"I Have Decided to Follow Jesus"?

I would think that even the most novice pastor, teacher, or DCE in the LCMS, and---by God's grace---our Christian education teachers and leaders as well, would know there is something wrong with this song, something fundamentally un-Lutheran and therefore spiritually dangerous about using it in Sunday School or VBS to instruct children. Lutherans understand that before our conversion by the Gospel, through the proclamation of the Word and administration of Baptism. The Bible describes this in two ways. We are dead in sin (Ephesians 2), unable to love or "decide" for God. We are "enemies of God" (Romans 5), unwilling to love or choose Him. But God is love chose us. Our salvation is completely God's work.

And make no mistake, the songs we sing, the materials we send home to parents, and the signs we post in our buildings teach theology just as much as the words the teachers say.

Christian education material that fails to teach the Gospel clearly is not appropriate for use in a Lutheran congregation.

God bless you as you teach His children His Word!

Two Things Times Three

Two things I heard today on the radio:

1. Adult obesity is formed through simple, early habits like preschoolers going to bed early (a habit that reduces late night snacking).
2. Retirement plans require retirement planning.

Two things every parent wants for their children:

1. To live a happy, healthy life.
2. To exhibit lifelong faith and have eternal life.

Two things every congregation should build into their vision statement and the fabric of their ministry:

1. Strong faith in youth and adults is formed through lifelong---cradle to grave---participation in worship, study of God's Word, and service to my neighbor.
2. Sunday School is a tool---yes, only one tool among many, but a strong tool---to assist families and individuals grow in faith.

God bless you as you teach His children His Word!

What Shall We Teach about Government?

The upcoming American national holiday on July 4 and the daily outpouring of media coverage of the United States presidential election raise the question of how a Lutheran Christian should react to, and teach about, the role of government in our lives.

St. Paul makes it clear in Romans 13:1-7 that government is established and holds its authority by God's gracious provision. Christians are called upon to uphold, obey, and pray for those who rule over us in all things, unless those in authority seek to require us to act against God's will. Even corrupt or inept authorities can act as God's agents for the protection of society and citizens.

So we teach, by word and example, that those in authority should be respected. We live as good citizens, seeking to improve our neighborhood, city, state, nation, and world; we vote, serve on juries, and hold elected office when called to do so. And we pray for health, safety, wisdom, and grace for all those in authority over us, even when we do not agree with their words or actions.

We can look to the examples of Joseph, Daniel, and Esther who sought the welfare of those who imprisoned and enslaved them, even as they served the one true God.

God bless our nation and its leaders! And God bless you as you teach His children His Word.

Fall Preparation Checklist

It's the middle of June. It's time to be thinking about "rallying" your Sunday School troops. Here are some points to consider.

• Set your "Rally Day" or "Christian Education Sunday." Plan with your pastor to emphasize Sunday School, recognize and commission teachers for their service, and (if you have not already done so) advance students to the next grade. Resources for Rally Day can be found at cph.org/sundayschool under "Sunday School Tools."
• Choose your curriculum (Cross Explorations or Growing in Christ, check them out at cph.org/sundayschool) and verify your order. The fall material is available on July 1.
• Choose your "path." New CPH customers can choose either a "Recommended Path" (Old Testament in the fall, followed by two New Testament units in the winter and spring) or a "Chronological Path" (starts in the fall with Old Testament 1 and continues straight through the Bible). Continuing customers should be aware that the Old Testament 2 unit was recently offering in fall 2016; if you choose the chronological path, these lessons may be overly familiar to your students.
• Enlist teachers for the fall. Work to have two adults in each classroom; it's easier than you think.
• Contact every eligible family by phone, mail, or email to encourage enrollment in Sunday School.
• Tour your Sunday School classrooms and list physical improvements: painting walls, new flooring, cleaning the windows, repair/repaint/replace tables and chairs, remove faded/torn posters, etc.

God bless you as you teach His children His Word!

Is the Bible God's Word?

A major flaw in the curriculum produced by many publishers, including some Lutheran publishing companies other than Concordia Publishing House, is their view of Scripture.

Orthodox Lutheran Christians believe that the entire Bible is God's inspired, inerrant Word. "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16 ESV). The entry of sin into the world came through a denial of the authority of God's Word ("Did God actually say . . . ?" Genesis 3:1 ESV).

It makes a difference in virtually every Sunday School lesson we teach that we affirm the authority of God's Word, for if the Bible cannot be trusted in some details, how can it be trusted in the matters of forgiveness, life, and salvation through the God-man Jesus Christ?

God bless you as you uphold His Word and teach it to His children.

Teachers Two-Deep, Even in the Summer

Those familiar with this blog will know that I have long recommended that Sunday Schools staff two deep in each classroom: two adults present each week throughout the class session. Not only is it helpful in the event of unforeseen events (such as bathroom trips), but it helps maintain discipline, and it is often recommended or required by your church's insurance carrier.

This summer, assuming you continue your Sunday School, two deep is still a good idea, for all those reasons, and one more. As family schedules flex through the summer it will be far easier to maintain a nearly full staff. Yes, on a given Sunday one or more classes may wind up with just one adult in the room, but that's a lot better than none.

And remember, the second adult is WAY easier to recruit than the first since that person can be assured of a partner for support, leadership, and assistance.

God bless you as you teach His children His Word this summer!

Will Your Sunday School Have Visitors This Summer?

Let's hope so! When they come, is this what they will find?

• Information about Sunday School, including where first-time attenders should sign in, was in the worship folder.
• The Sunday School registration location was well marked and easy to find.
• Visitors are greeted warmly when I arrived.
• Enough information was requested to make me feel my children would be well cared for. My cell phone number was requested so that I could be texted if anything came up during the study hour.
• I was escorted to my child's classroom and introduced to the teacher.
• Lesson material was available for my child, just as for the regular attenders.
• Someone invited me to attend the adult Bible class and offered to help me find the class I was interested in attending.
• Someone followed up by phone later in the week to see how things went and invite me to return.

God bless you as you teach God's children His Word this summer!