Listening to the Word
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Welcome
Have student read bible verse for series: James 1:22-25
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Recap: *remind about umbrella example*
For my faith to be effective, I must listen AND do what God says in His word. If I say that I am a Christian, I should be trying to live a life that is a reflection of how Jesus lived His life.
PRAYER
In order to do what God’s word says, we must KNOW what God’s word says.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
Scripture teaches us what is true
We live in a world that believes truth is relative *pull out compass app on phone*
Scripture teaches us what is right
We naturally want to do the things that benefit us. God’s word teaches a better way. You never have to teach a kid how to say mine! But you do have to teach them how to share. *talk about Addie and Noah in the little car*
Game Time: Mirror Image
Rules - Two contestants will look at a mirror with a drawing on it. They will only have a couple of seconds to look at the image before they have to run to the easel and draw from memory what they saw on the mirror. The one with the closest drawing wins. Next round, let them take the mirror with them and they can look at it as much as they want.
The more that you look at the mirror, the better you can remember what it says. The more that you read your bible, the better you can do what it says.
You cannot expect to handle the curveballs and temptations that life throws at you if you are not grounded in the truth of God’s word.
Jesus gives us an example of why it is important to know what scripture says.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry. During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.” But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say, ‘He will order his angels to protect you. And they will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’ ” Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’” Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” “Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say, ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’” Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.
Jesus used scripture to speak truth against the lies that Satan was saying. Jesus was able to recognize Satan twisting scripture because He knows what it actually says. We should follow Jesus’ example so that we don’t fall for the tricks the devil likes to throw at us.
Closing
We have to listen to what God is saying, and has said to us, so we can live a life that honors God and allows us to live a good, fulfilling life, which the world can never offer.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.