Study Guide
August 18- August 22

Monday, August 18 – Take a moment to read the two short parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price at the top of your sermon notes, then look over your notes from Sunday’s message. The two parables call us to pursue the Kingdom of Heaven – the reign and rule of God in our lives, more than anything else. Read Matthew 6:25-33. Why did Jesus need to give this teaching? In what way does it speak to you? Challenge you? How do these verses tie back to the two parables of hidden treasure and pearls? Ask God to help you worry less about things, and to seek his kingdom – his reign, rule and will, above all else. Children: How would you feel if you found a buried treasure? What do you think Jesus is trying to teach us in Matthew 6:25-33?

Tuesday, August 19 –Read Matthew 6:19-21 and verse 24. What does verse 21 mean and how does it relate to the parables from last weekend on the hidden treasure and the pearl of great price? Why does Jesus say we can’t serve two masters? Children: What is Jesus teaching you about money in this parable? How do people struggle in making money more important than God?

Wednesday, August 20 – The parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl are a part of an entire collection of parables found in Matthew 13. Read Matthew 13:24-30. This picture of a wheat field that had large weeds growing in it is not hard to imagine – though modern chemicals have made this less familiar, we still see this sometimes. Here Jesus was noting that good and bad people will live side-by-side until the last judgment. It is interesting that he seems to be discouraging his followers from thinking their job is to sort out who is good and who is bad – in which case this parable teaches the same thing as Matthew 7:1-5 – that our task is not to judge others. Read Matthew 13:47-50. How is this parable parallel to the parable of the weeds? In both cases Jesus is urging restraint from judging or separating from others who are not in the kingdom of God. Remember, Jesus devoted his life to reaching out to lost people. Children – Jesus both promises that there will be a judgment day someday, when we will all be judged, but he is also, in these stories, encouraging us to not judge others – but to let God do this. Are you ever tempted to judge others?

Thursday, August 21 – Read Matthew 13:31-33. These are two more short parables about the Kingdom of God. What was Jesus trying to teach by these parables? How does a little yeast affect a batch of dough? Mustard seeds are very small – but they produce a good-sized bush in some varieties. How is the kingdom of God like yeast? Children – Ask your mom or dad about yeast or leave how do you think yeast is like the Kingdom of God?

Friday, August 22 – We come back to the theme of last weekend’s message as we conclude this week. Read Luke 14:28-33. When Jesus asks us to give up everything, what do you think he means? Do we give away everything, or do we offer everything up to God to use for his glory, honor and purposes? Read Philippians 3:4b-13. How is Paul an example of one who gave up everything? How is he like the person who found the hidden treasure or the pearl of great price? Children – Pray and ask God to lead your life, that you might follow him every day, loving and serving him.