TFT meeting 7

7th Meeting                             

Biblical Reference:

Psalm 25.12 and Luke 19.1-10

Purpose of the meeting:

Teach teenagers that God forgives our sins and shows us the way to follow.

Key verse:

“Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” (Psalm 25.12)

Initiating the meeting

You will need pictures of people using fancy objects (colored wigs, piercings, etc.) and discreet people dressed without attracting attention. Stick it on the wall. Start by asking:’ Let’s say that these people are walking in a crowded street.  In your opinion, which one is likely to attract the attention of the pedestrians? (Wait for their participation). These people (point to the pictures of the fancy people) are attracting attention because they are using something unusual right? On today’s meeting we will talk about a man who drew the attention of Jesus.

Message that edify:

A new path

            Surely you must know or have heard of people who usually take advantage of deceiving others. The Word of God says: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.” (Proverbs 14.12). The bible tells us about Zacchaeus, a dishonest man who walked a dishonest path.

            Zacchaeus was a tax collector and he improperly charged people, because he used to keep a part for himself and he had already become rich taking money from them. Just as Zacchaeus, there are many people who are dishonest because the spirit of lying and dishonesty has taken hold of their heart.

            Zacchaeus heard that Jesus would be passing by Jericho and wished to see Him. He was trying to see Jesus but he couldn’t because of the crowd for he was short. For him to see Jesus, he climbed a tree on the way Jesus would be passing. At that moment, Zacchaeus didn’t worry about being a known person or an important person in that city; he climbed that tree and he didn’t want to lose that opportunity. If people who suffer in this world would follow this man’s example, certainly their lives would take another course. Many people lose the opportunity of having their lives transformed by the Lord Jesus because they worry about what others will think or even if they will be accepted by their friends.

            When he seen by Jesus, Zacchaeus didn’t imagine that He would see him in that tree. However that attitude pleased Jesus, who called him by his name. God knows each and every one of us and search our minds and hearts (Read Revelations 2.23).

            When called, Zacchaeus came down from the tree quickly and received Him is his house with joy. We must analyze how we have received Jesus. With joy.  Or is accepting Him a motive of embarrassment and shame?

            That tax collector had an opportunity in a lifetime: to have Jesus in his house. And Jesus was recriminated for being in a thief’s house, in a sinner’s house. However, Zacchaeus took advantage of that moment and decided to change his life: “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. Jesus said to him: Today salvation has come to this house…” (Luke 19.8-9).

            How wonderful! That man was willing to focus and abandon all the wrong things; in fact at that moment the meeting of Zacchaeus wasn’t only with the Son of God but with the Spirit that was in Jesus.

Conclusion:

            Teenagers, God loves sinners but wishes them to abandon their sins and become true Sons of God. For this to happen it’s necessary to leave behind all the wrong things and live a new life, just as Zacchaeus did. It’s written: “Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.” (Psalm 25.12). If a person decides to leave his life of sin and give his life to Jesus then he/she won’t live disoriented or take hasty decisions; it only will happen if he/she doesn’t want to listen to the voice of God. Zacchaeus didn’t take days, months or years before surrendering to Jesus; he had no doubt about the path he would follow from that day on. What about you? Have you made your decision?

Activity for 7th Meeting

Enigma

1) Organize the words and discover the enigma:

“Woh, hten, aer stheo hwo efar teh LRDO?  He iwll ritnsutc tehm in the awys thye hosuld coohse” Psalm 25.12

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2) Search the Bible verses below and relate them with the story of Zacchaeus.

Romans 12.2    

         

2 Corinthians 8.21    

  

Ephesians 4.28