Youth Teacher: Second Quarter 2018

By R.H. Boyd Publishing Corporation

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, 2018
• ISBN: 9781681673622

Book preview

LUKE 24:1–12, 30–35

RESOURCES NEEDED

• New National Baptist Hymnal, 21st Century Edition, #246 (NNBH, #265)

• God’s Promises Bible

• Boyd’s Commentary for the Sunday School

UNIFYING PRINCIPLE

People often question the promises of their leaders. How can they come to have assurance in the midst of doubt? In the breaking of bread and making Himself known to His disciples, the risen Christ kept His promises.

BIBLICAL EMPHASES:

1. Luke 24:30 bears a resemblance to the Last Supper and the feeding of the five thousand.

2. The disciples did not understand Jesus’ references to His death and resurrection.

3. All four Gospels indicate that the resurrection took place on a Sunday.

TARGET EMPHASIS

SEEKERS FOR JESUS: Young people can share with others what Jesus has done for them with boldness and excitement.

TEEN SCENE: Youth connect the Old Testament and New Testament prophecies about Jesus with His life, death, and resurrection.

LESSON OVERVIEW

Today we are celebrating the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is one of the most important events in Christian history. Without His resurrection, we would have no hope for a future and no forgiveness of our sins. Thankfully, God made a way for us to be reconciled with Him by providing His Son as the ultimate Sacrifice. Now we can celebrate the fulfillment of His promise and the blessing of Jesus’ generous act.

I. An Empty Tomb (Luke 24:1–7)

Three days previously, Jesus had been crucified on the cross. He had been wrapped and buried in a tomb. Traditionally, a tomb’s entrance was closed to keep grave robbers out or animals from disturbing the body. But the stone and Roman guards in front of Jesus’ tomb were put there for a different reason. According to Matthew 27:62–66, these extra safety precautions were set up because of Jesus’ prophecy that He would rise again. Pilate was afraid that the disciples would steal Jesus’ body and spread the news of His resurrection in order to cause more unrest among His followers. Pilate did not want that to happen.

On the third day, some women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices (to help with the smell of decay). When they arrived, they found the stone had been rolled away and the guards were missing. Inside the tomb, it was empty! That’s when two visitors appeared. They looked like men, but their clothes implied they were angels. The sight of angels usually caused fear for the people they encountered. The angels asked why the women were looking for Jesus; didn’t they remember His promise to rise again? In spite of all Jesus’ promises and prophecies, and the copious amounts of time spent together, the disciples still had no understanding of what Jesus meant. They didn’t comprehend that Jesus meant a literal resurrection. Jesus’ resurrection is a promise of eternal life for believers. Encourage your students that this isn’t just a nice story in a book, but a true event that really happened.

II. Sharing the Good News (Luke 24:8–12)

When the women heard what the angels said and remembered Jesus’ promise, they immediately ran to tell the other disciples. When we hear the Good News, the proper reaction should be to tell others. It’s such an amazing story, and our entire Christian faith hinges on it. We can share the miracles of Jesus and what He has done in our lives with boldness and excitement. The women knew that they needed to tell others; it was too life-changing to keep it to themselves. Jesus had kept His promise!

They arrived where the eleven were, and others. There were only eleven disciples at this point because Judas had already killed himself. When the women shared what they had seen and heard at the tomb, the disciples did not believe them. They thought they were just making it up, or that they were imagining things. Peter and John went to the tomb themselves to see it with their own eyes. Only then did they believe what the women had told them. It’s important to explain to your students that having doubts doesn’t undermine the authenticity of their faith. If they turn to their Bibles and seek Jesus with their questions, He will reveal Himself to them. Questions don’t make Him angry; He welcomes them as He welcomes your students into His loving arms. Part of your role as teacher is displaying this love to the students. Be a light and example of Jesus’ love.

III. A Sighting of Jesus (Luke 24:30–35)

Later in this passage, Jesus appeared to two men walking down the road, but they didn’t recognize Him. After walking and talking for a while, the men invited Jesus to share a meal with them. During the meal, He broke the bread and blessed it. This action opened the eyes of the men He was with. It was a direct replication of the night of the Last Supper, and also had a resemblance to the feeding of the five thousand. The men recognized that this couldn’t be anyone else but Jesus. They knew this because they had spent so much time with Him and recognized His actions and behavior. Your students are learning that to truly know Jesus they must spend time with Him, just as His followers did. It’s not enough to just attend church on Sundays or just pray once a week. A deep relationship is needed. This can be achieved through quality prayer time, dedicated Bible reading, surrounding yourself with Christian friends who will build you up and encourage your walk in the Lord, and participating in worship