On the Lot...

NewPointe student ministry had a busy weekend! Busy, but really awesome. Our small groups met here at Dover in The Warehouse and we had a rockin' morning on Sunday. All in all, it was awesome.

Let's face it. We've all been there. We've been frustrated with a friend, teacher, or even a family member and wished we could change them. I mean, seriously...if you're honest with yourself you've wanted to change someone in your life to conform to what you think they should be. But, have you ever thought that maybe you should be the one who changes?

You see, the Bible is a great book. Not just because it is full of great historical stories, but mostly (in my humble opinion) because it has power to change our lives. The Bible lays out principles and guidelines for how we should live and love each other. In fact, the Bible has been described as a mirror.

Check out this passage from James 1:23-24, "Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a person who looks at their face in a mirror and, after looking, goes away and immediately forgets what they look like."

The Bible has power to change us into who God really wants us to be. We would never look into a mirror and not fix the flaws we see. We would be so quick to fix a hair that's out of place, or adjust our shirt if it was messed up, but sometimes I think we read the Bible without asking ourselves how we can change.

Talk to the student in your house and encourage them to read the Bible, but also allow the Bible to change them...







QUESTIONS:

1. How would you summarize the main point of what JD was saying? (Answer: We read the Bible to change who we are and how will handle the things that happen to/around us.)

2. Have someone read James 1:23-24:

“Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a person who
looks at their face in a mirror and, after looking, goes away and
immediately forgets what they looks like.” (James 1:23-24 NIV)

3. When you look in the mirror and see that today is a bad hair day or that you have a giant pimple, there are three responses you can choose to have:
#1. You can forget about it and move on.
#2. You can let it make you feel ugly and depressed.
#3. You can do something to fix it.

Which one of these do you tend to do?

4. How is reading the Bible like looking in a mirror?

5. When you read a verse that makes you see something you should change about the way to live, what is your initial response:
#1. Move on and ignore it
#2. Get down on yourself about what a horrible person you really are
#3. Make a serious effort to change

6. Read the following verse from Proverbs 10 and then ask this question: “How is what I am reading going to change my life or alter my course?” Allow students time to think, and give them freedom to have different answers.

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.”
(Proverbs 10:9 NIV).


CLOSING CHALLENGE:
This week, continue to read one verse of Proverbs each day. On Monday, pick up with Proverbs 10:10, Tuesday, Proverbs 10:11, and so on.

Now here is the challenge: after reading the Proverb each day, ask yourself: “How is what I am reading going to change my life or alter my course?”