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.
Unused and Forgotten
Read II Kings 22:3-11
If you have a favorite baseball cap, you probably wear it most every day. But when winter comes and your ears get cold, you will put your baseball cap in the closet and wear a warmer hat instead. Over the winter your cap gets pushed to the back of the closet and other stuff gets piled on top. You get a new cap after the Superbowl, and your old cap is forgotten. Years go by until one day you decide to clean out your closet. Back in the darkest corner you find your old baseball cap. Wow! It brings back so many memories. You get it out and start wearing it again. Sound familiar?
King Josiah had the same problem. The previous two Kings of Jerusalem (Manasseh and Amon) had led the Israelites away from God. They filled God’s temple with foreign idols and lead the people in worshipping them. They filled the temple with other junk and allowed it to fall into disrepair. When Josiah became king, he knew this was wrong and set out to clean and repair the temple.
He ordered the priests to hire workers to clean it, destroy the foreign idols and make repairs. While working, the Book of the Law was found and taken to Josiah’s secretary Shaphan. Shaphan took this book to Josiah and read it to him. When the king heard what was in the book he tore his robes in despair. God’s laws had been forgotten, and the people had done many things that God said were wrong. Without hearing God’s Laws for such a long time, they had sinned greatly. They needed to change their behavior. They needed to hear the Word of God.
Do you know where your Bible is right now? It is easy to reach for the Bible when things go wrong. It is easy to grab your Bible Sunday morning and put it aside for the rest of the week. It is easy to get so busy that you do not take the time to open your Bible. But… a Bible on the shelf will never deepen your relationship with God.
Your Bible is God’s way of talking to you. Don’t lose this connection. Don’t let your Bible get lost in the back or your closet, or forgotten in a drawer, or pushed under your bed. Keep it where you can remember to use it. Learn and listen.
Think about this verse – I Timothy 3:16
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for my Bible. Thank you for talking to me through Your Word and giving me the Bible to hold and read. Remind me to pick it up and spend time with You each day. Amen.
Songs of Ascents
Read Psalm 122:1-4
Have you ever been homesick? Maybe you spent a week at camp where the bunk was hard and the food was, let’s just say, not like Mom’s. Maybe you felt sick while sleeping over night at a friend’s home. Maybe you were on a long vacation with your family and were tired of riding in the car. Think about these times while you think about the Psalms of Ascents.
Some of the Psalms in your Bible are marked with a beginning note, A Song of Ascents. Do you know what this means? (I did not.) It might just be something you never noticed. If you count, there are 15 psalms marked this way, Psalms 120-134. Some are written by David, some by Solomon, and others list no author. Now remember, the word ascents means, “going up.”
David placed the Ark on a high spot when he brought it back to Jerusalem. Solomon later built the Temple on Mount Moriah. Three times a year all men were required to go to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. When they did, they had to ascend (go up) the Temple Mount. They were climbing to be close to God again.
Now, think again about how good it can be to get back home. As the Israelites returned to Jerusalem, they were glad to return to the Temple. Their prayers, confessions, and sacrifices would bring them closer to God. David, Solomon, and others wrote songs to remind people that they were coming closer to God as they were climbing toward the temple. These songs joyfully praise God and remind you that He is nearby.
Do you feel God’s presence as you enter God’s House and walk down the aisle to your seat? It is a special time when you can pray and talk with God. It is a quiet time when you can think about God and what He does for you. It is a safe time to tell God about your mistakes and ask for His forgiveness. Aren’t you glad you have a special place to be with God? This feels like coming home!
Think about this verse – Psalm 122:1
"I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD.'" (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know that You are always with me and always hear my prayers. I thank You and praise You for my many blessings. Amen.
Asaph
Read Psalm 50:1-4
David was the writer of most of the Psalms, but did you notice the name listed in the Bible just above verse 1? Asaph! Quickly browse through Psalms 73-83. Did you also notice that Asaph is given credit for these Psalms too? We know other authors whose poetry is included in the book of Psalms, Solomon wrote two and Moses wrote one, but Asaph wrote twelve and we know little about him.
Asaph is mentioned other times in the Bible. He was one of the Levite musicians who offered songs before the Lord. When David brough the Ark of the Covenant back into the tabernacle, Asaph led the singers as the worship leader. He played the cymbals joyfully and led the musicians in celebration as they paraded to Jerusalem. His sons and their sons also became temple Singers and Asaph’s work was used to dedicate Solomon’s great temple.
God gave Asaph a special musical talent. He sang, played, and wrote songs not just before kings, but before God. Asaph used his talents to praise God and lead others in worship.
God gives each one of His children special talents. You might not know just what your talent is yet, but it is there. God will help you find a way to use this talent in His work. Try many things and you will quickly see what you can do well and what you might want to skip. When you discover your talent, think how you can use it to praise God or to do the work God has planned for you.
God has many jobs for His children, and He gives them many different talents. They are all important in His plan. Your talent will not be like any other’s. Be ready! Are you willing to use your talent for God?
Think about this verse – Romans 12:6a
"In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well." (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for the special talents and abilities You have given me. Please help me discover them and use them wisely to praise You and do the work You have planned for me. Amen.
Manna
Read Exodus 16:11-15
After the Israelites left Egypt, they wandered in the desert for 40 years. They were happy to leave Egypt but as time went on, they soon grumbled. They forgot the hard times they had experienced as slaves of the Egyptians. They worried they would die of hunger in the wilderness, and they complained to Moses. God told them He would provide everything they needed. He would send them meat (quail) to eat in the evening and bread (manna) each morning. They just had to trust Him.
When the Israelites first saw manna on the ground around their camp they asked, “What is it?” (The Hebrew word manna means “What is it”.) It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Doesn’t this sound tasty? They could bake it or boil it, but it would not keep overnight. They were told to go out each morning and gather just enough to satisfy them for the day. On the sixth day they would gather double, because no manna would come on the Sabbath.
Each day as they traveled through the desert, they found manna on the ground. God fed the Israelites for 40 years. Manna came no matter where they camped. This bread from God kept them strong and healthy throughout their journey. Manna from God filled their bellies while He led them to Canaan, the land God had promised to their ancestors.
Once while travelling, Jesus told a crowd of people that He was the Bread of Life. Like manna, He promised to be with those who followed Him every day. Like manna, He promised to be with them no matter where they would go. He would travel along with them and would lead them to a promised home in heaven.
God does not provide you with manna, but He has given you something better…Jesus. You can trust Jesus on your journey through life. When you eat a slice of bread, think of manna. Think of Jesus as the bread of your life. When Christians celebrate Holy Communion, remember this promise. This promise is for all Christians, everywhere. This promise is for you! Jesus is the Bread of Life!
Think about this verse – John 6:48
"I am the bread of life." (NIV)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I know I am one of Your children and I am thankful I can rely on You to provide things I need. Thank you for Jesus and the blessings You have given me. Amen.
Jesus and the Children
Read Luke 18:15-16
Young Jewish boys began studying and memorizing the books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy at age 5 or 6. Gifted students would continue to study with a rabbi until they got married at the age of 18 to 20. If a student was brilliant, he would continue to study and begin teaching other men. Disciples would gather around him to hear his teachings. This usually happened around the age of 30.
As a Jew, this is what Jesus would have done. He studied Jewish law and learned scriptures at an early age. Luke tells us that Jesus talked with the teachers in the Temple at Jerusalem for several days when He was 12 years old. When He was 30 years old, He began to teach and preach to other men who would gather around Him. His disciples called Him Rabbi.
One day a group of parents saw Jesus and wanted Him to touch their children. They knew about the great miracles Jesus had done and wanted His blessing for their children. Jesus’s disciples were gathered around Jesus, listening to his teachings and did not want to be interrupted. They scolded the parents for bothering Jesus and interrupting the lesson. They tried to shoo the children away.
How do you think most teachers would have responded? Jesus was different. He told His disciples to let the children come, He would stop His lesson for the moment. Then Jesus gave the disciples a new lesson. He told them the children were important! Jesus said He wanted the children to come to Him and listen to His lessons, too.
By nature, children are energetic and loud. They are not the kind of students you would expect to see seated next to a rabbi. Taming their children might keep the adults from listening carefully, but this did not matter to Jesus. He wanted children by His side. He wanted them to feel His love. He wanted them to learn about God. They would understand and believe in their most simple way. A church family has room for everyone. Young or old. Noisy or quiet. Energetic or calm. There is a place at Jesus’s side for all of God’s children. Remember you are a special part of His family!
Think about this verse – Deuteronomy 11:19
"Teach them to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up." (New Living Translation)
Close in prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for my big church family. Thank you for wise adults and leaders. Thank you for teachers and learners. Thank you for eager workers. Thank you for children who will grow into the future church. Amen.