Sunday School Thoughts

Matthew 28: 18-20

 

“Jesus came and told his disciples, "I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth.  Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.  Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” 

 

We, meaning each and every one of God’s children, are called to fulfill this Great Commission

 

  1. Jesus has been given complete authority
    1. He has the power
    2. He is Lord of lords and King of kings
  2. Since He has the authority, he sends us out to:
    1. GO – realize that every member of this church body is called to be a minister not a resister.  GO
    2. Share His message and lead people to a relationship with Jesus and a life that models Him.
    3. Baptize them – bring them into His church and His body as they testify of what He has done in their life in and through them.
    4. Teach them to obey His commands

                                                               i.      Great Commandment

1.      Love God with everything

2.      Love others as you love yourself

  1. Because He has the complete authority and because He is the One who sends you; you can be sure that He will be with you ALWAYS!  Every day, every minute, every second of all time.

 

The greatest tool (and the least used one) we have to fulfill this Great Commission today is through our Sunday School.

 

I believe in Sunday School.  It is important and valuable to our lives and the life of our church body.

 

In our school system we spend lots of money, time and resources for the purpose of educating our children so they can have a bright future, and the law says every child must attend.

 

In our church we spend our money, time and resources for the purpose of educating ourselves and our children so they can have a bright future and a secure eternity with Christ; yet few attend because there is no law except the rule of the heart..

 

We must come to believe in Sunday School and receive the benefit it holds for our lives.

 

This morning we will talk a little about the value of Sunday School.

 

This past week the water closet in the parsonage was broken.  I think it had been cracked for sometime. Probably since the floors were replaced, or even before.

 

We could have kept using the broken toilet, but that would have smelled bad and been a little messy and uncomfortable.

 

NO.  It was time for a new water closet.

 

Some things are going to be like that.  We need to discard the old for something new.  But not everything.

 

Some things are valuable enough to repair; to invest out money, time and resources into their restoration.

 

When a water line broke at your church 2 weeks ago we didn’t close the building down.  James and David repaired it while Connie “supervised.”

 

We did not throw away the Liberty Bell because it was cracked.

 

We do not abandon our car simply because it runs outr of gas.  We add some fuel to it, and keep going.

 

Some things are worth investing the time, energy and resources necessary for repair

 

****Testimony/stories from SS Teachers and others

 

I believe in Sunday School.  It is important and valuable enough to repair and rejuvenate.

 

I believe in Sunday School, but it needs some higher octane fuel added to it.  It needs more energy.  It is worthy of our attention.

 

Sunday School needs you.  It is time to work on our Sunday School.

 

There was a Sunday School Class in a small church in South Texas that ran anywhere from 8 to 12 people, mostly young couples.  They believed in God.  They believed in His Word.  They believed in His church.  They too, believed in Sunday School.

 

Today, 4 of those men are pastors and their wives are pastors wives.  Another of the men is a strong Christian who is a bi-vocational supply pastor.

 

Out of this class of 12 students who believed, at least 10 are deeply involved in the ministry of God’s Kingdom.

 

Just another "preacher story" most of you may say.  No this one is, in fact true.  You see along with Terry Backen, Mitch Chandler, Phil Colquitt and Steve Cumpion, your pastor was a member of this Sunday School Class.

 

I believe in Sunday School because I know that God works in our lives there.

 

I believe in Sunday School because I have seen the tears of joy in a young face that has just met Jesus there.

 

I believe in Sunday School because I have prayed and mentored people who God has called to special service there.

 

I believe in Sunday School because I have talked to people that had an God moved epiphany there.

 

I believe in Sunday School because I have seen the joy on a teachers face that God used in a special way to minister to someone's life there.

 

I believe in Sunday School because God touched my life there.

 

How can we go out and fulfill the Great Commission to "go into all the nations, make disciples and teach them the law of God", if we are not willing to become disciples here, to learn in our church - in our Sunday School?

 

I believe in Sunday School.  Do you?

 

I am not going to ask for a show of hands or signing a commitment card.

 

I am going to ask you to show your belief in the only way that really matters.

 

Be in Sunday School next Sunday at 9:45 a.m.; and the next Sunday; and on following AND bring a friend.

 

Oh, and come expecting to meet God there.