October 17, 2021 – Matthew 8

Lesson Date: October 17, 2021

Focal Scripture Passage: Matthew 8:1-10, 13-17, 23-32

AIM: To lead students to identify four realms in which Jesus demonstrated His power and authority, and to encourage them to take their personal needs to the Lord.

Before class: Read the notes on Matthew 8 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Write the word “Power” on the marker board or chalkboard.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Direct the students’ attention to the word “Power” written on the board.  Ask them to name some powerful people (they might name government leaders, wealthy business people, or influential entertainers and athletes).  As they name each one, ask the following questions:

• “What power does that person have?”
• “Are there any limits to that person’s power?”
• “Name some of the limits of that person’s power.”

Ask: “Who is the most powerful person on earth?” (the President of the United States).  Ask: “Is there a limit to the President’s power?” (yes, the Congress and the courts can overrule him and his time in office is limited).

Explain that while certain people exercise great power in certain areas, no one on earth has limitless power and authority in their particular field.  Not only that, no one on earth has power and authority over every area of life.

Tell the class the title of today’s lesson from Matthew 8 is Jesus Christ the Omnipotent.  The word “omnipotent” means to possess all power, limitless power, and universal power.  In this lesson we see Jesus’ limitless power demonstrated in four different ways

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Briefly review Matthew 1 – 7, using the following outline:
     • Chapters 1 & 2 describe the birth of Jesus Christ.
     • In Chapter 3 Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. That event marked the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry.
     • In chapter 4 Jesus successfully overcame the devil’s temptations. Afterward He moved to Galilee (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee), where He traveled around teaching, preaching, and healing people.
     • In chapters 5 – 7 Jesus preached His most famous sermon, the Sermon on the Mount.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (guidelines for proper judgment).
   • Ask if any volunteer would recite last week’s memory verse (Matt. 7:21).
2. Jesus’ Power to Heal Through Touch.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 8:1-3.
   • Ask: “What did the leper want?” (to be healed).
   • Remind the class that leprosy was a very contagious and debilitating skin disease. Lepers were outcasts who had to stay away from other people.
   • Ask: “What did Jesus do?” (touched the man and healed his leprosy).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 8:14-15.
   • Tell the class Jesus went into Peter’s house in Capernaum (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee).
   • Ask: “What was wrong with Peter’s mother-in-law?” (she was sick with a fever).
   • Ask: “What did Jesus do?” (touched her hand and healed her).
   • Ask: “What do these incidents tell us about Jesus’ power?” (He has power to heal diseases with the touch of His hand).
   • Summarize: Jesus’ limitless power was demonstrated through His ability to heal diseases with a mere touch of His hand.
3. Jesus’ Power to Heal Through the Spoken Word.
   • Read Matthew 8:5-10.
   • Explain the following:
     • A centurion was a Roman military officer in command of a company of 100 soldiers.
     • The centurion’s servant was very sick.
     • Jesus offered to come to the centurion’s house and heal his servant.
     • The centurion did not feel worthy for Jesus to come into his house.
   • Ask: “What did he ask Jesus to do instead?” (speak the word where He stood and heal his servant).
   • Ask: “Why did this centurion understand that Jesus had authority and power to do such a thing?” (as a military officer he understood authority).
   • Ask: “What did Jesus say about the centurion’s faith?” (He said He had not found faith that great among the Jews).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 8:13.
   • Ask: “What happened?” (Jesus healed the servant by merely speaking).
   • Ask: “What does this incident tell us about Jesus’ power?” (He has power to heal diseases through His spoken word).
   • Summarize: Jesus’ limitless power was demonstrated through His ability to heal people a long way away through merely speaking a word.
4. Jesus’ Power Over the Spirit World.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 8:16.
   • Ask: “What did Jesus do for those who were possessed with demons?” (He cast out the evil spirits with His word).
   • Explain the following:
     • Jesus and His disciples crossed the Sea of Galilee from Capernaum to the southeastern shore near Gadara (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee).
     • We will learn about their journey later, but first let’s discover what happened when they arrived on the other side.
   • Read Matthew 8:28-29.
   • Tell the class two demon-possessed men came out of the tombs and approached Jesus.
   • Ask: “What does verse 28 reveal about those men?” (they were very fierce and so frightening that no one was safe walking by).
   • Ask: “What did the demon-possessed men ask Jesus?” (“Why are you troubling us? Have you come to torment us before the appointed time for us to be judged?”).
   • Ask: “How did the demon-possessed men address Jesus?” (as the Son of God).
   • Stress the fact that many people do not understand or accept who Jesus Christ really is, but demon spirits know that He is the Son of God.
   • Read Matthew 8:30-32.
   • Explain the following:
     • The demons asked Jesus if He was going to cast them out of the men, to send them into a nearby herd of hogs.
     • Jesus agreed and sent the demons into the hogs.
     • The hogs immediately ran down a steep hill into the sea and drowned.
   • Ask: “What does this incident tell us about Jesus’ power?” (He has power over the spirit world and evil spirits).
   • Summarize: Jesus’ limitless power was demonstrated through His ability to cast out demons and control evil spirits.
5. Jesus’ Power Over the Forces of Nature.
   1. Tell the students we are returning now to the account of Jesus and His disciples crossing the Sea of Galilee (locate on the Map of Judea and Galilee).
   2. Ask a volunteer to read Matthew 8:23-27.
   3. Explain the following:
      • Severe and sudden storms are common on the Sea of Galilee.
      • The boat began filling with water.
      • The disciples feared they would sink and drown.
   4. Ask: “What was Jesus doing?” (sleeping).
   5. Ask: “What did Jesus do when they awakened Him?” (He rebuked the winds and sea).
   6. Ask: “What happened?” (the storm immediately stopped).
   7. Ask: “How did the disciples react to Jesus’ power over the storm?” (they were amazed and wondered what kind of man He was).
   8. Ask: “What does this incident tell us about Jesus’ power?” (He has power over the forces of nature).
   9. Summarize: Jesus’ limitless power was demonstrated through His ability to calm a storm and control the forces of nature.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Ask the students to name four ways Matthew 8 reveals Jesus’ power and authority (He has power to heal sickness with His touch, He has power to heal sickness with His spoken word, He has power over demon spirits, and He has power over the forces of nature).

State that these are interesting facts about Jesus Christ and His life on earth 2,000 years ago.  Ask: “What impact do these facts have on our lives today?  What difference does Jesus’ great power make?  What difference does it make that 2,000 years ago Jesus showed that He had power over disease, nature, and spirit beings?”  Allow a few moments for the students to respond to those questions. 

Ask: “What are some ways Jesus’ power can impact our lives?” (He can answer our prayers, heal our diseases, meet our needs, and save our loved ones).  Tell the students it is comforting to know that we serve a God who has limitless power to answer our prayers and meet our needs.

Tell the class that Jesus Christ is omnipotent: He has limitless power, authority, and force.  Tell them since Jesus has limitless power, He can certainly handle whatever needs we might have.  Ask: “Since Jesus Christ has more than enough power to answer your prayers and meet your needs, why don’t you bring your requests to Him right now?” 

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.   Encourage them to take their personal needs to the Lord.  Allow a few moments for silent prayer and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Encourage the students to bring their needs to Jesus every day this week.  Tell them that next week we will learn more about Jesus’ power and authority.  Ask them to read Matthew 9 and answer the questions in their Sunday School Member Quarterly during the week.