Have you ever known you should do something but then didn’t do it?  (You knew you should study, but you watched Netflix all night.) Knowing doesn’t help much unless we act on it.

Why do you think we know we should do something and then don’t do it? (If we know studying, exercising, praying, or going to church will make our life better, why don’t we do it?)

Have you ever done something that you knew would make your life worse? (Maybe you knew it would get you grounded or in trouble).  Why would we do that?

Read

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it-he will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:22-25

What stands out to you about this passage?

What does it say about the difference between knowing and doing?

Going Deeper

Lots of Christians know what is right and what is wrong but keep doing what is wrong.  Why do you think we would do wrong even when we know it is wrong?

What are some of the things that make it difficult for you (and your friends) to obey God? (examples: peer pressure, fear of missing out).

PJ frequently says, “If you believe you will behave as if you believe.”  What do you think that means?

When it comes to the commands of God, do you believe that he really has your best interests in mind?

Sex

Paul’s command to us on how to stay sexually pure is:

Flee from sexual immorality. -1 Corinthians 6:18

How is this different than how many Christians treat sexual immorality?

Knowing what God says about sexual purity and doing it are two different things. What are some practical things you can do to live out “flee from sexual immorality”?

Make it really personal

Ask yourself:

  • What do I know God wants me to do that I haven’t been doing?
  • What do I know God would not want me to do that have been doing?
  • What would help me change?