Leader Guide

Bible Activity

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Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation and New King James Version. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary.

Full or Empty? Discuss Bible passages about being poor in spirit.

If you were here last time, Chris said that the first and most important step in living like Christ is to realize that we need God’s help and that we have nothing to offer Him. As Chris, Joy, and Gizmo found out, we can make a big mess out of trying to live like Christ without His wisdom and power! In this activity, we are going to look up Scriptures about being poor in spirit, so we can more clearly understand this important first step in walking like Christ. You may discuss one or all scriptures, depending on time available.

1. Matthew 5:3 (NKJV):

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Let’s review what we have been learning about this verse today. What does “poor” mean in this verse—does it mean you don’t have any money? No, it means spiritually poor.

Now, let’s read what Jesus told a young man about entering the Kingdom of God. Matthew 19:16–22 (NLT):

¹⁶Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ^{17 “}Why ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question—if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” the man asked. And Jesus replied: “‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. ¹⁹Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’” ²⁰ “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?” ²¹Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” ²²But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

What did the young man want to know? How to receive eternal life.
What did Jesus tell him he must do in verses 17–19? He must keep the commandments.
Did the young man think that was too difficult to do? No, he said he obeyed them all.
Do you think this is really possible? No, not on our own; no one is without sin or perfect. Everyone has sinned except Jesus.
Based on verse 20, do you believe the man was poor in spirit? No, he believed he was good and had so much to offer Jesus.
The young man thought eternal life came by doing good works. What did Jesus tell him to do in verse 21? Sell all his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him.
Was the young man happy to hear this? No, he was sad and walked away.
What did Jesus recognize was his issue? His wealth and possessions; he trusted in them; they meant more to him than following Christ.
Can our possessions become too important to us? Yes.
This is a good example of someone who is wealthy but still doesn’t realize the need to follow Jesus.

2. Jesus told a parable, or story, about two men. One was a religious leader called a Pharisee, and one was a tax collector. Jewish people generally thought that religious leaders were good and that tax collectors were bad. But let’s listen to the story and then dig deeper! Luke 18:9–14:

⁹Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ^{10 “}Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. ¹¹The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank You, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! ¹²I fast twice a week, and I give You a tenth of my income.’ ¹³But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ ¹⁴I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Why did the two men go to the Temple? To pray.
In verse 11, what did the Pharisee thank God for? That he wasn’t like other people: cheaters, sinners, adulterers, or the tax collector.
In verse 12, what did the Pharisee brag about? He fasted and gave God a tenth of his income (tithed).
Based on verses 11–12, would you say the Pharisee was poor in spirit? No, he boasted about all he had to offer God.
Boasting about what we do is not a sign of being poor in spirit! In verse 13, did the tax collector boast? No, he couldn’t even lift his eyes toward God and stood far away.
In verse 13, what else did he do to reveal the condition of his heart? He beat his chest in sorrow, admitted his sins, and asked for mercy.
How would you describe his spiritual condition? He was poor in spirit.
This man was humble and recognized his need for God’s help. In verse 14, who went away forgiven and right before God? The tax collector, not the Pharisee.
When Jesus told that story to the religious leaders, what do you think they felt? Shocked, angry.
No matter who you are or what you have done, everyone needs God’s help to live a life that is pleasing to Him and to enter His kingdom.

3. In this last passage, we are going to read about Saul, who later became known as the apostle Paul after his encounter with Jesus. Saul was a Pharisee before he met Christ. In this passage, he talks about how he became poor in spirit and willingly gave up everything! Philippians 3:3b–8:

^3bWe rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort, ⁴though I could have confidence in my own effort if anyone could. Indeed, if others have reason for confidence in their own efforts, I have even more! ⁵I was circumcised when I was eight days old. I am a pure-blooded citizen of Israel and a member of the tribe of Benjamin—a real Hebrew if there ever was one! I was a member of the Pharisees, who demand the strictest obedience to the Jewish law. ⁶I was so zealous that I harshly persecuted the church. And as for righteousness, I obeyed the law without fault. ⁷I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. ⁸Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ.

In verse 3b, what does Paul put his trust in? What Christ has done.
What does Paul NOT put his trust in? Human effort, his own efforts or works.
How is this different or the same as the Pharisee in Jesus’ parable? It is the opposite. The Pharisee trusted in his own efforts or works, not in Christ.
Why is Paul’s trust so remarkable when you read verses 4–6? He strictly followed the law and Jewish traditions. He was born a Jew from Jewish parents and a citizen of Israel, he was from the tribe of Benjamin, and he was a Pharisee. He followed the law without fault. It would have been easy to boast about himself.
Paul was so passionate about his faith that he persecuted the Christians, believing it was God’s will! So, if anyone had reason to trust in their own efforts, Paul did. In verse 7, what did Paul say about the things that were once valuable or important to him? He saw them as worthless compared to the incredible value of knowing Christ.
Paul gave away everything to gain Christ. How does this compare to the young man Jesus asked to sell everything, give to the poor, and follow Him? It is the opposite. The young man was sad and couldn’t give away his things to follow Jesus. Paul willingly gave up everything and saw it as worthless compared to following Christ.

Conclusion: This is why we don’t let go of the vine—Christ. The humble tax collector and Paul recognized their need for Christ. Nothing else mattered. When we are poor in spirit, we will cling tightly to the vine as we grow in Christ and are filled spiritually.

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