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Train up a child in the way he should go;
    even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

 

There is nothing more valuable than our children and grandchildren. They are our future. To a Christian, (And isn’t that what we all claim to be?), there shouldn’t be anything more important than raising our children to know and love Jesus.

 

If that’s true, why is it always such a chore to find people who are willing to teach Sunday School? If that’s true, why is the Sunday School and Confirmation year filled with an ongoing assortment of competing athletic events? Why are parents faced with the decision of choosing Sunday School or Confirmation over traveling volleyball, traveling basketball, gymnastics, wrestling tournaments, and dance and cheer competitions? And why, if raising our children to know and love Jesus is so important, do parents invariably choose the athletic event or extracurricular activity over Sunday School or Confirmation?

 

Why are parents, especially dads, so eager to coach their children in almost any sport and yet so reluctant to teach them about Jesus? It’s because they’ve thoroughly embraced athletics, having enjoyed them all their lives through personal participation and watching them in person and on TV. But not so with Jesus. They haven’t really embraced Jesus. They’ve merely tolerated Him. They haven’t invited Him to be Lord of their lives; they’ve merely set aside a few hours on Sundays for Him. They haven’t let Him in on His terms, so they haven’t experienced His love, His joy, His peace, and His strength in a personal way. They’ve settled for hearing stories about Jesus instead of living with Him and for Him.

 

I challenge all of you parents and grandparents to consider what God might do with someone who volunteered to teach Sunday School with a willing heart and mind. This doesn’t mean you know scripture perfectly. No one does. This doesn’t mean you’ve necessarily got prior teaching experience. Few people do. No, it simply means you believe you are useable in God’s Kingdom and trust the Holy Spirit to lead you as you lead the children.

 

Here’s what I think you will discover. First, I think you will discover joy as you discover just how personally the Holy Spirit leads you and enables you to do things far beyond your normal capabilities. Second, I think you will discover new friendships with your co-teacher and with the students you teach. Third, I think you will grow in your own faith as Christ works in and through you.

 

Volunteer to be a Sunday School teacher today and discover the blessings God has in store for you.

 

Love in Christ,

 

Pastor Dave