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.
Be Prepared
Read Matthew 25:1-10
When you go camping, you are packing for an adventure. Make sure you take everything you will need to spend the night outdoors. You will need a tent for shelter, food, clothes, bug spray, sleeping bag, flashlight, and (just in case) rain gear. Can you think of anything else you might need?
It is also good to test your equipment before you leave home. Can you imagine waking up in the night and finding out that your flashlight batteries are dead? That would not happen with good planning. If you were wise, you would have tested the light at home. You could have included extra batteries in your pack. But now, what can you do???
The camp store is one mile back the trail. It’s dark and you have no light and besides the store is probably closed for the night. Buying more batteries is not an option. Maybe you could borrow a battery from a tent mate. Unfortunately, chances are no one will lend you a battery because they need their batteries. Even if someone would give you one or two of their batteries, your flashlight needs four. Sharing with you might not leave them with enough power to keep their flashlight shining. So, borrowing is also not an option.
The tent is very dark. You hear strange noises outside. Your flashlight is dead. You are starting to worry! Is this scary night a good adventure now? Do you wish you had been wise and planned ahead?
Every day you need to plan wisely. On school days you need to remember your lunch, jacket, homework, and pencils. If you are going to the pool, you will need your towel, suntan lotion, and snack. When you have a ball game, you must have your hat, glove, and favorite bat. Thinking and planning are important habits to develop.
The foolish young women in Jesus’s parable were not prepared. Are you planning well? Are you prepared? Learn from their mistake!
Think about this verse – Proverbs 21:5
"Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too quickly, you will never have enough." (Good News Version)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus. Help me understand the parables He told his followers. Help me use this wisdom in my life too. Amen.
Jesus Is the New Path to Heaven
Read Matthew 9:14-17
As Jesus traveled throughout the countryside, he was often criticized for not following Jewish laws. God gave these laws to Moses, and they were passed down by Jewish leaders. While God wants us to follow His laws, no can ever follow them perfectly. Jesus taught that following these laws was not the way to earn eternal life. He taught about this new path to heaven with many stories.
One time the disciples of John (The Baptist) asked Jesus why he did not fast. He used a lesson about wineskins to explain that God was changing the path to heaven. The old way was not enough.
Before the time of glass and plastic bottles, wine was often transported in wineskins. Wineskins were soft leather bags. They were coated on the inside with pitch (tree sap) to make them waterproof and given a drinking spout. New wineskins are soft, flexible, and stretchy.
As it ages, wine needs time to ferment and develop. When new wine is put into a wineskin, it is often not fully fermented. New wineskins are flexible enough to allow the wine to expand as it matures.
If the owner does not take care of his wineskin, it becomes dry and brittle. Can you guess what would happen if new wine is added to a brittle bag? While the wine expands; the brittle bag does not. It bursts and the wine is wasted. Old wineskins can only be thrown out!
Jewish laws required people to follow many rules. By following these rules, people hoped to earn God’s favor. But these rules were like old wineskins…they were useless.
Have you ever tried very hard to follow the rules but found yourself doing something wrong? Of course…this happens to everyone. No one can follow God’s laws perfectly and earn God’s forgiveness. Jesus taught that His sacrifice and death on the cross would pay for your sins. God would forgive you because of Jesus’s sacrifice. Jesus brought a new way for salvation. Instead of following many old rules you just need to believe in Jesus and ask that your sins be forgiven. This is the path to heaven for all believers. Have you told Jesus that you believe in Him? Have you told Him you are sorry for the sins and mistakes you have made? Have you asked God to forgive you? Great! You are part of the great big family of God!
Think about this verse – II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know You love me and sent Jesus to pay the punishment I deserve for my sins. I am sorry for things that I have done which displease You. Please forgive me. Because I believe in Jesus, I know I will see You someday in heaven. Thank you! Amen.
Admit Your Mistakes
Read Jonah 1:9-12
Have you ever made a mistake and tried to cover it up? Have you ever said, “It wasn’t me,” when it really was? Admitting mistakes is hard, especially when you know that punishment might be coming.
This happened to Jonah. God sent him to Nineveh. Jonah ran away. He boarded a ship headed in the opposite direction, but God stopped the ship with a terrible storm. Just as the ship was about to sink, the sailors asked Jonah if he knew who was responsible for making all their trouble.
Jonah knew that the storm was his fault because he had disobeyed God. He also knew that the sailors were going to throw whoever was responsible overboard. The ship was far from the coast, the waves were rough, the winds were furious, and no one would come to rescue him. There was no way Jonah would survive in the sea. What would you have done?
Jonah knew he had to admit what he had done (or not done in this case). He admitted his guilt and told the sailors to throw him overboard to save the rest of the crew. Would you have been that brave?
You probably know how this ended. God saved Jonah by sending a great fish to swallow him. While in the fish’s belly, Jonah remembered God and asked to be forgiven. The great fish spit Jonah up on the beach and Jonah did go to Nineveh as God commanded.
Next time you are tempted to lie about something you do, think about Jonah. After admitting his mistake and asking for forgiveness, God set Jonah back on the right path to Nineveh. God forgives you when you admit your sins and ask for forgiveness. He will bring you back to the path He has planned for you.
Your family, friends, teachers, and neighbors will also forgive your mistakes. Like Jonah, you may face some punishment. You may feel embarrassed or sad, but these things will only last a little while. In the end, relationships will be restored and you will feel OK about what happened. Admitting your mistakes always ends with a fresh start.
Think about this verse – I John 1:9
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, when I make mistakes, it is often hard to admit it. Help me remember to ask for forgiveness and own-up to the things I have done (or not done). Thank you for forgiving me and loving me. Amen.
Don’t Look Back
Read Genesis 19:17 and Genesis 19:23-26
Sodom and Gomorrah were cities filled with evil. People living there were wicked and did things God hated. God told Abram (Abraham) that He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah. Although Abram lived in Canaan, he was worried about his nephew Lot who lived in Sodom. The Lord sent two angels into Sodom to rescue Lot. They took Lot, his wife, and his daughters by their hands and pulled them out of Sodom and told them to flee. Lot’s family was told to run for their lives, never stop, and never look back.
Leaving things behind can be difficult. Perhaps Lot’s wife felt sad to leave her house and family memories behind. Maybe she was worried because they did not take anything with them. Possibly, she just wanted to see the fire God was sending. No matter the reason, she turned to look at Sodom one more time. As she hesitated, she lost her chance for escape and turned into a pillar of salt.
There are so many reason people move today. Have you ever had to move? Why did you move? How did you feel? Even in the excitement of moving, you can feel sad, worried, lonely, or scared. Just remember God is guiding your path and He will be going with you.
God wants you to grow wherever He plants you. He has new people for you to meet. There may be new things for you to do. God could even be showing you a new way of life. God will take you down many paths in your lifetime. Be ready to follow wherever He leads. He will be with you always. Do not turn back!
Think about this verse – Mark 1:20 (When Jesus called James and John to follow Him)
"He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men." (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, doing new things can be frightening. Help me to follow the path You have planned for me. Please give me courage to look forward and not look back. Help me trust when it is difficult. Amen.
Love – The Greatest Commandment
Read Mark 12:28-33
Teachers and scholars enjoy debating the law. You can see this whenever you watch the nightly news on television or read the newspapers. It was no different in Jesus’s day. Those who opposed Jesus often tried to debate the law with him. They were hoping to trick him into making a mistake so they could arrest him.
One day a teacher of the law noticed that Jesus gave good answers, and he came to Jesus with a question. He wanted to know which commandment was the most important. Maybe he expected Jesus to name one of the Ten Commandments. If not one of the Ten Commandments, maybe something from the laws God gave Moses about festivals or sacrifices would top the list.
Jesus again answered with wisdom. There are two parts to the most important law, He said. God wants all men to (1) love Him best and (2) love each other. Such simple commandments. As the teacher stood thinking he had an “AH HAH” moment. He realized that this perfectly summed up all the laws God had given His people. He realized that the love in your heart is a greater gift than any sacrifice or offering you can make to God. And…if you love God, you will love the people He has created and put into your life. This is the Greatest Commandment.
Jesus praised the teacher who had asked this question. Jesus was pleased that he understood His teaching. Others listening also stopped talking and arguing. They had no more questions for Jesus that day.
As you think about the stories you read or hear from the Bible, think about love. Do not just think about how God loves you, think about how much you love God. Think about ways you can show your love to him. Think about ways you can show love to others. Worshipping, serving, giving, helping, and obeying are all part of loving. You already do these things every day. Keep up the good work with a loving heart!
Think about this verse – Hosea 6:6
"I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than I want burnt offerings." (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me as one of your children. I want to find ways to show my love for you every day. I want to show love to others. Please help me have a loving heart. Amen.