The Heart of Sunday School
31 Mar 2010 10:41 am
Once there was a man who received word from his cardiologist that he had a 99% blockage in one of the arteries which fed blood to his heart. The doctor then shared with him the good news the situation was correctable. All the man needed to do was to work with his health care providers as a team player. If he would take their lead and do as they instructed then he should be able to return to his normal activities. The man received the good news and did as his doctor instructed, had surgery, changed his lifestyle habits which led to the blockage and now lives with a new lease on life.
Once there was another man who received the news that he too had a blockage of 99% in one of his arteries. His doctor also shared with him the good news that his situation was correctable. All he needed to do was to work with his health care providers as a team player. If he would take their lead and do as they instructed then he should be able to return to his normal activities. The man refused to listen. He refused the surgery and made no lifestyle changes. The good news had fallen on deaf ears. The man died within six months of his diagnosis. Which of these men would you consider a wise man? The choice is obvious as the one who listened to the advice of his doctor lived.
The heart of our Sunday School is the good news of the gospel of Christ. The heart thrives on that good news when it is shared by every Sunday School class. The result of this sharing leads to healthy growth and vitality. Unfortunately in some of our classes the good news is stifled because we are not organized to receive new persons with whom to share the good news of the gospel. In these classes there exists a blockage in the artery which leads to the heart of our Sunday School. Perhaps fellowship has replaced the sharing of the good news with the lost and now fellowship is a blockage to our health and well being. Perhaps in some we are more directed toward fulfilling a few missions projects each year that take precedence over inviting the lost to be a part of our class so that we may share the gospel with them. Or maybe it is that we are just content with attending our class and worship with no real concern for the lost. I do not know what the blockage may be but I know it exists in any class where the teacher is expected to do it all from teaching to reaching. Recently all of our teachers were given the leadership material necessary to organize their classes to effectively fulfill all functions from teaching to fellowshipping to sharing the good news with the lost. Many have already organized but others have met with resistance from a seeming lack of interest on the part of their class members to take a team player position. The result will be a blockage which will hinder us from effectively sharing the good news of the gospel. One teacher said recently, "Nick my class is not interested and it fatigues me." Please relieve some of the burden from your teacher today by taking a position on your class leadership team.
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
Village Baptist "A" Team
23 Feb 2010 06:26 pm
It is my goal and my dream "that Jesus may come to be first place in everything," just as it says in Colossians 1:18. First in our hearts; first in our thoughts; first in our desires; first in our families; first in our careers; first in our friendships; and certainly first in our church. I call our Sunday School Leadership the "A" team because we are to be out front leading others to put Christ first in their lives. Many will come to know Christ as their personal Savior and will make Him Lord of their lives because of your commitment to putting Christ first in all things. Afterall it was Jesus who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers. In Sunday School we need those gifts. We need those who have the special ability of winning people to Christ. We need those who can help others trust Jesus as their Savior. We need those who have the gift of caring for God's people as a shepherd cares for his sheep. We need those who can lead and teach the ways of God. We need those with the gift of intercession who can lead us to take all things to our God in prayer. We need those who have the gift of hospitality and can lead us to develop stronger bonds with one another through fellowship. We need those who can keep us on track through clerical and administrative skills. "Why is it that God has given us these special abilities to do certain things best? It's so that God's people will be equipped to do better work for Him, building up the church, the body of Christ, to a position of strength and maturity," according to Ephesians 4:11-12. Let's put Christ first in everything as the Village Baptist A Team
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
SUCCESSFUL SUNDAY SCHOOL REQUIRES A PLAN MAN
23 Feb 2010 02:12 pm
Some years ago my wife taught me a valuable lesson about plant life. Luscious green blooming plants do not just happen by chance. Theresa and I had been married four years when I began to notice that each year we would purchase hanging baskets and each year they would dry out and die. One day we purchased a beautiful plant that literally burst forth cascading down the sides of the basket. I will not call the name of the plant as I can only remember its nickname which might offend some in a particular people group. We were assured that this plant was very easy to care for and should live for years with minimal care. The plant died. 
In frustration, I called The Plantry over near Arabia. The gentleman was very nice and was shocked that anyone could kill this particular plant. He even said, "those plants are impossible to kill." Well not so in my house. We talked further and he explained that this particular plant was one which thrived on feast or famine treatment. It required very little water so one was to water it only when the soil around it had been allowed to begin to dry. Then the plant needed water. Do this and the plant would thrive. Eureka! Succesful plant life requires a plan man! 
Different plants need different treatments in regard to food, water, soil, and light. Attend to these needs with a well researched and thought out plan and the benefits to growth will come.
This lesson from everyday life would well be heeded by those of us who are the leadership of Village Baptist Sunday School. Sunday School is a living organization in which successful and beneficial growth will come if we carefully nurture it. Sunday School is built on relationships. The relationships of our members with one another and our relationship with Jesus Christ. All that we do must take this into account. Our goal should be to strengthen those relationships. Consider what Wayne Jones said in his book, Overcoming Barriers To Sunday School Growth.
"Organization is placing the right people and things in proper relationship with one another to acheive growth. Organization is not what we do to people but what we do with people. People are the reason for organization. Organization merely helps put people and things in the kind of relationship where both are mutually benefited by the other."The larger purpose of Sunday School which is to lead people into a right relationship with Jesus Christ through acceptance of His salvation and then leading them to grow as disciples of Christ. Our organiztion is intended to help break this purpose down into more manageable portions so together we can acheive our overall purpose. This plan utilizes all of our gifts and skills. The organization will only lead to growth if we nurture and attend to it just as diligently as we care for a plant. Let's work the plan man.
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
Is Following Jesus Safe or Dangerous - John Piper - Jan. 11
08 Jan 2009 05:04 pm
This week we will share in our last lesson before beginning the book, "What Jesus Demands of the World." Lesson 7 is actually a companion study to "Seeing and Savoring Jesus." Ironically, John Piper asks the question in Session 6 of the video, "why does Jesus talk in such confusing and complicated ways. Exactly the charge that many of you have lodged against John Piper in his video presentation. I am pleased that we have shared in this study together. As always in life the few who find the negative in things have been the loudest and most often heard voices over the course of this study. But in the last couple of weeks I have received e-mails and contacts from more of you who have said that you have learned immensely from this study. Most of you do agree even with the nay sayers that Dr. Piper's preaching style is a little hard to follow but nontheless you have learned from this godly preacher.
The next book as I have said is a much easier read yet it contains some of richest treasures of the Truth that we will ever study together. Rev. Kevin Duffy and I have been working hard to get the lesson plans ready. We basically have the first 12 ready to go. Teachers I will meet with you this Sunday and Kevin and I will pass out the first weeks lesson plan. We are still fine tuning but hope to have other 11 weeks ready for you to pickup by Wednesday, January 14. Give us until you come for dinner or supper that evening please.
Now on to this week's lesson, "Is Following Jesus Safe or Dangerous." John Piper basically takes a look at two more paradoxes in the teaching of Jesus. First, Matthew 11:28-30 reads, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek ad lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." Then he looks at Matthew 7:13 which reads, "Enter in at the narrow gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be who go in that way; Because narrow is the gate, and hard is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it." Waht is up here? 
Is it easy or is it hard to follow Jesus? Is it Safe or is it dangerous to follow Him? Why does Jesus speak in such confusing ways? The simple answer is that Jesus wants us to pause and ponder the fact that when it comes to Jesus we are dealing with the extraordinary. The yoke indeed is easy because once we are yoked in and connected to the plow then Jesus lifts us off of the ground and pushes the plow for us. The way is hard because we make it so. We are told that the life of faith should be lived with the innocence of a child but as adults we do not want to be seen as children so we resist this notion. We do not look on with the wonder of a child constantly seeing in every situation what does Jesus have to give to me here. No we want to be the grown up in full control. If we would simply trust in Christ enough to believe that all He teaches us is true and profitable for our growth the we would find the burden truly light.
The second paradox is found in Luke 21:16-18, "And ye shall be betrayed by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolk, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish." What did Jesus say? Some of us will be killed but not a hair will perish on our head. Wow! So we leave behind a corpse with a good hair style. Is that what Jesus means? He is basically saying exactly what He says in Matthew 10:28, "And fear not them who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Those who seek to do us harm in this world can only kill us once. Then they have no control. We should only fear God who can put us in hell for eternity punishing the body and the soul. But have confidence because Jesus also said in Matthew 10:29-31, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing (penny)? And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; ye are of more value than many sparrows." Have confidence that God is in control of all things. He loves you with a Fatherly compassion that will always look out for your well being. Trust in Jesus that God will take care of you with the same innocence that a child will allow his earthly Father to toss him in the air while he simply laughs and repeats "again Daddy, again." We need not fear the one who can destroy body and soul in heaven if we believe in Him and walk in His ways. Do so and you will find the way really is easy. Refuse by constantly taking things into your own hands and you will find the way hard.
We can say this because according to Matthew 28:18, "All authority is given unto me (Jesus) in heaven and in earth." No matter where you go or what you may do in life Jesus has authority over you and your occupation or interests. And what assures me even more is that the Jesus who loves me promises in Matthew 28:20, "...and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the Age."
Sunday assign the review and conclusion which is lesson 8. The handouts will be in the hallway. Everyone is to do this on their own as we will not discuss it in class on the 18th. However, if some of your class wants to get together during the week to discuss it that would be great. Any time God's people get together to discuss His word we all profit.
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
Jesus Christ - Sovereign and Submissive - January 4
31 Dec 2008 06:12 pm
Once again I have just finished listening to the presentation of Dr. John Piper for the week and I want to shout for joy regarding the awesome Savior that He describes. One who is as powerful as a lion yet as meek as a lamb. One who has no need to strut around like a big shot but rather one who walks with sober authority and power on His way to die on the cross for your and I. Amazing. How this thrills my soul. But some of you claim to sleep through these boring presentations. I cannot heip but wonder at God's purpose in this. Why has he muffled your ears and blinded your eyes? We are too close to the end of the age of this present world to allow ourselves not to see, savor, and love Jesus just as if we have seen Him today for the first time. WAKE UP! That is what we need to be shouting from the top of our voices. Teachers, let's not assume all of our class members know Christ and let them die because they were not connected to the vine. Let's show them Jesus.
This week Dr. Piper continues to show the amazing contrasts that exist in Jesus' personality. He is one who is sorrowful for Jerusalem and all those who are lost and dying (Luke 19:41). He knows what He must face and it causes Him to sweat drops of blood in Gethsemane. Yet all of this He faces gladly that we may experience joy (John 15:11 and John 17:13). A measure of joy here today and a fullness of joy in Heaven.
Dr. Piper addresses the theological problem presented by Jesus commanding nature so powerfully that even the wind and the waves obey Him instantly. If that is so then why does He not prevent natural disasters and the atroscities committed by man upon man. One purpose Dr. Piper says is to call you and I to repentance. We all deserve death but He gives us a chance to repent everytime we hear of another calamity. Jesus came as part of the plan He and His Father divised to save us. (John 10:17:1
, Jesus life was not taken. He took all of our punishment with its pain and suffering on the cross. No soldier, religious leader, or king took His life. He lay it down of His own accord because He loved us that much (Acts 4:27).
Jesus is indeed Sovereign and Submissive. He did everything that He did with authority whether submitting to death on the cross or defeating death so that you and I can have life. I believe Jesus is interceding for us before the Father just as He did for Peter (Luke 22:31-32).
This week we will discuss lesson 6 and watch session 5 on the video. Assign lesson 7 and chapters 12 and 13 for next week.
By : nick | Category: Commentary | Comments [0]
