• PowerPoint slides. I have created several slides you can use during the entire session. Click to view and download.
• Explore the Bible Extra Teaching Helps. I have used a portion of this as an opening illustration. Click to view entire illustration.

On the afternoon of Thursday, January 14, 2-year-old Noah Chamberlain went for a walk in the woods with his grandmother and his older sister. While in the woods near the grandmother’s home in Pinson, Tennessee, Noah wandered away and disappeared. Authorities were called and a thorough search of the woods began immediately resulting in almost 1000 volunteers responding to the calls for help. It is amazing to see people respond when they see someone who is in desperate need of help. Jesus challenged His disciples and us to "look" and respond to the needs of a lost and dying world, in this week's Explore the Bible Study: In His Service.

The previous illustration is a part of this week's plan. It is adapted from LifeWay's Extra Teaching Helps. These volunteers braved the cold and rough terrain to search for little Noah. They located Noah after one week; unfortunately he did not survive the ordeal, but the searchers had not given up until they located him and brought him home to his parents. As believers, we should respond to our world in the same way; never giving up until we are able to rescue those who will respond to the gospel.

As you teach this week's study, consider using the following as a part of your plan:

News Video: Search for Noah Chamberlain

Challenge Questions for Matthew 9:35-36

• Look back on your weekly interactions with people and the things you have read and heard. 
• How are people like “sheep without a shepherd” today?
• How is your compassion level for them? 
• Do you dismiss those who aren’t like you? 
• Do you overlook or ignore people’s needs, especially for the gospel, or are you moved with compassion?

Discussion Questions for Matthew 9:37-38

• If we are to pray as Jesus instructed, who should we focus on praying for first? Should we pray for God to send forth workers if we aren’t willing to serve?
• How can we participate with God in the harvest by serving inside the walls of this church? (There are places everyone can serve – teaching, choir, orchestra, first impressions, children’s ministry, student ministry, ushers, etc.)
• How can we participate with God in the harvest by how we live outside the walls of this church?
• Can we measure how compassionate we truly are about God’s mission by how we serve at church? By how we live at home? By how we interact with others during the day? Explain your response based on how Jesus modeled what we are to do – preaching, teaching, and healing (ministering).

No matter what we face in life, followers of Christ are able to demonstrate faith in Christ. There are two key attitudes that help us demonstrate this kind of faith - humility before God and an acknowledgment of His authority over all things. Sadly, these actions aren't very popular in our society today. Many times they are viewed as weaknesses rather than strengths. We want what we want, when we want it, because we deserve it. And, we will challenge any authority to get what we want. Maybe that is why fewer individuals in our culture are willing to respond to the gospel today. But this is where faith begins, and this is the focus of this week's Explore the Bible study: Faith Demonstrated.

As we explore Matthew 8:5-13 we will discover a faith in Christ that was demonstrated by someone who had no reason to be humble or to respect authority other than that of the Roman government. He was a Roman citizen and soldier. He had control of his region; he probably commanded 100 men;  he didn't need anyone, especially anyone of Jewish origin, to help him.

Yet, because one of his servants was sick, he was looking for an answer. In his time of need he knew enough about Christ to turn to Him. He humbled himself and acknowledged His authority resulting in an amazing lesson from Christ related to faith and the gospel.

Below are some resources you might want to consider using:

For LOOK UP:

• Video - Story of Mistaken Identity
• ETB Extras - same story in written text format. CLICK TO VIEW

For Research: ETB Video contrasting Matthew 8 and Luke 7: CLICK TO VIEW

Are you usually the last one to order when you are with a group at a restaurant? I am! I can never decide what to order, especially if there are so many choices. While there are times when we have multiple choices to make, when it comes to following Christ, He gives us two paths and one choice that is correct. 

Jesus bringing the Sermon on the Mount to a conclusion as we focus on Matthew 7:13-27. Jesus uses a series of illustrations in which He sets forth several serious alternatives people choose and the resulting consequences or blessings, emphasizing that there is truly only one choice - the path of following Christ.

IDEAS FOR TEACHING THIS SESSION

PowerPoint: Option for entire session - Download

LOOK UP Illustration: What if you went to a restaurant that had 1810 items on the menu? According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the record for the largest menu consists of 1810 different items achieved by the restaurant Mofarguru (Hun) in Budapest, Hungary, in October 2005.

• Have you entered the narrow Gate? Are you truly following Christ? Have you done the “will of the Father” and accepted Christ as your Savior? Does your life fruit give evidence to that?
• Are you staying on the “difficult road” or are you trying to broaden the path in order to make following Christ easier?
• Are you listening to the right people?
• Is your life built on the solid foundation of God’s Word?
• What do you have to do to stay on the narrow path?
• How can you help others remain solid in their faith and stay on the narrow path?
• How can you help others choose the right path, especially those who you think are still wrestling with the most important choice regarding following Christ and their eternal destiny?

We make choices every day. But trusting in Jesus is the only way we can experience a real, fruitful, and rock solid life. He is the only way that leads to eternal life. Choosing any other way leads to destruction and eternal consequences. Let’s help those who don’t know Him understand this as we seek to lead this group session.