Outline
INTRODUCTION:
There is a parable about a man finding treasure in a field, who went and bought the field, having sold everything he owned to be able to do so. This week we see a comparable lesson, but this man is a merchant, and the treasure is a pearl beyond measurable value.
May I speak to you personally for a moment? Perhaps the lesson is difficult because of the need to apply a truth found in a parable (HIDDEN in a parable ((but exposed in your curric.))). This is only half of the difficulty in teaching such deep truths. The other half of mastering these lessons is that they must be "owned" by the teacher to be effective. In other words, you as a Christian are being forced to either teach something you don't understand and/or do not accept personally on the one hand OR on the other hand, you do understand and accept that to really get a handle on the kingdom of Heaven, we must be willing to give up our grip on every other thing in the world. This is a hard lesson to own.
Understand that I did not say you had to give up everything in this world. BUT YOU MUST BE WILLING TO TURN LOOSE OF EVERYTHING IN THIS WORLD! The difference is not in what you have, but what you "own" (or perhaps in what owns us). If you have given everything's ownership up... if you are only (AND HONESTLY) being a caretaker of the earthly possessions, then you can teach this lesson with some conviction. TAKE A MOMENT... ASK YOURSELF THIS...
"HAVE I REALLY TURNED LOOSE? HAVE I BEEN FACED ALREADY WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING MY POSSESSIONS AND DEALT WITH IT INTELLECTUALLY AND SPIRITUALLY AS IF THEY WERE NOT MINE ANYWAY?"
The answer to this question will make a real difference in how you can teach this outline. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead and instruct and empower you to prepare and teach.
Texts: MAT 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
LESSON PLAN I. OBJECTIVES A. General 1. THE OBJECTIVE HERE IS TO TEACH THAT GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD. HE WANTS TO BE EVERYTHING TO US. B. Specific 1. First, teach that the kingdom of Heaven is more than real estate. It is 1. A state of spirituality (state of mind?) while we are on this earth, and 2. A citizenship in the "Celestial City" which is to come at some later time. 2. Second teach that for a person to become a citizen of the kingdom of Heaven, one must accept Christ as Personal Saviour. 3. Third, teach that to really gain the full benefit of citizenship, one must grow spiritually, and become "out of love with the world" and in love with Jesus enough to treasure fellowship with Him above all possessions, positions, power, and whatever else the world may offer. II. Presentation A. Teacher's presentation 1. Scriptural Basis - EXPOSITORYMAT 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: [46] Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
AGAIN: - JESUS IS REALLY "POUNDING" THIS TEACHING ON THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!
NOW WE MUST ASK OURSELVES WHY?
1. BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEARN!
2. BECAUSE IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO LEARN WHILE WE ARE STILL ALIVE!
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT AND WHY NOW?
1. BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE US BETTER CHRISTIANS.
a. We profit in this life and in eternity
b. Better Christians win more people to Jesus
A MERCHANT MAN SEEKING GOODLY PEARLS: - THIS MAN IS WANTING TO IMPROVE HIS LIFE THROUGH THE SEEKING AND SELLING OF PEARLS
- REMEMBER THE MAN FINDING THE TREASURE IN THE FIELD "STUMBLED" ACROSS A TREASURE
- THIS MAN IS "SEEKING"
HE FOUND ONE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE: - ONLY ONE - GOD HAS THE PERFECT PLAN FOR MAN'S SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND THAT ONE IS FOUND IN ONLY ONE PERSON - JESUS CHRIST.
SALVATION'S GREAT PRICE WAS SO GREAT THAT ONLY JESUS COULD PAY IT! Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
THE MERCHANT WENT AND SOLD ALL THAT HE HAD AND BOUGHT THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE!
1. THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS LIKE THIS, JESUS SAID. a. ONE PRICE FOR IT - JESUS' SHED BLOOD b. IT IS WORTH ALL THAT ANYONE COULD OWN c. IT HAD TO BE BOUGHT, NO ONE "ALREADY HAD IT" 2. NOT ONLY DID JESUS SACRIFICE:-HEAVEN AND FELLOWSHIP WITH THE FATHER
-ALL HE OWNED AS THE SON OF GOD
... HE GAVE ALL HE HAD, EVEN TO HIS LIFE
2. Simple, Practical Basis a.THE LESSON HERE IS SIMPLY THAT OF CONSIDERING THE VALUE OF BEING SAVED AND LIVING FOR GOD ABOVE ALL!
b.WE LIVE IN A WORLD THAT IS VERY "HORIZONTAL" IN ITS VALUES. "WHAT CAN I GET OUT OF THIS?" "WHAT HAVE THEY DONE FOR ME IN THE LAST 5 MINUTES?" "I DON'T OWE ANYBODY ANYTHING!" "ALL I WANT IS MY WAY!" "IF IT FEELS GOOD DO IT!" "SACRIFICE AND OBEDIENCE ARE FOR WITLESS FOOLS!" "RULES ARE FOR FOOLS!" "WHO ARE THEY TO CRITICIZE ME?!"
c.THE BIBLE SAYS:
WEAKNESS IS THE PATH TO STRENGTH
[[IDEA: WHY NOT PAUSE AND DISCUSS THESE PHRASES?]]
SACRIFICE IS THE PATH TO GAINING
GIVING IS THE ONLY WAY TO HAVE
DOING BAD TO DO GOOD IS FORBIDDEN
SURRENDER IS THE ONLY MEANS OF VICTORY
ALL OF THESE IDEAS SEEM TOTALLY CONTRADICTORY TO THE UNSAVED AND/OR UNSPIRITUAL PERSON.
THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW GOD CAN CHANGE EARTHLY IDEAS BY PLACING HIS POWERS AND INFLUENCE INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF A PERSON'S LIFE, AND CHANGING OUTCOMES TO PROFIT THEM, THEREBY SHOWING THAT HE IS THE WAY TO JOY, FULFILLMENT AND VICTORY.
SADLY (PERHAPS SADLY) THIS CANNOT BE TAUGHT BY A PERSON ON AN INTELLECTUAL BASIS.
ONLY WHEN A SPIRITUAL PERSON HAS BEEN TAUGHT, HAS ACCEPTED THE BIBLE TRUTH (AS ENDORSED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT IN SIDE THEIR HEART) AND HAS DECIDED TO PUT THE TEACHING TO WORK BEFORE THEY SEE ANY RESULTS -- BASING THEIR ACTIONS SOLELY ON THE WORD OF GOD -- WILL THEY EVER COME TO EXPERIENCE THIS WONDERFUL TRUTH ABOUT THE VALUE OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN...
WE ALL WILL GLADLY GIVE ALL THAT WE OWN (AND WHICH WE COULD NOT HOLD ON TO ANYWAY) TO HAVE JESUS BE OUR LEADER, OUR PROVIDER, OUR SUSTAINER, OUR ENCOURAGED.
BUT HE SAYS THOSE ARE THE TERMS -- SURRENDER AND HE WILL SHOW US THE VICTORY.
THIS IS REALLY WHAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS ALL ABOUT -- AT LEAST ON THIS EARTH!!
3. TIPS FOR THE YOUNGER CLASSESPEARLS:
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
A PEARL IS THE RESULT OF A BI-VALVE MOLLUSK (OYSTER OR MUSSEL TO YOU LAND-LUBBERS) DEALING WITH AN "IRRITATION." WHEN A GRAIN OF SAND GETS INSIDE THE SHELL OF AN OYSTER IT RUBS AND CAUSES IT TO BECOME SORE. TO EASE THE DISCOMFORT, THE OYSTER HAS BEEN GIVEN THE ABILITY (BY GOD'S CREATION) TO "COAT" THAT GRAIN OF SAND WITH A CALCIUM-LIKE COVERING. THE LONGER IT REMAINS INSIDE THE OYSTER, THE LONGER THE COVERING IS PLACED AROUND THE IRRITATION, AND THE LARGER THE "PEARL" BECOMES.
WHAT ONCE WAS A SIMPLE GRAIN OF SAND BECOMES A THING OF BEAUTY!
WHAT ONCE WAS A PAIN BECOMES A PROFIT! YOU ARE GOING TO SHOW YOUR CLASS PEARLS (RELAX - FAKE ONES). GIVE EACH STUDENT ONE BEFORE YOU EXPLAIN THE FACTS ABOVE.
ASK WHAT THEY ARE HOLDING. SOME WILL KNOW.
ASK WHO KNOWS WHERE THEY COME FROM. MAYBE SOMEONE WILL KNOW.
TELL THE STORY ABOUT WHERE THEY COME FROM.
SAY, "ISN'T IT WONDERFUL THAT GOD CAN MAKE SUCH A VALUABLE AND BEAUTIFUL ITEM FROM A SMALL IRRITATION?"
SAY, "THAT IS WHAT CAN DO FROM OUR HURTS. HE CAN HEAL THEM AND TURN THEM INTO GOOD LESSONS TO TEACH US SOMETHING."
YOU ARE GOING TO TEACH THEM TO TURN HURTS INTO PEARLS: WHEN WE ARE SAD, LOOK FOR SOMETHING WE CAN "GET HAPPY ABOUT." WHEN WE ARE POOR, LOOK FOR SOME KIND OF RICHES WE MIGHT HAVE. WHEN WE ARE SICK, LOOK FOR SOME AREA OF HEALTH WE MIGHT OWN. WHEN WE ARE WORRIED, LOOK FOR SOMETHING WE NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT. WHEN WE ARE FRIGHTENED, LOOK FOR SOMETHING WE NEVER HAVE TO FEAR. WHEN WE ARE LONELY, LOOK FOR A WAY WE CAN ALWAYS HAVE A FRIEND. WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE, LOOK FOR A FRIEND WHO WILL ALWAYS LOVE US ANYWAY (THOUGH HE IS SAD WE DID WRONG).
GET THE IDEA? IF YOU NEED HELP FIGURING OUT ANSWERS FOR THE ABOVE, TALK TO ONE ANOTHER.
4. DEMONSTRATIONS / ILLUSTRATIONS / SONGS / QUOTES (see Footnote 1) a.Many years ago some men were panning for gold in Montana, and one of them found an unusual stone. Opening it, he was excited to see that it contained gold. Working eagerly, the men soon discovered an abundance of the precious metal. Happily, they began shouting with delight, "We've found it! We've found gold! We're rich!" They had to interrupt their celebrating, though, to go into a nearby town and stock up on supplies. Before they left camp, the men agreed not to tell a soul about their find. Indeed, no one breathed a word about it to anyone while they were in town. Much to their dismay, however, when they were about to return, hundreds of men were prepared to follow them. When they asked the crowd to tell who "squealed," the reply came, "No one had to. Your faces showed it!"
b.Legend tells of a simple laborer who was wonderfully saved and decided to join a local church. The first one he visited was an impressive-looking structure. The preacher was a splendid orator, and the choir was famous for its musical ability. The poor man didn't realize that most of the congregation were people of high social rank. At the close of the service no one stopped to shake his hand because they saw his thread-bare suit and didn't want to be identified with what they considered his low-class standing. Week after week he was politely ignored. Although he frequently expressed a desire to become a member, the preacher never called on him. One night after praying about the matter, he fell asleep and dreamed he met the Savior and confided to Him his problem. The Lord gently replied, "My child, don't let it trouble you. I myself have been trying to get into that church for years without success!" Of course this is just an imaginary story, but it has a pointed lesson.
c.The story is told of a lady who had a wonderfully large and beautiful pearl. Desiring to keep it safe and out of the hands of those who would steal it, she placed it in a bank vault with her other precious jewelry. There it rested for many years. At her passing, her heirs, with whom she had spent many hours discussing the pearl in the past, were excited about seeing this hidden treasure. When the vault was opened and the item brought out, it was worthless. It seems that something in the pearl makes storage ruin them. They need the handling and oil from our body to keep their fresh makeup. Storage in the dry vault had damaged it beyond redemption.
So too is the pearl of great price in Jesus. We can "hide our light under a bushel" and never invest in the "kingdom of heaven" and our pearl of great price -- that spiritual quality which sets the believer apart from the rest of mankind -- will wither away and fade. If we are to have a lasting influence, we must stretch spiritually in His service.
5. QUESTIONS YOU CAN ASK TO BRING OUT YOUR STUDENT'S MINDS AND LEVELS OF LEARNING: a.I KEEP HEARING ABOUT NOT LOVING WHAT I HAVE AND BEING WILLING TO GIVE IT UP? WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY I HAVE TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING TO LOVE JESUS?
The Bible does not say you have to give up everything to love Jesus. It does teach that we must not love "things" or popularity, power, etc. above Jesus. 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. What this verse is saying is that God wants us to place our values above the things of the world.
The parable in today's lesson said the man sold all he had... HE WAS PLACING THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE ABOVE "HAVING" EVERYTHING ELSE... AND REMEMBER, HE GOT SOMETHING BEYOND A MEASURABLE PRICE!
b.WHAT DOES IT MEAN THEN WHEN IT SAYS THAT GOD LOVED THE WORLD ENOUGH TO LET JESUS DIE FOR IT?
Good question. John 3:16 says, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." Same "world" here as in the verse above. God said in 1 John that we are not to love the world, yet he says He loves the world -- even to allowing Jesus to die for it. That world -- population, in other words -- includes us.
NOW HERE IT GETS INTERESTING!!! -- IF GOD LOVED YOU (AND THE REST OF THE WORLD) ENOUGH TO SACRIFICE HIS OWN SON, SHOULD WE LOVE THE WORLD TOO, OR SHOULD WE LOVE THE ONE WHO GAVE SACRIFICIALLY?
IF WE LOVE THE WORLD, WE ARE PLACING IT ABOVE GOD.
IF WE LOVE GOD, HE WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE A PART IN TELLING THE WORLD ABOUT JESUS, BUT WE MUST NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO PLACE OUR AFFECTION ON SOMETHING OTHER THAN GOD.
IN REALITY, THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE HATE THE PEOPLE, THE LAND, ETC. IT MEANS THAT WE ESTABLISH A SCALE IN OUR HEARTS, MINDS, ETC.
ON THAT SCALE WE PLACE GOD AT THE TOP. ALL ELSE, AND EVERYONE ELSE MUST COME LOWER ON THAT SCALE.
IF WE LOVE GOD THE MOST, THEN WE WOULD WANT TO PLEASE HIM THE MOST. IF WE WANT TO PLEASE HIM THE MOST, WE WOULD WANT TO OBEY HIM THE MOST.
"IF YOU LOVE ME KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS!"
"THE TEST OF LOVE IS NOT SACRIFICE, IT IS OBEDIENCE." Dr. Curtis Hutson.
c.WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE IF I HAVE POSITION, OR POWER OR WEALTH THEN?
The difference between having these things and not having them is the influence they bear on your activities, attitudes, etc. A person who is rich and famous is usually more difficult to win to the Lord because they get the idea that they did it all themselves -- so they don't really need God.
When a saved person has wealth, or power or popularity, they must be careful in their attitudes: 1. People without as much as I have must not be as smart, loved, obedient as I am. 2. People without as much as I have must not be listening to God as much as I am, thus they are spiritually inferior. 3. People who have not been as blessed as I have been might think they are better than I am based on a misunderstanding of some Scriptures.
d.IF I AM GOING TO HAVE THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE, WILL I EVER BE CHALLENGED OR TESTED BY GOD ABOUT MY WILLINGNESS TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE FOR HIM?
MOST LIKELY. BUT THE CHALLENGE MAY COME FROM GOD, OR FROM SATAN.
SATAN MAY CHALLENGE YOU BY OFFERING YOU EVEN GREATER "BLESSINGS" (EARTHLY BENEFITS) IF YOU WILL JUST COMPROMISE SOME OF YOUR STANDARDS, YOUR BELIEFS, ETC. ((THERE ARE MANY EXAMPLES OF THIS IN THE AREA OF CHRISTIAN MUSICIANS AND EVEN PREACHERS.))
GOD MAY CHALLENGE YOU TO FIND OUT IF YOU ARE WORTHY OF MORE OF HIS REWARDS FOR WORKING IN THE FUTURE. FOR INSTANCE... IF YOU ARE WILLING TO COMPROMISE NOW, THEN HE COULD NOT TRUST YOU WITH MORE IN THE FUTURE, FOR THAT WOULD SURELY HURT YOU, AND HE DOES NOT WANT THAT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. SO... HE HAS TO LIMIT OR REDUCE YOUR EARTHLY POWER, POSSESSIONS, INFLUENCE, ETC., IF IT WOULD CAUSE YOU TO TAKE YOUR EYES OFF OF JESUS!
6. APPLICATIONS a.ARE YOU SAVED? NOTHING ELSE IS AS VALUABLE AS CITIZENSHIP IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN?
b.THE QUESTION IS -- "WHAT DO YOU HOLD MOST VALUABLE IN YOUR LIFE?"
WHAT ARE YOUR GREATEST BLESSINGS?
DO AN INVENTORY.
WHERE DID THEY COME FROM? YOUR OWN WORK OR GOD?
WHICH OF THEM WOULD YOU FIND MOST DIFFICULT TO TURN LOOSE OF IF IT BECAME NECESSARY?
c.WHAT ARE YOU "ARROGANT" ABOUT? Is there anything in your life which you feel may put you above someone else. BE CAREFUL HERE!!! WE DO NOT NORMALLY RECOGNIZE THIS FAULT EASILY. PRAY AND ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO SHOW IT TO YOU!
PERHAPS IT IS EVEN A GOOD TRAIT, BUT IT MAY MAKE US SEEM TO SCORN ANOTHER PERSON WHO LACKS IT. FOR HIS SAKE, ASK THE LORD TO OPEN YOUR EYES AND SHOW YOU ANY AREA LIKE THIS!
c.LIKE THE PEARL THAT TURNED TO DUST FROM BEING LOCKED AWAY, ARE YOU GUILTY OF LOCKING JESUS AWAY WHERE OTHERS CANNOT SEE HIM IN YOUR LIFE? DO YOU WITNESS REGULARLY? DO YOU MINISTER TO OTHERS FOR THE LORD? DO YOU SEND TRACTS, OR PRAY FOR THE HURTING? DO YOU PRAISE HIM AND WORSHIP HIM FOR YOUR BLESSINGS!
HOW I WOULD TEACH THIS LESSON1 READ THIS LESSON COMPLETELY THROUGH THREE TIMES BEFORE PROCEEDING!
2. HAND OUT A PEARL TO EACH MEMBER OF YOUR CLASS
3. SURPRISINGLY ENOUGH, I WOULD TEACH THIS OUTLINE ALMOST EXACTLY IN THE ORDER IN WHICH YOU RECEIVED IT, DEVELOPING EACH SECTION TO THE AGE OF YOUR CLASS.
4. WHEN YOU GET TO THE QUESTIONS, DISCUSS MORE AND BETTER VALUE OF A CITIZENSHIP IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE BY BEING A "BROTHER OR SISTER" TO JESUS?
Footnote 1: Please note that the use of a quote or a reference to a person does not indicate that we hold them in high esteem; only that the item can be used in some way in a lesson. In fact, you will find some statements actually oppose or disagree with Bible-believing philosophies in some outlines so that you can use them an arguing point.