Every Sunday morning at 9:00 am
Sundsy Scool is on break for the summer and will return in September
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.
Pride
Read Luke 18:10-14
Jesus often taught that pride gets us into trouble. In this parable (story) about a Pharisee (church leader) and a tax collector, the Pharisee stood up and boasted that he was not a bad person. He did not steal or sin or do evil. He then went on and told why he should be respected. He fasted and donated part of his earnings to the temple. Was Jesus impressed? NO!
The Pharisee was proud of things he did and was sure that he was better than the tax collector. The Pharisee only saw the good things he had done as he pointed out the tax collector as a sinner. The tax collector humbly admitted that he sinned and asked for forgiveness. Jesus told His followers that it was the tax collector who would be forgiven, not the proud church leader.
Do you ever fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others? Do you pat yourself on the back because you are not like them? Jesus explained that this kind of pride is wrong. Bragging that you are not as bad as someone else never impresses anyone. Instead, Jesus wants you to be honest. Admit what you have done wrong and ask for His forgiveness. Be careful not to let your pride trap you. It can ruin friendships, reputations, and your relationship with God.
Do not be confused. When you work hard, use God given talents, and do your best, it is OK to feel good about what you have done. God wants you to know that He is pleased when you help others and share His love with them. He is pleased when you do your best. But…you must never think this makes you better than others.
Think about this verse – Proverbs 29:23
"Pride ends in humiliation, while humility brings honor." (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the many gifts You have given to me. Help me use them wisely. Help me have a humble heart. Amen.
Pray Constantly
Read Acts 1:12-14
Just after Jesus was crucified, the believers retreated. They met quietly in an upstairs room. They prayed constantly. Do you pray? Constantly? You probably pray at bedtime, before meals, and in church, but what does it mean to pray constantly?
You know that when you pray you talk to God. You know that He likes to hear from you. God tells you both these things in the Bible. Jesus prayed, early believers prayed, prophets and heroes of the Old Testament prayed. You can find examples of people talking (praying) to God in every book of the Bible.
There are endless reasons to talk to God. Do you need to talk to God about a problem? Do you need healing when you are sick? Do you want to thank God? Pray for yourself and pray for others. To pray constantly, just think about God as you go through your day.
Take a moment to ask God to help you do your best when you take a test. Ask God to protect the firefighters when you hear the fire siren. When you get sad news, ask for God to comfort those involved. When you see the President on TV, ask God to guide him. As you walk by the shore and find an interesting shell, thank God for the wonderful things He created. When you eat ice cream, thank God for the cows that made the milk for your treat. See how you can get in the habit of talking to God? Praying constantly from your heart is not as hard as it may sound.
Whenever you think of God, take just a moment to talk to Him. God cares about you and what is in your heart. He wants your praise, love, and thanks. He will listen to everything you ask Him. He is ready to forgive when you tell Him you are sorry. Think how God is part of your day. Remember to talk to Him along the way.
Think about this verse – Ephesians 6:18
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for listening to all my prayers. Forgive me for not talking to You as often as I should. Remind me that You will listen to anything in my heart. Remind me that You are always waiting to hear from me. Amen.
Secret Giving
Read Matthew 6:2-4
Jesus wants you to help others, but He says that it is important that you never boast or brag about it. When you give to others you should do it in secret!
Giving to others can be done in many ways. You can use your money to help others in small ways (giving a friend lunch money when they forget their lunch) or to help in bigger ways (sending money to help a missionary or donating to a food pantry). You can also do things to help others. Can you think of some of the ways you have helped your family, friends, and community? Your acts of kindness may be small (picking up your trash at the playground) or large (raking leaves in a neighborhood park on Community Day). Jesus tells us giving to others is important. Just remember it is not something to brag about.
When you do things for others the goal is to make things better for them…not for you. Yes, it is OK to have a good feeling in your heart about what you have done, but do not boast to others about it. Do not try to impress others with your good deeds, this is just bragging. And you know how people feel about braggers! Your strength, abilities, time, and money are gifts from God. He gives you extra so you can share your blessings to help others. God watches how you use these gifts, and He always knows what you do.
How do you give secretly? Start where you are. At home just put your brother’s dirty clothes in the hamper when you see them on the bathroom floor... without telling about it. Ask Mom to send an extra snack for a classmate who never comes to school with one…without pointing out that they never have one of their own. If you get an allowance, put a little bit in the church offering on Sunday…without flashing it in front of your friends. As you start to do such things, you will get more ideas!
Nothing is secret in God’s eyes. Always remember that. Your reward will come from Him. Others will be blessed by what you do. You will feel happy about what you have done. God will be pleased. Who else needs to know?
Think about this verse – Matthew 6:4
"Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will reward you." (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know You have eyes on everything I do. Help me to find ways to give to others. Help me give quietly and secretly without looking for praise or reward. Help my giving please You. Amen.
In God We Trust
Read Psalm 56:3-4 Psalm 56:11
Next time you hold a few U.S. coins in your hand, look closely at them. What do you see? Do you see the image of a U.S. President or important leader? Do you see the date the coin was made? Do you see some words?
There are two sets of words (phrases) on each coin. One says, “E pluribus unum.” This is Latin for the phrase “from many, one.” Our country’s foundering fathers put this on our coins because it was our country’s first motto. Our country was made from many colonies that joined together to make one nation. Many clubs have mottos to show what they believe or what they do. Does your school have a motto?
Our country was split apart by the Civil War. The war was painful and divided not just states but families and friends. The northern states fought against the southern states for four years. There were 620,000 men that died from battle wounds or sickness. Suddenly the motto “from many, one” did not seem quite right.
People began to think that a new motto was needed. People needed hope and reassurance that God was with them. They needed to be reminded that God protects His children in difficult times. Christians suggested the words “In God we trust.”
By 1908 the words “In God We Trust” were added to some coins. In 1956, when I was in third grade, President Eisenhower signed a law making it our country’s motto and putting it on all money, both coins and paper bills.
When you look at U.S. money, look for the words “In God We Trust.” Let it remind you of two things. First, you can always trust God to be with you, in good times and in bad times. Second, you can trust that God has a plan for you and will guide you through this plan. Remember our God is great! Remember our God is good! Aren’t you glad you are one of His children!
Think about these verses – Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (NIV)
Close in Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for being with me and guiding me. Thank you for having a plan for my life. Help me trust You, in both good and hard times. Remind me that You are always with me. Amen.
Remember
Read Joshua 4:4-9
Do you have a special way of remembering important events? Do you circle your birthday in red on the kitchen calendar? Have you ever watched fireworks on the 4th of July? Maybe you have toured a battlefield and taken pictures of the monuments. It is good to remember. It is especially good to remember what God has done for you.
In the Bible there are many times that God instructs His people to remember. God wanted the Israelites to remember crossing the Jordan and He told them to build a monument with stones from the river. The Israelites were instructed to put tassels on their clothing to remind them of God’s commandments. Jesus commanded Christians to eat bread and drink wine to help them remember His death on the cross. Again and again God tells us to remember His love and power, and to think about His blessings.
Does your life get busy? It is easy to forget special occasions. Sometimes people are so busy thinking about what is going on now, that they forget about what has happened in the past. God does not want you to let this happen. Just as your mom makes a birthday cake for you, you will make one for your son or daughter. Just as you sit in the park with your dad watching fireworks, you will sit with your own children and celebrate Independence Day. You will revisit many places with your own family that you first toured as a child. You will talk about these places and remember them with your children, just as your parents did with you.
It will be important for you to talk to your children about God someday. He wants you to remind them of what He has done for all His children. He wants you to tell them about Jesus. Get ready now! Ask questions yourself. Ask why we celebrate as we do in the church. Ask about things you may see but not understand. You will discover that there are many reminders in Christian traditions. Use these reminders to share God’s love.
Think about this verse – Psalms 105:5
"Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for placing reminders of Your love and power around me. Keep my eyes and heart open so I may see them each day. Help me remember what You have done for me. Prepare me to pass them on to my children. Amen.
The Armor of God
Read Ephesians 6:14-17
Have you ever read a story or watched a movie about a knight in armor? The stories are always full of adventure, bravery, and battle.
Have you ever looked closely at all the equipment a knight needed to wear? Each piece was important for his protection and was put on with care. First, he put on a suit of chain mail, a sort of reinforced heavy underwear. Then on top of this he wore a breastplate that covered his chest and his back, adding another layer of protection. He next tightened his belt and made sure that it securely held his shirt and breastplate in place. He put on special armored shoes to protect his feet because even an injured foot could keep him from standing and fighting. When his body was protected, he would cover his head with a protective helmet that had a sliding face mask. After his body was protected and ready for battle, he would pick up his shield and sword. He could use this shield to knock away enemy arrows that might come flying toward him. He could use his sword to injure the enemy.
In his letter to the Ephesians Paul tells us that God has given us armor and wants us to put it on each day. Paul reminds us that the devil is ready to attack us at any time, but God has given us armor for protection. The truth of God is like a belt that you can fasten tightly to hold God’s armor in place. Righteousness (living by God’s laws) will protect you, like a breastplate. God readies your feet so you will be able to spring into action. Jesus protects you like a helmet and assures you that you have salvation no matter how the fight goes. Your faith will shield you when others attack you and the Holy Spirit will be your sword to help you fight back.
God does not want you to be in the world facing evil and temptations all alone. God has given you armor you can use when the devil attacks. If you have ever been tempted to do what you know is wrong, you know about this battle with the devil. Remember you have God’s armor. Remember it’s available. Put it on!
Think about these verses – Ephesians 6:10-11
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes." (New International Version)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know You will be with me when I face evil and temptation. Thank you for this armor You give me. I know Your armor will strengthen and protect me. Help me remember that I am wearing it always. Amen.
Parts
Read I Corinthians 12:14-20
Paul told the Corinthians that the church was like a body. He compared the church to a human body with different parts. Eyes, ears, fingers, mouth, feet, and (fill in this blank) are all necessary. Can you imagine living well without one of these parts?
Every person in our church family is different and they have a special part to play. Think about the people you see on Sunday morning. Look in the balcony for the technicians who manage our sound system and broadcast our services into the community. Think of the pastor and church leaders who lead the congregation. Listen to the beautiful music provided by singers and musicians each week. Thank the people that unlock the doors for us and keep our church clean.
Think about other members you know. Some enjoy visiting and talking with our seniors. Others encourage children and young people. Missionaries travel around the world telling others about Jesus. Some people reach out to neighbors in our own community. Gardeners beautify our church, bakers supply meals and desserts, drivers help with transportation. There are many more things that get done by members of our church family. Can you think of other jobs we do to keep our church family running smoothly?
Every member is important. No matter what you do, you are a necessary part of the church. God has given you the abilities that your church family needs. Every job, no matter the size, is important. There are no little jobs. Think what just a smile can do. When we use our abilities to work together, we can do awesome things!
Think about this verse – I Corinthians 12:27
"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for planning my church family. I know I am an important part of this family. Show me ways to use my talents as my church family follows You and works together. Amen.