We continued our study on the Bible by considering how Scripture is God's measuring stick.
We began by talking about the ways in which the world measures each other - how rich, beautiful, strong or popular we are. Most of us at times in our life feel like we don't measure up, but in reality it does not matter how other people measure us. It only matters how we measure up to God's standard, which is the Word of God.
Big Idea: God wants us to measure ourselves by the Scriptures
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Scripture is a measuring stick that...
- Teaches - the story of Creation, Fall and Redemption (we find our story in God's story)
- Convicts - the only way we know what God likes and dislikes is through the Bible
- Corrects - God doesn't just convict us that we are wrong, but helps us change
- Trains - in righteousness
Hebrews 4:12
Scripture is a measuring stick that is...
- Alive - God breathed the Scripture!
- Sharp - cuts like an expert surgeon's knife
- Discerning - able to get to our heart
We concluded by realizing that the Scripture is the perfect measuring stick, able to do all these things. However, if we do not study and meditate on it, the Bible will not teach, convict, correct or train us. We must pick it up and study!
High School - James 5:7-12
We are almost through the book of James, and we looked at James 5:7-12 this past Tuesday.
Big Idea: Having a faith that works means enduring.
We began discussing how the Christian life is a marathon, where it takes the grace of God to endure. We often feel like giving up, but we cannot. We must press on, and carry our cross. What is even more interesting is that this is a race in which we have no idea how long we will be running. We must continue until Christ comes back or He takes us home.
We endure with...
1. Patience - the people James was writing to needed patience because all around them the wicked seemed to be prospering and worldliness seemed to be winning! We also need patience as we await the return of the King, who will make all wrongs right and all sad things untrue.
James uses the illustration of a Farmer who awaits the harvest. We need to have this same kind of diligent patience.
2. Peace - During the time we wait for Christ's return, we must seek peace with God's people. Rather than turn on each other and quarrel, we must come together as God's unified people, ready to build His kingdom.
3. Hope - James moves from the illustration of the Farmer to that of the Prophets who patiently endured suffering. Then James used the example of Job, who endured trials, temptation and suffering. We as believers need to have this same type of patient endurance as we await Christ's return. The way that the prophets and Job were able to do this was because of hope in God's character and promises - His purpose, compassion and mercy!!
4. Integrity - James constantly comes back to the tongue, and he focuses here on integrity in our words. Our word should be trustworthy, and especially as Christians, we should be different from the world, who needs a contract for everything. Our faith should affect our speech and our integrity.
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