From Pastor Hester…
        
    Sunday School-Dusty Dinosaur or Dynamic Discipleship?

    Sure, Sunday school began in the 18th century! Does that make Sunday school a dinosaur? Some church builders and modern leaders tell us this. The truth is Sunday School didn’t become a dinosaur but the Church Growth Movement of the latter 20th Century made Sunday School a dinosaur.  This movement emphasized ecumenism (bringing all Christian denominations together) and “success was gauged by statistics. Acquiring bodies in the pews became prioritized over Scriptural education.” (Gideon Knox)

    This movement turned our churches upside down. Sermons rich in Biblical instruction became self-improvement talks and feel-good platitudes. “Church became a place to be inspired and not taught.”(Knox) Churches offered a “Worship experience” in place of the Gospel for the people sitting in the pews. With no Scripture or theology being taught in Worship, there was no purpose for a Sunday school to learn the application of Scripture, to lift up one another in our Christian lives, to ask questions, discuss challenges, and develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, this led to today’s practice in the majority of churches to get in and get out of church in one hour on Sunday morning.

    This is what has happened. Now what do we do?

    We, you and I, can shake off the dust and resurrect the Sunday school that teaches the members of our congregation, young and old, to become disciples of Jesus Christ.

    Each week Pastor Tom preaches the Word of God. Scripture is foremost. His sermons provide the foundation on which our knowledge and faith can grow. Now we have the opportunity to take a step to build on that foundation.

    On Sunday, March 3rd at 10:45 a.m. faithful servants will be prepared to teach, to provide a place for all ages to begin or expand our Biblical education. Come! Let’s take Sunday school back! Back to a place of discipleship-becoming not only a believer but a follower of Jesus.
    In Christ,
    Pastor Hester
     
    “Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still: teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.” Proverbs 9:9