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.

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.

A Helpful Stranger

Read Luke 10:30-37

One day last winter I was walking home from Wawa with a cup of hot coffee in my hand. It had been snowing but the sidewalk was cleared, and I was sipping my coffee as I went. Suddenly, I hit a spot of unexpected ice. One second, I was up…next second, I was down. I was on the ground and the coffee was all over me.

A little way ahead of me were two young boys, walking home from Crest Middle School. They must have heard me go down. Maybe I said, “OH, NO” or the coffee made a loud splat. I expected to hear them giggle about my accident. But do you know what they did?

They actually turned around and walked back up the hill to me. They asked if I was OK and offered to help me up. They were worried that I was so wet. They even said they would go back and get me another coffee. (Nice kids do live in Souderton!)

We did not talk for more than a moment and I never got their names, but I do believe they must have read about the Good Samaritan. In this parable, Jesus taught about helping others. He taught that we should think of everyone as our neighbor, even though we might not know their name. When we see someone in trouble we need to help.

I hope you do not find me on the sidewalk again but be prepared to help if you can. Help a classmate pick up the papers they have dropped. Find his/her mother if you see a child fall on the playground. Tie a little kid’s shoe. Say “Good Morning,” to someone who looks lonely. Get your parent when you see something that is not right. You have probably helped others in ways just like these! These little actions tell others you are a Christian. Good work!

Think about this verse: Luke 10:36

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (NIV)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I am thankful for the kind people you have put in my life. Help me to spot little ways I can help others every day and show them Christ’s love. Amen.

Going the Extra Mile

Read Matthew 5:41

Jesus saw Roman soldiers often. The Roman Empire controlled Judea where Jesus lived and taught, and Roman soldiers were seen on the street daily. Matthew told about a time Jesus met a centurion (soldier) and healed his servant. Jesus also used a centurion to demonstrate a lesson about helping others.

Roman centurions were rough tough men. They were trained to keep order in the provinces of Rome and were the police force in these areas. The soldiers demanded obedience from local citizens.

Each centurion traveled with the equipment he would need for his job. This would include his armor, food, camping equipment, cook pot, and shovel. His armor included iron and leather coverings for his body, a metal helmet, a large curved shield, a sword for hand to hand combat, and two large javelins for throwing. Centurions were trained to carry all these things while marching at a fast pace. They had to be able to cover 25 miles in five hours. This sounds like a tough rule, but Roman law gave them a special privilege. They were permitted to stop any young boy they saw and to force him to carry their equipment. If you were unlucky enough to be chosen, the law said that you must carry the centurion’s equipment for a Roman mile. This was about 1,000 paces!

Why would Jesus want anyone to offer to carry it all for TWO miles?

Jesus wants us to give more than is expected. Do you think this offer would surprise the centurion? Jesus wants us to show others His love and generosity with our example. You can do this by doing something extra for the people in your life. Do you make your bed? Surprise your brother by making his bed too! Is it your job to take out the trash on Thursday? Bring the trashcan back from the street in the evening. Take the dog for an extra-long walk. Walk the extra mile.

These little surprises will make both others and you feel good. It will show them your heart and let them know you love Jesus. It might be contagious, and you will find others passing this love along in turn. It is a quiet way of sharing our faith with our friends, family, and neighbors.

Think about the verse we read – Matt. 5:41

"If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles." (NIV)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your love. Help me find ways of surprising others with extra help and love this week. Amen.

False Friends

Read Matthew 7:15-16

Native Americans who lived on the great plains hunted buffalo on foot. Even without horses, they were able to hunt and kill these enormous animals by deceiving them. One young runner who was brave and fast would be chosen to lure the herd of buffalo toward the other hunters. The others were prepared to shoot (with arrows) or spear them once they were trapped. The decoy would cover himself with a buffalo robe complete with head and horns. Dressed as a buffalo, the herd could not see him or smell that he was a human. He was able to get close to the herd. Bellowing as a lost or hurt calf the decoy would move them faster and faster until the herd was stampeding toward their death. Just like the false prophets in Jesus’s warning, a young man in disguise under buffalo skins was able lure his victims to their destruction.

This story is a warning for you too. Watch out for false friends. Have you ever met such a person? These false friends are happy to include you in activities that may sound like fun, but are dangerous. They tell you that smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs are not really so bad for you. They may cheat on school work and show you how to do it. They may lie about events to keep their friends out of trouble. They may tease and pick on kids they do not like and/or do not do the things they do. Sometimes they even try to control you by fear (bullying).

Are these the kind of friends you want? Never! Stay away from these people. Jesus teaches honesty, obedience, and kindness. Do not let anyone talk you into doing what Jesus has taught is wrong. Do not let clothes, possessions, or slick words deceive you. Watch out for the wolves!

Think about this verse – Proverbs 18:24

"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." (New Living Translation)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for my friends. You have given me friends, that are kind and loving in ways that please You. Help me avoid false friends, who would lead me away from You. Amen.

Choices

Read Genesis 13:5-11

Every day you make choices. Some seem easy, like choosing which birthday present to open first. If you have had any experience with this, you know you still should consider your choice carefully. Is the biggest one the best? Remember, many good things come in small packages. Is the package with the brightest wrapping and biggest bow the one to choose? You know, what is in the box is important, not how it is wrapped. Do you look at the tag to see who it is from? Often, grandparents give the best gifts. Hmmmm…

Lot had a big choice to make when he and Abram were traveling. They needed to move apart. Abram gave Lot his choice of the land. The plains of the Jordan River Valley looked perfect. Plenty of green grass for his sheep to eat and lots of fresh water. Space for his flocks to wander and spread out. Towns in the area looked prosperous. Lot chose to go into the valley.

Like a package that is just wrapped in pretty paper, Lot soon discovered this was not the best choice. The city of Sodom was in this valley and Sodom was a city filled with evil that God hated. Sometime later Lot found himself in the middle of a war between several kings who were fighting over this land. Lot, his family, and everything he owned were captured.

Abram was able to rescue Lot and save his family, but Lot returned to Sodom. This was another bad choice. God decided to destroy Sodom because of the evil in the city, but He rescued Lot as burning fire fell from the sky. Sodom and everything nearby were destroyed.

Did you notice that Lot never asked God to guide his choices? This was a mistake that you can avoid today. You can ask for God’s guidance in any decision you face. Ask God to help you make wise choices. You can trust Him to guide you as you make little choices each day. You can trust Him to guide you when the choice is tough. God has a plan for each of His children. Choices may seem easy or hard, but know God is there to help you make the right ones. Remember to ask for His guidance!

Think about this verse – Psalm 48:14

"For that is what God is like. He is our God forever and ever, and he will guide us until we die." (New Living Translation)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I am thankful for the love and guidance You give. Every day I need to make so many choices. Please guide me. Help me to make good choices in everything I think, do, or say. Help me please you always. Amen.