Sharing the Love of Christ to everyone

1. Think of a person in your school, community or church that doesn’t seem to have many friends. Why do you think that is so?




Read Matthew 9:9-13

2. What did Jesus tell Matthew to do?




3. How did the Pharisees respond to Jesus eating with Tax collectors and “sinners”? Why do you think they responded this weay?




4. What was Jesus’ response?




5. Based on this story, who do you say Christ is?






Additional Thoughts & Application:

Matthew had a very dubious career, but a very promising one! Not many people liked him or respected him as Tax collectors were often know to be liars and cheaters.  But boy was he making some serious cash!

So here we have Jesus, a well respected teacher, healer, and son of God, coming up to Matthew and simply saying, “Follow me”. Jesus didn’t care that he was a tax collector who cheated and stole from the other people. He still called him to follow him.

Although this upset the “religious leaders”, Jesus made it clear – he came to help everyone, not just the health and well-respected. But in particular, he came to help those who needed it the most. He came to call all to follow him.

Why would he do this? Why did he care for the lonely, the sick, the friendless and the needy? Because we are all children of God. And, as children of God, he loves each and every one of us so much! As John 10:10 points out, Christ came to give us all life to the full, not just a certain group of people. Do we love others the same way Christ loves us?

I want you to think back to that person you identified in question #1. What can you do this week to befriend him/her and share the love of Christ with him/her? Write down goal and share it with another person so they can be encouraged and help you achieve your goal.

Pray

Greatness = this? Really?

1. What are other words that come to mind when you hear the word great?




Read Philippians 2:1-11

2. Based on verses 1-7, how should we act? Why?




3. How is Christ described?







4. Because of Christ’s actions, what happened to him (v. 9-11)?







Additional Thoughts & Application:

Even though he is God, he humbled himself and was obedient all the way to the cross. Christ humbled himself by coming down to earth, living as a carpenter and hanging out with the poor and outcasts of society. That doesn’t seem like that would be fit living for a King, the creator of the world does it?

In addition to his sacrifice of fine living, think of Christ’s obedience. Remember the Garden of Gethsemane. Christ asked God to take “this cup be taken from me.” He didn’t want to die this way, but he concluded his time by saying, “Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Christ was humble and obedient. Those don’t seem to be the two biggest characteristics of greatness. But, that is what Christ modeled and he is now seated at the right hand of the Father. Not a bad outcome for his obedience and humility, eh? As committed followers of Christ, what could you do this week to emulate Christ’s example? Write it down and share it with another person so they can be encouraged and help you achieve your goal.

Pray