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.

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.

Abigail’s Advice

Read I Samuel 25:30-31

King David had many wives. This may surprise you, but when David lived it was not unusual for a rich man to be married to more than one woman. Abigail was one of David’s wives and her story is told in I Samuel 25. God used her to give important advice to David and her advice is important for you, too.

In the time when David was fleeing from Saul, he went into the desert near Carmel. A man named Nabal and his wife Abigail lived close to where David’s men were camping. David’s men had encountered Nabal’s shepherds in the past. David’s men had treated Nabal well and did not mistreat or steal from his men. David thought Nabal might now grant him a favor. David sent a pleasant greeting to Nabal and asked for anything he could provide for David’s hungry men. Nabal sent a rude reply to David. Nabal’s answer was not only “No” but included an insult. He claimed David was just an unknown runaway servant.

How do you think David responded? David was furious. He had his men take up arms and prepare to destroy Nabal and all he owned.

Meanwhile Abigail heard about Nabal’s mean and selfish reply. She knew David would be planning an attack. God sent her to David to stop him from taking revenge. She gathered some food and headed for David’s camp. She hoped to prevent an attack and begged him not to seek revenge. She explained that the blood of revenge would be on his conscience forever. David accepted the food that Abigail brought and blessed her for her good judgement. David did not attack. When he heard how Abigail had helped David, Nabal had a heart attack and died. His punishment came from God.

Have you ever wanted to get revenge? Maybe you wanted to give someone a taste of their own medicine? This can happen when someone mean hurts your feelings. This can happen when someone takes something that belongs to you. This can happen when you are mad. Just like David we should listen to Abigail. Doing something wrong will not solve the problem. In the end, it will just make you feel bad. Let God take care of fixing your hurts. Let Him be the judge. You know that God loves you and has plans for your life. You know He is in charge of everything, even your enemies.

Think about this verse – Romans 12:19

"Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge; I will repay,' says the Lord." (NIV)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I know that I must not seek to get even with others when I am angry. Help me to remember and to calm down. I trust You to make all things right. Amen.

The Smallest Gift

Read Mark 12:41-44

Today when we collect offering money at church, it is put into a basket or plate that is passed through the congregation. The elders, deacons, and congregation members decide how to spend the donations. In Jesus’s time money for the temple was collected in a much different way.

Only Jews were allowed into the temple, and women could only go as far as the Women’s Court. Offerings were collected in boxes, or trumpets as they were called, that were placed in the Women’s Court. There were 13 trumpets, each labeled for a specific purpose. If you were paying the temple tax, you would put your money into one of two trumpets for temple tax. If you were paying for the temple upkeep, you would put your money into a trumpet marked for firewood, incense, or golden vessels. You could put money into two other trumpets instead of sacrificing a dove or young pigeon. Another trumpet was for sin offerings. There were trumpets for other trespasses too. If you had extra money left after making your required offerings, it went into one of four trumpets for voluntary donations. Phew! That was complicated!

One day Jesus was in the temple watching worshipers come and put their offerings into the trumpets. He saw many rich people proudly bringing generous donations. Perhaps they dropped them into the trumpets in a way that let others know they were giving lots of money. He also saw a widow come and drop two small copper coins into a trumpet. Perhaps she did it quietly and felt embarrassed that she put in much less than others.

Jesus explained to His disciples that the widow’s small coins were really the greatest gift. Others had plenty of money and could give away what they did not need. This poor woman gave away money she really needed. Her gift was a sacrifice. She would do without something else because she made this gift.

When we give gifts to God, we must remember this lesson. Everyone gives what God tells them in their heart to give. You do not need to feel bad if you give less. You should not feel proud if you give more. God wants us to give out of love in whatever amount we can. If we give in this way, He will bless our offering and multiply it in the work of the church.

Think about this verse – Luke 21:3

"'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others.'" (NIV)

Close in Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, every good thing comes from You. What I offer back to You comes from the love in my heart for You and for others. Use my gifts for Your work. Amen.