Matthew 19:29

Thursday:	Matthew 19:29
Bible Lesson:	The Rich Young Man: Throw Off Things That Entangle
Memory Verse:	And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. Matthew 19:29

Introduction: Rationale

Hold up a posterboard with the verse written on it, and have the children read it as a group.

This verse comes from the book of Matthew. Jesus was talking to his disciples about the rewards that people will receive who followed Jesus. He's talking about the prize we can win for running the race, following Jesus with our lives.

Explanation: Matthew 19:29

Does the verse mean that Jesus asks everyone to leave your house or your family? (No.) It's talking about whatever sacrifices you have to make for Jesus. Leaving your house or your family is an example – something some people might have to do, for Jesus. Can anyone tell me something you might do for Jesus that would mean you would have to leave your house or your family? (e.g., Going to Africa as a missionary.) Is that what everyone has to do? (No.) But some people do that — and everyone who follows Jesus will have to make some sacrifices, do some things that other people would think you wouldn't want to do. When you follow Jesus, that becomes the most important thing in your life, and sometimes you have to give up other things so that you can be a better Christian for Jesus. Jesus says in this verse that when you give things up to follow him, you will receive eternal life and a reward in heaven — a hundred times as much as you gave up.

Game: Learning the Verse

Hand out 3x5 cards with one word of the verse written on each. (You can divide into groups if there are too many children for the number of words in the verse — have more than one set of cards ready if attendance is running that high.) Stand (each group) in a big circle. Have each child hold their card facing themselves, so only they can see their word. Then go through the verse, everyone saying it together, and for each word, the person with that card turns their card around for the group to see, until all the cards are turned around. Shuffle and repeat as necessary until the children all know the verse cold or you run out of time.

Announcement: Verse Points

Tomorrow, when you come to Bible School, if you can say your memory verse without looking, you can earn points for your team's score. Each person who can say the verse can earn 200 points. So, if you want to help your team win more points, go home and practice your verse a few times. Don't forget the reference! On your way out the door tonight, you will be given a slip of paper with your verse on it. Don't lose it, because if you learn your verse, your team gets 200 more points!

You can say your verse for points tomorrow when you check in at the registration table.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.