Test Drive
Lesson 3: Engaging the World
Objective: The point of this lesson is that your students would realize that they are not to withdraw from the world. Instead, they are to engage with it, living as lights for Christ in a spiritually dark world.

Scripture Focus: Matthew 5:13-16

Overview: The world stands in opposition to God. Once we fully embrace this fact, we can be tempted with wanting to cut off ourselves from the world. The only problem is that this goes against God’s plan for us and for those who do not know Him. God’s plan is for us to lead people to Him. Certainly He leads people to Himself without our help, but God’s primary means of reaching the world is through His children, the church. As Christ-followers, your students have the opportunity to live as lights in a dark world. This is the call to engage! God desires for us to stay in the world and influence it, not be influenced by it. The purpose of this lesson is to challenge your students to be powerful testimonies to God’s grace as they live in a fallen world.

Bible Background
The Details
Who wrote Matthew?
Matthew’s Gospel bears the name of its author. Matthew, a former tax collector, was a disciple of Jesus and a firsthand witness to the stories he relates.

When was it written?
Most people hold to Matthew’s Gospel being written in the late 50s or 60s AD, though there are some who think it was written after the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD.

What was the purpose for its writing?
Matthew probably was writing to a primarily Jewish audience. His intent was to convince his listeners that Jesus is indeed the long-awaited Messiah whose coming prophets had been predicting for hundreds of years. Matthew probably was aware of a Gentile audience, as well, as his Gospel makes the case that the saving truth of Christ is for all nations.

The Main Point
Matthew 5:16
For the purpose of this lesson, Matthew 5:16 serves as the main point of this passage: “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” At this point in your study of Engage, your students fully understand the difference between God and the world. They may be prepared for you to deliver the sermon telling them to completely cut themselves off from the world. If you were to deliver this sermon, you would be making a mistake. God has no desire for them to be cut off from the world. On the contrary, His plan is for them to be in the world and to be making a difference for Him.

In this passage from Matthew, we see Jesus articulating the manner in which a Christ-follower is to use his or her life to make a difference in the world. Matthew 5:16 is the culmination if this exhortation. Jesus basically is saying, “If you will live your lives as you have been called, the difference in your life will cause people to take notice, and to attribute this difference to God.” It is the ultimate argument for Christ-followers remaining plugged in to the world in which they find themselves.

Wrap Up
While it is vital to teach teenagers the truth about the world, we have to resist the temptation to teach them to remove themselves from it. This message is tempting considering our desire to protect them and to see them resist the messages and values that culture offers. However, we must empower teenagers to interact with the world by choosing to engage their society with the message of Christ. To separate themselves from the world is to rob the world of examples of the difference Christ makes in the lives of His followers.

Lesson Plan
The Build Up
• Title: Chain Reaction
• Goal: The idea is to get students thinking about making an impact on the world.
• Set Up: Provide as many sheets of paper and writing utensils as you will have groups of 3-4 students.

First, divide your class into groups of three or four. Then, explain that you are going to play a game called “Chain Reaction.” The rules are simple: You are going to give the students a scenario. In this scenario, there will be a problem that arises. Each group will have one minute to brainstorm all the potential effects that might result due to this cause. Encourage them that the more outrageous the chain reaction, the better. For example:
• Let’s say a girl wakes up late for school and rushes out the door, but she doesn’t realize she has a huge pimple on her forehead. What will the effects be?
o She runs into her crush who happens to be the quarterback of the football team.
o He is so grossed out that he vomits on the floor.
o The principle, who is walking by, slips on the vomit and breaks her leg.
o She is convinced the quarterback did it on purpose, so she suspends him.
o The quarterback can’t play in the big game.
o The girl with the pimple’s high school loses the State Championship.

Next, after making sure your students have the general idea, start the game by giving the groups the following scenari
• Chris has been waiting all year to ask out Lisa. He finally did and she said yes. It’s Friday night, and Chris is on his way to pick up Lisa to take her to hear her favorite band, My Mom’s Mustache. Suddenly, Chris’ car starts jerking and sputtering. As his car rolls to a stop, Chris realizes he forgot to get gas.

Inform students they have one minute to come up with the chain reaction of events that just might occur as a result of Chris’ car running out of gas.

Then when students have finished, allow each group to share its chain reaction. Choose a winner and inform them they each will receive a copy of My Mom’s Mustache’s upcoming greatest hits collection. (Not really.)

Finally explain to them this activity is designed to introduce this lesson’s theme. Explain that just as a simple cause can create a dramatic effect, our lives can make a big difference in this world. We can start powerful chain reactions simply by living as we are called in this world.

The Focus
• Title: Engaging the World
• Goal: The idea is for your students to realize they are not to withdraw from the world, but instead are to engage with it.
• Set-Up: Provide some salt, either in a container or standard shaker. (Sea salt in a bag or box makes a nice impression.) Also provide a flashlight.

First, remind students what you have covered so far in Engage. Remind them that you have learned what Scripture means when it refers to “the world” and that God and the world are opposed to each other. Remind them that you also have learned that God has saved them from the world through Christ; as such, they are no longer to live as if they are of the world. Explain that in this lesson they are going to learn exactly how God intends for them to live in this world.

Then read or ask a student to read Matthew 5:13-15. When finished, pass around the salt. Have students sprinkle some in their hands. Have them taste it. Then, lead the class in a discussion. Ask:
• What happens when you put salt into tasteless food?
o Answer: The salt flavors the food. It changes the flavor. It enhances the flavor. It makes bad food good.
• How much salt is needed to make a difference in flavor?
o Answer: Not a lot! A little salt can influence the flavor of a large quantity of food.

Next, show students the flashlight. If you can, turn off the lights. Then, turn on the flashlight and ask:
• What effect does this flashlight have on the darkness?
o Answer: It drives it away. It dispels it.
• How much light is needed to drive away darkness?
o Answer: Virtually none at all! The smallest flicker of light can be seen for miles in the dark of night.

Then, ask students to relate this discussion of salt and light back to what Jesus said about the role of Christ-followers in this world. Re-read Matthew 5:13-15 if necessary. Ask:
• If we are of God, how can our lives be like salt in the world?
o Answer: If we live according to God’s ways and the life we are called to live in Scripture, we will have the same impact on the world around us that salt has on food; our actions will impact it, flavor it and make a difference in it.
• If we are of God, how can our lives be like light in the world?
o Answer: Similarly, if we are living in the world as Christ-followers, as people who have been saved from this world, our lives will have the effect of driving out the darkness of the world.
• What are some examples of the darkness of this world?
o Answer: Answers may vary but might include hopelessness, the specific personal sins people deal with, selfishness of others and so on.

Next, ask a volunteer to read Matthew 5:16. Then, ask:
• What does this verse say about the purpose for our living as salt and light in the world?
o Answer: It is to point people to God! People should see our good deeds (a.k.a., our “salt” and “light” actions) and recognize a difference in us. The world will see that we are not of the world. They will notice this difference and recognize it as Christ in us. They will give God the credit and hopefully will be drawn to a saving relationship with Him.

Finally, explain to students that this passage defines in no uncertain terms how their lives are to be lived in this world. They are to be in this world, but living as those who are not of this world. In a word, they are called to engage the world. The world is sinful and opposed to God. When this realization sinks in, it can be tempting to pull out of the world; but this is the opposite of what God wants us to do. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a bowl. Explain that God has saved them in order to connect with the world, not to hide from the world or withdraw from it. They are called to engage the world in the name of Christ, to show the world the difference God can make in an individual’s life. Their lives should be examples of the life available through Christ.
Engaging with this world is the call on the lives of all Christ-followers.

The Pay-Off
• Title: Make It Count
• Goal: The idea is to challenge your students to engage with the world around them, making an impact for Christ.
• Set Up: Provide student guides and something to write with for each of your students. Provide a dry-erase board and a marker.

First, remind students of the prayer time you had in the last lesson. Remind them that you encouraged them to release any struggles or habits they had been harboring that reflected a love of the world. Explain that you were asking them to rid themselves of those struggles so they could be prepared for this lesson. Explain that the heart of this lesson is a great challenge to make an impact on this world for Christ.

Next, explain to students that the word engage has a variety of meanings; and explain that it has some very specific meanings for the purposes of what you are learning about your role in the world. One of the definitions of engage is “to become involved with, or deal with.” Another useful definition is “to connect with.” Explain that the reason Christ saved them from the world is so they can remain in the world and become involved with its people. God desires for them to connect with those individuals who are of the world and who have yet to seek out God’s grace and be saved from the world.

Then, challenge your students by asking them how they are engaging the world. Ask what they are doing on a daily basis to (in the words of Matthew 5:16) let their lights shine? Remind students of Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:13—that if salt isn’t being salty, it’s useless. Explain that God has saved them in order that they might have an amazing impact for Him. Challenge them to begin thinking about what they are doing to engage the world.

Next, draw their attention to their student guides. Explain that they are looking at a picture of salt and a picture of light. Have them take a moment and jot down ways they have been salt and light lately. Give them a few moments. Then, ask if someone would like to share.

Then, work as a group to build a list on the board of ways they can be salt and light in the days and weeks to come. (Suggestions might include actions that range from boldly talking about their faith to showing kindness to a lonely student at their school.) Encourage student participation. Encourage them to be practical and realistic. The important thing is to let students own this. These need to be their suggestions.

Finally, when students have finished building their list, challenge them to choose a couple of things from the board and truly commit to implementing them in the time between this lesson and your next one. Try to impress upon them that this is the very reason God saved them. God desires for them to engage the world around them. Hammer this point home, encouraging them that they have the potential to truly make a difference.

Explain to students that you will be posting the Engage digi-posters to encourage conversation between lessons. Decide ahead of time how you will post these—whether through email, Facebook message, Facebook group page or through your youth group’s website. Challenge students to check in, read and think about the content, and to interact (if there is a method for interaction (i.e., Facebook wall, comment section on a blog, etc.).