Eli’s Lesson

I recently saw the movie The Book of Eli and was really moved by one of the movie’s main themes. It is important to note that this movie is rated R and contains quite a bit of violence and strong language, but in the midst of that adult content is a wonderful message about the power of God’s Word and the importance of not just studying and knowing The Bible, but living out what it says.

In the movie, Eli, who is played by Denzel Washington, has in his possession the last copy of The Bible in a post-apocalyptic future. He has heard a voice tell him to protect The Bible and take it as far west as he can go. During his journey, Eli spends countless hours studying and reading The Bible, but there comes a defining moment in the movie when he realizes even though he has spent so much time reading God’s Word, he was not truly living out what The Bible said.

Eli described it this way in the movie:

“In all these years I’ve been carrying it and reading it every day, I got so caught up in keeping it safe that I forgot to live by what I learned from it.”

Wow! That quote really spoke to me in and made me ask myself, “am I really living out what The Bible teaches or am I too busy simply studying it and reading it?”

I think that is a very important question that LifeGroup leaders should ask themselves as well. Too many times as LifeGroup leaders we tend to become so caught up and focused on what our LifeGroup is studying rather than focusing on how our group can live out God’s Word together. There is nothing wrong with studying curriculum and God’s Word in our on LifeGroups, but we should also spend time living out Christ’s command in Luke 10:27 to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This was the command that Eli realized he was not obeying.

If all LifeGroups spent time living out God’s Word by getting out of their living rooms periodically to minister to others, help those in need and become involved in meeting the needs of their local communities, it would have a tremendous impact. This week, take some time to think about and discuss with your group ways you can work together to live out God’s Word by impacting your local communities. You might consider studying curriculum for three or four weeks and then use your time together the following week or two between studies to undertake some sort of ministry project.

No matter what your LifeGroups does, remember to learn the lesson that Eli did to not just know the Word, but to live it each and every day.

• How would you characterize the current focus of your LifeGroup?
• How well does your LifeGroup live out God’s Word? What types of things does your group do to minister and meet the needs of others?
• What are some ways you can begin to have a better balance in your group of studying God’s Word and living out what it says about loving your neighbors?