“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’? Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are offspring of Abraham; yet you seek to kill me because my word finds no place in you. I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.” –John 8:31-38

What do you believe to be true? Now I’m not necessarily implying Christian answers here. I am simply asking what do you believe to be true? How do we come to those conclusions? Usually it is by some sort of reasoning or facts. For example: World War II happened. How do I know that is true? I know that is true because there is detailed record of what happened throughout that era of time. Battles were fought and won or lost, people were injured or killed, and countries have the marks and memorials to prove it. How do we know what is a lie? Well usually we can disprove something or show that it didn’t actually happen. Another example: Hogwarts is real. Now don’t get all technical on me and point out that it was a place that was filmed and we now call the castle of Hogwarts. Hogwarts isn’t a real place.  So that begs further question: What is Truth? What is truth?

Is there a difference in the questions that were just proposed? I would argue there is. You see we find two different kinds of truth in this world. The first being the truths that the world gives us and wants us to believe. Like having money and power will give you all the happiness you could ever want, or that celebrities have it made in the shade and they never have any problems in their lives. And then there is the Truth that we can live by. A Truth that says Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. He is the only Truth that matters in our lives. The Truth that Jesus was crucified in our place, defeated the power of the devil, and rose again to grant us the best thing we could ever ask for. Our eternal life! So what Truth or truths do you let yourself believe?

Talking Points:

·         How would you describe truth?

·         What truths do we let ourselves believe?

·         How do those truths affect our lives and the lives of others around us?

·         What are some Truths that we know from scripture?

·         How do the Truths of the bible affect our lives and the lives of others around us?

·         Discuss: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” - Arthur Schopenhauer

·         How can we combat the truths of this world and focus on the Truth of Christ?