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]
