Leader Guide

Bible Study

Who can say the SuperTruth? “I will listen to God’s voice and obey Him.”

As we learned today, it is good to listen—yet we cannot forget to put what we hear into action! Let’s take a deeper look at what the Bible tells us about listening and obeying.

Have the children look up and take turns reading the Bible passages. Lead a discussion with the questions below.

1. Matthew 7:24–27:

²⁴ “Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. ²⁵ Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. ²⁶ But anyone who hears My teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. ²⁷ When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

• In verse 24, what does Jesus call those who listen and follow His teaching? Wise.
• In verse 26, what does Jesus call those who hear but do not obey? Foolish.
• After reading this Bible passage, who would you say was wise in the Bible story about Samuel? Samuel.
• Why was Samuel wise? He listened to God and faithfully served and obeyed Him.
• Who would you say was foolish? Eli and his two sons, Hophni and Phinehas.
• Why were they foolish? The sons would not listen to their father’s warnings and counsel or obey God’s laws; Eli did not honor God’s Word and laws about the sacrifices, nor did he fully discipline his sons. He allowed them to continue to serve in the Tabernacle even with their wicked and sinful ways.
• Why is the builder wise in this parable? He built his house on a rock - on a firm, strong foundation that will hold up against storms.
• What would you say the storms represent in our lives? Temptations, the enemy, tough times, struggles, persecution, adversity, and trials.
• Why is the other builder foolish? He built his house on sand that will fail and not last. The house will collapse.
• From this passage then, in your own words, why is it important to listen and obey? God’s Word never fails. When we obey and stand on His Word — we will succeed and not fail. God gives us victory over trials, temptations, adversity, and persecution that may come. We will make it through.

2. James 1:22–25:

²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. ²³ For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. ²⁴ You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵ But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

• What does verse 22 say we are doing if we only listen to God’s Word? Fooling ourselves.
• What does verse 23 compare disobedience to? Quickly looking in a mirror.
• What do verse 23 and 24 mean in your own words? You read or hear God’s Word and ignore it, you fail to see the truth and don’t apply it to your life, and then you quickly forget it and don’t take action.
• What can we learn about ourselves by reading God’s Word? Things that need attention, areas where we fall short, even confirmation of things we are doing right!
• What does God’s Word show us that we can’t see with our physical eyes? Deep things; what is inside us, like our heart and mind.
• What are some reasons that people listen but choose not to obey? They don’t like what they heard; they think it will be too hard to do, etc.
• According to verse 25, what can God’s Word bring us? Freedom — set us free from sin and bondage like fear and guilt.
• In verse 25, what are we promised by choosing to listen and obey? God’s blessings.