Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it -- he will be blessed in what he does.

The lesson today teaches us to use the Bible as our behavioral mirror. We are to look into the "perfect Law" to see how we look -- that is, we are to examine our actions to see if they measure up to the standards God sets before us. Just as we would not look into our mirror, see a smudge of chocolate on our cheek, and forget about it, we should not look at our lives, see the sins we carry with us daily, and forget about them once we are not holding the mirror the Bible places before us.

Reaching the Teen

This one is easy, given the teenager's typical overemphasis on appearance, and on not looking silly, ridiculous, out of place or "dorky".

Materials:

A batch of cookies, with frosting, or bars, with frosting or creamy chocolate topping

A mirror

Bibles

Napkins

At the start of class, the teacher has the sweets in a noticeable place in the classroom, but tells anyone who asks that they are for later. Throughout the opening activities, if the class does not continue to be distracted by the cookies, the teacher should act distracted by them -- remarking on how good they look or smell, and how hungry they make the teacher.

Opening Activities:

Who is here? Round-robin attendance to get students to know names

Pair off for weekly "high points and low points"

Well, these treats are becoming too much of a distraction for me/us, I'm afraid. I'll put them in the enxt room until we're ready to have them. While I do that, please get out your Bibles, and take a sheet of paper and a pen.

(Teacher exits to a place which cannot be seen, takes a moment or two longer than one would expect, as if taking a bite of the snack, and comes back in, with an obvious smudge of frosting on his or her cheek.)

The students will almost certainly begin accusing the teacher of sneaking a snack. The teacher denies it vehemently. If the students do not accuse, they might snicker or make a face or whisper, giving the teacher the chance to solicit the accusation. After denying for a while the teacher will agree to look in a mirror.

Well, I see what you mean. I do have a smudge of something there, don't I. But it's not from the snack. (Teacher puts the mirror down.)

More accusations should follow. Teacher takes the mirror again.

Well, OK, I guess it is that kind of frosting. Yes, I did take one. But I want you to forget it. (Puts mirror down)

More comments will follow. One last time, looking into the mirror.

OK, I guess I'll just wipe this off my face.

Today I want us to look at the verses 1 John 1:22-25. Everyone please find that passage, and would someone please read it?

Discussion Points:

Why do people look in mirrors?

How is the Bible like a mirror?

What are we supposed to "see" in the mirror of the "perfect law"?

What is the "perfect law"?

What are we supposed to do about what we see?