YEA Lesson Library
Find the Key
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches that Jesus is the only Way to eternal life in God’s kingdom. Our actions exhibit our faith and love for God.
Scriptures
Matthew 18:1-6
Matthew 19:16-30
Matthew 21:28-32
Luke 9:57-62
Luke 18:1-30
John 6:35-40
John 14:2, 6
1 Corinthians 2:9
James 2:14-19
Revelation 21:4
Words to Know
ELIMINATE - to get rid of
FAITH - have confidence or trust in someone or something, shown through actions
FALSE TESTIMONY - telling lies
POSSESSIONS - things you own
The Lesson
Suppose someone gave you a whole handful of keys. One of those keys fit the door of a room filled with video games, toys, bicycles, candy, and other good things. But the only way for you to enter the room is to find the right key! What will you do? Will you take time to eliminate keys that obviously won’t fit? Will you call a locksmith to help you find the right key. Or will you just try any old key?
Going into God’s Kingdom is like going through a door. You really want to go through the door because God has prepared wonderful things for those who love Him. It is better than anything you could imagine. There will be no hungry or hurting people there. The problem is, there is only one key that will fit that door. You have to choose the right key. The good news is, God tells you what the key is!
One day a rich young man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” The man was looking for the key to the door. Jesus told him he must obey God’s commandments. Did you hear that? Jesus gave the man the key – sort of. The man wanted to be absolutely sure he had the right key. After all, there were over 600 laws in his religion. So he asked, “Which commandments should I keep?”
Jesus told the man, “Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” Do you recognize these? The first five come from the Ten Commandments.
Still the man wasn’t sure he had it narrowed down to the right key. He said he had done these things all his life. He wanted to know what else he should do. So Jesus said, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give them to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The man went away very sad because he had much wealth.
The disciples were confused when Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to enter God’s Kingdom. They thought having great wealth meant that God was blessing you. Would God bless some- one who wasn’t doing what was right? But, the problem for the rich man wasn’t that he had money. It was that he didn’t have faith! The rich man was more concerned with making money, or with keeping what he had. He didn’t have faith to leave all his money and put Jesus first in his life. So, being rich won’t help us find the key.
Let’s look at the door before we try a key. John 10:7 tells us that Jesus is the door to the Kingdom of Heaven. He is the only way into God’s Kingdom. We can’t crawl over the walls. We can’t tunnel underneath. We can’t get in by ourselves. Even being really good isn’t the key.
What is the key? Jesus’ disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus told them, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Here’s a clue to the key we’re trying to find. We can’t get into the Kingdom by what we do. Have you found the key yet? It is faith in Jesus! Jesus was teaching that the key to entering the Kingdom is believing in Jesus Christ!
What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? First you become His disciple. You must be willing to do what He asks you. You have to show love to people around you. You can’t think that something else, like money, is more important. If you aren’t willing to give what you have to someone else if God asks you to, then you aren’t putting Him first. You’re not showing Jesus that you believe in Him.
We have to believe (have faith) in Jesus Christ with our whole heart! How do we show that we believe and love Him? We keep His commandments because He asks us to. We are kind and thoughtful to others because He asks us to be. We read the Bible and try to do what He wants us to do, even when it’s not what we want to do ourselves.
Do you ask, like Peter, “What’s in it for me?” Maybe you don’t want to give up everything for God. You don’t want to miss out on what everyone else gets to do. But, the rewards for being obedient because you have faith in Jesus and love Him are incredible! Jesus will give eternal life and one hundred times more than you give up!
Having faith in Jesus Christ is the key. Are you willing to put your trust in Him? Will you love Him and be willing to do what He says?
Student Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for preparing a place for me in your Kingdom. Thank you that Jesus is the only way into your Kingdom. Please teach me how to love you and serve you with my whole heart so I can show my faith in Jesus.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Matthew 19:16-30
Monday - James 2:14-19
Tuesday - Matthew 21:28-32
Wednesday - John 6:35-40
Thursday - Luke 18:1-30
Friday - Luke 9:57-62
Saturday - Matthew 18:1-6
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, the students will be able to:
1. Explain that the only way (door) into God’s Kingdom is Jesus Christ.
2. State that faith in Jesus is the key to the door to the Kingdom.
3. Tell that we show our faith by loving and obeying Jesus.
4. State that no one gets into the Kingdom by what he has or what he does.
Topics & Themes
Disciples
Eternal Life
Faith
God’s Kingdom
God’s Law
Holy Conduct
Jesus, His Ministry
Jesus, Savior
Jesus, The Way
Obedience
Ten Commandments
Treasure
Trusting God
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students’ and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse chart, stickers, cassette or CD and music player, assorted keys, padlock or small trunk with lock, snack treats, card stock, hole punch, yarn, scissors, pencils, newsprint pad and marker or chalkboard and chalk
Preparation
Spend some time thinking about salvation by works versus salvation by grace. There is a definite distinction between earning your way to God’s Kingdom (which is impossible) and keeping God’s law because you want to please Him. God tells us that we keep His commandments if we love Him – in keeping God’s commandments, we don’t chalk up points with Him, but we keep ourselves out of a lot of trouble. We need to avoid giving our children either the legalistic mind set or the belief-only mind set. Even the demons believe in God. We show our belief by what we do (James 2:14-19). Make sure you are clear in your own mind.
Find a padlock and a bunch of keys to bring to class. If you have a small trunk with a lock, fill it with snack treats. Label the trunk “Kingdom of Heaven.”
How to Teach This Lesson
Object Lesson - Begin by setting the trunk in front of your class. Show the students all of the keys. Tell them that there is a treasure inside the trunk. But, first they must open the trunk with one of the keys. But which one? By trying each key, they will eventually find the right one.
When looking for the key to the Kingdom of Heaven, we don’t get to try each key. Ask: How can you intelligently go about finding the one key that works? Read Matthew 19:17-20 aloud. Discuss the things that Jesus told the rich man to do to have eternal life. Write these on a chalkboard or newsprint pad.
Look at the lock on the trunk before trying a key. Perhaps looking at the lock will help students figure out which key to use. They can eliminate keys that are too large or too small.
Jesus is the Door - The Kingdom of God has a gate or door. John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the Way, and John 10:9 states that He is the Door. Even if we have the right key, it is Jesus who must open the door. Matthew 19:26 states, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” To enter into eternal life in God’s Kingdom, we must come through Jesus Christ.
The Rich Man - Ask: Why did Jesus say it was hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God? Does that mean if you have money you can’t have eternal life? It wasn’t the riches that kept the rich man out of the Kingdom. He wasn’t putting Christ first in his life. His money meant more to him than following Jesus.
Choosing The Right Key - Discuss the following: Is keeping the commandments in order to get into the Kingdom the right key? Why or why not? Why do we keep the commandments? Is giving all of your money to the poor the right key? Why or why not? Is follow- ing Jesus wholeheartedly, because you love Him and have faith in Him the right key? Explain.
The Reward - Have someone read Matthew 21:29. You will be rewarded for the things you give up here. Ask: Can you name some things you have given up to follow Christ? Close by reading 1 Corinthians 2:9.
You Need Help - Help the kids find the right key. Point out that just as you are helping them find the right key to the trunk, Jesus shows the way He wants us to live through Bible reading, prayer, meditation, and service. Jesus is the way to open the treasure chest that He’s preparing. The treasure in this chest (the snack) won’t last, but God’s Kingdom will last forever.
Review Questions
1. Explain the difference between the letter of the law and the spirit of the law.
2. List three things that Jesus expects you to avoid in your daily life if you are going to follow Him.
3. What should you do when you find yourself, like Joseph did, in a situation that is likely to cause you to sin?
4. What does Christ tell us to do when someone is mean to us?
Teacher-Directed Activity
Enlarge and photocopy onto card stock one of the keys for each student. Have the students cut out the keys and punch a hole where indicated. Thread a piece of yarn through the hole and tie the ends together. Have each student write today’s memory verse on his or her key. This can be hung on the door of their room at home.
REACH Activity
Word Study: Hodos (hod-os’)
In John 14:6 Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The word “way” comes from the Greek word “hodos,” which is from a primitive word meaning a road. By implication the word means a progress, the route, act or distance. In a figurative sense, it means a mode or means.
When Jesus put the definitive article “the” in front of “hodos,” He was telling us that He is the one and only way to eternal life, the only mode or means, the only road or route. We don’t want to miss this road. Be sure to ask for directions if you’re lost.
* Word Study notes are taken from Spiros Zodhiates’ Hebrew-Greek KJV Key Word Study Bible and Lexicon.
Did You Know?
Asceticism is the practice of denying yourself something as part of personal or spiritual discipline. In the Old Testament, the priests were not to drink any alcohol before they went into the Tent of Meeting (Leviticus 10:9). This is an example of asceticism, as is the practice of fasting on the Day of Atonement. In Matthew 19:21-22, Jesus tells the rich young ruler that his self-discipline cannot be limited; it has to affect his entire lifestyle. What about you? Is there something in your life that you won’t give up—something that is preventing you from seeking Jesus?
Music Notes: My Faith Looks Up To Thee
This hymn is found on page 62 of the CEM Hymnal. The text was written by Ray Palmer (1808-1887), a 22-year-old school teacher, in 1832. Several months after his graduation from Yale University and while still living with the family of the lady who directed the girls’ school where he taught, Palmer wrote the text for this hymn. He had experienced a very discouraging year in which he battled illness and loneliness.
“The words for these stanzas were born out of my own soul with very little effort. I recall that I wrote the verses with tender emotion. There was not the slightest thought of writing for another eye, least of all writing a hymn for Christian worship. It is well-remembered that when writing the last line, ‘Oh, bear me safe above, a ransomed soul!’ the thought of the whole work of redemption and salvation was involved in those words, and suggested the theme of eternal praises, and this brought me to a degree of emotion that brought abundant tears.”
Two years later, while visiting in Boston, Palmer chanced to meet his friend, Lowell Mason, a well-known name in musical circles during this time. Upon seeing Ray Palmer’s text, Mason stated, “Palmer, you may live many years and do many good things but I think you will be best-known to posterity as the author of ‘My Faith Looks Up to Thee’.” Lowell Mason composed a melody for this text, a tune which he called “Olivet” in reference to the hymn’s message. Soon the hymn appeared in its present form in a hymnal edited by Mason. (Source: Amazing Grace, Osbeck, K., p. 284.)
Journal Jot
Why isn’t it enough to just do good deeds? Why can’t we get into God’s Kingdom through our own actions? Why is Jesus the Way? Think about it. Then write your thoughts in your Bible notebook. Use Scriptures to support your beliefs and conclusions.
Back to the Bible
In Matthew 7:7 Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” (NIV). Jesus wants you to ask in order to learn about Him. Who do you ask? What do you ask? Through prayer you can ask Jesus to help you understand what you read in the Bible. Parents and Sabbath School teachers, and church ministers will also help you learn about Jesus. Knowing Jesus builds your faith in Him. Seeking or looking to live your life obediently takes time. Be patient. Keep seeking. Spend time in prayer and ask God to help you stay on course to eternal life. Have faith that Jesus will help you when the road of life is full of bumps. Stay on course! When you knock on the door of understanding, asking and seeking to know Jesus, He will answer. Jesus Christ, your Older Brother, wants to share His inheritance with you. He is faithful and trustworthy. Stay close to Jesus. Through your understanding and love of Jesus you will find the key. He will open the door for you to God’s Kingdom.
Just Toolin’ Around
Use your Bible and a concordance to find three “faith” Scriptures. Trace and cut out the outline of a key on poster board. Write one of the faith Scriptures on the key. Use it as a Bible bookmark to remind you to have faith in Jesus Christ, the key to eternal life.
Stretch It Out
In your Bible notebook, make three columns: what I know about Jesus; what I want to know about Jesus; what I learned about Jesus. Fill in each column accordingly. For example, you may write that you know Jesus is the Son of God. In the next column you might write, why did God send Jesus to us? In the last column you would write the answer to your question. Complete this activity as a family or with your Sabbath School class.
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
“Come and Go With Me” is on page 83 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the students in thanking God for preparing His Kingdom for us, and asking Him to guide us in seeking His will for our lives.
Printable Pages
