ROPES, LESSON 3: SAUL

Saul is lowered in a basket – Acts 9:19-25, 2 Cor.11:33

This is the third lesson in a series of three Bible stories that were selected because of their “rope connection” to ropes course activities planned for 8-14 year olds at a weekend retreat. These lessons can also be adapted to suit younger classes. Please note the craft and activities ideas located at the end of this lesson.

Remind the children about the conversion of Saul, later renamed Paul:

Saul was on his way to Damascus to capture the followers of Jesus and take them back as prisoners to Jerusalem. He thought he was honoring God and doing the right thing, but he was terribly wrong! When he got near Damascus, a blinding bright light flashed around him and he fell to the ground. A voice called his name and asked why he was persecuting Him. Saul asked “Who are you, Lord?” The voice told him it was Jesus whom he was persecuting. Saul was told to get up and go to Damascus where he would be told what to do next. When Saul got up and opened his eyes, he was blind! He had to be led by the hand to Damascus, where he spent 3 days in the house of a man named Judas. During that time, he didn’t eat or drink anything. He just prayed. God then told a disciple named Ananias to go and restore Saul’s sight. At first, Ananias was reluctant, knowing Saul’s reputation. But the Lord told him that Saul had been chosen to tell both Gentiles and Jews about Jesus, and that Saul would suffer for the name of Jesus. Ananias then obeyed. Saul’s eyes were healed, he received the Holy Spirit, was baptized, and ate some food.

Our theme story begins at this point. After Saul’s amazing conversion, he remained with the disciples in Damascus for several days. During that time, he immediately began preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Everyone was astonished! Wasn’t Saul the man who captured the Jesus followers and took them to Jerusalem as prisoners? Wasn’t he the one who was coming to their city to do that very thing? It made absolutely no sense that he was preaching that Jesus is the Son of God! But the more he talked, the bolder Saul got. His words had great power as he proved to the Jews in Damascus that Jesus is the Messiah, their Savior, the One for whom they had been waiting all those years.

After a while, the shock of seeing the change in Saul wore off. The Jews who hadn’t believed in Jesus just wanted Saul gone. But they realized he had already grown so powerful in his preaching that they couldn’t just send him away from Damascus. They would have to kill him! And so, with the help of the governor of Damascus, they began keeping a watch on the city gates so they could capture Saul if he tried to leave the city.

But somehow, Saul found out about their wicked plot. Those who believed Saul’s preaching came up with a plan too. One night, when everyone was sleeping and the gates of the city were closed, Saul’s followers tied some ropes on a basket, put Saul in it, stuck the basket out of a window in the wall, and lowered Saul down the side of the wall to the ground. Saul hurried away in the dark of the night.

What other “ropes” story does this remind you of? Let the kids discuss the similarities and differences between this story and the one about Rahab helping the spies escape, such as in both cases, a plan was devised that involved a rope, a window, and a wall!

In the case of Saul, several people worked together to devise and implement the escape plan. Compare this to the ways in which the kids had to formulate and implement plans to help each other in the team- building activities. For the younger class, you may wish to use props to illustrate the account of Saul being lowered in the basket. You could tie ropes on a crate or box, put a stuffed animal or doll in it, and have two kids lower the box from a chair or table.

After Saul escaped from Damascus, he headed to Jerusalem to visit the other disciples, but they were all afraid of him and didn’t believe he was a real follower of Jesus. They probably thought he was fooling them so he could find out who the Jesus followers were and later capture them. But one man was not afraid. His name was Barnabas. Somehow he realized that Saul was for real. Maybe the Lord spoke to him, or he understood, through the Spirit, that the things Saul was saying could only be from God. Whatever the reason, he befriended Saul and personally took him to visit the other disciples. Barnabas told the disciples the story of how Saul came to know Jesus, and how that Saul was boldly preaching about Jesus to everyone.

This is a good opportunity to remind the kids that they can, and should, be the person to reach out to someone who others are ignoring or treating unkindly. The easy thing is just to hang with your friends because you’re comfortable around them. But they can be the ones to befriend others at school, church, retreats, camp, and elsewhere. Tell them to look around the room. There is surely at least one person here today who they don’t know very well, or who doesn’t seem to have a lot of friends. Include them in whatever you are doing. You never know how God may use you in that person’s life, just as Barnabas was used to befriend Saul and introduce him to others. Barnabas had no way of knowing how instrumental Saul was going to be in furthering the gospel, but he took a chance on him!

Finally, the other disciples were convinced that Saul was a true follower of Jesus and accepted him. Saul stayed with them for some time and went around preaching to the Jews about Jesus. Soon some of the unbelieving Greek Jews tried to kill him too! When the other Jesus followers found out, they helped Saul escape from the city and go back to his own city of Tarsus.

Because Saul was no longer a huge threat to all the believers in Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, the Christian church experienced a time of peace. They grew stronger in the Lord, were encouraged by the Holy Spirit, and more people got saved, living in the fear of the Lord.

Perhaps once more present a brief gospel message at this point.

Some suggestions for crafts and/or activities for the 3 rope lessons:

Older class (ages 8-14): This age group was involved in a ropes course at the camp where the retreat took place. The lessons were taught on site.

Younger class (4-7/8):  Since the older group will be doing team-building activities at the ropes course, the teachers of the younger class may also want to do some team-building activities with the younger children. Part of the object of these activities is to get the kids to work together to come up with ideas, and then work together to implement them. Those who are on the sidelines at any given time can be the encouragers. This is merely a suggestion. If you choose to do this, here are some ideas. Depending on the size of the class, you may wish to divide the class into two or more teams, or keep them all together. You can have the teams keep score, or not. You may want to spread out the activities over the two mornings of lessons. To do the following suggested activities, you will need the following items:

6-10 feet of rope

A board about 4-6 feet long, but light enough for the kids to pick up. (Can be plywood)

A coffee can or box about the same size

One bed sheet

Large cooking spoon or set of tongs

A couple of dimes, quarters or pennies

Very small toy, rock, or piece of coal

2 clean flyswatters

2 balloons

2 laundry baskets or crates

1 box

6-10 ball-pit balls or other light balls such as ping pong balls

2 small stuffed animals

Lay all of these items in a corner of the room.

Activities (removing shoes is suggested):

1)      Walk the tightrope: lay the rope in a straight line on the floor. Each child must walk the tightrope without falling off. If he falls off, he must go back to the beginning. However, he is allowed to have help from the others. The kids must figure out how best to help. They may, for example, have one child on either side of the tightrope, who walks along with the tightrope walker for him to hold on to them as he moves forward. Or, all the kids could be lined up on either side along the length of the rope for the walker to grab on to as he moves forward.

2)      Lay the rope in a straight line on the floor. This is supposed to be a deep river. A group of kids stands on each side of the river, far enough back that they cannot reach across and touch each other. The first group has the coins and the group on the other side needs them, but the two groups are not allowed to reach across and exchange the coins. The water is too deep and the current too strong to walk or swim across, and there is no way to walk around to the other side. The group which has the coins must figure out how to get them to the other group, using the supplies in the corner. (The suggested solution is for the first group to get the board and the tin can, put the coins in the can, and put the can on one end of the board. They can help each other to hold and reach the board across the river to the other side. They could also use the board as a bridge to walk across, but you can make it more difficult by telling them that’s not option because the board is not strong enough to hold them, and/or is too narrow for them to safely walk across.)

3)      Make a tunnel using some of the chairs with the sheet draped over them. Each child must crawl through the tunnel as quickly as possible. If divided into two teams, someone can time how long it takes for each team to get through the tunnel, and give points to the winner.

4)      Pretend that the small toy, rock, or piece of coal is a burning hot coal. Someone on the other end of the room needs the coal to light a fire. The kids must figure out how to get the hot coal to the other side by using the supplies. They cannot hold it in their hands or kick it because they would get burned. The suggested solution is to use the tongs or large spoon to pick it up and then either carry it by the tongs\spoon or put it in the can and carry the can over. This can also be a relay race once they figure out how to carry it.

5)      The kids must figure out how to get a balloon across the room without touching it with any part of their bodies, using the supplies. The suggested solution is to hit it with the flyswatter. This can also be a relay race once they figure out what to do.

6)      Laundry basket skee ball – see http://frugalfun4boys.com/2015/12/08/laundry-basket-skee-ball-with-ball-pit-balls/ for directions. Points can be added to each team if the teams are competing.

7)      The kids must figure out how to get two stuffed animals across the room without carrying them or “hurting” them (i.e. kicking them). The suggested solution is to put the stuffed animals in the crates and push the crates across the floor. Another relay possibility.

8)      Have the kids come up with their own ideas for team building and/or relay possibilities, using the supplies.

Craft idea with the rope theme: (This could be done during one of the sessions, if you prefer, rather than the above activities)

Thin rope, twine, or brown yarn

Tacky glue

Small cups to hold glue

Sponge paint brushes

Aluminum cans (top lids removed with a can opener that doesn’t cause sharp edges) and/or flower pots

Assorted cloth flowers/ribbons/lace/ fake gemstones

For this simple craft, pour glue into the cups. Use the sponge brush to coat the can or flower pot with glue; then wind the rope/twine/yarn around the container until it is completely covered on the outside. You will probably want the kids to add the glue in sections so it doesn’t dry out or get all over their hands while they wind the rope around the container. For decoration, add flowers, ribbons, lace and/or gems. The can could be used as a pencil holder.

ROPES, LESSON 2: JESUS HEALS THE PARALYTIC

Jesus Heals the Paralytic – Matthew 9:1-8, Mark 2:1-12, Luke 5:17-26

These three Bible stories were selected because of their “rope connection” to ropes course activities planned for 8-14 year olds at a weekend retreat. These lessons can also be adapted to suit younger classes. Please note the craft and activities ideas located at the end of the third lesson.

Although there is no mention of ropes in this account, there is an assumption by many that some kind of ropes or straps were used to lower the man into the room.

Jesus was very popular among the common people, not only because they were interested in what He had to say, but also because He had gained a reputation for healing people. His compassion for the “lost sheep of Israel” compelled Him to heal the sick, raise the dead, and feed the hungry. On this particular occasion, Jesus was in a house in Capernaum, preaching to the people who had come from all over to hear him. The house was so crowded, there was no more room for another person to sit or stand, not even outside the door!

Meanwhile, four men who had heard that Jesus was in their town decided this was the chance they had been hoping for: to help their paralyzed friend (or relative) get healed! Picking him up by the four corners of his mat, they hurried to the house where Jesus was preaching.

When the men arrived with their friend, they were disappointed to discover there was no way they were going to get their friend into the house to see Jesus. Even the doorway was blocked! But the men were not discouraged. Talking it over, they came up with a clever plan. Why not lower their friend through the roof! Hurrying up the outside stairs to the flat roof, they laid their paralyzed friend down and began to tear up the clay tiles that made up the roof. They worked hard in the hot sun, digging up enough dried mud and tiles to fit a man lying on a mat through the hole. Imagine the commotion below as pieces of mud and dust fell on the crowd and a hole in the ceiling above them began to grow larger. Perhaps Jesus became silent as the noise above them distracted everyone.

A strange sight appeared as the bottom of a mat filled the space in the broken roof. Slowly, slowly, the mat, most likely secured by a rope on each corner, was lowered down into the crowd – directly in front of Jesus! On the mat lay a man, unable to move. Perhaps there was silence for a moment as the stunned audience stared at the man.

Then Jesus spoke. Noting the faith of those who had brought the paralyzed man, He simply said to the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” What an odd thing to say! You might think the first thing He would tell the man would be “Get up! You are healed!” But He didn’t – for a reason we’ll find out in a minute.

The Pharisees and lawyers who were there didn’t understand this either.  Their first reaction to this statement was one of surprise and anger. “How dare he say such a thing! Does he think he is God who can forgive sins?!?” But they didn’t say their thoughts out loud, possibly because they didn’t want the crowd to get upset with them. But Jesus didn’t need for them to verbalize their thoughts. He knew what they were thinking! This might be a good time to remind the students that God knows what all of us are thinking. We can’t hide our thoughts from Him! Remind them, too, that God can and will forgive us of all our sins if we come to Him in repentance, both for salvation initially, and whenever we confess them to Him.

Now Jesus explains why He said what He did. He first asks the Pharisees and lawyers why they were thinking such wrong thoughts. Then He asks them which is easier: telling the paralyzed man his sins were forgiven, or telling him to get up and walk. Let the kids discuss this.  Then He answers His own question. He explains that He forgave the paralyzed man his sins first so that the crowd would realize He must have authority to forgive sins (which is a miracle that only God can do) when He does a second miracle. Now He turns to the paralyzed man and tells him to get up, take his mat, and go home! The man does exactly that. He gets up, picks up his mat, and walks out the door praising God! The second miracle! I imagine his friends hurried down from the roof and were there to meet him, praising God too.

Of course, everyone was amazed. They began praising God and saying things like “We have seen amazing things today!”and “We’ve never seen anything like this before!”

Teachers of both the older and younger classes: this might be a good opportunity to remind the students of how they had to help each other during either the ropes course or the younger team building activities (if you did them). The stronger, bigger kids were able to help the smaller, younger ones. And everyone, at various times, had to work together to devise a plan and help each other to perform various elements of the course. And all could give words of encouragement while someone was doing a specific task.

ROPES, LESSON 1: RAHAB

Ropes Lesson 1: Rahab

The following Bible stories were selected because of their “rope connection” to ropes course activities planned for 8-14 year olds at a weekend retreat. These lessons can also be adapted to suit younger classes. Please note the craft and activities ideas located at the end of the third lesson.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Two people can resist an attack that would defeat one person alone. A rope made of three cords is hard to break.” (GNT)

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Cord

“The materials of which cord was made varied according to the strength required; the strongest rope was probably made of strips of camel hide, as still used by the Bedouins. The finer sorts were made of flax, (Isaiah 19:9) and probably of reeds and rushes. In the New Testament the term is applied to the whip which our Saviour made, (John 2:15) and to the ropes of a ship. (Acts 27:32)”

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

CORD

kord (chebhet, yether, methar, `abhoth; schoinion):

“(1) The Arabic chab'l corresponds to the Hebrew chebhel and is still the common name for cord or rope throughout the East. Such ropes or cords are made of goat's or camel's hair, first spun into threads and then twisted or plaited into the larger and stronger form. Chebhel is translated rather inconsistently in the Revised Version (British and American) by "cord" (Joshua 2:15 Job 36:8, etc.); by "line" (2 Samuel 8:2 Micah 2:5 Psalm 16:6; Psalm 78:55 Amos 7:17 Zechariah 2:1); by "ropes" (1 Kings 20:31), and by "tacklings" (Isaiah 33:23).”

Lesson 1: Joshua 2 & 6 – Rahab

Lesson 2: Mark 2, Luke 5 – Jesus heals the paralytic                                               

Lesson 3: Acts 9:19-25, 2 Cor.11:33 Saul lowered in a basket

LESSON 1

Rahab – Joshua chapters 2 and 6

Joshua was the new leader of the Israelites, commissioned by the Lord before Moses died. Ready to cross the Jordan River and take possession of the promised land, he first sent two spies to look over the land, particularly Jericho, a fortress city surrounded by high walls so thick that some people lived in homes inside the walls. One of those people was Rahab, a woman of questionable reputation, whose home may have included an inn where strangers could stay.

Rahab, like the other Jericho inhabitants, had heard about the miracles the Israelite God had performed for His people. She knew about the Red Sea drying up, and the destruction of the Amorite kings. But her response to this information was totally different from that of her fellow citizens. While they hurried to close up their gates and defend their city, she made a very dissimilar choice, and that made all the difference.

When the spies arrived at Jericho, they surreptitiously entered through the gates and headed into Rahab’s house. Someone must have been watching though, and correctly guessed who they were and what they were about. The king of Jericho was notified and he demanded that Rahab turn over the spies.

Rahab, however, had other plans. Before hiding the spies under stalks of flax she had laid out on her roof, she told them she was aware of what their God had done for them. She had drawn the amazing conclusion that their God was the real God! Instead of remaining fearful and discouraged, like her fellow citizens, by what this true God of heaven and earth was doing, she made the decision that this God was the God she must follow, whatever the cost.

This may be a good time to present the Gospel. Rahab had a choice to make, based on what she had heard and understood. She could have chosen to stand with her fellow citizens against this foreign God. But instead, she chose to believe in the Israelite God as the true God, in opposition to all those around her, and acted accordingly. We have to make a similar decision when we are confronted with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Either we choose to follow Him, despite what others around us may say or do, or we choose to follow the crowd to our ultimate judgment.

Having made her decision, Rahab hid the spies and told those who had come to capture them that the men had already left the city. As a result, the king’s men hurried out the city gate in search of the spies, but never found them. You may wish to use this opportunity to remind the students that it is not okay to lie! In fact, God hates lying. However, under this extreme circumstance, and in her relative ignorance about the true God, He overlooked Rahab’s lie and saw her faith instead.

Before sending the spies back to Joshua, Rahab pled for her own life, and that of her family. She wanted confirmation that none of them would be killed when Jericho was conquered (which she strongly believed would happen). The spies agreed - with two caveats: that she would not tell anyone what they were doing, and that when the Israelites arrived, she would tie in the window the scarlet red rope that belonged to her. She agreed and helped them to escape down the wall by the red rope.

Rahab followed through on both of these conditions. We all know the ending of this story. The Israelites came to Jericho and by the Lord’s command, they marched around the city one time each day for six days and then marched around it seven times on the seventh day. Then they blew the trumpets and shouted, and the great wall of Jericho fell down flat! The Israelites rushed in and destroyed the city and its citizens. But, per Joshua’s command, they saved the lives of Rahab and her family. She lived among the Israelites for the rest of her life, became the wife of Salmon and the mother of Boaz, the great-grandfather of King David. Rahab, along with Ruth, another foreigner, are in the lineage of the Lord Jesus Himself. Such grace God bestows on any who turn to Him, no matter their background!

Thoughts for the teachers:

Consider the following quote in regards to Rahab being in the lineage of Jesus: “Poor Rahab, the muddy, the defiled, became the fountainhead of the River of the Water of Life which floweth out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.” Wm McKay, 18^th century preacher

According to Doug Batchelor, in “Red Rope of Rahab” at www.amazingfacts.org , flax, the plant Rahab stored on her roof, was used for two things. The softer part of the plant was made into linen cloth. The rougher part was twisted together to make rope. Rahab may have made both cloth and ropes, colored them with red dye, and sold them as a side business.

How fitting that the color she chose for her dye was scarlet! Many Bible scholars believe that this scarlet rope, among other Old Testament references to red items, symbolically pointed to the blood of Jesus which He would someday shed on the cross for our sins. In this case, the red rope first saved the lives of the spies as Rahab helped them descend the wall with it, and then saved her own life, and that of her family, when she later hung it in the window. It’s all about the rope!

ENOCH

The posts on this blog are intended to give you some ideas and guidelines for Sunday School/Kids Retreat/Bible School lessons. This lesson is designed for elementary-age children but could be adapted for older children as well.

“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” Genesis 5:24 NIV

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5 NIV

            Remember the story of Cain and Abel? How sad to think that the very first baby born into the world grew up to be a murderer! And the person he killed was his own brother, Abel! Cain had to leave his home and family forever. Now his parents, Adam and Eve, had no children at home. After a while, they had another son and named him Seth. According to the Bible, Seth looked very much like his father. Seth grew up and had children of his own. Finally, his father, Adam died. Can you guess how old Adam was when he died? Let the kids respond. It’s hard to imagine but Adam was 930 years old when he died! When Seth died, he was 912. Perhaps one reason people lived so long was because God wanted them to have time to have lots and lots of children.  Then there would soon be many people in the world to love and worship God. As you will learn in other Bible stories, eventually there were many people, but most of them did not love God. The sin that began in the Garden of Eden spread to the heart of every child born into the world right up until today! And that includes you and me.

            Seth had a son named Enosh. Enosh had a son named Kenan. Kenan had a son named Mahalalel who had a son named Jared. All of these men lived to be around 900 years old before they died! Jared had a son, too. He named him Enoch.

The story of Enoch is very wonderful and different from the others before him. Enoch lived for many years and had lots of sons and daughters, just as his father, grandfather, and great grandfathers did. But the Bible says something very special about Enoch. It says that Enoch walked with God. Remember how his great, great, great, great, grandfather Adam walked with God in the Garden of Eden before Adam and Eve spoiled everything? Well, Enoch walked with God, too. God was pleased with Enoch and other people noticed that. Not many others cared very much about God anymore. One day, when Enoch was 365 years old, something happened. He disappeared! No one could find him! They never did find him. But the Bible tells us the secret of what happened to him. Can you guess what happened? Let the kids respond. I shall tell you.

God was so pleased with Enoch, and loved him so much, He decided to take Enoch right on up to heaven so Enoch could be with Him all the time! Enoch didn’t even have to die first. He just disappeared from the earth and landed in heaven! How wonderful that must have been for Enoch.

Now here’s something that is even more exciting: although Enoch was the first person to go to heaven suddenly and without dying, he is not the last. It’s going to happen again! Only this time, it will happen to many people at once. Someday, the Lord Jesus is going to call all the people on earth who love Him to come up to heaven. He will come down out of heaven and give a loud shout; then a trumpet will blow. First, all of the Christians who died will come up out of their graves and start rising up into the sky. Right after that, all the living people who love Jesus will start rising into the sky, too, and together, they will all meet Jesus in the air. Then He will take them up into heaven. This is called the Rapture. The Rapture could happen today, or tomorrow, or next year. We do not know when it will happen. (I Thessalonians 4:16-18)

After the Rapture, there will be plenty of people left on earth who do not love Jesus. They may look for relatives and friends who disappeared, but they won’t ever find them. The question is, which group will you be in – the group that goes up to heaven in the Rapture, or the group that is down here looking for their friends and family? You can be sure you will be in the first group if you have asked the Lord Jesus to be your Savior. This is an opportunity to present the Gospel in more detail.

Craft/activity – The Rapture of Enoch

            Print out small copies of one of the verses from the beginning of the lesson and set aside. Find a coloring page of a 5- or 6-inch high Old Testament character to represent Enoch. Make a copy for each child. Have them color Enoch and cut him out. Give them each a blank sheet of white computer paper or cardstock. Have them draw and color grass at the bottom and clouds at the top of the blank page. Glue the verse on the grass. Cut about a 2-foot-long piece of string for each child. Find the middle of the string and tape it at that point to Enoch’s back. With a hole punch, make two holes side-by-side about 2 inches apart near the top center of the sheet of paper, in the cloud area. Thread one end of the string through one hole and the other end through the second hole. Tie the two ends together in a knot on the back side of the paper/cardstock. If done correctly, Enoch is now hanging by the string on the front of the paper with his feet on the grass area. Now hold the paper with one hand, front facing you. Reach behind the paper with the other hand and gently pull on the knot of the string. Watch Enoch rise from the grass into the clouds. 

WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE BASEMENT? (ASK A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER)

This first blog post is neither a Sunday School lesson for children nor a word for teachers! It's actually for all of your church members who are not involved in Sunday School activities. So please share it with them. Thank you!

During the worship service upstairs, Sunday School is in full swing in the basement. The singing, led by an animated guitarist and a piano accompanist, is hearty, if not always harmonious. Soon after, multiple classes and a nursery are abuzz with lessons and activities, shepherded by energetic teachers and nursery attendants. Some weeks, it appears the rooms will burst at the seams with numerous regular attendees and assorted additional newcomers, plus accompanying adults.

While you are upstairs listening to, and praying for, the speaker, please remember there are multiple “mini-sermons” going on down in the basement. Please pray for us! Here are some of our concerns, comments, and needs for your prayer support:

·         The percentage of individuals who do not yet know the Lord may be greater in the basement than upstairs. Pray that the children will come to Jesus and learn to follow Him while they are still young and tender-hearted.

·         The teachers feel a real burden for grounding students in basic Biblical truths that are already well known to the adults. Sometimes we feel inadequate for the task.

·         Teachers of younger classes are fully aware that their students may not remember much of what they are taught, and students of any age sometimes forget what the lesson was they heard just last week. Pray that the teachers won’t be discouraged by this. Repetition is key!

·         As outside influences take their toll, older students may appear less interested or more doubtful. Their teachers must be prepared for difficult questions and discussions.

·         Lesson and activity/craft planning every week takes time, something many of us don’t have a lot of.

·         Teachers may be going through difficult times themselves, but feel the need to remain upbeat and encouraging to their students even during those times.

·         Yes, sometimes teachers feel unmotivated or run out of creative ideas, but they must prepare a lesson anyway.

·         Unlike the upstairs sermon, a classroom teacher’s lesson is often interrupted by short attention spans, comments, and questions. Hard questions. Sometimes we can’t think of a good answer.

·         Parents, sometimes a lesson will remind your child of something either they - or you - said or did. And they DO blurt those things out to us. We may never tell you what your child told us, unless it’s a matter of concern that you should know. But remember, your child is watching your actions and listening to your words, even if you don’t think they noticed!

·         We often give your child a verse to memorize. But the prize bag for memorized verses is not emptying very quickly. Parents, please remember to help your children hide God’s Word in their hearts while they’re still young. It is a lifelong gift you will be giving them. (And if your child lost the verse we gave out, contact the teacher or teach him a different one. We don’t mind!)

·         Please ask your child what he/she learned in class today, and reinforce the lesson at home. This will help it “stick.”

·         Even if you don’t have a child in Sunday School, please periodically take a few minutes to come downstairs and see for yourself what’s going on in the Sunday School world below you. Ask questions and show interest in lessons and projects. You have no idea how much this encourages a teacher!

·         Kids are funny! They say outrageous things that make us laugh – and make us think. They teach us, too. We consider it both a grave responsibility and a great privilege to be their teachers, to be a part of the commission to “feed My lambs.”