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Promotion Sunday is one of my favorite days of the year because it signals the beginning of our year in Go Deeper Hour.  On this day, we introduce new teachers for all of our classes for kids, youth and adults.  We give Hesston MB bags filled with goodies to our 1st graders because they promote out of Children's Church and we give Bibles to our 3rd graders. Adults, which class are you attending this year?  There is something for everyone.  Try one and if it is not what you are looking for, try another one.  I believe we have classes with a variety of topics and variety of teaching styles.  If you have questions about the classes, please let me know. I look forward to celebrating Promotion Sunday with you today!

I love to teach!  One of the things I missed most during the last 3 months while I was preaching was teaching an adult class during Go Deeper Hour (Sunday School).  I believe every person needs an opportunity to not just listen to a preacher or teacher, but to also process what they are learning in their head, heart, and hands.  This is why I am a firm believer in Sunday School and small groups.  Both of these provide people the opportunity to ask questions as well as process what they are hearing and thinking. SO, let me encourage every person--child, youth and adult to join a Go Deeper Hour Class if you attend Hesston MB.  But also want to encourage you no matter where you go to church, find a Sunday School class or Small group to join and participate in.  If you don't like the one you attend, try another class.  Don't just give up!   It is important for you. For the next year, the class I lead will be going through 2 books together as well ...

As I mentioned in a previous post, last week I started reading Show Them Jesus by Jack Klumpenhower. You can visit his website here  Below, I have included a section from Chapter 3 on growth for kids.  It was so helpful to me and will impact how I teach in the future. Church kids come in one of two types--unsaved and saved. Both types desperately need to see Jesus. . .We make a mistake if we think kids are saved by hearing the good news and trusting Jesus, but then grow as Christians some other way. . .We grow in the same way we became Christians--rooted in Jesus, with our hope in the good news. As kids learn about God's goodness and holiness, they ought to increase in aw of him. That's growth. And as they examine themselves and see the ugliness inside, they ought to increase in conviction of sin. That's growth too. But the combination of these will drive them to despair--unless their understanding of the forgiveness and righteousness they have in Jesus also grows. ...

Today is one of my favorite Sundays at Hesston MB Church.  It is the day we introduce new teachers for our Sunday School classes, present small gifts to 1st Graders as they promote out of Children's Church, and present Bibles to our 3rd graders.  We also host a brunch for our youth and adults after all the teachers from children through adults have been introduced.  It is a great kickoff to our year together in "Making Disciples who Make Disciples." But even more than all of these great things, it is a reminder of my calling and the faithfulness of God.  It was on Promotion Sunday in 2008 that I interviewed for the ministry position I now serve in.  Bethany and I sat in the Promotion Sunday activities and were blessed by the stories of leaders sharing how they were called to teach children and youth. We joyfully participated in worship as God confirmed to us that this was where we were to be.  So, if you are looking for a church home, join us today....

We are wrapping up a six week Bible study on Explicit Gospel by Matt Chandler.  It has been a rich study and I would highly recommend it.  Here are a few thoughts to think about today: Sealed in my heart that day was the truth that unless the gospel is made explicit, unless we clearly articulate that our righteousness is imputed to us by Jesus Christ, that on the cross he absorbed the wrath of God aimed at us and washed us clean--even if we preach biblical words on obeying God--people will believe that Jesus' message is that he has come to condemn the world, not to save it. We must abandon the idea that there is condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! We must abandon the idea that our sins pile up on some scale that will earn God's punishment when tipped, as if Christ didn't take this wrath from us already on the cross.  We must also abandon the idea that our good behavior somehow rubs the spiritual lamp that inclines God, like a genie, to ...

At Hesston MB, we have a prayer time on the first Sunday of the month.  We spend about an hour praying for our families, church, community, and world.  Tonight, we did something different.  We broke into five groups and prayed through each classroom and space in the church.  It was a blessing! For those who teach a class for Sunday School, Children's Church, Mom 2 Mom, Hide N Seek, Community Group or the nursery, you have been prayed for.  For those who attend these classes, you have been lifted up in prayer.  We prayed for God's blessing and for disciples who make disciples.   Remember, pray big & bold prayers!  For encouragement read, Ephesians 3:20.

Today in our Sunday School class, we looked at Ephesians 3:14-21.  I love these verses!  What a powerful statement of the importance of prayer and experiencing God's love.  Mark Driscoll has great thoughts in his book, Who Do You Think You Are? I encourage you to read Ephesians 3 and then think and meditate about the verses and then these quotes: Paul didn't doubt that God loves you, but he did doubt that you'd truly know it, really believe it, and deeply receive it in a passionate, experiential, and personal way. The truth is that there is one answer to all our problems--a full understanding of God's love for us. The true test of your theology is not just what you say, but also how you pray.

Have you heard of the new curriculum published by Lifeway called The Gospel Project?  For the last few years, I have been looking for the right curriculum for our children's Sunday School.  What we were using was fine, but I was looking for more.  I wanted a curriculum that was Bible-based, Christ-centered, helped children understand God's Big Story rather than just isolated stories, & definitely a connection to the home where parents/grandparents could discuss what is being learned during the week.  I looked and looked and never found anything that fit everything I was looking for.  Each publishing company had some of these things, but not all of them.  I was beginning to think I needed to write my own curriculum.  Unfortunately, I don't have the time. However, I came across The Gospel Project while attending the Orange Conference in Atlanta.  I checked it out online and started to get excited.  I had some teachers "try it out" over ...