A GOD-LIVED LIFE: Bible Class

          We have begun a series of sermons with a Stewardship emphasis. Stewardship, ultimately, is about our entire life. We use what God gives us to his glory and for the good of our neighbor. Over the next few months, we will consider the various ways we use the gifts God gives us as is God-pleasing.
          Each month, I will be sending out an email to further encourage what we pondered on the first Sunday of that month. In this way, the thoughts do not perish by that Sunday evening, but each one can give intentional consideration how he or she may put into practice what was proclaimed as a God-pleasing way to serve him.
          For the month of October, we continue to consider what it means to have A Life of Being a Disciple.

A GOD-LIVED LIFE: A LIFE OF BEING A DISCIPLE

Week #1           Bible Class

          Bible Class gives all of us a chance to ponder a little more deeply what God has to say to us in his word. We more than triple the time given in a sermon to read and reflect on God’s word. Bible Class also allows for God’s people to ask questions. You are able to have clarified words, phrases, and doctrines that are unclear, unfamiliar, or challenging to you.

          In addition, you have the chance to speak freely about the Christian faith. You should be able to do this without fear of ridicule or embarrassment. No one knows it all, not even the pastor. We all live in a world where we hear strange ideas. Some are passed off as biblical ideas. Others sound like they could be biblical. What is the truth? You are allowed to be bold enough to ask hard questions. The Bible is not afraid of hard questions. You are allowed to ask challenging questions. You even are allowed to be a heretic with your questions and statements. You are not, however, allowed to remain a heretic. God’s word will provide correction. Bible Class gives you the chance to explore these things and to get answers that are solidly in line with God’s word.

          You are welcomed to join a class. You are encouraged to engage in discussion. This enables you to get more comfortable speaking about your Christian faith with others. We get to grow together. We tighten the bonds of fellowship among us. Most importantly, we get to have God enlighten, strengthen, comfort, and guide us by his word. This is both the goal and the delight of all of God’s people.

          The following Bible Classes are active at Good Shepherd:

          Adult Bible Class (7th grade and older) -- Sundays at 8:45 AM
          Sunday School (age 3 through 6th grade) -- Sundays at 8:45 AM
          Bible Matters, a discussion group (high school and older) -- Wednesdays at 6:30 PM
          Bible Information Class – a course which covers the basic teachings of the Bible; arranged by appointment (a basic outline is at the link)
          Catechism Class (7th and 8th grade) – currently Mondays, 4:00-5:30 PM

A Pastoral Concern -- Sinning against our children

          Parents want what is best for their children.  Many parents will put forth great effort and expense to help their children excel in school, sports, or whatever pursuits interest them.  Parents will also put forth great effort and expense to entertain their children--whether it is a trip to Disney World, iPods, iPads, X-Boxes, Netflix, etc....  None of these things is wicked in and of themselves.  Parents have the right and the responsbility to take care of their children as they see fit.

          Children are a gift from God.  He does not owe them to anyone, but he blesses parents as it pleases him.  Children are also the only gift God gives us in this world which we might see in heaven.  Disney, i-devices, x-gadgets, and soccer trophies will not be there.  They will neither be helpful nor missed when it comes to eternal life.

          But parents sin against their children when they simply assume that they and their children will have a place in heaven.  Parents may assume it because they went to church when they were younger.  They remember the Bible stories they once learned, and they assume that their children know them too.  Or they assume that their child's happiness is most important.  And if soccer makes a child happy, then soccer is paramount.  Or maybe parents have concluded that Sundays are for sleeping in (often because we intentoinally stay up late on Saturday).  Somehow, this great need for sleep does not factor into Monday through Friday.  Though children probably do not want to get up for school, parents will dutifully get them up, get them fed, and get them ready.  They will even scold a whiny, tired child and say, "You're going to school.  This is important!"  On the other hand, no one demands that school start at 10:30 so that children can get the sleep they need.  Instead, we put them to bed earlier.

          But Jesus does not get priority.  He is inconvenient.

          I think it is safe to say that parents want to see their children in heaven.  But if children are not taught God's promises, they will neither know them nor believe in them.  Furthermore, children who are raised NOT going to church and Sunday School will learn not to go when they are older.  If they are not raised in the church, they will not be faithful later.  If they do not hear their Shepherd's voice in their younger years, they will not listen for it when they are older.  This failure falls not just on the children who stray from the faith, but also on the parents who taught them by their attendance habits that Sundays were not meant for church.

          The Lord Jesus Christ said, "Whoever is of God hears the words of God.  The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God." (John 8:47)  In other words, God's people listen to him, and his voice is heard from the Bible which is preached and taught every Sunday at church.  Parents who do not bring thier children to hear and learn God's word sin against them by raising them to not be God's children.  They will learn to listen to other voices.  And even though listening to other voices might make the children happy, they will not lead them to heaven.  Only Jesus does that.

          I think it is safe to say that parents want to see their children in heaven.  If this is your desire, then it must also be your desire and your duty to have your children grow in grace and in faith.  To do that, they must hear and learn the story of salvation as proclaimed in the Bible.  That is what Sunday School is for.  (Such stories are also good for family devotions.  If you are looking for a devotional book to use with your family, please speak to the pastor for suggestions.)

          Sunday School attendance also teaches the children that Jesus and his Church matter.  It is the responsibility of parents to bring their children up in the training and instruction of the Lord.  The actions that parents take now will likely be the pattern followed by their children.  I am not blowing it out of proportion to state that this has eternal consequences.  Children are the one gift God gives to us in this world which we hope to see in heaven.  No one gets there without Jesus, no matter how much you love them.  And your children will not learn about Jesus unless you bring them to Jesus by means of Sunday School, church attendnace, Lutheran schools, and home devotions.

          It may well be that your children will not want to get out of bed and get ready for Sunday School (8:45 AM--later than school starts).  It may be that parents will find it drudgery to make Sunday School a part of the weekly routine.  Satan will give you many reasons to skip.  They will all sound good.  But if you seek the eternal welfare of your family, you will put to death the excuses of your sinful flesh and make it a weekly habit to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Parents can come to Adult Bible Class while their children are in Sunday School.  Your weekly attendance will teach your children that this matters.  Jesus will teach your children that they matter to him--enough for him to suffer and die to take away their sins and win them a place in heaven.  That is paramount.  Its value is eternal.  And it is giving our children the best possible care that can be given.

A Pastoral Concern -- Sunday School & Adult Bible Class attendance

FOOD FOR THOUGHT re: Sunday School & Adult Bible Class

Our Sunday School and Adult Bible Class go on hiatus during the Sundays in summer.  Our classes will resume again on Sunday, September 13 at 8:45 AM.

Yes, that time is 8:45 AM.  And yes, that sounds early for a Sunday morning.

Please reconsider your excuse.  Please.

What time are you required to show up for work throughout the week?  Do you tell your boss that it is just too early and that you will show up when it is more convenient?  You wouldn't dare.  What time are your children required to get up for school Monday through Friday?  Do you tell their teachers that you can't get them there until, say, 10:00 AM because that is the best you can do?  I doubt it.  Somehow, someway, we meet the appointed time because it is expected of us.  We may not be crazy about getting up as early as we do, but we do it anyway.  And we usually do it with limited complaint because work and school are important.  We recognize that, so we do what we have to in order to meet our obligations.

Granted, Sunday School and Adult Bible Class do not bring home a paycheck.  They will not give you a diploma or an advanced degree.  They are designed to increase your knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, to make you more mature in the faith, more confident of your confession in a world that attacks it, and better equipped to give an answer for the hope that you have.  It also teaches your children that the Christian faith matters.  It matters because they are here for Sunday School.  It matters for you because you make it a point to come to Bible Class while they are in Sunday School.  It matters so that your whole family will remain strong and even grow in the Christian faith.  Okay, that's no paycheck, but you can't say that it has no dividends.

If you want your children to be faithful to Jesus and to remain members in a confessional Lutheran Church, it is up to you to set the example.  That might mean getting to bed earlier on a Saturday night so that getting up on Sunday morning is not such a chore.  That might mean making a concerted effort for Sunday School and Adult Bible Class to be a part of your routine.  It means telling your children that this is what we do now and biting back any comments that suggest you would rather not be getting up that early either.  And it means reminding yourself that Sunday School & Adult Bible Class are worth every minute of your family's time—because they are.  Even as early as 8:45 AM.  We resume on Sunday, September 13.