“SAY WHAT YOU MEAN AND MEAN WHAT YOU SAY”

YEAH! CHURCH - SUNDAY, MAY 22, 2022

"Doing Life with Jesus”
Today’s Lesson - “Say What You Mean and Mean What You Say”

Video Story/Resource:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2c6XL9E5Yw (Pursue God Kids – Truthfulness)

Teaching About Vows
Matthew 5:33-37, NLT
33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the LORD.’ 34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.”
Jesus told us that when we make a commitment or when we’re trying to convince someone that we are telling the truth, our words should be enough. What we say we will do, we do. What we promise we won’t do, we don’t. What we say is the truth is actually true. If we have a reputation for being honest and reliable, we will not need to try to convince people by making a vow.

​Sometimes people make vows that sound like, “I promise,” when they’re trying to convince people of their good intentions and truthfulness. But Jesus tells us this is unnecessary if we are in the habit of speaking truthfully and fulfilling the commitments we make. Any time we need to add to our words people may be suspicious…and for good reason. Those who try extra hard to convince us of something using vows may actually be lying. Better to be trustworthy!

Engage:
• In Jesus’ day people liked to make vows to convince others of their serious intent to do something or of their truthfulness. How are the promises we make similar to making a vow?
• Jesus told us that making vows is wrong. Why?
• We need to always be honest about what we say and about the things we will do. If we are, our words will contain a promise without having to say “I promise” because people know we are reliable. Do others trust you?

Weekly verse:
Ecclesiastes 5:5-6a, NLT – “It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it. Don’t let your mouth make you sin.”

2022 Theme verses:
Colossians 2:6-7, NLT – “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him. Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”

Prayer – Dear God, thank you for your reminders that ‘honesty is always the best policy.’ Help me to always be honest and kind, so that others know they can count on me. And thank you that I can always count on you, because I know you always keep your word.
~ Pastor Jane