Sunday School 6.23.24

Salt Week 1

Show Video:

We are going to be doing a series through most of the rest of the summer called “Salt”

part of what we are going to talk about is Creating Thirst.

We’ve talked a few weeks ago about Matthew 5:13 “13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.”

What does that verse mean?

Followers of Jesus are to bring flavor to the world.

We preserve by bringing the life of Jesus to the lost and dying.

How do we do that without shoving our beliefs down other’s throats?

Hopefully that’s one thing we can learn together this summer.

How can I engage in real, authentic, relevant spiritual conversations with lost people who need Jesus.

How can I be that person then to tell them about Jesus who has given me life?

Well let’s start this conversation ourselves with another question.

What are the first 5 words that jump into your head when you hear the word God?

*give the students time then take some of their responses.

Let’s dig a little deeper and watch a video real quick.

Do you think most people have wondered about God in their lives?

Do you agree that people pick and choose their view of God like they pick and choose their hats… They choose what style they want today and go with that. ?

Why or why not?

Where do people’s views of God come from?

Why are there so many different views of God?

Are some of the vies of God contradictory to one another? Can all the different views of God be right?

We need to know that it’s perfectly find to have personal preferences when we choose what hat to wear or what clothes to wear or what food to eat.

But when it comes to what we believe about God, it’s not about our preferences.

It’s about God!

We don’t determine who He is. He does.

So we need to go to His Word then to see what God says about Himself.

Can someone read John 14:8-9

John 14:8–9 NIV

8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

So here we have Philip wondering about God. What does Jesus say to Philip?

If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the father.

So here also we have Jesus saying pretty clearly, you want to see God, Here I am!

Can someone else read Colossians 1:15 and Colossians 1:20?

Colossians 1:15 “15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”

Colossians 1:20 “20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

What is Paul saying here about how we get to know the invisible God?

There are 5 clear things just through these 2 verses that we can know about God.

He is Pre-existent - He was before Creation.

He is supreme - He is over all of creation.

He is reconciler - You can’t be right with Him without Him.

He has offered peace to all of us.

He sacrificially went to the cross for us.

Philippians 3:8–9 “8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Everything is worthless compared to Jesus.

So what does this mean for us then?

It means if we want to get to know God, we need to get to know Jesus.

But is knowing Jesus more than just filling our head with facts about Jesus?

Yes! Absolutely.

We will talk about that more in the coming weeks.

In closing today though, Listen to these I am statements from Jesus.

I am the bread of life. - Jesus satisfies my spiritual needs

John 6:35 “35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

I am the light of the world - Jesus shows me how to live

John 8:12 “12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

I am the way the truth and the life . No one comes to the Father except through me. - Jesus restores my relationship with the father.

John 14:6 “6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I am the vine. - Jesus lives in me and empowers me.

John 15:5 “5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”

We can take those 4 things with us today.

Do you know that about Jesus?

That he satisfies, gives life, restores our relationship and empowers us by living in us?

We have that. May we all live from that.

Let’s pray and head across the street this morning.