Not Surface Level

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Th4NIxylT4a_RZYKLiwyTWpaK-8N2-byvuuLeeR7UIU/edit?slide=id.p#slide=id.p

Welcome

Last week character trait we talked about being decisive and specifically we prepared ourselves to be decisive against bullying

Today we are moving on to knowledgable

Growing in a deeper comprehension of Jesus Christ that leads to a greater understanding of His Word and His will for life.

The Best Object: The Box

The 2-Minute Stage Script

Show is off

Ask what people think is in it

Shoes

Video Game

Candy

Answers to your pace test?

Weight Check

Shake Test

"We can stand here all day and make great guesses. We can look at the outside. We can feel the weight. We can even listen closely. But let me ask you a question:

Can any of you truly know what is inside this box right now?"

Because no matter how good our guesses are, we are just making things up until we actually open it and look inside.

We guess or base our own knowledge about Jesus based on what we hear from others. You hear it from

TV

Pamphlets

A random prayer

Even right here and right now, you are listening to this old guy talk about it.

It is a great start, but to really understand and to have personal understanding, you have to actually open the box, open the gift that has been given to all of us.

We don’t have to guess, he gave us all the answers right here.

Stop guessing what's in the box, and start opening the Word!"

Proverbs 2:6

"For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

But there are some obstacles or reasons we don’t right?

Point 1: From "Fan" to "Friend" (The Crowd Check)

You can know someone without actually knowing them.

Ask the room to stand up.

Stay standing if you can name the top player on your favorite sports team." (Most stay standing).

"Stay standing if you know how long they have been playing for that team." (Some sit).

Stay standing if you know that player’s birthday.

Stay standing if you have their cell number and you talk to them all the time.

"We live in a culture of followers and fans. You can follow Jesus on the surface, but a means moving from a fan to a friend. It means studying His life in the Gospels—how He stood up for the lonely, broke down social barriers, and chose love over power. You don't get deep by scrolling; you get deep by spending time together.

John 15:14–15 “You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father.”

The world is full of ways to find out about your favorite football star or gamer. There are youtube videos, instagram post. Those things also exist for the bible and God’s word. Even me standing here helps you to understand a little bit more. But sometimes we choose to watch that football match instead of a bible story or we choose to look up youtube videos of our favorite game instead of reading or watching the story of David.

And that is ok. We are all still learning. It is ok to enjoy those things as long they are not who you are.

I think a large problem is just how confusing the bible can be for a young believer.

If you don’t have guidance or someone helping you, it can be a very strange and I dare say boring in some of its chapters. It is all very important, but reading about family trees are not as captivating or interesting as say, the story of David and Goliath.

The bible is also not as descriptive as modern books or movies as it was designed to allow you to grow while reading it, and not a simple information source. Some of you are learning with the King James Version which is very hard for ESL learners.

But, while everyone should read the bible, it is ok to take off bite size chunks. That is the reason we are working through John together. A way to help you understand and give you a reference.

The bible is confusing and it looks like an ancient code or heavy rulebook. But luckily someone made it much easier. Eventually, reading it stops become a chore or difficult.

Jesus did this for us. It moves from a rulebook or old people, to the words of your friend talking to you.

Point 2: The Decoder Ring (Unlocking the Word)

The Bible feels like a textbook until you know the Author.

Flash a heavily encrypted message or a block of random code on the big screens. Ask if anyone in the auditorium can read it out loud. Then, click the slide to overlay a "decoder key" that instantly reveals a simple phrase like.

"Without Jesus, the Bible can look like ancient code or a heavy rulebook. But Jesus is the decoder key. When you grow in your understanding of Him, unlocks. You stop reading it to finish a chore, and you start reading it to hear a friend's voice. The Old Testament points to Him, and the New Testament reflects Him.

Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.”

Point 3: The GPS vs. The Compass (Discovering His Will)

The Concept: God’s will is not a specific destination blueprint; it is a direction for your character.

But Jesus gives us a compass. When you grow close to Him, His will for your life becomes clear right now. His will is for you to love your neighbor, stand up for justice, and walk with integrity. If you are following the Person, you will always land in the right place."

How to practice it with 150 kids:

To get all 150 kids shouting it together at the end of your message, use the "Echo Technique":You: "Before you leave today, I want us to lock this truth into our brains. I am going to say a phrase, and I want you to shout it back to me so loud the walls shake.

Ready? Don't just guess from the outside..." Kids: "Don't just guess from the outside..." You: "...open up the Word inside!" Kids: "...open up the Word inside!"

You: "Let's do the whole thing together on the count of three. One, two, three..."

Everyone: "Don't just guess from the outside—open up the Word inside!"