Bible lessons for persons with cognitive disabilities
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James 1: 4 (© Jeff McNair)
"Perseverance must finish its work so you may be mature and complete not lacking in anything."
Romans 3:5 "Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character hope. And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit he has given us."
We sometimes "fall into trials" (health, financial, relationships, decisions we make)
Under suffering, we can persevere or we can quit
My dog dies. I can say to the Lord, "I don't understand why my dog died, but I will trust in you and not lean on my own understanding." This trust in God develops perseverance (eg. either a problem comes and I quit, or I in the Lord). As the picture illustrates, I "stand firm" and I will not be moved from my trust in the Lord.
When we persevere we develop character, that is, we don't quit or give in. We stand firm in the face of trials or temptations
Take 5$ out of your wallet and leave it on the table in front of someone. Tell the person you left it in front of, "You are a person without character who does not know the difference between right and wrong. What would you do with the money, even though you knew it was mine?" They will respond, "I would take it" or they will just take it. Now tell the person "You are a person of character who knows what it right and what is wrong. Now what would you do with the money, even though you knew it was mine?" They will respond, "I would leave it alone." or "I would give it back to you."
Character over time results in a reliance on God which results in hope. We learn that we can trust in God and not rely on our own understanding. God brings reality to our hopes, as He is able to do anything we can hope for.
Ask your class members, "What do you hope for?"
This process of perseverance over time changes me into a person who is perfect and complete, lacking nothing because I have learned to trust in the Lord.
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© Jeff McNair