November 25-26
Big Idea: God wants us to do good things for Him.
Key Verse: James 2:14 NLT "Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions?"
Thoughts: The reason faith without works is dead is because our purpose isn't just to be 'saved.' Our purpose is to show and model for the world what life could look like if we submit to the rule of Jesus, the world is to see our good actions, then they will gloify God knowing that our work really isn't ours, but God's work in us (Matt. 5:16; Eph 2:10). Our faith is in God that He will do His kingdom work in and through our actions. This is what saving faith is, faith that God is King and that He will direct our path (Psalms). Faith that only believes there is one God (Jesus) is demonic! (James 2:19). When Paul says in Romans 10 that "if you confess with your mouth and beleive in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord you will be saved" he doesn't simply mean "repeat this secrect formula so that you won't go to hell," he's means to put you life under the universal Lordship of Christ, which is another way of saying "if you confess Jesus is Lord, then you will do what he says because He is the one in charge" (Rom. 1:5; John 14:15, 15:14). Having faith and living in faithfulness are the same thing (Hab. 2:4"live by his faith"). Terry put some examples of people living our their faith below.
It is really important that the children don't think when they are in Jr. High or High School that whatever they do is ok because they 'got saved' when they were younger because they said that they believed in Jesus. They need to understand the truth that if you love Jesus you will obey what He says, which is essentially to love others (John 13:34)!
Additional thoughts from Terry: "Story of Abraham and Issace-Gen. 22; Story of Rahab-Joshua 2."
Key Verse: James 2:14 NLT "Dear brothers and sisters, what's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions?"
Thoughts: The reason faith without works is dead is because our purpose isn't just to be 'saved.' Our purpose is to show and model for the world what life could look like if we submit to the rule of Jesus, the world is to see our good actions, then they will gloify God knowing that our work really isn't ours, but God's work in us (Matt. 5:16; Eph 2:10). Our faith is in God that He will do His kingdom work in and through our actions. This is what saving faith is, faith that God is King and that He will direct our path (Psalms). Faith that only believes there is one God (Jesus) is demonic! (James 2:19). When Paul says in Romans 10 that "if you confess with your mouth and beleive in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord you will be saved" he doesn't simply mean "repeat this secrect formula so that you won't go to hell," he's means to put you life under the universal Lordship of Christ, which is another way of saying "if you confess Jesus is Lord, then you will do what he says because He is the one in charge" (Rom. 1:5; John 14:15, 15:14). Having faith and living in faithfulness are the same thing (Hab. 2:4"live by his faith"). Terry put some examples of people living our their faith below.
It is really important that the children don't think when they are in Jr. High or High School that whatever they do is ok because they 'got saved' when they were younger because they said that they believed in Jesus. They need to understand the truth that if you love Jesus you will obey what He says, which is essentially to love others (John 13:34)!
Additional thoughts from Terry: "Story of Abraham and Issace-Gen. 22; Story of Rahab-Joshua 2."
posted by Andrew Rillera at 12:20 PM
3 Comments:
Jorv-use your descretion (is that how you spell it?). If you think it might be too much then you can always use Gen 12:1-3 where God tell him to leave his father and country and go where God tells him. I think making the distinction between what makes you a christian and how a christian should live is essential. It may be difficult , but we have to spell it out for them.
For me, I think I'm going to stick with the Abraham and Israel story for that very reason because it makes that point so clear. God promised Abraham that he and his descendant would be His people. This was BEFORE Abraham did anything! AFTER Abraham had that 'status' He did things that 'proved' his faith. Same with Israel, God saved them from the Egyptians BEFORE He gave them the Law (because He already promised Abraham that his descendant would be His people and that He would protect them). AFTER they we saved, then God gave them the Law as a charter for how they are to conduct their lives as a people saved and bought by God. Some people think that the Law was given as a sort of 'latter' to God that is impossible to climb so we need someone to climb it for us (Christ), but that interpretation of the Law doesn't fit with the context or even w/ the Law itself (see Deut. 30:11-14). The Law was given as a blessing (Ps. 119; Rom. 3:1). It told Israel how to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the calling they had received of being a light to the nations(Ex. 19:4-6).
This is the same pattern we follow today. God saves us BEFORE we do anything. Then AFTER we are saved He tell us how we are to conduct ourselves. The apostle Paul says this starting in Ephesians 4:1. He says "to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." Earlier in his letter (2:8-10) He says that we were saved FIRST so that we can do good works for God: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Blessings brothers! :) Your service and time spent is greatly appreciated!
*Ladder* not 'latter' :) and *descendants* not 'descendant'
Jim-thank you clarifying my point :) I dont teach up front anymore, unless there is a hole in the schedule, to allow more people to serve in that capacity. Just for further reference when I talk about me or what I plan on doing, most of the time I'm talking about small group time. Sorry for the mis communication, that was my fault. Thank you Jim for staying on point and making sure the focus of the big goup time in on simple illustrations of the big idea! I think that is a great point about talking about the 'small' acts of faith because that is what most of our life will consist of!
On that note here's an example I heard before that is very similar to Jorvic's: Sitting in a garage doesn't make you a car! The point being that just because you sit in a "church" or like you said Jorvic "just because you say you are a Christian, have a bible, go to sunday school it doesn't mean you are a Christian." What makes a car a car is not where is parks or sits, but what it does, how it functions. The same is true of Christians. There are some missionaries that haven't 'gone to church' in years! yet we know they are Christians by their actions!
You all are amazing! I look forward to seeing you tomorrow!
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