During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide and Student Page, can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Optional: If you are using the prayer response station and you were not able to keep it displayed, set it up again now. Set out the papers and pencils, rags, or strings that the students will use during the response at the end of the lesson.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
Do you ever look at all of the pain and suffering in the world and wish that God would make it right again? Our fallen world is filled with brokenness such as violence, disease, poverty, natural disasters, evil, and corruption. In the midst of this, Jesus tells us to pray for God’s kingdom to come to earth and that His will happen here as it is in heaven. The prayer of this verse points us to His greatness, even in the midst of this fallen world.
Think about something in your life that is broken—a difficult relationship, someone who is sick, violence in your community. Bring your hurts and fears to God. Only He can bring true peace. Then ask Him to use you to bring His kingdom to earth.
Encourage the students to ask their family members, “Who is the greatest ruler of all?” They can then share that God rules our hearts not by force but through love.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Divide the teens into 3 groups. Assign 1 of the parables to each group. Have them read and discuss their passage and create a short drama to demonstrate the story. It can be as simple as teens acting out the verses as another student reads them. If possible, give each group a Bible so they can read the verse directly from Scripture. If that is not possible, use the tear-out page at the end of this lesson.
The Mustard Seed
The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.
Matthew 13:31–32
The Pearl
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:45–46
The Hidden Treasure
The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
Matthew 13:44
After the groups have finished their presentations, gather the class for discussion.
Jesus used parables to explain complicated spiritual truths in simpler ways.
Through these parables, Jesus taught us the value of God’s kingdom. But what is it? Let’s learn more about it.
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students. Have a student read Matthew 6:9–13 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, use the passage printed here.
This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Matthew 6:9–13
We already learned about the first line of this prayer: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Today we will focus on the next part: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Allow 2–3 teens to answer.
Teens may suggest that it means God would reign and rule in the hearts and lives of the people He created or that He will come to rule the world like an earthly king.
This kingdom Jesus mentions is not a country or a continent. It is not something we can see on a map. It is a kingdom that is visible in the lives of believers who love and honour God and try to follow His will for their lives. This kingdom will eventually be made complete when Jesus returns to earth. The Bible tells us that someday Jesus will destroy all sin and evil and the world will truly become God’s kingdom. Until that time, the world will be fallen and broken. Human power cannot take away the sin and evil in the world. But those who follow God can help others to see God’s kingdom. This is how it happens:
When God works in the hearts of those who believe in Him, they begin to live in ways that honour Him. God can use this to draw others to Him. When we, as God’s people, reflect His love and grace, it changes us and those around us. We may get glimpses of how God originally created things to be. When God’s people share His love, the Holy Spirit can use them to draw others into God’s kingdom.
The Bible tells us that there is only 1 way to enter the kingdom of God—through Jesus. This is what Jesus said.
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”
John 3:3
Allow students to share their thoughts.
To be “born again” means that your life has been made new through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross. When you believe that Jesus died and rose again to pay the penalty for all of your sins, you become part of God’s family and His kingdom. You allow Him to rule your life. Your heart is changed, and you begin to live as He wants you to. That is what it means to enter the kingdom of God.
Let’s reread the section of the special prayer Jesus taught His disciples that talks about God’s kingdom.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:10
Allow 2–3 students to share their ideas. If they do not mention it, help them to understand that when God’s kingdom is complete on earth, all pain, sin, and evil will be destroyed.
Jesus used parables, including the ones we acted out earlier, to help His followers understand God’s kingdom. Listen to another parable Jesus shared about choosing God’s ways over the ways of the fallen and broken world.
Optional: If possible, share the images from The Action Bible.
Have a student read Matthew 7:24–27 aloud from the Bible. If that is not possible, the verses are printed here for you.
Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.
Matthew 7:24–27
The person who listens to and does what God wants.
If we hear God’s words and do not do them, we are like the foolish man. We will find that during the difficulties of life, our life may come crashing down! That is what we see around us—lives crashing down as people lack hope, love, comfort, justice and other things from God’s kingdom.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts.
Here is another verse about the way God has called the people of His kingdom to live:
Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.”
John 14:23
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that it means becoming part of His kingdom and eventually living with Him in heaven for all of eternity.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that those who love God become more like Him, so their lives begin to reflect His ways instead of their own.
Allow 2–3 students to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that when people respond to others in more loving ways, it creates more love, more peace, and more healing.
As a person becomes part of God’s family and His kingdom and begins to live according to His Word, God begins to change her. As she seeks to do God’s will, her life begins to reflect God’s goodness. As God continues to change her heart, she becomes someone who can bring God’s love and healing into our broken world. This is how He allows us to be part of His work—by making His kingdom visible to others.
Jesus taught us to live in ways that honour and glorify God—and that can help others to see God’s kingdom. But though believers can do a great deal to bring more love and peace into the world, it is important to understand that God’s kingdom will never be complete until Jesus comes again. Though believers can help to bring love to our broken world, only God can destroy sin, evil, and death forever.
Jesus also taught us to ask God to bring His kingdom here. Listen to Jesus’ prayer again.
Read Matthew 6:10 again to the class.
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. .
Matthew 6:10
This prayer is asking God to bring His kingdom here. When we proclaim, “Your kingdom come,” we are boldly saying, “Bring Your rule to earth! Fight evil! Save Your people! Bring justice! Bring hope!” Let’s think of ways for God to bring His rule here to earth.
Pause for a moment so the students can think of something.
Let’s take turns asking God’s will to be done on earth. When you have an idea, stand up and say it loudly. You can use a phrase I already said if you cannot think of anything. I will start.
Begin with a short sentence. If needed, share ideas with the teens. Here are some suggestions:
After everyone has had a turn, end with everyone repeating together the words from Matthew 6:10: “Your kingdom come! Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven!”
God knows when we are hurting. He knows that the people around us are hurting. He knows that the world is filled with pain, disease, suffering, and evil. And He cares deeply!
Think of a situation in your life where you are hurting or in need. It may also be a situation in the life of another person or something from our community. For example, it could be a difficult family situation or a painful thing in a friend’s life. It may be an addiction or someone who is being mistreated. It may even be fear that God cannot really help. You can trust Him with your hurts and fears. He can bring peace even in the most difficult situations.
Optional: Ask the students to think of symbols to represent their situations. Give the students an opportunity to add their symbols to the prayer response station as they did in the previous lesson. Read following statement aloud and pause for 2–3 minutes to allow the teens to respond.
When you are ready, come to the prayer response station and add your symbol. Ask God to bring His kingdom in that situation or to that person.
End of Option
Optional: If you are using the Student Page, give the students time to complete it.
If you are a Christian, you can help others to see God’s kingdom and invite them into it. For example, you can comfort someone who is grieving. Or you can bring hope to someone facing what feels like a hopeless situation. God can use you to bring peace to a situation that is filled with anger. When you share love, compassion, mercy, and grace with others, you are helping them to see God’s kingdom.
Close by praying a blessing based on Matthew 6:10 over your class:
Blessing: May God’s powerful kingdom come into your life. May His will be done in you, and may He be the ruler of your heart. As He changes your life, may He help you to reflect His love to others.
Lead the students in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
