HYPOCRISY

ARE YOU FOR REAL…???
The car was packed with everything but servant attitude. Compact disc players and cosmetics were far more in evidence than bibles or Christian lifestyles.
Efforts to work on studying the bible met with a chorus of grunts.Attitudes didn’t improve much that week. While the teenagers talked about Jesus’ love they rarely showed love to any of the children they were looking after.“Jesus is your friend,” Charles Williams told the teenagers during his turn to tell a story. But after the story, he left their circle and joined his own friends under a tree.
On the last day there, the teenagers brought cameras. “Jim, take a picture,” yelled Rachel Duncan, surrounded by her friend. Seven – year – old Paul grinned and jumped in to pose.“No, go away,” Rachel said, pushing him out of the shot. Embarrassed, Paul walked away. He guessed that God’s love was just a story.
The bible says that many people pretend to serve God (choosing when to and when not no). Read ISAIAH 58:3-9 to discover what God wants from his people.

QUESTIONS
• If the teenagers had used this passage as a guide, how might their week have been different?
• If the passage was addressed to you, how would you change the way you show the love of God to others?

CONSIDER…
• Confessing to God a time when you treated someone unkindly. Ask God to help you find a way to make up for your actions.
• Choosing a person you often ignore and have an “appreciation Day”. Write a note or make something special to make them feel special and appreciated.

2), AN OPEN LETTER TO GOD…!!!
James was tried of seeing what he called “the Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde” sides of his father. In his frustration, he wrote this letter to God.

Dear God,

There are a few things I just don’t understand about people and the way they act. Taking my dad, for example. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a nice man; he goes to church with us and everything. But when it comes to his business, he really changes. Dad’s always talking about how he really “got the best of that bloke” in a business deal or how he “beat her out of a contract.” It just doesn’t seem very Christian.

Oh! And another place is on the road. My dad get really angry with other drivers and sometimes even yell or/and swears at them.And, oh well, I suppose I just don’t understand. It just doesn’t seem very Christian. Can you help me to understand, God?
James.

Hypocrisy is common. Even in Jesus’ day, Jesus followers were troubled by hypocrites. Read MARK 7:1-23 to learn more about the situation

QUESTIONS
• What was hypocritical about James’ dad’s action and the Pharisees’ actions?
• According to this passage, what’s the cure for hypocrisy?

CONSIDER…
• Evaluating you own life for any hypocrisies and applying the ‘cure’ to get rid of them.
• Writing a letter to James that responds to his frustration.

THE CASE STUDY ABOVE ARE BOTH TALKING ABOUT HYPOCRISY......OK
LETS ALL CONTRIBUTE AND LET YOUR VOICE(S) BE HEARD
SPREED THE WORD