Jesus Taught about Behavior (Matthew 6)

Dear families,

Have you ever wondered, Does Jesus care more about what I believe or about what I do? That’s one of those questions that can’t be answered in a word.

We learn in the Bible of the danger of a “belief” that is only external. We find warnings like Matthew 15:8: “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” On the flip side, we also learn in the New Testament that “Faith without works is useless” (James 2:20).

This is not evidence of the Bible contradicting itself but of the Bible teaching that these two are not mutually exclusive. So, what is it that the Bible tells us God is looking for? Scripture seems to suggest both belief and action: faith and works.

In Matthew 6, Jesus used the Sermon on the Mount to emphasize this further by spelling out some of the specific actions that true belief will produce. Jesus speaks of giving, prayer, fasting, and holding a right perspective on our possessions.

The irony of Jesus’ explaining the appropriate actions that flow out of genuine faith is that elsewhere in the New Testament we learn that Jesus is the central ingredient in the faithful production of these behaviors in our lives.

Second Timothy 3:16-17 reminds us that the Word of God is able to teach, rebuke, correct, and train us so that we are fully equipped for the work that God created us for. Considering the whole counsel of God, Jesus is identified in John 1 as the living Word of God. Therefore, Jesus does not simply teach us about the behaviors He calls us to, He is the very One equipping us to live out of these behaviors.

In 2 Peter 1, we find this idea spelled out even more directly: “His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Jesus is deeply concerned with what we believe and what we do. His expectations are high, but He promises to give us everything we need for both faith and works. This is a promise we can count on.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: People who trust in Jesus will live like Him.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus taught how people should live. People who trust in Jesus live for Him because God has forgiven their sins.
• Older Preschool: Jesus taught what it means to follow Him. He taught how people should live. People who trust in Jesus live to honor God because God has forgiven their sins.
• Kids: Jesus taught people what it means to follow Him. He taught how people should interact with God and others. Believers live to honor God—not to earn God’s favor but because they already have it.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God.  
• Older Preschool: What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God and His kingdom. 
• Kids: What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God and His kingdom. He taught that all Scripture is about Him. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Lord, You are great and powerful. 1 Chronicles 29:11 
• Younger Preschool: Lord, You are great and powerful. Everything belongs to You.1 Chronicles 29:11 
• Older Preschool: Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory … for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. 1 Chronicles 29:11 
• Kids: Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 

** Next week: Jesus Taught about God’s Love (Luke 15)

 Unit Description: Jesus taught like no one else—as One who has authority. Everything Jesus taught about revealed what God’s kingdom is like, the kingdom that Jesus had come to establish in full.

Big Picture Question
What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God and His kingdom.

Key Passage: Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory … for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. 1 Chronicles 29:11 
Key Passage Phrase: Lord, You are great and powerful. 1 Chronicles 29:11 

Jesus Taught about Character (Matthew 5)

Dear families,

What do you think would happen if you stomped on a ketchup packet? Would you expect only air to escape the contents of the packet? Undoubtedly, the pressure of the stomp would result in an explosion of ketchup, and perhaps a messy shoe.

Oddly enough, we don’t always predict our responses to specific situations accurately. In moments of extreme pressure or challenge, we are surprised at our own responses and decisions.

The beginning of The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5 contains what we often call the ‘Beatitudes.’ In these eight verses, there are specific descriptions of people who could be seen in a negative light. Poor, mourning, humbled, hungry, thirsty, and persecuted are all words that describe a posture seen as less than favorable in our culture. Yet, this text speaks of the blessing of each of them.

The blessings result through a God-centered perspective. The poor in spirit, hungry, humble are those who have set their hope in God and His eternal kingdom. The poor in spirit have recognized that they are utterly lost without God. Those who mourn acknowledge the guilt of their sin and the pain of a broken world. The hungry and thirsty understand that nothing in this world will satisfy like Jesus. The character of the people of God reveals a response of faith in Him.

Who we are isn’t determined by how we respond to pain and hardship; however, our character is often displayed in these moments. The choices we make and the way in which we fill ourselves during times of peace and rest are often revealed during high-pressure situations. Those being transformed by the power of God will display faithfulness and virtue in these times. Those not gripped by the Spirit of God will display their graceless state.

Don’t be surprised that what you have filled yourself with comes out when you are pressed. And don’t be surprised when God shows Himself to you in a distinct way in these times of trouble.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: People who trust in Jesus will be like Him.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus taught about how to follow Him. People who trust in Jesus will be like Him and tell others about Him.
• Older Preschool: Jesus taught about what it means to follow Him. He taught how people should live. People who trust in Jesus live to honor God and lead others to know Him.
• Kids: Jesus taught people what it means to follow Him. He taught how people should live. People who trust in Jesus live to honor God and show what His kingdom is like.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God.  
• Older Preschool: What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God and His kingdom. 
• Kids: What did Jesus teach when He was on earth? Jesus taught about God and His kingdom. He taught that all Scripture is about Him. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Lord, You are great and powerful. 1 Chronicles 29:11 
• Younger Preschool: Lord, You are great and powerful. Everything belongs to You.1 Chronicles 29:11 
• Older Preschool: Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory … for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. 1 Chronicles 29:11 
• Kids: Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. 1 Chronicles 29:11 

** Next week: Jesus Taught About Behavior (Matthew 6)

Jesus’ Miracles Prove He Is God (John 14)

Dear families,

When we study the miraculous works of Jesus—Jesus’ calming a storm, healing sickness, multiplying food, walking on water, turning water into wine, helping blind people see, or any of the other miracles that Jesus performed—it’s possible to miss the larger story being told and the purpose of these encounters. Like standing too close to a painting, our view of the larger picture becomes obscure, and we can lose sight of its grandeur. While details are important, Jesus’ miracles reveal a glorious truth about who He is—God in flesh.

John 14 provides us with one of many reasons to keep a broader focus as we study Jesus’ miracles. In preparation for His death, resurrection, and ascension, Jesus offered words of comfort and encouragement to His disciples. Soon He would no longer be visible to them with their eyes or available to reach out and touch. Yet, Jesus calls them to see with eyes of faith as He urges them to “Believe in God; believe also in [him].” (John 14:1).

As the disciples grappled with where Jesus’ is going, Jesus underscored His oneness with the Father and that He alone is the way to the Father. He patiently reminds the disciples of the authority of His words and the miraculous works He performed–all of which prove He is God.  It was a grace for the disciples to behold the works of Jesus and be able to look back and remember what their eyes had seen and their ears had heard when Jesus walked among them.

When they faced times of turmoil, they could recall Jesus calming the storm and believe. When they were hungry, they could remember Jesus’ feeding the crowd and believe. Not only were the words and works of Jesus evidence of His divinity during His time on earth, they were also a means to persevere in their faith after He went to heaven.

As you focus on the works of Jesus, consider their true purpose. Jesus’ miracles give us a picture of who He is and the hope of life with Him in His kingdom. As we read of Jesus’ miracles and grow in knowledge of Him, we can ask God to deepen our faith and love for Him. And when we seek to view the big picture of the Bible, we come to better understand the miraculous works of a God who gave His only Son to save sinners.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is God’s Son.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus came to help us understand what God is like. God the Father sent His Son to rescue us from sin. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us as we live for Him.
• Older Preschool: Jesus came to help us understand what God is like. God the Father sent His Son to rescue us from sin. He gives us the Holy Spirit to help us as we live for Him.
• Kids: God has always existed as three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son to rescue us from sin. He gives us the Holy Spirit to comfort us, show us our sins, and guide us as we live for God’s glory.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Is Jesus God or a person? Jesus is both God and a person.  
• Older Preschool: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.  
• Kids: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is God’s Son. John 1:18 
• Younger Preschool: Jesus shows us what God is like. John 1:18 
• Older Preschool: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son … has revealed him. John 1:18 
• Kids: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. John 1:18 

** Next week: Jesus Taught about Character (Matthew 5)

Jesus Fed Many People (Matthew 15; Mark 8)

Dear families,

As you read of the miraculous multiplication of bread and fish in Matthew 15 pay attention to what captures your attention. What stands out most? Consider these astonishing observations: Thousands of people had been following and listening to Jesus for three days with nothing to eat. The disciples doubted Jesus’ ability to provide something substantial enough to meet the needs of this crowd. With seven loaves of bread and a few small fish, the disciples were able to feed a crowd of thousands. At the end of this simple meal, the people had food left over.

But one observation seems to showcase the heart of Christ in this story–He had compassion on the crowd. The hungry multitude had nothing to eat and would surely collapse on their journey home. From this compassionate heart, Jesus performed His miraculous works that not only satisfied their hunger, but produced an abundance of leftover food. Such is the heart of Christ, to show compassion, give generously, and seek to satisfy.

Jesus’ miracle demonstrated both His power and His love. Just as He had power to multiply the loaves and the fish, so does He have power to save us from sin. And just as He displayed His love toward the crowd, so does He display His love toward sinners by way of the cross. The Bread of Life gave His body to be broken so that our hungry souls would be satisfied and find life.

Through Jesus’ miracle of feeding the crowd, we find the gospel message: set your heart to feast on Jesus and you will live. (John 6:51) Only in Christ will we find forgiveness, satisfaction, and life eternal. We can turn to Jesus and be reminded that in Him we have all we need.

As you study the miraculous works of Jesus, don’t lose sight of the love of God on display through these acts. To know the works of Jesus is to know the tangible evidence of His unsurpassed love.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Only Jesus can give us everything we need.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus fed the people who were hungry. Jesus can give us everything we need: forgiveness, peace with God, and life with Him forever.
• Older Preschool: Jesus gave the people food so they would not be hungry. Later, Jesus said that He is the bread of life. (John 6:35) Jesus can give us everything we need: forgiveness, peace with God, and life with Him forever.
• Kids: By feeding the crowd, Jesus provided for the physical needs of the people. Later, Jesus called Himself the bread of life. (John 6:35) Only Jesus can satisfy our souls forever by providing forgiveness, peace with God, and eternal life.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Is Jesus God or a person? Jesus is both God and a person.  
• Older Preschool: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.  
• Kids: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is God’s Son. John 1:18 
• Younger Preschool: Jesus shows us what God is like. John 1:18 
• Older Preschool: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son … has revealed him. John 1:18 
• Kids: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. John 1:18 

** Next week: Jesus’ Miracles Prove He Is God (John 14)

Jesus Healed Sickness (Matthew 9; Mark 5; Luke 8)

Dear families,

When someone you know is sick, how do you respond? Do you press in with compassion and prayer, offering to take a meal? Are you tempted to withdraw and leave their needs to others? In today’s passage, we will see Jesus repeatedly draw near to people in their time of need.

The Gospel accounts provide a powerful picture of Jesus’ compassion toward the needs of people. Some of these suggest His intentional pursuit of people, while others demonstrate a pause—or even a detour—to meet someone’s needs. Yet, in both cases, as Jesus provided for the physical needs of people, He also demonstrated His power as the Son of God through His miraculous works.

Jesus had become known for His ability to bring dead things to life, heal the incurable, and bring change where no one else could. As a result, people gathered around Him everywhere he went.

In this week’s story, we see the great faith of a desperate woman. She literally reached out to Jesus, seeking healing from a long-term disorder. The woman believed in Jesus for the same reason Jesus commanded Jairus to believe: because Jesus holds the power to save—to bring the dead back to life, both physically and spiritually.

Jesus was always in pursuit of people and was never too busy to pause to meet the needs of others along the way. But Jesus came to offer much more than physical healing. The life He came to give them would result in eternal salvation.

Jesus’ encounters with Jairus and the woman remind us that God cares about the brokenness of this world. We can be confident that His promise to undo the curse of sin will be fulfilled. As we read Jesus’ miracles, we see glimpses of a fallen world being redeemed as the Son of God heals and brings life. Greater still is the hope we have to trust in Jesus’ power to renew our hearts and bring salvation. He is working now to sanctify us and bring inward transformation until the day we will see Him and be like Him.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus can heal and give people life.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus showed His power to heal and give life. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save people from sin and death.
• Older Preschool: Jesus showed His power as the Messiah. Jesus can heal and give dead people life! Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save people from sin and death. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sins and changes us to be more like His Son.
• Kids: By healing the woman and raising the little girl from the dead, Jesus showed His power as the Messiah. Jesus died on the cross and rose again to save people from sin and death. When we trust in Jesus, God forgives our sins and changes us to be more like His Son.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Is Jesus God or a person? Jesus is both God and a person.  
• Older Preschool: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.  
• Kids: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is God’s Son. John 1:18 
• Younger Preschool: Jesus shows us what God is like. John 1:18 
• Older Preschool: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son … has revealed him. John 1:18 
• Kids: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. John 1:18 

** Next week: Jesus Fed Many People (Matthew 15; Mark 8)

Jesus Healed and Forgave (Matthew 9; Mark 2; Luke 5)

Dear families,

As Jesus worked miracles, people were curious and amazed. Large crowds started following Him. Among those most interested in the works of Jesus were the Jewish leaders who looked unfavorably upon both the actions of Jesus and the following that he was gaining. Though they were interested, they felt increasingly threatened.

The Pharisees and teachers had gathered to see the power of Jesus for themselves and would later attempt to build a case against Him. But Jesus’ authority to forgive sins served to reveal their hardness of heart and evil intentions.

When Jesus told a paralyzed man that his sins were forgiven and then asked these religious men the question, “Which is easier … ?,” the point wasn’t for them to do a scientific assessment to determine which act required greater power. The point was to show them His authority. Therefore, Jesus followed His question with the true answer: “But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” He commanded the man to get up and walk.

Jesus affirmed His authority to forgive sins by healing the paralyzed man. All of Jesus’ miracles provided the evidence for His teachings and His authority. What’s more, Jesus’ authority is not constrained to only the physical world, but also reaches deep into the spiritual component of every person. While healing the man’s physical condition was a beautiful act of grace, what the man needed most was to have his sins forgiven. And this was the truth the religious leader’s hard hearts failed to understand.

As we reflect on Jesus’ words in this passage, we can ask Him to examine our hearts. Unlike the religious leaders, whose prideful hearts kept them from submitting to Christ’s authority, we can joyfully ask the Lord to reveal any sin. Then by His grace, we can repent and find forgiveness.

Just as Jesus demonstrated His authority to forgive the man’s sins by offering the evidence of healing, so has He also shown us His power to forgive our sins through the cross. Not only can we be confident that He will forgive, but we can rejoice that He has met our greatest need.

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus has the power to heal and to forgive sins.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus forgave the man’s sins. Jesus also healed the man. Jesus has the power to heal and to forgive sins.
• Older Preschool: The man who was paralyzed needed to be healed. Jesus forgave the man’s sins. Jesus showed that He can forgive sins because He is God. Jesus also healed the man so he could walk. Jesus has the power to heal and to forgive sins.
• Kids: The man who was paralyzed needed to be healed. Jesus did something even greater; Jesus forgave his sins, and then He healed the man. Because Jesus is God, He has the power and authority to heal and forgive. Jesus forgives everyone who trusts in Him.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Is Jesus God or a person? Jesus is both God and a person.  
• Older Preschool: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.  
• Kids: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is God’s Son. John 1:18 
• Younger Preschool: Jesus shows us what God is like. John 1:18 
• Older Preschool: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son … has revealed him. John 1:18 
• Kids: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. John 1:18 

** Next week: Jesus Healed Sickness (Matthew 9; Mark 5; Luke 8)

Jesus Calmed a Storm (Matthew 8; Mark 4; Luke 8)

Dear families,

In the Gospel accounts of Jesus calming the storm, we learn that Jesus’ disciples experienced tremendous fear. Their fear was so great, they believed they would perish in the storm. Yet, Jesus experienced the same violent storm, and rather than quake in fear, He slept.

The disciples’ fear emerged from a lack of faith in the One who slept in the boat. While they worried about their circumstances and allowed fear to overtake their hearts, Jesus remained confident in His control over all things–including the raging sea. Not a drop of an ocean wave or a gust of wind escaped His authority. The Word made flesh, who spoke all creation into existence, rules every inch of this world according to His sovereign will.

At the sound of His voice, the wind and the waves were stilled. And the disciples’ fear of the storm was redirected to a fear of another kind–one of reverence and awe. The power of the storm was no rival for the power of the Lord, and the disciples’ perspective was shifted to wonder at the holiness, power, and authority of Jesus.

The disciples’ fear toward Jesus was different. This fear was one of awe and reverence—a humbled perspective regarding the holiness, power, and authority of Jesus.

We all resonate with their timidity, for it is commonplace in our daily lives to be shaken by concerns in the face of trying circumstances. This story is about a storm and the different feelings that came out of it. But from that storm, and even the storms within our own lives, we see the character of a Savior. It is about our need to bow our hearts and our lives to the beauty, holiness, power, and authority of Jesus as we trust in His authority—for His glory and also for our good.

We all have things that cause us worry and concern, but do you have a reverent awe toward the God who made you and loves you and has promised to be with you through every circumstance of your life?

Check out The Gospel Project At Home for resources designed to help you lead a family worship experience as well as suggestions for morning and evening prayer times and family activities.

FAMILY TALKING POINTS

CHRIST CONNECTION

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is Lord. He has power over everything.
• Younger Preschool: Jesus’ friends knew He was a good teacher. When Jesus calmed the storm, He showed that He is the Lord. Jesus has power over everything.
• Older Preschool: Jesus’ disciples knew He was a good man and a good teacher. When Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, He showed His friends that He is the Lord. Jesus has power over everything He made.
• Kids: Jesus’ disciples knew Jesus was a good man and a good teacher. When Jesus calmed the wind and the waves, He showed His disciples that He is also God. God rules the sea and stills its waves.

BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: Is Jesus God or a person? Jesus is both God and a person.  
• Older Preschool: Is Jesus God or a human? Jesus is both fully God and fully human.  
• Kids: Is Jesus God or a human? As the Son of God, Jesus is both fully God and fully human. 

KEY PASSAGE

This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: Jesus is God’s Son. John 1:18 
• Younger Preschool: Jesus shows us what God is like. John 1:18 
• Older Preschool: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son … has revealed him. John 1:18 
• Kids: No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. John 1:18 

** Next week: Jesus Healed and Forgave (Matthew 9; Mark 2; Luke 5)