Every Sunday morning at 9:00 am
Every Sunday morning our Sunday School classes provide biblical instruction for all ages. From infant to adult, the Bible comes alive through stories, activities and in-depth Bible study.
For the kids we have:
Nursery,
Combined Pre-K/1st Grade class,
Combined 2nd-5th Grade class, and
Combined Middle School/High School class.
There are also two adult Sunday School classes offered.
All Sunday School classes begin at 9:00 am and we'd love for you to join us on Sunday mornings.
A Donkey for Jesus
Read Matthew 21:1-7
I wonder how Hollywood producers would stage a movie about Palm Sunday. Maybe they would rewrite the story to make it more thrilling. They might substitute a powerful white stallion for the young donkey. Instead of coats to make the donkey’s back more comfortable they might give the stallion a fancy saddle with silver trim. The stallion might kick and buck to add excitement to the parade. What would you expect if someone special was coming to your town?
Matthew tells the true story. Even though He was God’s son, Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem in a humble procession. He sent His disciples to bring a donkey. At that time, horses were only ridden by kings, government officials, and soldiers. Families relied on donkeys when they needed transportation or had goods to carry. Donkeys were even tempered and hardworking servants. They were respected and treated with care. A colt (young donkey) that had never been ridden might have been skittish, but Jesus calmed him. The disciples had no fancy saddle, so they gave up their coats. Jesus could sit on these coats while He rode down the road. There were no marching soldiers, no brass bands, and no fancy flags.
Jesus was loved by the children. They sang and waved to Him as He made His way down the road. This ride into Jerusalem showed the people that while being God’s Son, He understood their lives. While living on Earth, Jesus lived as a man among men. He did the same things they did. He ate with them and had friends He loved. He walked through their villages and taught wherever He met people. He healed the sick and fed the hungry. Jesus was both the mighty God and a humble man at the same time.
Think about humility as you reflect on your life. Humility comes from the heart. Trophies and parades are fun, but they are not the true reward you get from knowing Jesus. Following His teachings will bring you quiet satisfaction. Other people will want to get to know you. This will give you opportunities to tell them about Jesus. Someday you will meet Jesus in heaven. The celebration will be glorious when you join Him there!
Think about this verse – Philippians 2:30
"Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." (NLT)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know that everything I have and do comes from You. I know I am Your child. Help me serve others with love and humility. Amen.
Modern Sacrifices
Read Leviticus 23:10-13
God told Moses that there were many laws (rules) that the Israelites must follow. He told Moses that the Israelites must make sacrifices and give these gifts to the Lord. The book of Leviticus lists many occasions when sacrifices were to be given. The Israelites were instructed to bring their best sheep, first grain with fine oil, and their best wine as gifts for the Lord.
Did you notice anything about these items? These things given to God, were all costly things that a family would use themselves. A sheep was raised for food and for wool which was used to make clothing. Oil was used to moisten food or burn in lamps. Fruits and wine refreshed and nourished families. These all had to be planted, cultivated, and raised over a period of weeks or months. A family was not just giving up something they owned, they were giving up the time it took to grow or raise it.
Do you have a flock of sheep? Do you plant fields of wheat? Do you take care of an orchard of apples or a vineyard of grapes? So, what in your modern life can you sacrifice to God?
The McGraw-Hill School Dictionary defines a sacrifice as 1) something that is given to God as an act of worship or 2) giving up something that you want for the sake of someone else. You probably do not have sheep, or wheat, or fruit to give to God. But…think of what you have. You have time, two hands, a kind heart. What kind of sacrifices can you make with these?
Helping with a clean-up day at church when you really would like to play baseball with friends is a modern sacrifice. Sticking up for a classmate who is being teased in school, even when it might cost you a friendship is a modern sacrifice. Saving the popsicle money your mom gave you for the pool and adding it to the mission offering is a modern sacrifice. Skipping your favorite show on late-night TV, so you can get up for church the next morning, is a modern sacrifice. Any time you give up your time or resources in a way that serves others, God is pleased.
God still expects you to make sacrifices. Because your life is different from the Israelites, your sacrifices will be different. Sometimes it is easy to give and sometimes it is hard. God knows when you make sacrifices for Him. He knows that sacrifices are hard. He will see the love in what you do.
Think about this verse – Hebrews 13:16
"And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know it matters when I sacrifice my time and resources for You. Help me put You first even when it is hard. Help me use the things You have given me to honor You. Amen.
Little Lies
Read Zechariah 8:16-17
Do you always tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? God expects you to tell the truth. This is the 9th Commandment. Again and again God reminds us of this in the Bible. No exceptions! I am sure you do your best to tell the truth, but it can be hard. Sometimes it doesn’t even seem important.
Have you ever been asked, “Who forgot to wipe their muddy shoes?” Maybe you answer with a shrug of your shoulders. You knew who did, and quietly helped clean up the mess. Was your little shoulder shrug a lie? In fact, it was. Forgetting like this is really a lie and doing something good does not change the fact.
Have you ever exaggerated when telling a story. “Everyone else in my class is allowed to______ .” Or, “Everyone else in third grade gets $25 allowance each week.” This is an exaggeration. Maybe you know one person who is allowed to________ and maybe two or three third graders get $25. When you exaggerate, what are you doing? Lying again.
After Mom tells you to save the cookies for after dinner, do you sneak some and rearrange the rest on the plate, so the plate looks full? When serving dessert, Mom wonders how the cookies disappeared so quickly. There were still plenty for everyone, but you never admit that you ate some earlier. You have not spoken one thing that was untrue, but your silence was a lie. You know you ate the cookies. God knows you ate them, too.
Was anyone hurt by these little lies? The floor got cleaned up. Mom and Dad did not change their minds. Everyone had delicious cookies for dessert. But…how did all this make you feel? When you knowingly do something wrong, you feel guilty. God feels sad. How can you make this right?
First pray to God and tell Him you are sorry. Ask for His forgiveness. Remember Jesus took the punishment for all your sins. Next walk back what you have said, not said, or did. Apologize to anyone you may have wronged and ask for their forgiveness. Finally, deal with any punishment you receive. (You may just get a hug with warning about what will happen next time.) Honesty is always best!
Think about this verse – Proverbs 25:18
"Telling lies about others is as harmful as hitting them with an axe, wounding them with a sword, or shooting them with a sharp arrow." (NLT)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I want to be honest about everything that I think, do, and say. Help me catch mistakes before they are made. Give me courage to apologize. Thank you for forgiving my sins. Amen.
Nightlight
Read Psalm 119:105
Do you have a nightlight? There is a nightlight in my upstairs hall. It’s always there in the dark, all night long. I usually pack one in my suitcase when I know I will be staying in a strange place. It is a comfort when I wake up from a dream and feel confused. It gives a bit of light to help navigate unfamiliar places. It protects my feet by shining a warning around dangerous corners and doorways where I might stumble and hurt my toes. Best of all, it is something familiar when I feel lonely.
God’s word in the Bible is like a nightlight. It is a light for your path. God is always with you, and you can use the words in the Bible for guidance because they are His true words. Just as God guided Moses and the Israelites, David, Paul, and many others, He will guide you. God’s word will remind you of the right thing to do when temptation confuses you. God’s light will help you keep from stumbling over bad choices. Following God’s light will keep you safe.
It is hard to feel lonely when you read God’s word. While you hold the Bible with your hands and read with your eyes, or listen with your ears, think about the words. God is speaking to you and is with you. God is always by your side. His words will comfort you, lead you, and protect you. They will be your nightlight and you can always walk in His light with confidence. Plug it in. Turn it on. Let it shine on your path.
Think about this verse - Ephesians 5:8
"For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!" (NLT)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, You light my path with Your wisdom in the Bible. I know Your words will show me how to do the right thing, keep me safe, and comfort me. Help me learn and grow as one of your children. Thank you! Amen.
Leaven
Read Luke 13:20-21
Think about your favorite bread (or cake or cookies)? Is it delicious because it has chocolate in it? Is it sweet because the recipe includes sugar? Is it light and fluffy because it is leavened well? What? Leavened???
Leavening is the ingredient that bakers add to bread, cakes, and cookies to make them light and fluffy. Some people may like crunchy cookies, but no one likes tough bread. Yeast, baking soda, and baking powder are all leavening ingredients. Any leavening is added in small amounts because only a small amount makes the dough grow and rise.
If you have ever helped open a can of Pillsbury Refrigerated Biscuits, you have seen how this works. All the ingredients are combined together at the factory and put into their cardboard tubes. While waiting for you at the store or in your refrigerator the baking soda and baking powder (leavening ingredients) make the dough want to expand. To use the dough, you need to peel away the label and press on the tube. Have you ever done this? What happens? It explodes and pops right out of the can!
Jesus explained this is like the kingdom of God! When you tell others about Jesus, you are opening the tube so the kingdom of God can pop out and grow. Any time we tell others about Jesus, the kingdom grows. They in turn will tell others and the kingdom will grow some more. As we pass along the good news, it will spread until the whole world will hear about Jesus. The kingdom of God will explode!
Your words and actions help this happen. God will use your love and kindness to make His kingdom grow. What you say and do is important. Are you ready to pop out of the can for Him?
Think about this verse – Luke 13:21
"A woman takes some yeast and mixes it with a bushel of flour until the whole batch of dough rises." (Good News Version)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I want to help Your kingdom grow. Show me the way to spread the good news about Jesus. Remind me that everything that I think, do, and say can spread Your love. Amen.