mark 3:31-35
Tuesday - Matthew 13:53-58
Wednesday - James 1:1-16
Thursday - Mark 6:1-6
Friday - Hebrews 9:1-28
Saturday - 2 Peter 3:1-18
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Explain who Jesus was referring to as His brothers, sisters and mother.
2. Relate why Jesus made the statement in Matthew 12:46-50.
3. Tell about two or more promises that God has given to His children.
4. State that Jesus was not being disrespectful to His physical family.
Topics & Themes
Disciples
Eternal Life
Family
Fruit of the Spirit
God the Father
God’s Kingdom
God’s Love
God’s Will
Holy Spirit
Jesus, God the Son
Jesus, Older Brother
Jesus, Return of
Loving God
Obedience
Relationship with God
Ten Commandments
Honor Your Father/Mother
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse chart, stickers, cassette tape or CD and music player, masking tape, newsprint pad or chalkboard, marker
Preparation
Juniors are on the threshold of a new phase where parents are becoming less important than their peers. They need to be reminded that honoring their parents is so important that God included it in the Ten Commandments. It is obvious that God intended that the fifth commandment be adhered to. Yet, some might try to use this to say that Matthew 12:46-50 shows that Jesus was disrespectful to his parents. It is imperative that the students do not mistake Jesus’ comment as an excuse to be disrespectful to parents.
With masking tape, make an outline of three houses on the floor in different parts of the classroom. Number the houses from 1 - 3.
How to Teach This Lesson
Begin with the Activity - All families are different. Some are large and some are small. In some families people look alike, in others everyone looks different. God was the One who created the very first family. He wants our families to function well and for us to be happy. God gives specific instructions as to how the members in a family should behave, especially the children.
Honor Your Father and Mother - Have one student read Exodus 20:12 and another read Matthew 15:4 aloud. Both the Old and New Testaments stress the importance of showing honor to parents. Ask: Can you think of some ways that you can honor your parents? (List these on a chalkboard or newsprint pad.)
Brothers and Sisters - Ask someone to read Romans 12:10 aloud. Ask: According to this verse, how do you think you should treat your brothers or sisters? Even though brothers and sisters sometimes disagree or get on one another’s nerves, we are to honor and love one another.
Jesus, our Brother - Ask: How do you become a part of God’s Family and have Jesus become your Brother? (Matthew 12:50.) You are born or adopted into your earthly family. You take on the family name. When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their Savior, they are born into God’s family – Jesus becomes your Brother. And, you take on the family name – Christian!
Your Inheritance - An inheritance is some- thing that is passed on from one generation to the next, i.e. houses, land, and money. You even inherit hair color, eye color, and height. Ask: What are some things that you will inherit as part of God’s family? (List on the chalkboard or newsprint pad.) Have someone read Romans 8:14-17 aloud. It is almost too incredible to comprehend all we will inherit because we are God’s children!
Why Did Christ Do This For Us? - Jesus was not being disrespectful when He made the statement in Matthew 12:46-50. He loved His mother and half-brothers and sisters. He even took care of them as He was dying on the stake. He told John to take care of Mary as His own mother. Jesus has that same love for every one of us. Read John 14:21 aloud. Nothing will ever be able to separate us from that love (Romans 8:35, 38). Ask: How can we honor Jesus and show that we love Him?
Review Questions
1. How do you become a part of God’s family and have Jesus as your Older Brother?
2. What is your inheritance as part of God’s family?
3. What can separate you from being part of God’s family?
4. Does Jesus love you more than He did His earthly family?
5. How can you honor Jesus, your Older Brother?
Teacher-Directed Activity
As you make the following statements have the students stand in the house indicated.
1. If your family has 3 or less people in it stand in house #1.
2. If your family has 4 or 5 people stand in house #2.
3. If your family has 6 or more people stand in house #3.
4. If you have an older brother or sister stand in house #1.
5. If you have a younger brother or sister stand in house #2.
6. If you are an only child stand in house #3.
7. If you look like your dad stand in house #1.
8. If you look like your mom stand in house #2.
9. If you don’t look like either one stand in house #3.
If time permits, at the end of the lesson this game can be continued by stating: If you have blue eyes stand in house #___, if you are wearing jeans stand in house # ___, etc.
REACH Activity
Word Study: Mathetes
The word “disciple” in the YEA lesson memory verse, Matthew 12:49-50, is the Greek word “mathetes,” which means learner or pupil. Are you a learner and pupil of Jesus Christ?
*Word Study notes are taken from Spiros Zodhiates’ Hebrew-Greek KJV Key Word Study Bible and Lexicon.
Did You Know?
Jesus had four brothers (James, Joseph, Simon, Judas) and sisters (although we don’t know their names). Tradition says James became a leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17), wrote the Book of James, and was martyred. Tradition also says Jesus’ brother, Judas, wrote the Book of Jude. (Source: NIV Archaeological Study Bible, p. 1581.)
Music Notes: My Jesus, I Love Thee
This hymn is found on page 51 of the CEM Hymnal. The words to this hymn were written by William R. Featherston (1846-1873) when he was a teenager. It is thought he scripted the words at the time of his conversion—when he was 16. He sent the poem to his aunt. It appeared in an English hymnal in 1864. (Source: Amazing Grace, Osbeck, K., p. 56.)
Read 1 John 4:7-21 first. Then read the words to the hymn. Write the answers to the following questions in your Bible notebook:
1. Can you think of some things that God has done for you? (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 2:4-5).
2. Because God first loved us, we love God. What does that love give to us? (1 Peter 1:8).
3. How do we show God that we really love Him? (John 14:23).
Journal Jot
A good family name is important to many people. That is, when people think of their last name, they want them to think of integrity, honesty, compassion, love, etc. As a result, people are very careful about their actions if they want to ensure their family name is not dishonored.
As a Christian, you are carrying the family name with you wherever you go. Do you bring honor and glory to God through your actions as a Christian? Or do you bring shame on the name? Think about what you might want to change. Write about it in your Bible notebook.
Back to the Bible
Jacob had 12 sons, but Joseph was his favorite. Jacob’s other sons were jealous of the attention and love that Joseph received from their father. Ten of the brothers were so angry that they threw Joseph into a well! After talking among themselves they decided not to kill Joseph. Instead they pulled him out of the well and sold him to be a slave. The brothers returned home and told their father that Joseph had been killed by a ferocious animal. As proof they showed Jacob the blood on Joseph’s special coat. Jacob was so upset that no one could comfort him. Years would pass before all 12 brothers and their father were to meet again (Genesis 37-47).
At the beginning of Joseph’s story you may have thought there was no way that his family would ever find a way to love and care about each other. It didn’t have a very promising beginning. But as years passed and events brought them together, the ten brothers were very repentant for what they had done to their brother Joseph. How did everything turn out right for this family? In the Genesis account of his life, we read that even when Joseph found himself in trouble he still obeyed and trusted God. He knew that his Heavenly Father would never leave nor forsake him. He lived God’s way. Sometimes families have problems. Repent and ask for forgiveness when you treat a family member unkindly. Honor your mother and your father. Pray that you and your family will always take loving care of one another. Take care of Family Matters with kindness and patience because families matter to God.
Just Toolin’ Around
As a family, find out more about Joseph’s family. Read Genesis 37-47. Make a family tree of Joseph’s family in your Bible notebook. Then make your own family tree!
Stretch It Out
Showing love for God is often demonstrated in the love we have for others. Create three-dimensional flower arrangements out of construction paper and tissue paper to give to someone in the church congregation. Use pipe cleaners for the stems. Cut strips of paper which can be stapled in circles or twists. Other flowers can be made by picking up a piece of tissue paper in the center, and twisting it to let the outside edges fall like the petals of a flower. Use your imagination with glue, tape, and scissors to create a unique bouquet.
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
“Every Promise In The Book Is Mine” is on page 15 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the students in asking for God’s guidance in following His commandments and learning His will for their lives.
Printable Pages
