Don’t Just Read the Bible, Do What It Says

Message:

James 1:22 = “Don’t merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

Scripture:

James 1:22-25 = Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Materials:

• Several T-shirts (and/or hats) with different sayings on it (logos are fine, also)
• Makeup (if you like)
• Mirror
• (Small prizes if you like)
• Bible (of course)

Assign a few volunteers to leave the room.

1. Have the materials waiting for them in another room.
2. Volunteers will put on one of the shirts. They may only look at what the shirt says, once, though (usually before putting it on). (Another volunteer may write something on their faces with washable makeup if they like, and let them see themselves once in the mirror).
3. Have volunteers come out and stand in a line, shoulder to shoulder, facing the rest of the students.
4. Volunteers, without looking at their shirts again, must take turns to tell everybody else what their shirt (or logo) says. – (You’ll be surprised. Not everybody will remember!)
   1. Have the other students ask them questions about the shirts they put on, like what color the words are.
   2. What color is the logo?
   3. What does the logo look like?
   4. What do the words say?
   5. etc.
5. Do this a few times to giver everybody a chance and keep it fun
6. (if you have prizes, give them to those who remember)

Read Scripture

James 1:23-24 = Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 

Ask about and explain how this is like those who didn’t remember what they looked like before coming out to the group.

Then read v. 25:

But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.

Ask about and explain how this is like those who did remember what they looked like before coming out to the group, and were able to answer the questions about what they put on.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do we read the Bible? Why is it so important for the Christian to read it? What’s the purpose of reading the Bible?
2. Read James 1:22 = “Don’t merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
   Why do you suppose James felt the need to tell his listeners this?
3. What happens when we decide to pick and choose what we want to obey in the Bible? Is that what it means to be a Christian?

Explain that as Christians, it’s imperative that we read the Bible and do what it says, even if it’s not what we want to do (You may want to use some examples from Matthew’s Sermon on the Mount), and that those who pick and choose what they want to follow aren’t really Christians, even though they believe they are. (This could lead into a great discussion, also).

Challenge for next week:

Challenge your students to read something from the Bible each day this week, and when they come across a part that’s difficult to obey, write it down and bring it to group next week for discussion.

Pray out:

• Pray that God will give them the desire to obey His Word
• Pray for understanding of the scriptures they’re reading
• Pray for understanding of application