Matthew Bible Reading Challenge

Challenge yourself to achieve 1000 points by completing your choice of the following activities. Each activity has a certain number of points depending on how challenging it is. Some activites may be particularly suited for children and families, while others may be more suited for adults and teens. One of the best parts of a challenge is doing it together. Find another family to do it with, or involve your Sunday School or CYC.

Read - 400 Points

Read through all of Matthew for 400 points! Below you can find a printable tracker for each chapter so you can check them off as you go!

Bible Journal - 500 Points

Use a notebook or a Bible Reading Journal to take notes while you read. You can order a prepared reading journal on Amazon (link below) or use just a regular notebook. A page of suggested questions to ask is also available below. Share your thoughts or favourite verses with your friends and family or on Social Media.

Bible Art - 500 Points

Choose a verse that exhorts or encourages you during your Bible readings and illustrate it. Share your creations here: Facebook Bible Journaling Group

Bible Marking - 100 Points

As you read through this gospel, use coloured pencils to mark all the occurrences of “king”. “kingdom”, and “fulfil”. Make a list of what you discover.

Language - 150 Points

Do a word study on the Greek word for “gospel”. You can find a worksheet below that explains how to do a word study. Share what you learn with your friends and family or on Social Media.

Literature - 200 Points

Read through any of the following books and share a quote or two with family and friends or on Social Media. Links to Booksellers below.

Mary, Handmaid of the Lord by Geoff Henstock
Nazareth Revisited by Robert Roberts
A Life of Jesus by Melva Purkis
Parables of the Messiah by John Carter

Media - 300 Points

Search for this talk on Christadelphian Bible Talks and Exhortations:

Matthew’s Messiah by Dennis Gillett.

Write a short review to share what you learn.

Memory Verse - 250 Points

Learn these verses by heart:

Matthew 1:1
Matthew 6:21

You can download the bookmarks below to help you memorize them. Colour them, or use them as a template to journal into your Bible margin.

People - 100 Points

Get to know the twelve disciples. Use the page below if you like to list and colour them. What do you know or can you find out about each of them?

Geography - 300 Points

Print the map below to track the journeys of Christ in Matthew as you read through the gospel. You may find this website helpful: The World of Jesus.

Hymn Study - 100 Points

Hymn 190: Bethlehem, thou little city.

Sing this hymn. You can find a link below for the music. Write out the hymn (worksheet below), and see if you can find Bible passages that relate to this particular hymn.

You can also memorize the Beatitudes using this song: The Beatitudes by The Wonder Kids

Outline - 300 Points

Create a visual outline of Matthew to get a big picture of the book! You can use the worksheet below. You may also find it helpful to have a look at the Bible Project’s poster for Matthew: Matthew.

Bible Study - 500 Points

Do an overview of the book of Matthew. There is a worksheet below on how to do a Bible Book overview that you may find helpful.

Art Project - 150 Points

Print out and colour some of the colouring pages from this book: Sweet Meditations Matthew 5

The Heart - 300 Points

T H I N K ON T H I S :

Our aim as Christians is to become like Jesus. Even though we live in different cultures, have different life paths and careers, we should still be doing the sort of things that Jesus did. Two chapters in Matthew give us a good snapshot of the sort of things Jesus did in his day to day life that are possible for us to follow and do the same. After all, we do want to be like him

Matthew chapters 8 and 9 tell us how Jesus…

Was willing to help those in desperate need (Matthew 8 v 3).
Used every-day life lessons to teach and encourage others (8 v 10 – 12).
Used his abilities to help others (v 16).
Turned cursing into blessing (v 28 – 32).
Forgave sins (Matthew 9 v 2 – 6).
Spent time with those who needed his help (v 10 – 13).
Showed mercy (v 13).
Came to bring joy (v 15).
Had time for others even when he was busy with other things (v 19 – 23).
Grew faith in others (v 29).
Prayed (v 37 – 38).

It may be that the big miracles are not our place, but we can be willing to help, show compassion, give grace, show forgiveness, and to pray. In doing these, we will be living like Jesus.

Robert Prins – Thinky Things