Monday - December 12, 2016

Woodlawn Family Bible Study
MONDAY

BIBLE READING:  Matthew 13:44

 Suppose you were taking a walk and came across an old abandoned build that was for sale. You really have never had any interest in purchasing such a building, but out of curiosity you take a moment to look around. As you begin to walk around you hear a strange crick in the floor that grabs your attention. You walk back and forth and realize that one of the pieces of the floor is loose, so you kneel to investigate further. To your amazement, the piece of wood can be removed.  As you pull it up, you discover a strange treasure map of sorts that leads to a treasure in the back of the woods behind the building. Your curiosity continues to get the best of you so you go outside to further investigate. After counting so many paces to the right and the left, you come to your destination. You begin to dig in the ground until you hit something solid; it’s a chest! You pry open the lid and see what must be millions of dollars in gold and  jewels and another map that leads to ten other chests buried on the property. You quickly put it all back, call the real estate agent and find out the only way you can afford the property is to sell all your possessions. Would you be willing to do it?  Of course, you would! In fact, you may be saying “that sure would be nice, but that will never happen to me.”  

 Well…it can!  

 Jesus tells us in Matthew 13 in the Parable of the Hidden Treasure, that the Kingdom of God is like such a treasure! "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field" (Matthew 13:44). When you finally find this treasure and uncover just how valuable it is, are you willing to sacrifice everything to attain it?

 Application: Discuss what sacrifices we must make to attain that Great Treasure.

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