Youth Group Lessons: People often claim that God told them to do something in the midst of strange situations. How do we truly know whether or not God is really speaking through someone?
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When the owners of a house in Farmington, Connecticut arrived home they expected to find things just as they had left them. What they did not expect, however, was to find Levon Sarkisyan, 27, making himself at home in their house. In a modern day Goldilocks story, Sarkisyan took a shower and dressed in the clothing of a deceased family member. Although he wasn’t found sleeping in someone’s bed, he did manage to smash some of the family’s valuables. Sarkisyan destructed a Roman Soldier figure as well as a marble table after breaking into the home.
While this might seem like a typical breaking and entering scenario, what was weird about Sarkisyan is that he claimed God told him to break into the house. Sarkisyan told police Sgt. Stephen Egan, “A light from above told him to do this. God wants me to help the world.”
When the owner of the house tried to dial 911 and found himself fumbling with the call, understandable after finding someone in his house, Sarkisyan told him, “You see, God will not let you use the phone.” Upon arrest Sarkisyan clarified his story somewhat and admitted to having smoked a “strange strand of herb” that perhaps might have led to his erratic behavior.
This is not Sarkisyan’s first offence as he was also charged with first-degree criminal trespass and second-degree breach of peace in 2008 and found guilty.
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think it is possible that God told Sarkisyan to break into the home? Why or why not?
2. People often claim God told them to do something in the midst of strange situations. How do we know whether or not God is really speaking through someone?
3. Knowing that Sarkisyan was also smoking marijuana, does that make his story more or less believable? Why?
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