Begin today’s lesson by using the following question as a starting point to discuss the sinful nature that lies within all of us.
- What is the best thing you have ever done? (If there are any volunteers, allow a few of your students to share some of their personal stories.)
Due to the sensitive nature of this next question, instruct your students to internalize their answers, focusing on their silent response throughout this introduction to the lesson.
- What is the worst thing you have ever done?
The answer to this question is likely something that none of us are eager to share with others anytime soon. In fact, when compared against their opposite, the “best” things we’ve done often become quickly overshadowed by our own guilt and regret.
- What’s the most hurtful thing anything has ever said to you? Did they say it to you in person or through text or social media? How did their words affect you? (Answers will vary.)
As these sobering hurtful words demonstrated, nobody’s perfect; more accurately, we’re all pretty far from it—not just by actions, but by words. No matter what good we do, it’ll never be enough to meet God’s standard, and it won’t erase the bad or hurtful things we’ve done or said. However, as we’ll learn today, there is Someone who met God’s standard on our behalf. Our best isn’t good enough, but His best is beyond what is required. Let’s take a look.
