Itching Ears

2 Timothy 3:16-17, NIRV

God has breathed life into all Scripture. It is useful for teaching us what is true. It is useful for correcting our mistakes. It is useful for making our lives whole again. It is useful for training us to do what is right. By using Scripture, the servant of God can be completely prepared to do every good thing.

Object/visual

A couple of Bibles written in different translations.

Message

The Bible was written by many different people a long time ago. God’s Spirit helped all the writers know the truth about God and about the world. The Old Testament was first written in the Hebrew language. The New Testament was written in the Greek language. Scripture has been translated into English and hundreds of other languages. This is done so that people all over the world can read and learn from it.

Do you have a Bible of your own? Is it written in English? What do those letters mean, such as NRSV, NIV, or CEB on your Bible? (Allow children to respond.). The Bible is written in many translations so that people can more easily understand the words.

People ask many questions. There are many questions that the Bible does not answer: “What is the largest planet in our solar system? Will my friend who has an illness get better? What is 767 times 36? Am I allergic to this piece of candy in my trunk or treat bag?”

Can you ask a question that the Bible doesn’t answer? (Allow children to ask a question that may not be in Bible.)

It is fun to think of questions, but we need to remember that the Bible does give us true and helpful answers to the biggest and most important questions in life: “What is God like? How are people supposed to live? How can we be more like Jesus? Can you ask a question for which the Bible does provide an important answer? (Allow children to answer.)

This passage states that the Bible is useful for making our lives whole again. This goes beyond just providing answers. The Bible offers so much more. How does the Bible make us whole? How does it help us to live? How does the Bible give us guidance? (Allow children to answer.)

The Bible has . . . rules that we should follow. Have you heard of the Ten Commandments?

The Bible has . . . stories that tell us of all those who loved and followed God. Those heroes of the Bible lived a life that honored God.

The Bible has . . . prayers that we say as we spend time talking and listening to God.

The Bible has . . . songs that we sing in praise and honor to God.

The Bible has . . . wise words that we should use to live our lives.

We can trust in the Bible!

We can trust the answers scripture gives us to keep us on the right path in life. Trust in God. Trust in the Bible.

Prayer

Faithful God, thank you for breathing life into scripture. Make Scripture come alive in my life. Amen.

Verses marked NIRV are from New International Reader's Version (NIRV) Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014 by Biblica, Inc.®. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.