![]() Then Jesus begins to teach them what is in store for the Son of Man. At this moment, he raises an important question with them: How do you understand who I am? With confidence, Peter confesses that Jesus is the Messiah. He is nearing the time when he will start the journey toward Jerusalem. For the first time, Jesus begins to teach the disciples about his suffering, death, and resurrection. The gospel writer makes an important turn in this passage from Mark. How does this lesson challenge you to use your words in a way that reflects your faith?.In today’s world, how are words used to praise? How are they used to curse others? What are some concrete examples of the paradox that James presents to us?.Do we build up or do we tear down? This passage from James asks us to question how we use our words and how they reflect our discipleship. The dignity of every human being is at stake. We are challenged to consider that this paradox should not exist-for how can fresh and brackish water come from the same place? How can words denigrating other people of God come from a tongue that professes faith in Christ Jesus? The damage done by sharp tearing words can be the small flame that grows into a large fire. The tongue we use to praise God is the same tongue that is often used to cause harm to others. This portion of the epistle turns to a sometimes less obvious aspect of our actions-how we use our words. It continues one of the main themes in James: how our actions should reflect our faith. This lesson from James marks about the halfway point in the letter. How have you heard creation singing God’s glory? What has that meant for you in your life?.What experience have you had of the words of scripture reviving your soul?.Where do you most easily hear God’s wisdom?.We also hear of the beauty and clarity of attending to God’s word in scripture, allowing deep meditation on the words to help align our lives with God’s wishes for us. We hear of creation wordlessly singing of God’s glory, carrying a message for all the world. ![]() ![]() Where do we listen for God’s knowledge and words that Wisdom so longs for us to attend? Psalm 19 holds before us two places where knowledge of God can be encountered: creation and the law, the scripture. Psalm 19 is a beautiful response to today’s lesson from Proverbs. Given the difficulties and challenges everyone faces in life, what might it mean to live at ease, without dread of disaster, by following God’s Wisdom?.How are God’s knowledge and wisdom different from learning not grounded in God?.It’s a disquieting passage that invites us to reflect on where we root the actions of our lives. She calls out to us in all the daily busyness of our lives to listen and follow God’s wisdom by painting a vivid picture of what happens for those who do not. This passage draws a stark distinction between the outcomes for those who listen to and follow God’s ways and those who do not. She warns that disaster looms for those who go their own way based on their own knowledge. She warns them of the calamity that befalls those who do not listen and root their lives in the fear of God-the following of and reverence for God. She calls out with a focus on those who are not following God’s wisdom. In this passage from early in the first chapter, Wisdom is personified and moves amid the bustling activity in the core of the city. An important aspect of this literature is to guide the people of God in ways of right living. During a youth Bible study on evangelism, address any fears or hesitations that kids have about sharing their beliefs with others.The Book of Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature in the Hebrew Scriptures. Plus, they usually have wide-reaching networks of friends and acquaintances. In fact, teenagers tend to be some of the boldest witnesses around. You don’t need to be an adult or a longtime Christian to share your faith in Jesus with others. These studies are bound to lead to lively discussions about the challenges and blessings of following Jesus. Choose people from both the Old and New Testaments, including some whom teens may not have heard about previously. ObedienceĬharacter studies of people in the Bible who obey (and disobey) God’s Word also work especially well for youth Bible study topics. Jesus’ sermon opens with the Beatitudes, which make great youth Bible study topics on their own! 4. These include obedience, witnessing, relationships, enemies, giving, prayer, wealth, worrying, judging and salvation. In his Sermon on the Mount ( Matthew chapters 5-7), Jesus covers loads of topics of interest and relevance to young people.
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