Objective
Students will be challenged to see rules and laws in our culture as opportunities to witness to a lost world and to set aside personal feelings and attitudes for the sake of the Gospel.
Warm Up
As students arrive, give each one four paper plates. Have them quickly decorate the plates with faces showing these emotions: HAPPY, SAD, MAD, SCARED.
You can also consider providing pre-printed emoji plates if you want to save time.
Call out activities and have students hold up the emoji that matches their attitude: drawing, playing sports, gaming, chores, public speaking, etc.
Discuss:
- Which emotion did you use most?
- How do your attitudes change when requests come from friends, parents, or teachers?
Transition
For every rule, activity, and circumstance in our lives, there’s always an initial feeling we feel. Everything around us draws out an attitude, good or bad.
In the clip we are going to watch from The Chosen, Jesus and His disciples are presented with a law they must follow. Most of them find this law frustrating, tiring, and unfair. But Jesus challenges their attitude with a radical response. Let’s watch the clip and talk about it.
The Clip
Have students turn to the “Extra Mile” section of their Student Guide.
Play “Walking The Extra Mile” from Season 4, Episode 5 of The Chosen.
Discuss:
- Why do you think the Romans made such a demanding rule?
- What attitudes did the disciples show? What about the soldiers?
- Why did Jesus choose to “go the extra mile”?
Transition
Have you ever heard the phrase “going the extra mile”? This teaching of Jesus is exactly where this phrase comes from.
Jesus was making a clear point about our attitude in obeying and serving people. His actions were a seemingly shocking example to both His disciples and to the soldiers.
Bible Study
Read Matthew 5:41
- How did the disciples react to Jesus’ choice?
- How did the soldiers react?
- What do you think Jesus was showing both groups?
Have students turn to the “What Attitude?” section of their Student Guide.
Read Philippians 2:3-11
Paul tells us to have the “same attitude as Christ Jesus.”
- What attitudes do you see in this passage?
- How do they connect with Jesus’ actions in the clip?
Three Characters
Give students 5 minutes to complete the “Three Characters” section of their Student Guide and discuss:
- What were the soldiers’ feelings about this law?
- What were the disciples’ feelings?
- What was Jesus’ attitude?
- What feeling motivated Jesus to obey in this way?
Wrap Up
Jesus’ attitude in this moment impacted both His disciples and the soldiers. It was a teachable moment about humility, servanthood, and witness. He showed His followers the attitude He expected, and He showed the soldiers what kind of person He truly was.
Challenge students to think about the rules they follow—at home, at school, or from authority—and consider how their attitude can reflect Christ. Encourage them to write action steps in the “Do What It Says” section of their Student Guide.
Encourage students to memorize Philippians 2:5 or Matthew 5:41 this week, and pray that God would help them respond with a servant’s heart instead of selfishness.
Close in prayer, asking God to reveal areas where students resist serving and to fill them with Christ’s attitude.