Memorize these verses as a family:

Matthew 5:19b: …whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:16: In the same way, let your light shine before [people], that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Listen. Read Matthew 5:13 together. If God made salf to make food tasty, what is salt good for if it loses its taste and saltiness?

Read Matthew 5:14-16 together. If lamps were made to give light so that people can see, why does it make no sense to light a lamp and put it under a box?

What makes something or someone great is if they do what they were made to do well. A great lamp gives off a lot of light. Good salt makes food very tasty. But what are we made for? What makes us great in God’s kingdom?

Read Matthew 5:19 together. What makes someone great in the kingdom of heaven according to Jesus?

We were made to follow Jesus and teach others to follow Jesus. That is why God made us. That is what makes us great. In a way, we are like a lamp.

Read Matthew 5:16 together again. If good deeds are the things we do when we follow Jesus, what happens to other people when they see us following Jesus?

Respond. Jesus tells us that if we follow him, if we do what he says, people will see what we do and they will thank God and start following him too.

What are some things Jesus told us to do that we can do as a family that will show others the love of God? Are there people we can show kindness to? Are there people we need to forgive? Pray for? Spend time with?

[Have kids come up with some ideas and write them down.]

Share. What have you learned together that you can share with others? Who will you share this with?