When A Good Man Stumbles
Posted by: Buffalo Dream Center
Topic: How To Be A Wise Christian
Verse: Be very careful how you live-not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15
Props:
2 dirty stained handkerchiefs-one labeled spirit and the other labeled sin,
2 clean handkerchiefs
4 small boxes labeled good works, self-righteousness, church membership, Jesus Blood
1 empty toilet tissue roll
candle
candle holder
lighter
Instructions:
Staple the empty toilet tissue roll to the inside of the box marked JESUS BLOOD. This will hold your clean handkerchiefs. Keep this box out of view.
Discussion:
1. The Bible teaches that sin makes the human spirit dirty and unclean in the eyes of God.
A. Acts of sin are often fun and do not appear harmful, but they do bring great harm to the human spirit (pull out the sin handkerchief and show it to the class).
B. The sin-stained heart cannot produce things that please God. It cannot produce faith. It cannot produce love. It cannot produce joy.
C. God hates sin because of what if does to the people that He loves. Sin breaks up families. Sin steals happiness. Sin brings trouble.
2. Mankind often tries to deal with sin in its own way. (Bring out the 3 boxes marked -good works, self-righteousness, and church membership)
A. Many people think will clean a heart from sin. (Put the sin-stained handkerchief in the box marked GOOD WORKS and shakes it up.) We cannot be saved from good works. A Christian does good works because he is saved no so he can get saved. (Open the box and remove the handkerchief. Show that it is still dirty)
B. Many people try to suggest that they are good enough to be saved because they aren’t really that bad. (Put the sin-stained handkerchief in the box marked SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS and shake it up). When a person denies that he has done wrong, he is self-righteous. The self-righteous person thinks he is all right with God because he is as good or better than most people around him. (Open the box and remove the dirty handkerchief. Show that it is still dirty.)
C. There are those who believe they are save just because they belong to a church. (Put the sin-stained handkerchief in the box marked CHURCH MEMBERSHIP and shakes it up.) Church membership cannot take away sin. There is no power in the church to save a person. (Open the box and pull out the handkerchief. Show that it is still dirty.)
3. There is only one cure for the horrible effects of sin. (Bring out the box marked JESUS BLOOD)
A. Jesus died in the place of sinners, so He could be punished for our sins. He was the Son of God therefore; His blood was sinless and innocent.
B. Jesus blood is used to cleanse sin from our hearts - 1 John 1:7
C. When a sinner asks Jesus into his heart, Jesus Blood washes away all his sins. (Put the sin stained handkerchief in the box and shake it up. Leave the sin stain handkerchief in the box and pull out one of the clean handkerchiefs.)
D. If the blood of Jesus can cleanse a sinners heart that is completely dirty, how much more can it cleanse the heart of a Christian who stumbles? (Put the handkerchief marked SPIRIT in the box. Shake it up. Pull out the other clean handkerchief.)
4. Once you accept God’s forgiveness, you must also decide to live for him.
i. Have you ever heard the expression “You can’ t burn the candle at both ends”?
ii. What does it mean?
iii. What else can we learn from trying to burn a candle at both ends?
a. It makes a big mess.
b. It burns for a shorter time
c. You cannot put the candle down.
iv. The way a candle was design was to have one end in a candle holder (a place to rest), and one end burns.
v. You can compare this to a person’s life.
vi. Some people try to be Christians, and live for sin at the same time.
vii. It doesn’t work.
ix. Your life becomes one big mess.
x. Your life may even be shortened
xi. You need to put your trust in God (candle holder)
xii. Then you need to live for God.
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