Hello there:
It is time actually to begin thinking about our winter literature. Some of you have expressed interest in doing a book-by-book study, such as a study on the Book of Ruth or Judges or Joshua. I do support that but I want to make sure we get the right literature and that we have something to give each person in the class and guest. While in one aspect we are teaching people we already know in another aspect we need to also think: "OK, what if I have someone in my class today that knows nothing about who Jesus Christ is." We have to remember we are shepherds, sharing the revelation of God and Christ and I know that we do that.
The good news is that there is not one book in the Bible where you cannot layer in Christ. Genesis, Creation and Creator (See John 1:1-5). Judges, He is the Judge. Joshua, He is the Lord's Commander. Ruth, important genealogy link to Christ. Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah prophetic books speaking to Christ, His first and second coming and the end days plus the dispersion of the Israelites. Anyway, there is absolutely nothing in the Bible that we can't draw some correlation to Jesus Christ. I want to make sure we do that if we use something outside of the theme oriented Lifeway literature. Again, I am not opposed to it, in fact we are already, this first quarter, doing some of this. Kevin is teaching from a Max Lucado study and Michelle and Robert are teaching from two incredible Andy Stanley series. I just want to ensure that we teach to salvation and the source of it, Jesus Christ. That is accomplishable no matter what we want to teach. Christ exists throughout Scripture.
Tid bit of Bible info:
Did you know that if you divide the Bible into thirds, the 22, 44, and 66 book you discover something pretty interesting. They are books with some correlation to a marriage.
22 Book - Song of Solomon - Marriage one man to one woman (The relationship of one man and one woman)
44 Book - Acts - Marriage of the Church
66 Book - Revelation - Marriage of the Bride and the Bridegroom. The saved and Jesus.
Anyway, be praying about it. God will lead you. There is a ton of very good literature out there from a number of sources. I am sure we can find something. I do need to go ahead and start to compile the order for this winter. I know that I will need your orders within the next couple of weeks to get the discount. So please let me know your orders for the upcoming quarter.
Michelle:
I was wondering if you would like to right a paragraph or two on the Andy Stanley series for me.
Kevin:
I was hoping to get you to do the same thing for your study. I want to 1) advertise this and 2) get this into our news letter.
Other Thoughts
For our children's and young adult classes, many of you have had meet and greets plus cook outs and other extracurricular activities. Let me know when you want to have these types of events. This is something that we need to share with the church body plus I want to attend as well. Awesome opportunities to plug in the church body. Anyway, let me know your thoughts on that. Not to mention, comment of happenings and planning related to ETC as well as VBS.
Sunday School Planning Meeting
Round Up Sunday is coming and it is time to begin planning for that. There will be a meeting, Tuesday, September 15, 2009. I want to use this as a general planning meeting plus to begin coordinating the who's and what's and when's for Round UP Sunday.
Thank you all so much for being willing to serve.
In His Service, Mark
