Youth: How much more ... episode 3

Our youth group is currently going through a series of teachings based on Bible passages in the New Testament that uses the "How much more ..." formulation to hit home an important point. The first talk was on prayer and how we can be "shamelessly audacious" in coming before God. The second was on the gift of the Holy Spirit and what the Spirit can do in our lives.

I'm pinch hitting the third talk in the series. Am working on a talk around Matthew 12:9-14.

(1) What are some of your identities?
Do you embrace it?
Is it put upon you?
Incorrect?
ASK for reactions from the group
(2) Matthew 12:9-14
Film clip from Pasolini’s “The Gospel According to Saint Matthew”
Read the text
ASK for reactions from the group
(3) Connection to identity - in this case Jewish Identity
Oppressed people
Distinctiveness of the Jews (5 Books of Moses - the Torah, the Temple, circumcision, purity, sabbath keeping.
What was their mistake here?
How does Jesus pop their bubble?
(4) Jesus set them and us straight
Jesus calls them out:
They were placing the rules > doing good.
They missed the point that human being >> a sheep
Do we ever blunder in a similar way?
(5) Sabbath 101
"Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy"(the 4th Commandment)
What?
Ceasing labor (negative)
Making it holy (positive)
Why?
God is the Creator
God liberated his people from slavery
How to do today?
Eugene Peterson, a Presbyterian minister, describes the "sabbaths" he and his wife observed every Monday, after their busiest day was over: a drive to the country, a psalm, a silent hike for several hours, a quiet evening at home.
Lauren Winner writes, "I've found it helpful to mark the beginning of the Sabbath. On Saturday evenings, I gather with friends for an unhurried time of food, fellowship, and prayer."
David Loughran writes, "we go for a walk in the country, visit friends, study, sing etc. But no energetic sports: swimming, golf, football etc."
Mark Early observes, "Rest reminds us that there is Someone we can rest in. And our need for rest is a daily reminder that we are finite creatures and must trust in an infinite God."
Quote sources:
http://www.religion-online.org/showarticle.asp?title=318
http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2004/janfeb/14.16.html
http://atschool.eduweb.co.uk/sbs777/saccal/sabbkeep.html
http://www.breakpoint.org/listingarticle.asp?ID=7440
(6) Doing Good
Examples of doing good (if there is time have group share some)
Perspectives:
The Good Samaritan Parable (Luke 10): doing good on the spur of the moment for someone in need.
David’s kindness to Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9): doing good as a determined choice
(7) How much more ...
How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep (or fill-in the blank) ...
Music video

Break out into discussion groups.
Here are some small group discussion starters for consideration:
(1) What are some of the identities you have in your life?
(2) What are things that you do that foster those identities?
(3) How might some of these identities keep us from obedience to God?
(4) How might they be helpful?
(5) What do you think of the Sabbath?
(6) In what ways would it be good to keep it today?
(7) Share stories of someone who did good for another.
Jesus said, "How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."
Pray audaciously that we would be ready to do good whenever a need arises like the Good Samaritan did in the famous parable.
Pray about doing good as a choice like King David did toward Mephibosheth.