“JESUS’ INVITATION TURNED DOWN”
YEAH! CHURCH - SUNDAY, APRIL 3, 2022
"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Jesus’ Invitation Turned Down”
Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7u3-uKEA-Q (Kidswise – The Rich Young Man)
The Rich Young Ruler
Matthew 19:16-22, NLT
“16 Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”
17 “Why ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” the man asked.
And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”
21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”
The rich young man wanted to know how he could go to heaven. He thought he was ready to do whatever Jesus might tell him; but, as it turns out, he wasn’t. When Jesus told him that he needed to sell everything, give the money to the poor and then to follow him, the young man became very sad. He just couldn’t agree to parting with his money. But have you ever wondered why Jesus told him that this was the requirement? Don’t we only have to believe in Jesus to go to heaven? Yes…and no.
We cannot earn our way to heaven, but accepting Jesus’ way means giving him control over our lives—our time, our abilities, our plans and, yes, even our money and the things that are ‘ours.’ Following Jesus means that everything we thought of as ours, now becomes God’s. We are not to think only of ourselves, making our plans on our own or bankrolling lots of money…we are to be generous and compassionate, working to meet the needs of others. We need to be ready to share with other people. Everything we have belongs to God…and he wants us to use it to show his love to others.
Engage:
• The rich young man sincerely wanted to know what he needed to do to please God. What do you think he might have been expecting Jesus to tell him?
• Jesus told him that he needed to sell everything he had and give away all his money. Why do you think Jesus told him this?
• When the young man heard Jesus’ requirements, how did he respond? How might you respond if that is what Jesus told you?
• Following Jesus means putting him in charge of everything. Why can that be really difficult to do?
Weekly verse:
1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT – “19 Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, 20 for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
Prayer – Dear God, thank you for making a way for us to go to heaven. Help me remember that means you are the ‘boss’ of my life. Thank you for showing me how much you love me. Giving you full control doesn’t have to be hard because I know I can trust you.
~ Pastor Jane