Focus on Eternity

     Have you ever read a passage from Scripture and wondered where on earth is the lesson? As I unpacked the lesson plan for my last children's sermon, I had this nagging feeling.  The Leader's guide told me to focus on the importance of God's Word and suggested that we create baggies containing ingredients to make s'mores.  I found it humorous.  The activity was based on six little words found in verse 10, 'eat the fat, and drink sweet wine.' I had to pray for wisdom; I needed a nudge of inspiration.  I didn't want the lesson to fall on deaf ears, distracted by chocolate and marshmallows.  I watched the two brief videos included with the lesson.  The first, only 1 minute, forty-seven seconds felt shallow.  The second was corny.  Even within the large group setting, the leader refused to share the corny one.  Admittedly, my brain does not enjoy shallow thinking, but I enjoy a worthy laugh like anyone else.  I refused to miss a perfect opportunity to teach,

        It has been fourteen months since I last taught Sunday School in our Children's Ministry program.   As I prepared myself for the lesson, I wanted to keep in mind that the span of ages from youngest to oldest had increased since my last involvement due to a shortage of volunteers: a problem many churches face, not entirely the fault of the pandemic of 2020.   The lesson plan focused on the life of King Josiah, as told from a passage found in 1 Kings 22;   this story was of a boy installed as the King of Judah following the death of his father.   He was only eight years old.   Helping the kids relate age-wise to the circumstances of this young lad was more than likely one of the key points to be made by this passage.   One of my preoccupations when I teach is how to help the students engage with the story.   If they leave the classroom without understanding how to apply the lesson, I do nothing more than provide a babysitting service.   It would be a terrible shame to miss an

          At the root of man’s heart, we come to know ourselves through identity. Often, we establish our self-identity through our accomplishments rather than looking to Scriptures for God’s answer. In Isaiah 43:1 (ESV), we read, “But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” When we attempt to establish our own identities, we should expect nothing short of a train wreck. Let me begin to explain using the story of King Saul’s death. King Saul      In 1 Samuel 31:3-4 (ESV), we read, “The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw Your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, for he feared greatly. Therefore, Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.” Saul had alre