The Autograph
Liz’s game-winning baseball is missing, and Liz knows just who took it. Or does he? Find out on this week’s Kids Corner
Before You ListenLet's Get Started
Theme: Jumping to conclusions
1. James 1:19 says,“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry.” Do you think these are wise words? Can you give an example of when you spoke too quickly out of anger?
2. Naaman was an army commander for a king. However, he had a terrible skin disease called leprosy. There was no cure. Naaman’s slave girl was from Israel. She suggested that he visit Elisha, a prophet in Israel, for help. Naaman set off with a letter from the king asking for help. When he got to Elisha’s house, Elisha didn’t come to greet him but instead sent a message with someone else that Naaman should go wash in the Jordan River seven times. Naaman was very upset that Elisha didn’t do an amazing act of miraculous healing but instead told him to wash in a very dirty river. Instead of listening, he got angry and wanted to leave. He thought he knew what healing would be like. But Naaman’s servants talked him into trying what Elisha asked him to do. Naaman went to the river and washed seven times. After the seventh time, Naaman’s skin was clean and healed! Imagine what would have happened if Naaman has left because he jumped to conclusions of what a healing should look like! You can read the story of Naaman and Elisha in 2 Kings 5:1-17. Think about how jumping to the wrong conclusion could have hurt Naaman as you listen to today’s program.
After you listen
Memory Verse
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
Quiz
A: Planted microphone bugs in flowers at Big Daddy Oh’s, snuck into the Iguana hideout, and blew up Morrie’s closet.
Reflect
In this episode, Liz makes the wrong assumption about what happened to his prized baseball.
When we jump to conclusions about something, we are often wrong. You might also hurt other people's feelings when you accuse them without knowing all the facts. The Bible says that Christians should "be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry." (James 1:19) That’s because anger stops us from doing the things God wants us to do, and being who he wants us to be.
The next time you think you know what's going on and are ready to get mad at someone, stop. Don't jump to conclusions or to anger. First, listen. Then ask some more questions. You just might be surprised at the mystery you solve and the feelings you save!
Want to dig deeper about being slow to anger? Read Psalm 103:8 and Proverbs 16:32
Challenge
Think of a situation where you’ve jumped to anger instead of listening and thinking. With a friend or another member of your family, write a short skit about the situation. Then write another skit in the same situation, but where you listen and ask questions instead of getting angry. Perform your skits for someone else. Ask your audience which skit showed the best way to deal with the problem.
