Youth Teacher: 2nd Quarter 2014

By Vanessa Snyder

Youth Teacher is a quarterly publication used to help the Sunday school teacher discuss issues pertaining to youth ages 12-17. Sections such as Biblical Emphases give background knowledge of the lesson. All lessons include relevant life concerns and lesson applications to help the teacher relate the Bible to the lives of young people.

• Language: English
• Publisher: R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation
• Release date: Jan 23, 2014
• ISBN: 9781589427891

Book preview

The Praying Place

ISAIAH 56:6-7; JEREMIAH 7:9-11; MARK 11:15-19

RESOURCES NEEDED

• New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition, #551 (NNBH, #450)

• God’s Promises Bible

• Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

When an activity becomes rote, the original helpful intents and purposes may be lost and replaced by new, harmful intents and purposes. How can a good activity be prevented from evolving into an unintended harmful result? Jesus’ angry action in the temple called attention to the ways in which the priests and worshipers had lost sight of the tradition of God’s dwelling place as a house of prayer for all peoples.

BIBLICAL EMPHASES:

1. God desires that all people would find their way to salvation.

2. The temple of God is a sacred placed and should not be defiled by sin.

3. Jesus became angry when He saw the temple being used as a marketplace.

TARGET EMPHASIS

SEEKERS FOR JESUS: Youth understand how it feels to be angry and to strike out in anger. They also recognize that physical anger is not an appropriate action and that they should learn to manage their emotions.

TEEN SCENE: Older teens understand that people sometimes use special events and causes for their own personal gain and ambition. They also question the reasoning behind certain long-time traditions.

LESSON OVERVIEW

I. The Temple Is a Place for All People (Isaiah 56:6-7)

Do you know that the Church is a place that should be respected and honored at all times? The Church is different than any other place you visit because it belongs to God. When we know we are about to enter God’s house, our attitudes should be different from when we are entering any other place. As believers, we are to be ready to encounter the presence of God.

The house of God is where believers can come and be in God’s presence. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it is. God’s house is the place where believers come to be with other believers. This sense that God’s house is sacred is not new. Today we consider our churches just as sacred as the prophets did during biblical days. God’s house is sacred because it’s where Christians come to meet Him in a special way with other believers.

Youth understand that we come to praise, to worship, to give thanks, and to fellowship at church. It’s a place that is anointed by God. They understand that we gather in God’s house out of love and obedience to His Word and that we must respect the house of God because it represents His presence.

During biblical times, the temple of God was regarded as a sacred dwelling as well. However, it was easy to forget this reality. We have that same struggle. We sometimes forget how special the house of God is because we come so often and because we are usually following certain traditions week after week.

In our lesson today, Isaiah makes it clear that all who love and obey God are welcome in His family and in His house. This also speaks of a day when Gentiles will be invited into God’s house. Isaiah writes, All who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain (vv. 6-7, NRSV). The promise is that God will welcome those who live with integrity and walk upright to His house. This house is described as a place of prayer where everyone can gather to meet God. As special as God’s house is, it’s still open to all who are willing to enter.

II. Jeremiah Proclaims God’s Judgment (Jeremiah 7:9-11)

The house of God should always be revered and respected. Entering God’s house is not like entering the playground at your school or in your neighborhood. Jeremiah the prophet condemns God’s people about their treatment of His house. Jeremiah chastises the people of Judah for their disregard of the temple. He speaks of their willingness to commit sin and follow false gods and then to come to God’s house and regard it as a safe place in spite of their sin and wickedness. He cautions them that God is watching their behavior. For some reason, the people feel comfortable about committing sin and then coming to the temple as if they are clean.

He tells them it is not acceptable to steal from others, kill people, or worship false gods and then stand in God’s house and use it as some kind of protection for their sins. In other words, one’s actions before one enters the house of God says a great deal about one’s respect for God. It’s not acceptable to behave in ungodly ways and then to enter God’s house as if one has not committed any wrongdoing. Jeremiah reminds them that God sees what they are doing.

Just because God is merciful and loving doesn’t mean we can willingly commit sin and enter His house as if nothing has happened. As believers, we are called to protect the temple of God. Youth should consider how they behave when they are in God’s house. They should consider the things that they say. Also they should think about what they may have said to their parents or a sibling before entering church.

III. Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Mark 11:15-19)

When Jesus enters the temple area, not long after His Triumphal Entry, He finds Himself confronted with people buying and selling items in the temple. It is as if He has entered a busy marketplace, not a place of prayer and worship. Can you picture the scene He came upon? He immediately responds in anger by turning over the tables of the sellers and of the dove sellers. He prevents anyone from carrying merchandise through the temple courts. He unleashes His anger and asks, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? (v. 17, KJV). Jesus accuses the people of turning His house into a den of thieves (ibid.). Jesus echoes Jeremiah’s same proclamation when He overturns the moneychangers’ tables.

Youth may realize that just as Jesus became angry about the failings of people that they can become angry for the same reason. Help them to understand that though Jesus was angry,