lesson loop 10.1.14

Middle School - "Guilty before God"
We continued our study on humanity, and we built on the Big Idea we have been developing from Scripture.
Big Idea: Who am I? I am made in the image of God, born in sin, and guilty before God.

Last night we specifically focused on why "non-religious" people are guilty before God -

The non-religious are guilty because of…

1. God’s Creation (Rom. 1:18-25)
His invisible attributes - eternal power & divine nature

The students also listed on paper what they consider to be the greatest evidences that there is a God. You can find their list here: student evidences of God

How the non-religious rejects God… (the process)

• He suppresses the truth
• He dishonors God (is ungrateful to God)
• His thinking becomes futile
• His heart is darkened
• He exchanges the glory of God for idolatry (worship creature instead of Creator)

2. Man’s Conscience (Rom. 2:14-16)

God has given us an internal law (hearts) & conflicting thoughts (mind)

High School - Proverbs 4
Often in the book of Proverbs, we are presented with 2 ways - The Way of Wisdom (Righteousness) and The Way of Foolishness (Evil)

Last night we considered the Way of Wisdom.

Big Idea: Skillful, Christ-like living takes place on the Way of Wisdom.

2 characteristics of the Way of Wisdom…

1. Freedom (v. 11-12,19)

2. Brilliance (v. 18-19)

Ps. 19:8; Ps. 119:105,130; Prov. 6:23

Jesus is the Way, Truth and Life!! (John 14:6)

4 steps on the Way of Wisdom

1. Hear God’s word (v. 1-3,10,20) - repetition emphasizes importance

• Godly heritage? Praise God! (3 generations) - working out of Deut. 6
• No heritage? Look to Proverbs! Lean on the loving adults here at Ebenezer...

2. Get wisdom / insight (v. 5,7,13) - “buy”
3. Keep God’s commandments - (v. 4,13,21)
1. pure speech (v.24)
2. pure eyes; focus (v. 25)

3. pure actions (v. 26-27)

*Don’t give evil an inch!! (v. 15)

4. Guard your heart

Legalism vs. Love - It is important for us to understand that guarding our heart is about what we love, not about what we do or don't do. Having said that, what we do affects our heart; it is a cycle.
And so we must guard our heart with our life!!