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.
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.
The Magi
Read Matthew 2:1-2
Magi, also called kings or wise men, are only mentioned in Matthew’s gospel. However, their visit was foretold in King Solomon’s writing (Psalm 72:10-11). The word magi comes from the root of the Persian word magus. In ancient Persia, a magus was well known for studying the stars as a science. So, when suddenly a new and brilliant star appeared, the magi knew something special had happened and they wanted to find out what it was.
They traveled westward from Babylon or Persia. Traveling through the desert, it would have been necessary for them to come to Judea by camel. Perhaps they traveled in a caravan in order to have the supplies and armed protection needed for the long and dangerous trip. We know they were rich men. Ordinary people would not have been able to afford the camels, guards, and servants needed for such a trip. They brought gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, which were expensive and only rich men could give them away.
The Bible does not tell us exactly how many magi visited baby Jesus. We assume there were three because they brought three gifts for the new baby king. When they entered and saw Mary and the baby, they bowed down and worshiped. By bowing low, presenting their gifts, and worshipping they were declaring that they were in the presence of a king.
They also played an important role in saving baby Jesus from the wrath of King Herod. Having been warned in a dream that Herod was seeking to harm the baby, the magi returned home without telling Herod where Jesus was. This allowed Joseph, Mary, and Jesus time to escape. Their gifts provided Joseph with the means to purchase what was needed for the trip and allowed them to live safely in Egypt.
Do you know that you have a gift for Jesus too? Like the magi, you can worship Jesus with your love, trust and faith. Your prayers will carry your gifts to Him.
Think about this verse – Matthew 2:11
"On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I give You my love as I worship You today. Thank you for Your plan to protect baby Jesus. Thank you using the magi and their gifts to help Joseph, Mary and Jesus escape from Herod’s fury. Thank you for the love and safety that surrounds me today. Amen.
A Host of Angels
Read together Luke 2:13-14
The Bible tells us just three times the angels sang or will sing together. God tells Job that angels shouted for joy when the earth was made (Job 38:7). Luke tells us an angel choir sang for the shepherds the night Jesus was born. Finally, the book of Revelations tells us that angels will be standing before God with trumpets as the world ends.
Tonight, we think about the Christmas angels. Oh, what a joyous celebration there was over the hills of Bethlehem the night Jesus was born. No earthly celebration, no fireworks, no grand parade, no concert, can compare to the glory that came with the angels. No song sung by any earthly choir was ever more inspiring.
Have you ever just closed your eyes and thought about this appearance of an angel chorus in the sky? It must have been bright and beautiful to see. They must have sung with beautiful voices, stirring the listener’s ear. When you go to bed this Christmas Eve, shut your eyes and think about the angels praising God. You will feel comfort as you rest, knowing that God loves you. The heavenly angels sang for you. Join them as they proclaimed the Savior’s birth. Join them as they spread God’s love to all men.
Think about this verse – Job 38:7
"while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy" (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the angels who sang of peace and joy over the hills of Bethlehem. Let me join in this joy as I sing Christmas carols with my family and friends. Amen.