Last Sunday was promotion Sunday at church. The 5th graders got to move up to the Junior High class, and the 8th graders moved over to the Senior High. Nate got to join the Junior High. To set the morning apart from the regular routine and so it would feel special, the 6th through 12th graders were all in the same room worshiping together.
After we sang 5 or 6 songs, one of the youth gave her testimony. We sang 6 or 7 more songs, and another one of the youth gave his testimony. This particular student is in the Senior High group. I think he's going to be a preacher some day. His words were very serious, maybe almost a little scary for the younger kids. He seems like he is one who spends a lot of time thinking about God and how the world is, in relation to his faith. We finished the morning by singing more songs.
Another leader and I commented to each other that we were surprised they planned to sing all morning. I was worried the younger students would be bored. I am thankful I'm not the one in charge. If I had planned it, we wouldn't have sang so much. God put it within the hearts and minds of those planning to sing that many worship songs. He knew what he wanted done!
By the end of the morning, the kids were standing on chairs. They were clapping. They were dancing. They were singing loudly. They were having a blast. I don't know too many churches where the kids are able to rock out on Sunday morning, but I sure am glad I go to one. My attitude changed that morning. I was a little worried that sitting in a regular class the following week might seem boring to them compared to what they had just experienced.
This morning was the first "regular" class of the summer. We are going through the Bible in 2 years, in depth. We looked at Creation this morning. Luke, the Junior High youth pastor, is challenging the kids to really examine God's Word to see things in it they may have never seen before. At the same time, we leaders are being challenged. It stood out to me that the Bible says, 'In the beginning, God..." We all know that phrase, but think about it a minute. God doesn't have a beginning. He just is, always was, always will be, but at some point in his being he wanted to make us. He wanted a relationship with us. The beginning is mankind's beginning, not God's. He'd have been perfectly content with just being, but he wanted to make us. We are his craftsmanship. He loves us. We were wanted by God. We are wanted by God. That is so cool to me!
I'm excited to see how we will all grow this summer. The kids, especially, are blessed to have this opportunity. I wish I had had something like it when I was their age. I'm glad we're never to old to learn.
I'm glad to hear of the two-year program of "through the Bible." This is am important step for the kids to learn of God's work throughout the Bible, not just snippet stories that are unconnected.
ReplyDeleteNow, how do we get a similar program at the adult level....?
This was a result of brainstorming in, I think, March. All the leaders of the Junior High got together to figure out what to teach the kids, especially the 8th graders whom we’d only have for another 3 months. We wanted to get them grounded in the Bible, not just the stories, but the whole of the Bible. We also decided to take an in-depth look at the whole Bible over the next 2 years. The 7th graders would get a year, and the 6th graders (becoming 7th graders) would get the whole 2 year scope.
ReplyDeleteI taught two weeks in May. The first week was the whole 350 years of the divided kingdom in 25 minutes. That was SO much fun!!! The next week was the 70 years of exile.
On an adult level? It wouldn’t be too hard. Somebody just needs to offer it.
When I started coming to the Chapel in 1990, one class was devoted to a five year "through the Bible" program. I participated for a long time (Genesis through one of Paul's epistles). One man was really making the program work well. Teachers got shuffled after this man left (job transfer). The person picking up the lessons decided to make it a verse by verse study of the book that was next up on the docket. While this study was useful, the entire five-year program was scuttled, and it was never rejuvenated.
ReplyDeleteI have discussed a similar program on many occasions, but the idea has never been met with interest by those making decisions. I wish you well in making a two-year program work at this level.