YOU Podcast

Mary McLeod Bethune was an African American educator and college president. While Bethune was born free in South Carolina in 1875, freedom did not mean equal living in the South.

Education became her passion when she recognized the major difference between black and white people was the ability to read. Her efforts led to the birth of Bethune-Cookman College in 1923, a private institution for Blacks.

Before Bethune’s death in 1955, she touched the lives of thousands of young black adults and became known as “Mama Bethune.” In her last will and testament, she wrote, “I leave you finally a responsibility to our young people.”

Mary Bethune’s life should challenge us to serve young people who represent generations of tomorrows. She lived what this session teaches—to passionately pass along our faith by guiding others in righteousness.”

Mary Bethune’s life should challenge us to serve young people who represent generations of tomorrows. She lived what this session teaches—to passionately pass along our faith by guiding others in righteousness. This can be achieved by communicating God’s Word with others.

Amanda Berry Smith was an American evangelist and former slave born in 1837. She founded an orphanage home and was often called “God’s image carved in ebony.”

Working as a washerwoman, her job required bending over all day. This resulted in backaches. Walking home after work one evening, she met a friend who asked if she was going to the fair that night. Even though she had been gifted with free tickets, she talked to God about it because she was very weary.

Amanda Berry Smith was an American evangelist and former slave born in 1837. Just like Amanda Smith, we should act on what we know from God’s Word.”

Ultimately, Amanda attended the fair and took salvation tracts with her. She encountered a young man named Charlie, who did not claim faith in Jesus. Believing she was led by God, Amanda gave a tract to young Charlie and encouraged him to read it. Several days later, Amanda heard that Charlie had died. She thanked God for giving her strength to obey Him even though she did not know of Charlie’s response. Just like Amanda Smith, we should act on what we know from God’s Word.

Researchers contend that we are exposed to anywhere between 4,000 and 10,000 messages a day. That number might seem to be unbelievable until we consider the amount of time we spend in front of a screen. The average American logs more than seven hours a day looking at a screen. This includes more than three hours spent on our phones and two hours scrolling social media. Additionally, on average, we watch television for more than three hours a day. At the same time, only 39 percent of frequent church attenders read a “little bit” of Scripture each day.

We face a constant barrage of messages competing for our attention, but how many of them are important and worthy of our time? ”

These stats reveal a troubling imbalance that poses a damaging effect on our spiritual vitality. It is because we are more distracted compared to other generations before us. We face a constant barrage of messages competing for our attention, but how many of them are important and worthy of our time? By contrast, everything in God’s Word is worthy of our time. We benefit greatly when we regularly think about and meditate on the truths in Scripture.

I’m a big baseball fan. I spent my childhood in front of the TV watching countless games and highlight reels. Even now, you can ask me about any of the rules, and I can explain them to you. Show me a picture of a ballpark, and I’ll tell you the city where it sits. I am a self-proclaimed expert on all things Major League Baseball.

I can go a step further. As an adult, I have watched a game in person at every Major League ballpark. Consequently, the general information I learned as a kid has become more deeply enhanced. Watching games on TV now is an even richer experience because I’ve been there.

Simply reading Scripture certainly allows us to know God and His Word. But studying the Bible takes it to a deeper—and richer—level.”

In a similar way, simply reading Scripture certainly allows us to know God and His Word. But studying the Bible takes it to a deeper—and richer—level. The words, the events, and the teaching of the Bible come alive when we invest the time to do more than just read the text. But it’s more than an exercise to fill our brains withfacts; our lives become rich as we live out what we study.

Life during the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 created a new norm. It changed how the educational system instructs children. It altered the way businesses conduct daily operations because more people work from home. It impacted the family unit causing people to spend more time together. The global pandemic even adjusted the way we have church and listen to God’s Word. While many churches have started to resume meeting in person, the pandemic magnified a hybrid church option because people can meet online through social media or video technology using apps such as Zoom, YouTube, or Facebook.

No matter the method or place, God wants us to regularly and purposefully hear His Word faithfully taught.”

Although technology has been advantageous for keeping the church connected, its downfall is seen because of the difficulty for some to listen to God’s Word at home. Various distractions or simple tasks get in the way of our commitment to hear God’s Word. These are difficulties that we simply must overcome because technology is here to stay. No matter the method or place, God wants us to regularly and purposefully hear His Word faithfully taught.

William Grant Still Jr., was the first African American to conduct a major American symphony and have music he composed performed by a leading orchestra.14 His first piece, “Afro-American Symphony,” was widely performed until the early 1950s.

Conductors of musical masterpieces like Still would have understood that instrumental chaos precedes harmonious pleasure before the concert begins because the individual musicians must tune and warm up. However, when the conductor steps up to the podium, all artists play the musical arrangement and follow the leadership of the conductor.

When we ground our lives on God’s Word, we follow the Conductor of the universe living victoriously and marching to the beat of the beautiful song He has given us in His Word because of His great love for us.”

Lives lived without Christ know spiritual chaos. These people do what is right in their own sight. As believers, we also can become duped by the sound of competing beliefs and behaviors of the world. Nevertheless, when we ground our lives on God’s Word, we follow the Conductor of the universe living victoriously and marching to the beat of the beautiful song He has given us in His Word because of His great love for us.

Olaf, the snowman in Frozen, dreamed about leaving the dreary days of winter and experiencing the warmth of summer. The audience entered his daydream as he sang the song titled, “In Summer,” about all the wonderful things he had heard about the season of summer. He sang about blowing fuzz off dandelions from the lawn, laying on the beach under an umbrella, riding in a canoe on a lake, going for a swim, relaxing in a jacuzzi, dancing under a gazebo, going on a picnic, and experiencing the warmth of the sun.

Even the children watching the movie know exactly what will happen to Olaf if he ever gets his wish. However, the lovable, naive snowman does not realize that he will never see summer because he will melt in the spring.

We can also be wrong about the future and what we plan to do. When that happens, how do we respond? In this last session from the Book of James, we’ll see where our focus should be even as we plan for the future.”

We’re not fictitious animated characters, but we can also be wrong about the future and what we plan to do. When that happens, how do we respond? In this last session from the Book of James, we’ll see where our focus should be even as we plan for the future.

Teachers in preschool Sunday school and children’s church do far more than provide our children a safe place to play while we learn and worship. They also teach. Under the teachers’ care, our children learn that God created the world and is watching over them. They learn the church is where they are loved. They also learn the importance of good relationships.

One minute, two children will be sitting next to one another, happily playing with their toys. In the next minute, one of them will try to take the other one’s toy away. If she does not get her way, she is fully prepared to escalate the tug-of-war into an all-out battle. Our teachers use that moment to teach important lessons about sharing, how to be kind to one another, and proper ways to resolve differences.

One minute, two children will be sitting next to one another, happily playing with their toys. In the next minute, one of them will try to take the other one’s toy away.”

Children surely need to learn these lessons, but they are not alone. Adults could use the same lessons our preschool and children’s teachers are teaching every week. James showed us that fights and quarrels are deeply rooted in our sinful human nature.

It is estimated that people spend fifty-two minutes a day talking about someone who is not present. In other words, people spend almost an hour every day engaged in gossip. Of those gossip-filled conversations:

* 10% are positive or flattering* 75% are neutral* 15% are negative.

Most of the time people do not hear what is being said about them. But what if they did?

It is estimated that people spend fifty-two minutes a day talking about someone who is not present.”

After a business lunch, Mattie and another woman went to the women’s restroom to refresh their makeup. As they chatted, their small talk turned to gossip about a mutual coworker, Brie. Their conversation was definitely negative. For a full two minutes, Mattie lambasted her coworker. Glancing into the mirror, they watched in horror as Brie walked out of a bathroom stall.

Brie never came back to work. She resigned, and Mattie never saw Brie again. Words matter.

Belief in God is evident among Americans. One survey found that:

* 53% know God exists and they have no doubts.* 18% believe in God but harbor some doubts.* 4% believe in God sometimes.

Another poll found that more than 63 percent of Americans identify as Christian. You would think that, with such a large majority professing belief in God, and nearly as many claiming faith in Christ, the ethical and moral standards of Americans would be higher. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If 63 percent of us claim to be Christian, where are our ethics and morality?

If 63 percent of us claim to beChristian, where are our ethics and morality?”

The problem is not with what people believe; the problem is that too many of us do not live what we claim to believe. We display a large disconnect between our belief system and our conduct. In the Book of James, we are pointed to a better way.