MR. DEEDS
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART X (TOPIC: GOOD DEEDS)
INTRO: Mr. Deeds is an Adam Sandler movie made a couple of years ago about a simple guy named Longfellow Deeds who inherits a ton of money, sort of. The plot twists and turns around for a long time, but in the whole essence, Longfellow Deeds is good to his name, and produces good deeds the entire movie long. Even the final scene has Mr. Deeds purchasing everyone in his neighborhood a hot car (probably some kid knows what kind of car it is, moreover, just asking the youth about the movie might be better than explaining it to them, my favorite part is when Deeds bring a gumball pizza to Crazy Eyes who was in prison at the time).
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good deeds and give honor to your Father in heaven.
1. GOOD DEEDS: DON’T GET US INTO HEAVEN
BIBLE LESSON: Luke 18:21-27
18:21 The man replied, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws since my youth.” 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 18:23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was extremely wealthy. 18:24 When Jesus noticed this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 18:25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 18:26 Those who heard this said, “Then who can be saved?” 18:27 He replied, “What is impossible for mere humans is possible for God.”
CAN’T EARN HEAVEN: Though this verse says a lot about money, it says a lot more about heaven (talk about how this man showed up attempting to hear Jesus tell him that he is good enough to get into heaven). But this man discovers a tough truth (notice that Jesus does not tell this man that his deeds were NOT good, so they probably were), good deeds cannot earn heaven.
COACH STORY: I have a non-church attending, non-God believing friend, who I had a conversation about God one time. We small talked a bunch. But in the end, what he was saying was “Look, when I die, I will stand before God. And I’m a good person and have helped a lot of people and raised some great kids. If He can’t see that and take that, than I don’t want to go. What type of god would make people to blindly worship him and their life, how vain!” This man has a very small picture of God, and a big picture of himself.
*SMALL NUGGET (SINCE MY YOUTH): Though not necessary for the study, if asked, the man is referencing somewhere around his 13th birthday because that is the age a youth becomes a man in the Jewish culture.
EYE OF THE NEEDLE: There is an old story of how the old ancient city’s had giant walls. And at dusk, the gate was closed so the only way to enter was to go around to the side of the walls. There, there was a small tiny door that would open only if a camel squatted down on his belly and crawled under. In other words, it is very hard.
REAL MEANING OF THE EYE OF THE NEEDLE: But that is NOT what this verse is talking about at all. That idea did not come up until the Middle Ages. Here’s the deal about its meaning. The pin is the smallest item in Israel, a camel is the biggest animal. Christ is saying that there is no way in the world anybody can enter the kingdom of God.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A CAMEL TO GO THROUGH A NEEDLE.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER HEAVEN BASED ON GOOD DEEDS.
2. GOOD DEEDS: DON’T MAKE UP FOR SIN
Story of a Really, Really Good Person:
A. Bill Gates Giving: Everyone knows Bill Gates, the wealthiest man in the world. I am glad for Bill Gates and I am really glad that he is an American (think what would happen if the entire computer business tax money went to some other nation). He started the “Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation” which assists in improving health, poverty, and development in Africa, which is a great goal, a fantastic goal.
B. Bill Gates Beliefs:
Gates: I don’t. I’m not somebody who goes to church on a regular basis. The specific elements of Christianity are not something I’m a huge believer in.
In a different article, he later states, “Just in terms of allocation of time resources, religion is not very efficient. There’s a lot more I could be doing on a Sunday morning.”
Gates may give big, but like all of us is a sinner. And though I don’t really know if he has become a Christian, all the giving in the world does give you a place in the next world.
BIBLE VERSE: Romans 6:23
For the wages (payoff) of sin is death.
Owynion: The figurative expression for the word payoff or wages. This technically means a “soldier’s pay or wages.” It is seen as the end of an activity, something shown in return, almost like the “booty” received by a soldier at the end of a battle. In other words, the “payout” we receive when our life ends, is death, or in other words hell.
Bad News Folks: Leaders, take a youth stand him up in front of the group, and point out that you have some bad news. This young child, has done something horrible (then come up with something horrible, probably better if it is also ridiculous). In this case, this boy took his lawn mower, and out of disgust for the latest Indiana Jones movie because he thought it was a stupid ending, decided to mow the neighbor’s garden into a giant boulder and send it rolling down the street.
In this case, this boy is NOT a believer. Therefore, he is cursed by God, forever. He needs a savior (sing Indiana Jones song here). And take a look with me at this verse, because this is what he needs.
BIBLE VERSE: Hebrews 10:17
Then he says, “their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”
3. GOOD DEEDS: DO SHOW EVIDENCE OF FAITH
BIBLE VERSE: Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The Word “Fruit:” Look at that word here, is it singular or plural? Yup, it’s singular. What does that mean? Simple, it means that when someone becomes a believer, they should begin to develop these items. These aspects of their life will begin to come through, maybe not right away, but this is what God will create in them (notice, gaining peace but not patience is technically unacceptable, since both are a part of the same fruit…all should be gained).
Fruit Example: Look fruit is good, everyone loves fruit (if someone disagrees, have some clever comeback here). Whether it is an apple, an orange, or a guanabana (it looks like a green prickly coconut with tons of seeds, but if you get past that, it has a white creamy pulp that is said to taste like a pineapple-apple mix), fruits are awesome. We want fruit, people want fruit, we need to do good deeds, and produce fruit (I will probably tell my story of how I asked Lori to marry her here since fruit is part of the story).
But Tom, I don’t have any fruit like that? My deeds don’t speak out loud like yours. In fact, people hardly even know that in my heart I am a good person because quite honestly, I don’t really do anything. Well…
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 3:15-16
3:15 ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either cold or hot! 3:16 So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth!
Is God okay with not producing deeds? You tell me (understand, this can be pretty serious, so speak it gently and softly).
Laodicea: “Laodicea was near two other towns, each of which had a unique water source. To the north was Hierapolis which had a natural hot spring, often used for medicinal purposes. To the east was Colossae which had cold, pure waters. In contrast to these towns, Laodicea had no permanent supply of good water. Efforts to pipe water to the city from nearby springs were successful, but it would arrive lukewarm. The metaphor in the text is not meant to relate spiritual fervor to temperature. This would mean that Laodicea would be commended for being spiritually cold, but it is unlikely that Jesus would commend this. Instead, the metaphor condemns Laodicea for not providing spiritual healing (being hot) or spiritual refreshment (being cold) to those around them. It is a condemnation of their lack of works and lack of witness.”
4. GOOD DEEDS: DO STORE UP TREASURE IN HEAVEN
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 6:19
Do not accumulate yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.
STORY: FOUR CATEGORIES OF THIEVES: Did you know that stealing is common in USA (you didn’t need me to tell you that, you attend a local high school). But it is so common, that police break burglars into 4 categories: Opportunity, Smashers, Prowlers, & Pros. Opportunity burglars steal when they see the chance to steal. Smashers tend to smash and dash, break something down or in to steal the valuables, usually because of a dependency they have to pay for. Prowlers know what they are doing, they break in, and strategically look around, know what is valuable, how to pawn it, and how to conceal all their steps. The Pros are uncommon, and divided into snipers and locusts. Pros are there to get something specific, one thing, like a jewelry heist. They are connected nationally or around the world so they know how to get their item sold off. Locusts wait for official notification of something, a vacation etc. Then have an elaborate system of eliminating all your goods, maybe through a moving van, etc.
But as they say on the TV show, are you scared yet? You should be. Because these thieves are out there to take everything you have ever worked for here on earth. And a lot of us work here for the hope of great financial gains don’t we.
STORY: WAITING ROOM: You know what? Mankind’s search for success, for power always leads to a big house, a big car, and a big paycheck. But you know what? All that person does is build up an awesome waiting room, a castle in the sand.
MUSIC: AMERICAN DREAM: Use the song here by Casting Crowns
“All work no play makes jack a dull boy. But all work no God has left Jack with a lost soul. But he’s moving full steam, He’s chasing the American Dream, And he’s gonna give your family, the finer things.”
Towards the End It States:
“He used to say “whoever dies with the most toys wins,” but if he loses his soul, what has he gained in the end? I’ll take a shack on the rock over a castle in the sand.”
(OPTIONAL MUSIC EXAMPLE: TWO SETS OF JONES’)
Sources:
Bible.org. Revelation 3:15, concordance #55.
Bible.org. Romans 6:23, concordance #1.
Nononsenseselfdefense.com. Keyword types of burglar.
PBS Interview, November 1995.
Time Magazine, January 13, 1996.
NAME: ___________________________
MR. DEEDS
A STUDY OVER THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT: PART X (TOPIC: GOOD DEEDS)
BIBLE VERSE: Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they can see your _______________ ________________________ and give honor to your Father in heaven.
1. GOOD DEEDS: DON’T GET US ________________________________
BIBLE LESSON: Luke 18:21-27
What was the man asking Jesus? ____________________________________________________
What was the eye of the needle? _____________________________________________________
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR A _________________________ TO GO THROUGH A __________________.
IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENTER ______________________ BASED ON __________________________.
2. GOOD DEEDS: DON’T MAKE UP _____________________________
Bill Gates: ___________________________________________________________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Romans 6:23
For the _______________________ (payoff) of sin is _______________________________.
Owynion:
Bad News & Then Good News:
BIBLE VERSE: Hebrews 10:17
Then he says, “their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember __________________________.”
3. GOOD DEEDS: DO SHOW EVIDENCE _______________________________
BIBLE VERSE: Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is L____________, J______________, P_____________, P____________, K_____________, G_________________, F_________________, G_________________, S__________________________.
HOW MANY FRUIT ARE THERE? _______________________
BIBLE VERSE: Revelation 3:15-16
4. GOOD DEEDS: DO STORE UP TREASURE ________________________________
Thieves:
Waiting Room:
American Dream: