Matthew 8:18-22
Ian Ferguson
3-9-25
Introduction
Play a game of “Would You Rather?” Choose some questions that offer uncomfortable options, such as:
- Would you rather give away your favorite toy or let your friend borrow it without asking?
- Would you rather have to say something embarrassing in front of your whole class or eat something you really dislike?
- Would you rather have to wear the same outfit every day for a month or have to wear clothes that don’t fit properly?
- Would you rather have to wear a clown wig every day or a clown nose every day?
- Would you rather have spaghetti for hair or meatballs for feet?
Now add some questions like this that employ delayed gratification:
- Would you rather have a special cookie every day for a week and then never again, or no cookies until you’re 20 years old but every day after that?
Background
The Lent emphasis for our church this year is on discipleship, and Christian disciplines that help us live as disciples of Jesus. Children may think of a disciple as one of the twelve men chosen by Jesus to be close to him while he was on the earth, but everyone who receives Jesus by believing in him becomes a disciple. In our passage today, the idea of being a disciple is closely connected to following. A disciple would follow Jesus.
Looking into the scripture passage
Ask: If you told Jesus that you wanted to follow him, what do you think he would say to you? Would he give you a high five? A big hug?
In our scripture today, some people came to Jesus, saying they wanted to follow him. Jesus answered them with something like “would you rather” options.
Read: Matthew 8:18-22
Ask: What did the first man say he wanted to do?
Jesus answered him by talking about animal houses. What two animals did he mention?
What kind of house did Jesus say he lived in? [he didn’t have a house] That’s a strange answer!
What do you think Jesus was trying to tell the man he might expect if he followed Jesus?
[he would have to give up some of his comforts]
Read: Matthew 16:24-27 and Matthew 19:29
Ask: What does Jesus promise to those who choose to follow him instead of having the comforts of the earth? Which would you rather have?
Read: Philippians 2:5-7 and John 17:5
Ask: Where did Jesus live before he came to earth? What do you think he gave up to come live as a man on the earth? Did he give up comforts? Why did he do that?
Apply the passage
Activity 1
During Lent people often choose to give up a regular comfort in order to think about the price that Jesus paid in coming to earth to die for us. Choose something that you can let go of as a family or as individuals during this time to help you set your affections on the Lord Jesus. [Be sure to discuss that this is not something we do to gain God’s favor; it does not make us good in the Lord’s eyes. It is instead meant to direct our hearts toward loving him more.]
Activity 2
As a family, adopt one of the practices in The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction (available at the church welcome desk for a discounted price)
Activity 3
Read a missionary biography and talk about what the person gave up to follow Jesus.
Memorize
For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
Matthew 16:25
Practice the verse
Say the verse at the time you would be doing whatever you chose to give up in Activity 1.
For example, if you gave up dessert, say the verse each evening at the end of dinner.
Extra Stuff
Dig Deeper (for older kids and parents)
For an extra challenge, memorize Colossians 3:1-4.
Study the beatitudes found in Matthew 5:2-12. Look at each one as a “would you rather” question. Find what God says about the opposite of the attitude being blessed, and place it as the options opposed to the blessing Jesus offers.
For example: Would you rather be proud of yourself and be resisted by God (James 4:6) or be poor in spirit and receive the kingdom of heaven?
Songs to sing
“Take My Life and Let It Be” (traditional)
Books to read (these can be borrowed from the library annex in the church foyer)
Missionary biographies
