The Bible – Learning About a God You Cannot See

GETTING STARTED: 

1. First impressions count. Have you ever met someone about whom your first impression was completely wrong? 

2. Have you ever given someone a bad first impression? How did you fix that? 

A LOOK AT THE BIBLE:

Looking at the verses for today, Jesus is speaking in Matthew 23:23¬24 to the religious leaders.

"Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you...", Jesus said in Matthew 5:44.

"Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man...", Jesus said in Matthew 7:24.      

• Why do you think God decided to give us a book?      
• In the first verse for today Jesus condemned some of the religious leaders. From looking at the verses, what do you think they were doing wrong?      
• In the second verse, we have one of Jesus' most radical teachings. How easy do you think this is? How important do you think this is? 

REFLECTION:

How do you think God wants us to respond to what he says in the Bible? What might  God want from us?

What is your response to the Bible at this point? 

What God might want from us: How about for us to love and trust him enough to obey his teachings? Jesus' brother wrote about how we respond to the Bible in James 1:22¬24 and also read what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21¬24.

PRAYER:

Dear God, thank you for giving us the Bible so we can know what you are like. Please help me to read this book, and to understand the different parts of it, so I can know what you are really like. Help me also to live out your teachings.

It is easy to overlook the pain and needs of others. Help me to see the needs that people around me have. Show me how I can help them. 

In Jesus' name I ask, Amen.