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.

Afraid of the Dark?

Read Psalm 139:11-12

When you are in bed and turn off the light, are you afraid of the dark? When you lose electricity during a storm and everything goes black, are you afraid of things around you? Do you refuse to play on the lawn at night, because you are worried about things hiding in the shadows? King David has some advice for you.

As a young man, David watched over his father’s sheep. It was his job to take them into the hills where they could find clean water and fresh green grass. He lived in times before electricity, flashlights, or solar lights. At night the only light he had came from the stars and the moon. If it was cloudy, the night must have been very dark. A campfire could give light, but firewood was not always to be found.

These dark nights might have been frightening to David, but he did not worry. As he thought about the darkness, he wrote songs. With the sheep listening he sang these songs to God in praise. God placed these songs in David’s heart to comfort him. The Bible includes many of these songs in the book of Psalms because God wants to share this comfort with you too. Next time you feel afraid, remember what David learned in the quiet of the night.

God is with you everywhere, anytime, and always. He controls things in the dark just as He controls things in the daylight. This does not change. Ever. Unfortunately, the devil tries to convince you that God is not there when the lights go out. He tries to make you forget that God is there in the dark with you. Do not be fooled. David knew that God rules the night as well as the day. Remember this next time the darkness frightens you!

Think about this verse – Psalm 74:16

"Both day and night belong to you; you made the starlight and the sun." (NLT)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the world you have created. You have given me light for times to play and work and nighttime for time to rest. When I feel frightened by darkness, help me remember You are there too. Thank you for never leaving me alone. Amen.

Genealogy

Turn through the first 9 chapters of I Chronicles (no need to read all the names, just notice how many names are recorded)

Just move your finger down through Matthew 1:1-16 (Look for the names Adam, David, Jesus)

Genealogy is the study of family ancestry. Today people are fascinated when they think about their family trees. Do you know the names of your great-grandparents? How about your great-great-grandparents? Where did they live? What did they do? Websites like www.ancestry.com help families trace their origins back generations? There are even television shows that explore these questions. Today studying genealogy is big business.

Genealogy was very important to the Hebrews. They carefully and accurately recorded fathers and sons through generations of Jewish history. It was important to know your ancestors to prove you were Jewish. Only Jews could participate in Jewish customs and inherit land. Only descendants of Levi could serve as priests. Also, it was considered a special blessing if you traced your family tree to a Jewish leader or hero.

It is important to know the ancestors of Jesus. His family tree is just one proof that Jesus was The Messiah. Old Testament Prophets told of a coming of a messiah. Samuel, Isaiah, and Jeremiah all said The Messiah would be a descendent of King David. In the Bible, Matthew carefully lists the ancestors of Jesus. Did you find the names Adam, David, and Jesus? Matthew begins his gospel by listing all males in a direct line from Adam to King David. Then the line continues from King David to Jesus. By listing these generations, Matthew showed that the prophecies of the Old Testament came true.

God wants you to know the ancestors of Jesus. Bible history can be hard to understand, but you can trust it shows God’s plan for His children. The history of God’s people written in the Old Testament is true. God’s promises written in the New Testament are the true pathway to heaven. These promises are true. They are for you, your children, and generations to come.

Think about this verse – Ezekiel 37:25

"They will live in the land I gave my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They and their children and their grandchildren after them will live there forever, generation after generation. And my servant David will be their prince forever." (New Living Translation)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father thank you for sending Jesus into my life to rescue me. I trust your word and believe your promises. I know these promises are for my children and their children forever. 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? Leavened???

Leavening is the ingredient that bakers add to bread, cakes, and cookies to make them light and fluffy. Some people 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 mixed 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 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 that 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 too will tell others and the kingdom will grow some more. As we pass along the good news, the whole world will hear about Jesus. The kingdom of God will explode.

Your words and actions will 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 Jesus?

Think about this verse – Luke 13:21

"It is like this. 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 ways to spread the good news about Jesus. Remind me that everything that I think, do, and say can spread Your love. Amen.

Hospitality

Read 2 Kings 4:8-10

Hospitality is the friendly and generous welcoming of guests. Think about what makes you feel welcome when you visit in someone else’s home. Do they greet you with a smile? Is there a comfortable place for you to sit and talk? Does the host make you feel special when you visit? Are you eager to go back again?

Elisha visited a Shunammite woman every time he traveled nearby. He visited so often that the woman and her husband built a room for him on the roof of their house (remember houses of the time had a flat roof). They carefully planned the space so he would have everything he needed and would feel at home.

Elisha’s visits were a blessing to the couple. I am sure Elisha told them about God. Maybe they shared news about people or politics as they relaxed in the evenings. God rewarded the couple’s kindness by giving them a son. Some years later this son was struck with a terrible headache and suddenly died. They sent for Elisha. He revived the boy by praying and laying on top of his body. The Shunammite family had truly been blessed by knowing Elisha.

You can be blessed too when you welcome guests into your home. When they get to know you and your family, they will see the love you have for God. You will learn interesting facts about their life and share your life with them. You may even become good friends, even friends for life. It all starts with a simple invitation.

There are so many people who would enjoy spending time with you. New neighbors, friends from school, your pastor and his family, missionaries who are visiting in the area. Can you think of someone who would enjoy a visit with you this weekend? Don’t wait for great weather or a special occasion. Now is the perfect time to build a relationship with the people God puts in your life!

Think of this verse – Matthew 25:35

"For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. (New Living translation)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, You have placed so many special people in my life. Help me show hospitality to them and welcome them as part of Your

family. Show me ways to get to know them better. Amen.

Commandments

Read Deuteronomy 9:9-11

Do you know what the word command means? According to the McGraw-Hill School Dictionary it means to give an order or direction. Generals give commands to the soldiers under them. Teachers give commands to their students. Policemen give commands to drivers when they direct traffic around an accident. Commands are not suggestions. You do not need to talk about them first, you just must obey them. Period.

After the Israelites left Egypt and crossed the Red Sea, God called Moses to meet Him on Mt. Sinai. God gave Moses 10 rules and wrote them with His own finger upon stone tablets. These rules are The Ten Commandments. God expected His people to always follow these rules. He wanted them to love Him, love each other, and lead holy lives.

God did not give these laws to His people to punish but to bless His people. By following these rules, the Israelites would honor and please God and could live in harmony with each other. These rules would be the basis for Jewish law for centuries. When Jesus spoke to His followers, He demonstrated these commandments in His parables and lessons. Jesus often taught that God expected men, women, and children to obey these commandments.

It is easy to think that God’s commandments may have changed because our world is different than the world of Moses. But remember, God never changes. He still wants us to honor and love Him. He still wants us to respect each other. Don’t just think about God’s commandments, put them into action. Don’t try to change them to fit your life, change your life instead. Don’t ignore them, remember them. Obey them and God will bless you.

Think about this verse – Joshua 22:5

"But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (NLT)

Close in prayer

Dear Heavenly Father, I want to obey Your commandments. Help me remember them in everything I do, say, or think each day. Thank you for

guiding me with these rules. Amen.