Say What?

Have you ever been warned that someone is a wolf in sheep's clothing? 

Jesus said, "Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are as ferocious as wolves." -Matt. 7:15 (TNIV) 

Have you ever gone the extra mile for someone? 

Jesus said, "If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles."  -Matt. 5:41 (TNIV)

 Do people ever expect you to move mountains? 

Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move." -Matt. 17:20 (TNIV)

Have you ever seen a group be so disorganized that it's like the blind leading the blind? 



Jesus said, "If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit."  -Matt. 15:14 (TNIV)

These are some of the many common, every-day expressions that we draw from sayings of Jesus.  We can find these sayings in the Gospels, and this week the Rolling Hills Youth Sunday School class examined these sayings to vote on the Wesley Award winner for the Best Saying of Jesus.

The teachings of Jesus are "sticky."  They stick with us.  They are memorable, which is why so many of them have become common expressions.  They also are sticky because following them can put us in sticky situations!  The sayings of Jesus often challenge us: Who really wants to love an enemy?  Who really wants to pray for people who persecute us?  Do we really want to take up our cross every day?

So here are our nominees ...

Wes nominated Matthew 4:19 (TNIV) -- "Come, follow me," Jesus said, " and I will send you out to fish for people."

Paige picked the Golden Rule, Luke 6:31 (TNIV) -- "Do to others as you would have them do to you."

Adrienne chose this saying from the Sermon on the Mount:  "If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also." -Matt. 5:39 (TNIV)

And our winner is Nick, who nominated this statement Jesus made when confronted with a demon his disciples could not cast out: “This kind can come out only by prayer."  -Mark 9:29 (TNIV).

Congrats to Nick for selecting the Saying of Jesus that drew the most votes!

Next week, we will be taking a look at some particular sayings of Jesus ... his "I AM" statements from the Gospel of John.  So come back next week to read about the Wesley Award winner for Best "I AM" Statement of Jesus!