Jesus tells his disciples that anxiety has no place in their thinking because they have a sovereign Father in heaven who cares for them. We must never dwell on anxious thoughts, but turn to God and trust him.

Jesus says that his disciples should make their top priority God’s kingdom and righteousness. Our students need to put God’s priorities first now and for the rest of their lives.

In this section about treasure and money, Jesus uses the image of two conditions of the eye and the image of two different slave-owners to show the contrast between those who labor for earthly treasure and those who strive for heavenly treasure. It’s time for our students to kill the idolatry of materialism and serve God wholeheartedly.

Jesus explains that is foolish to spend your life accumulating earthly treasures that are fleeting, and it is wise to invest your life storing up treasures in heaven. There is no better time for our students to learn this lesson than right now!

True North High School Ministry

Jesus told “The Parable of the Two Sons” to the Jewish religious leaders to prove that repentant sinners are going to heaven before hypocritical religious people. Lots of kids make professions of faith while they are young and going to church, but only those who actually do God’s will with their lives show evidence of true saving faith.

Jesus warns his disciples to avoid the hypocritical heart that seeks attention and admiration from others for devotional activities such as fasting. While fasting for the sake of focused prayer and increased devotion to God is rare in the modern American church, our students would gain a lot by experiencing a voluntary and devotional fast.

Accept God’s act of love by trusting in Jesus to be saved from eternal death.

Jesus elaborates on the forgiveness clause of the Lord’s Prayer by telling people that forgiven people should be forgiving to those around them. But sadly, many people deceive themselves about their own standing before God, and an unforgiving heart is a certain sign of a wrong relationship with God.

Jesus tells us to pray for our basic needs, forgiveness from sin, and protection from temptation and sin. The problem is, entitled people don’t pray because they think God owes them, and self-sufficient people don’t pray because they don’t think they need God. We ought with an attitude of genuine dependence on God.