Jesus teaches his disciples about values

Mark 10:28-31

Introduction

Jesus taught his disciples many things. He said that rich people sometimes love their money too much. Then it is very difficult for them to obey God's rules. A young rich man who loved money very much had decided not to follow Jesus. Peter thought that he was not like that man. And he thought that the other disciples were not like that man. They had left many things when they followed Jesus.

Peter and the other disciples needed to learn what God wants. We must not love any person or money more than we love God. We may need to leave home to obey God's rule. Or we may need to give away money or things that belong to us. Any person who does this because of God’s good news will get many more different good things instead. God will give that person 100 things in this world for each thing that they give up.

A person who loves God becomes part of God's family. Everyone else who loves God is part of God's family too. People who are in God's family help each other. Those who have plenty will help those who are poor.

Jesus also said that Christians will sometimes suffer. Sometimes people will not be fair to them because they love God. But Jesus made a promise to people who really love God. After this life they will live always with God. Nothing is better or worth more than that.

God does not think about a person in the way that men and women think. People may value others by what they can see. They may think that rich people or powerful people are the most important. But God understands people. He knows who is really special. People who may not seem important in this world are very important to God.

Questions to ask

(v28)  Why did Peter say this?

(v29)   Does everyone need to leave his or her family to become a follower of Jesus?

(v29)   Because of God's good news a person may need to leave home or work at a different job. Why might this be?

(v30)   The disciples stopped doing their work when they followed Jesus. He gave them new work to do. Did they starve? What happened to them?

(v30)   Jesus said that people who follow his way will suffer in this world. Who will be against them and what might happen to Christians?

(v30)   God will always give us more than we give up for him. What great gift did Jesus promise?

(v31)   What did Jesus mean when he said this?

Something to do

Has Jesus asked you to give up anything? What has God given to you?

Do you know people who have had troubles because they love God? Can you help them by being a good friend?