Listen up, little ones
Listen for the word religion.
Reading
James 1:26-27-Pure Religion
Optional Reading
Isaiah 1:16-26
Keys for kids
- True religion is not less than things like doctrine and worship.
- But it is also more than that!
- God cares about how we live our lives.
Questions
- How would you define "religion"?
- What does James say about true or pure religion?
- Does your religion shape everything about you?
Notes
(See Saturday for authors.)
James, then, is talking about the proper form of religious observance-the outward actions of true godliness. He is speaking to the Hebrew Christians of the Dispersion, who were well acquainted with the traditional Jewish concern about the details of the form of worshipping God. James is not finding fault with this basic concern. After all, the form of worship, the pattern of prayer and so on are set out in the Word of God. Rather, his point is that the forms of religion which are to be carefully observed according to God's Word must never be thought of as the 'be all and end all' of biblical faith. We are never to think that the cultic aspects of religion-public worship, prayer, Bible reading, pious vocabulary and giving to the Lord's work-are the sum and substance of the outward, visible activity of religious devotion. The actions of true religion go beyond a punctilious-and sincere-observance of the properties of public and personal worship of the Lord. 'Religion' does not equal 'ritual'! Biblical religion encompasses all the actions of the believer. All must be subject to Christ. Together, these constitute the religion acceptable to God our Father.
Gordon J. Keddie, The Practical Christian: The Message of James, Welwyn Commentary Series
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 143b, 51d
Prayer
- Ask God that you would obey Him and that your religion would not be worthless.
- Pray for the preparation for preaching God’s Word this Lord's Day.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.