Matthew 6–7

Overview

Jesus continued His Sermon on the Mount, teaching that we should do good works to please our Heavenly Father and not to gain attention from others. He also taught His disciples to “seek … first [to build] the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:33) and to judge righteously. This week’s material includes a doctrinal mastery activity to help students locate and memorize the first 11 New Testament doctrinal mastery passages, as well as a lesson to help them assess their learning and progress.

Prepare to Teach

The following information provides teachers with ideas of what may need to be prepared in advance for each lesson.

Matthew 6:1–18

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students the opportunity to evaluate their motives for doing good works and decide how they would like to improve.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about their motives for their actions during the 24 hours prior to class.
Content to display: Chart about good works
Video: “On Being Genuine” (17:51; watch from time code 15:34 to 16:29)

Matthew 6:19–34

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students an opportunity to ponder and share the importance of putting God first in their lives.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder how they might share with others the importance and blessings of putting God first in their lives.
Videos: One of the following: “No Regrets” (5:38), “Virtuous Young Women” (3:50), “Your Day for a Mission” (3:31)
Content to display: Scripture references and explanations

Videoconference teaching suggestion: Set your videoconference screen to gallery view, or the view that displays as many students as possible at once. After one student shares their prepared outline for a video, consider asking them to point up, down, to the right, or to the left. Whichever student is displayed above, below, to the right, or to the left on your screen will go next. (It may be helpful to know that the way students are displayed on your screen does not always match what students see.)

Matthew 7:1–5

Lesson purpose: This lesson will give students the opportunity to learn about making righteous judgments.

Student preparation: Invite students to ponder what they know about judgments they should make and those they should be careful not to make. Encourage them to think of questions they have about judging.
Object: A mote and a beam (or an image of each)
Video: “Looking through Windows” (2:19)

Videoconference teaching suggestion: Near the end of the lesson, display the four scenarios students can choose to discuss. Invite one or more students to use their drawing tool to circle at least one scenario they would like to address as a class, or create a poll in which students can indicate their preference.

Doctrinal Mastery Review 1

Lesson purpose: This lesson will help students locate and practice memorizing the scripture references and key scripture phrases for the first 11 New Testament doctrinal mastery scripture passages.

Content to display: A chart containing the first 11 doctrinal mastery scripture passages

Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider using breakout rooms for students to get to know each other while they locate scriptures and memorize key scripture phrases.

Assess Your Learning 2

Lesson purpose: This lesson is intended to help you evaluate the goals you have set, what you are learning, and the personal growth you have experienced during your study of the New Testament this year.

Student preparation: Invite students to think about their efforts to resist and overcome temptation through faith in Jesus Christ.
Materials for students: If you choose to do the activity about building a structure, materials like blocks, cups, or books and a sturdy surface like a table

Videoconference teaching suggestion: Consider assigning a student ahead of time to build a simple structure out of blocks or cups, first on a solid surface and then on an unstable surface, like a pillow, while the rest of the class watches in the videoconference.