PASTOR’S MESSAGE

“These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31)

     At the beginning of each new school year, I am reminded of my reluctance to want to go to school when I was very young.  I could think of a lot of other things I could be doing.  Why did I have to go? 

     For the obvious reason of course.  It was a necessity to receive an education.  As I grew older I began to look forward to going to school.  Now that I am adult, I am glad I did not call it quits in kindergarten.  I am glad my parents “made me” go.  Not only is there value in what I learned in the classroom all those years, I see the importance of continuing to learn.

     Can that same attitude be applied to our “Christian” education and our continuing study of the Bible?  There can be, at times, that reluctance for children and adults alike.  There are a lot of other things we could be doing than spending an hour in a Sunday school class or a Bible study.  Maybe you have heard your children say it – and maybe you have said it yourself – “Why do I have to go?”

      Maybe that is not the right question to be asking.  After all, we have to go to grade school but we don*t have go to Sunday school.  Maybe the better question is “why not go?”  John gives a nice summary of why we have the Bible: “These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name.”  Why not place the same importance on our continuing Christian education as we do on our scholastic education?

     Your church offers many different opportunities, on different days, in different settings, on different topics.  We are much blessed with teachers, facilitators and group leaders.  Don’t feel like you know enough about the Bible?  There are no prerequisites, exams, or degrees conferred.  Don’t feel like you will know the answers?  God’s Word provides them – it is an open Book.  Don’t feel like you will fit in?  We are all in the same boat – brothers and sisters in Christ who know our need for a Savior and who cling to Jesus in whose name we have life, forever!

     Learning from God’s Word leads us to want to become more involved in it.  And as we grow older we cherish more and more the value of knowing for ourselves what God’s Word delivers to us.  What could be more important than knowing Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?  These things are written so that you may believe… and continue to.
Pastor John