James 5:12 Verse Kit

In the Verse Kit Box:

baggie with 5 tea bags

Review:

Lesson:

Introduce the verse by reading the entire verse card, including the reference. Mention that they will only be memorizing the bold print words, and then go back and read those. Ask the student to read it. Depending on the child, see if they can say it without looking (this verse was pretty straightforward, and many of my kids could recite it at this point!)

For older kids:

Interestingly enough, in verses 7-11 of chapter 5, James repeats the single phrase “be patient” how many times? (4) Patience is the opposite of swearing. The 2 most common times foul language is used is 1)when someone is angry, and 2) when someone is trying to emphasize a point. When someone is angry, they can exercise self-control (patience) and not swear. When someone is merely trying to emphasize a point with foul language, they are using “lazy language” (an adjective would be just as appropriate as the swear word). In either case, if they are using God’s Name in vain, they are breaking one of the 10 commandments, so James 5:12 is pretty important.

Review (above).

Bring the lesson back to James 5:12 by pointing to the picture on the verse card (teabag) and asking the student what it is. Connect the kit experiment to the verse by saying that they will be using a lighter to make mini rockets later (with adult supervision!), and just like the teabag will burn up and float away, our words float away once they are out of our mouth. We can’t get them back. Whether our words are mean, or swear words, or gossip, there’s no way of putting them back in our mouth. (Encourage apologizing if/when they mess up verbally.)

Have the student read the bold print words on the verse card again. And a 2nd time. Then see if they can say the verse without looking.