Things That Go Together

Objects:  Peanut butter and jelly, hammer and nails, salt and pepper.  

Theme:  Showing your faith by what you do.

Scripture:  But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  James 2:18

Do you like to play games?  This morning we are going to play a game.  It is called the "Things That Go Together" game.  I have several items in my bag.  When I pull one out, you try to see if you can tell me what goes with it.  Let's see what I have in my bag....here is a jar of peanut butter.  What goes together with peanut butter?  That's right!  Jelly!   Let's see what else I have in here....a hammer.  What do you think goes with a hammer?  Right again!  Nails.  Let's try another one....here is some salt.  Can you think of something that goes with salt?  Of course!  You are right again.  Salt and pepper go together!  You all are pretty good at this game.  It is actually pretty easy, some things just naturally go together, don't they?

When we say that we love Jesus, the Bible tells us that there is something that just naturally goes with it.  Do you know what it is?  The Bible says that if we say we love Jesus, we will show it by the way we act.  Those two things go together just like peanut butter and jelly.  If we say we love Jesus, and then lie to our parents, those don't go together, do they?  If we say we love Jesus, and then take something that doesn't belong to us, do those two things go together?  No, of course not.  If we say that we love Jesus and then say something mean or hateful about someone, do those go together?  No!  The Bible says, "Someone will say, 'You have faith; I have deeds.'   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do."

Father, help us to make what we say go together with what we do.  Help us to show our love for you by doing the things you have taught us to do in your Word.