Middle School Sunday School

I teach Middle School Sunday School at my church. They’re an interesting bunch of sixth and seventh graders. (Eighth graders go to a separate Sunday School class as part of the confirmation process in the Presbyterian church).  

The thing about teaching Sunday School for Middle Schoolers is that it’s hard.  

I’m sure your mind immediately goes to behavior issues, and I’m not going to deny that isn’t a thing. Middle School is a weird time in life. You’re no longer a little kid but not as independent as a high schooler. They have just enough knowledge to be aware of what is happening in the world, but not enough context to fully understand it or prioritize it properly. There are weird social pressures at school, which in my experience have less to do with seeming cool to the opposite sex and more about seeming cool to their friends. They experience conflicting pressure from their parents: pressure to stay a baby to be cuddled forever and pressure to just grow up and act like a mature person already. To top it all off, they’re starting to question authority for the first time—realize parents and teachers don’t know everything. And a natural aspect of that questioning authority is that for the very first time they start questioning their faith. 

I don’t have studies or papers to back up what I’m about to say, but I honestly believe that middle school is where we lose the majority of Christian children. There always seems to be a lot of push and focus on high schoolers—to retain them and to impress upon them the importance of church so they don’t fall away in college. But my experience and the experience of my peers has indicated that it’s middle school where teens get set on the path that either pushes them away or keeps them near. 

Imagine you have all these questions, you just want to ask them and get an honest answer, and guess what? No one wants to teach you because everyone knows Middle Schoolers are awful. 

(Honestly we can’t get anyone to volunteer to cover when I can’t be there one Sunday, it’s heartbreaking. No one wants to sit with these kids who are just figuring themselves out. Because it’s the adults who believe middle schoolers are awful.) 

So how do we minister to them? How do we minister to these kids in a classroom where at least 25% of conversation is disrupted by their behavior? Where most of them won’t talk seriously about the subject for fear of being judged by their peers? Where most Bible studies are either over their head or beneath them?  

Because this is it, guys. Middle school. It’s the last chance we have to reach them while their parents still have the authority to make them go to church whether they want to or not. And we do desperately want them to want to come. 

Well, sadly, I don’t have the answers here, I can only provide what I have done with them, and different lessons I have learned. 

So my goal here is to post three types of posts: 

1. Lesson Plans: That is the actual lessons I have made and taught to my group of middle schoolers.  
2. Monthly Memory Verses: These will probably just be short post with the memory verse and why I chose that verse, with a date attached to it. More for my own record keeping than anything.  
3. Thoughts: That is, thoughts I’ve had as related to teaching Middle Schoolers (or at least this set) and how it might influence future lessons. 

It should be kept in mind when looking over the lessons, I currently attend a Presbyterian Church but I am Southern Baptist by upbringing. My husband who helps me out is Lutheran by faith. I generally know what the “party line” at my current church is and try to present with that in mind, even when I disagree with it. (I am not now, nor will I ever be, a Calvinist.) However, our different upbringings and beliefs are definitely going to affect how we present the material. 

I’m going to write up a separate post on how I deal with theologically controversial topics in a Middle School classroom, since obviously as someone with Baptist beliefs in a Presbyterian Church even what I believe sometimes is “controversial” (at least using the Presbyterian party line as a base line). (Also this is a perfect example of the “Thoughts: type post described above!) 

So if you’re a Middle School, upper elementary, or lower high school Sunday School teacher, I hope this can be helpful to you! And if not, at least it’s a way for me to organize my own lessons so when I cycle back through them when I have a new set of Middle Schoolers in two years, I have easy access to them!

Mary: The Mother of Jesus

So who knows what this month is called in the church calender?

Advent.

Does anyone know what advent means? It comes from a Latin word: Advenio, Advenire which basically means "to arrive." So why would we use an anglicized version of this word to describe the time of Christmas?

Well we're expecting the arrival of Jesus! Advent is the time when we prepare for Christmas, and the reminder of Christ's birth. Basically we're spending our time dwelling on what Jesus' birth means to us as Christians.

So in light of this today we're going to talk about the first person told about Jesus birth: Mary, the mother of Jesus. So before you get your Bibles, can you guys describe to me what you know of Mary?

[Write in on the white board, all the words and descriptors so they can see]

Interesting. Let's see if the Bible supports these different descriptors you guys have of her. Go get your Bibles and I want you guys to turn to the Gospel of Luke. That's the third book of the New Testament.

Alright specifically let's turn to Luke 1:26-29.

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.

So first question. Why do you think Mary was confused by Gabriel's statement?

Well let's look back at what the angel said to Mary. He called her what? [Favored One.] And said "The Lord is with you." Why would this bother her?

Well how would you feel if an angel of the Lord came to you and called you a "favored one." Would you feel that you deserved that?

Well Mary didn't seem to feel like she deserved such a favor.

Can someone keep reading Luke 1:30 - 33?

30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”

Why do you think angels in the Bible are always telling people to not be afraid?

Yeah they're probably scary looking! I'm going to read to you a couple of Biblical descriptions of angels.

Matthew 28:3:

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.

Ezekiel 1: 4 – 12

4 As I looked, a stormy wind came out of the north: a great cloud with brightness around it and fire flashing forth continually, and in the middle of the fire, something like gleaming amber. 5 In the middle of it was something like four living creatures. This was their appearance: they were of human form. 6 Each had four faces, and each of them had four wings. 7 Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the sole of a calf’s foot; and they sparkled like burnished bronze. 8 Under their wings on their four sides they had human hands. And the four had their faces and their wings thus: 9 their wings touched one another; each of them moved straight ahead, without turning as they moved. 10 As for the appearance of their faces: the four had the face of a human being, the face of a lion on the right side, the face of an ox on the left side, and the face of an eagle; 11 such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above; each creature had two wings, each of which touched the wing of another, while two covered their bodies. 12 Each moved straight ahead; wherever the spirit would go, they went, without turning as they went. 

None of these are really pleasant descriptions, are they?

There are also descriptions in the Bible of angels who look no different from men, which is why they don't get recognized initially. However, considering Mary was afraid, I think it's safe to say she recognized him as something other.

Alright can someone please read for me Luke 1:34 – 37

34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. 36 And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 

Basically here Mary is saying it is impossible for her to be pregnant. She's a virgin! Virgins don't have babies--unless you're watching that CW show Jane the Virgin, but back then they didn't have things like artificial insemination or other sciency ways of getting women pregnant. Plus Mary would've known if she'd undergone those things too.

The angel basically tells her though that all things are possible with God, he can do whatever he wants. And he references her cousin Elizabeth as proof. Does anyone here know who Elizabeth is?

Other than Mary's cousin.

Let's flip back to Luke 1:5-17

5 In the days of King Herod of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years.

 8 Once when he was serving as priest before God and his section was on duty, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the sanctuary of the Lord and offer incense. 10 Now at the time of the incense offering, the whole assembly of the people was praying outside. 11 Then there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was terrified; and fear overwhelmed him. 13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. 14 You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink; even before his birth he will be filled with the Holy Spirit. 16 He will turn many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 17 With the spirit and power of Elijah he will go before him, to turn the hearts of parents to their children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” 

Elizabeth is John the Baptist's mother. And her pregnancy was also foretold by the angel Gabriel.

So hearing all of this, what would your response be if you were Mary? I want you to keep in mind that Mary was probably quite young. Probably around 15 or 16. She's about to get married to a really great guy who would be very upset to discover she's pregnant. And back then we're not talking like getting pregnant just means you have to take care of your baby and have people whisper behind your back because your a teenage bride. The punishment for adultry could be severe, like death. So Mary was risking death if Joseph didn't agree to go along with this, which she had no idea if she would .

So what would you say if you were in Mary's shoes?

[Let them answer]

Well let's see what Mary says, can someone read to me Luke 1:38

38 Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Mary agrees, she says she's is the Lord's bondslave. The English Standard version of the Bible translates this as "let it be" and there is actually a really famous Beatle's song written abou this statement, if you guys know who the Beatles are.

"When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be."

This was not an easy hand to be dealt, to be Jesus' mother. I mean think about all the terrible things Jesus had to endure, and Mary outlived him. She had to watch her son die and be tortured. She didn't know she was agreeing to that then, but she trusted God. And she wasn't just resigned to it, like the Beatles song might imply. Turn a little further to Luke 1:46 - 55. Can someone read that?

46 And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47     and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
    Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
    and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
    from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
    he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
    to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”

These versus are often refered to as "The Magnificat." I think it's called that because in the Latin translation of this prayer, the first word is "Magnificat" which is basically the verb in that first sentence there. "My soul exalts." Or in my ESV translation "My soul magnifies."

So this prayer, what is it saying?

She basically spends the entire prayer just talking about how awesome and wonderful God is. She does say one thing about herself in there, verse 48, if we re-read that "for he has looked on ths humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed." And I think that's only human. To marvel that God chose her and to be like "woah, people are going to remember my name like forever." Maybe even a little bit of pride, which I think we can allow her. But the other verses are all about how God is awesome. What do you think that says about Mary's character?

That maybe she put God first? And God knew that. That maybe that's why he chose her.

Alright but let's step back a moment here. Did God NEED Jesus to be born of a woman?

There are a few prophecies sure, that imply he'll be born and talk about it. But set that aside--cuz God wrote those prophecies. Could God just snap his fingers and instead have made a fully grown Jesus who went around calling disciples and doing the same thing? Or could God have just handed Mary a fully made baby with no pregnancy?

Yeah. So why do you think God chose Jesus to be born of a woman? Why was this part of his grand plan?

Obviously we can never know the mind of God, and we can't really know why he chose this path. But I think it's because if you look over the Old Testament women have sort of gotten a bad rap. Call it what you will--Eve's curse, the patriarchy, whatever--women in the Bible have not been treated the best. But here we have God telling a woman, the lowest of the low, that she has found favor from God. That she is the favored one.

Jesus was born male and that is important, I think, but I think by having this design, by having God be born of a woman, God is saying that the statement he's making by being incarnate in a male doesn't make women less. Mary was a critical part God chose to include in this story.

God chose to include women in the story, because he views women as important. And there may be times where boys--you're encouraged to devalue women, or girls you may think less of yourself because you are female. But in those times, I want you to remember Mary. Because she was the favored one, and God chose to use her. God views women as valuable, and therefore you should to.

Theology as a Rubik's Cube

Sometimes I think I should have been a Bible scholar.

I was raised fairly feminist for a Southern Baptist. My parents told me I could do anything I wanted and encouraged me in my path to become an engineer.

Yes, I could do anything…except go into the ministry. That was a thing for boys, boy who would walk confidently forward during the alter call and tell the pastor they had felt “the Call.”

The call to ministry was for men, unless I felt interested in leading children or women, which I did not, or practical things like feeding the hungry. All good and necessary things but what I hungered for was the esoteric—deep understanding of the Bible, history, and theology—a realm firmly and always for men. (It’s interesting to note that the only women I remember going forward for “the Call” were to be missionaries, never because they felt called into women or children’s ministry. I don’t know if you were even allowed to go forward for that.)

I’m not a Bible scholar. I am an engineer, and I love my job and my career path, so I don’t anticipate a job change. But one of the reasons for this blog is to ponder and study what I feel led to—whether it’s the practical or esoteric.

For those of us, though, who are not Bible scholars, I feel like we often fall into one of two camps about the deep esoteric theological discussions. (1) It doesn’t affect your day to day faith so why does it matter at all? (2) The deep questions trouble us so we avoid them lest we find out something that would make us contemplate God differently from how we want. (There is a third option—we think we know everything already and for us there is no mystery in God or the Word. This position is mind boggling to me, so I won’t address it.)

I get this. What does it matter if predestination or free-will is the truth in my day to day life? I still feel as if I have to pick out my own socks, so every day I will pick out my own socks. The answer to the question doesn’t affect how I live my life.

On the other hand, contemplating the question makes us uncertain and when simplified in the way those of us who are layman can understand, makes us afraid of what we might discover. If everything is predestined what does this say about God’s character? If everything is free-will what does this say about God’s sovereignty?

(It should be noted that the predestination/free will debate is merely an example and not all inclusive of the esoteric questions that exist. It should also be noted that these questions way over simplify this debate and complete ignore the concept that God is outside of time and space, but that is a post for another time.)

For some reason, when someone not Called into the ministry or academia starts asking these questions people immediately assume you’re “doubting.” They assume that either you are currently in doubt and seeking answers OR that seeking answers to esoteric questions will lead to doubt. (I find the latter particularly troubling since it seems to indicate our faith does not hold up in the face of study.)

For me at least this is not the case.

I always wanted to be an astrophysicist (which I'm not, I chose the more practical path of engineering, but that is neither here nor there). Two of my favorite classes in college focused on Planetary Science and Space Plasma Physics. I have a desire to see how things work, to understand the natural laws that govern our existence, to marvel at the beauty of the math that holds everything together.

Theology is no different.

For whatever reason God chose not to reveal Himself in a way that is crystal clear to our modern minds. Our Bible is a collection of books of different genres and not a clear and straightforward textbook on theology. Why is this? We can talk about the limitations God imposed on himself by using men to write his holy book. We can talk about Jesus and how he chose to reveal himself to the disciples, the way he couched his words. But I think God knows us, he knows our nature.

He gave us mysteries to be wrestled with because we are like puppies who need a bone to gnaw on to keep us occupied. Because we are by nature curious and seeking creatures, instead of giving us a straightforward toy, God gave us a Rubik’s Cube.

I think of the mystery of theology similarly to how I think of a Rubik’s Cube. I have never been able to solve one on my own. But I believe the cube has a solution. I have faith it can be solved. But I’m also not satisfied with someone showing me how to do it. I must figure it out for myself.

Does this sometimes lead to frustration? Yes. Does this sometimes to lead to doubt? Maybe, I know I’ve doubted that Rubik’s Cubes actually have solutions sometimes. But at my heart even when expressing frustrations and doubt, I believe there is a solution, and I believe God gave this cube to me so I can play and wrestle with it—not so I can put it on a shelf and ignore it.

My theology is not a porcelain doll which can only be looked at and never played with lest it break. It is a rough and tumble Rubik’s Cube that I can drop down the stairs, disassemble, reassemble, and still have the same toy that I know has a solution even if in my life I never find it.

Thanksgiving

Today is the Sunday before Thanksgiving, so as is standard on these sorts of Sundays we're going to talk about Thanksgiving. Does anyone know what is Thanksgiving actually about?

[Let them answer]

Thanksgiving is by definition a secular holiday, in that it is not a holiday directly described by the Bible. (Fun fact the Bible doesn't actually dictate any Christian holidays! We choose to celebrate Christmas and Easter but it is not commanded or required of us in the same way it was required of the Jews in Jesus' time to celebrate Passover or other holidays.) However, being thankful is a very Biblical concept.

There are dozens of accounts in the Old Testament of someone doing something and then immediately giving praise to God. These examples are everywhere, whether it's the Israelites getting out of the desert or kings thanking God for defeating an enemy. Because of this it's not surprising that it's actually a pretty big theme of psalms where our memory verse comes from for this month. Let's actually turn to our memory verse.

Can someone read the first verse there? Psalm 107:1

O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Okay now can someone flip back a Psalm to 106:1 and read that.

Praise the Lord!
    O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    for his steadfast love endures forever.

Now can someone flip back to Psalm 105:1

O give thanks to the Lord, call on his name,
    make known his deeds among the peoples.

Now can someone read all of Psalm 100. I promise it's not very long, five verses.

1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.
2     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come into his presence with singing.

3 Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he that made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
    and his courts with praise.
    Give thanks to him, bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good;
    his steadfast love endures forever,
    and his faithfulness to all generations.

So can anyone see a common theme here? [Let them answer.]

So what are the Psalms? [Let them answer.]

They're basically poems or songs. You'll actually see lyrics from songs you may know--hymns and other popular Christian songs--in a lot of these. In many ways these psalms are basically prayers written by different people--some King David, some King Solomon and some unknown. A lot of them like the ones we've just seen are expressing thankfulness.

Let's look back at Psalm 100:4. "Enter His gates with thanksgiving, And his courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His Name." What do you think this means?

[Let them answer]

I think it means we're supposed to come before God with a thankful heart. And why should we be thankful to God?

Well let's look back at some of those other Psalms, specifically the one our memory verse comes from. Can someone read verses 107: 4 - 9.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
    finding no way to an inhabited town;
5 hungry and thirsty,
    their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress;
7 he led them by a straight way,
    until they reached an inhabited town.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
    for his wonderful works to humankind.
9 For he satisfies the thirsty,
    and the hungry he fills with good things.

So why are they giving thanks to God?

Because he heard their cry and satisfied their thirsty souls. God delivered them and gave them what they needed. We should be thankful for all the good things God gives us in life.

Now you may be like "But Mandy that's the Old Testament." So okay let's see what Paul has to say about thankfulness. Let's turn to Ephesians 5:17-20.

17 So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul is trying to describe to this church what it means to be and look like a Christian. In this section he's specifically talking about what it means to walk in a Christ like manner, to essentially be imitators of God. He's telling them a bunch of things they should and should not do. So what does he say in this verse? Don't be foolish, don't get drunk, be filled with songs and always always give thanks to Jesus.

And why do we give thanks to Jesus? [Let them answer.]

Well because he saved us. What was our memory verse last month? Can someone recite it? (John 3:16.)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

So let's look back at what Jesus, our savior, said about thankfulness. There's actually a story that describes this. So please turn to Luke 17:11-19. Can someone read it?

11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.”

Okay so let's start at the beginning here. What is leprosy? It's a pretty terrible disease that basically infects your nerves, skin, and eyes and can causes pretty serious damage. A person with leprosy is very prone to secondary infections that can result in like skin loss. So basically a person with leprosy looked like they had awful sores and lesions everywhere. And it was considered to be highly contagious. Now we have antibiotics that can treat leprosy, but back then the only solution they had was to basically quarantine lepers from the rest of society so no one else could get it.

No one wanted to be near a leper, which is why the Bible says these lepers stood at a distance from Jesus and had to raise their voice.

So Jesus speaks to heal them all, tells them to go to the priests because the only way to be considered clean and let back into society was if a priest declared you so, otherwise you would still be stuck hanging out in the quarantine area, often referred to as a leper colony. So all these ten men go and get healed, but only one comes back.

What does this tell us about thankfulness?

All ten men were healed but only one felt the need to come back and thank Jesus. I think that's the case for a lot of our lives. We get what we want and we don't feel the need to thank people or God about it. We just have it and we're happy. But here Jesus clearly admonishes those guys who do that and praises the one who comes back.

We should strive to be like that guy, to be thankful for what we have.

And that's why even though Thanksgiving isn't a Christian holiday per say, it's a good one for Christians to observe and can even remind us of something important about our own faith and lives. As Paul said, we should be giving thanks all the time, but as this story with Jesus shows we often fail to do that. But let's strive to be like the tenth man who actually came back and not like the others. 

Christianity and Politics

In honor of the upcoming election today we're going to discuss what the Bible says about politics. Disclaimer upfront: we are NOT talking about political candidates. No one currently running for President is actually in the Bible so we'll not be talking about them.

So first we're going to talk about what Jesus had to say about politics. Who knows what the government was during Jesus' time on Earth? (Hint: we talked about this last week a bit with Paul.)

[Let them answer.]

Yep. The Roman Empire was ruled by an emperor in Rome. At the time of Jesus' ministry that would have been Tiberius Caesar, the son of Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of the Roman Empire. Before Augustus, Rome was a Republic, not quite like the republic we have now but not too dissimilar. There were senators, and citizens could vote, they just had very different definitions of what a Senator was. But in Jesus's time the Emperor was in charge. There was still a senate that people could vote for, but their power was greatly diminished from what it was. And if your emperor was crazy, whelp, you just had to live with it.

So in the entirety of the four gospels, what is the ONE THING Jesus said about Caesar and the Roman government? Does anyone know?

[Probably not but let them answer.]

Okay let's turn to Matthew 22:15-22

15 Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap him in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose title?” 21 They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed; and they left him and went away.

So these Pharisees don't like Jesus and they're coming trying to trap him, to get him in trouble. The Herodians with him? That's basically a Political Party who support Rome. So if Jesus said the wrong thing here, they could go back and tell Rome that Jesus was trying to start a rebellion! And then Jesus would be arrested for sure! So to their question they ask if it's lawful to pay taxes, and what does Jesus say?

"Give unto Caesar what is Caesar's."

That's actually a fairly often quoted verse, sometimes even outside of the context of the Bible and Christianity. But what does it mean? What do you think Jesus was saying.

[Let them answer.]

Jesus is basically saying, "Obey the law of the land."

Paul reiterates this in his letter to the Roman church. That is the church in the capital of the Roman Empire. Rome is to the Roman Empire, what Washington, DC is to us, except even more so. It’s more like Washington, DC, New York, LA, and Chicago rolled into one city. It's not just A city, it is THE City. So turn to Romans 13: 1 -7, and let's see what Paul says to these people who live in the heart of Roman politics.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities; for there is no authority except from God, and those authorities that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists authority resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3 For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Do you wish to have no fear of the authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive its approval; 4 for it is God’s servant for your good. But if you do what is wrong, you should be afraid, for the authority[a] does not bear the sword in vain! It is the servant of God to execute wrath on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience. 6 For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, busy with this very thing. 7 Pay to all what is due them—taxes to whom taxes are due, revenue to whom revenue is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due.

What is Paul trying to say here?

[Let them answer]

He's saying obey your government. And you guys, you need to understand, that back then, just like now, tax money was taken from people and put into things they didn't believe in. The emperor could use tax money to build a temple to the Roman gods if he wanted, and that was definitely not something Christians were cool with. But taxes also went to good things, like roads, just like they do now. (Though not schools back then.)

And when Paul was writing this it was during the time when the Roman emperors were a little off the rockers. We're talking about emperors who actively jailed Christians, emperors who did insane things like elected a horse to the Senate.

But if Paul is saying obey the law and the law says Christianity is illegal, isn't that a logical fallacy?

No, I don't want you to read these verses that way. There is an underlying assumption here in Paul's words, in the words of every writer of the New Testament. Faith in Jesus and the practices of the church come first.

A little context before we read it. Remember the book of Acts is basically the history of the early church as written by Luke, the same guy who wrote the gospel of Luke. In this section, Peter and some of the other apostles are jailed by the high priest and the Senate of Israel for preaching about Jesus and they're told not to preach anymore. But an angel comes and releases Peter et al in the night and tells them to go and continue spreading the word. The high priest then demands them to be recaptured and brought before him. Okay someone read.

27 When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, 28 saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.” 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than any human authority. 30 The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

So is Peter obeying his government here? The high priest and if you look back even the Senate of Israel told them NOT to preach anymore, but he's still doing it. Why?

"We must obey God rather than men."

Boom. There it is.

It's one thing to give tax money to your government and then they use it against your conscious. It's another thing entirely for you yourself to personally do an act that goes against God.

There's a famous Old Testament story that exemplifies this. Does anyone know what it is?

Alright let's turn to the Old Testament book of Daniel. Specifically Daniel 3:8 -18. During this time period, Israel was under the control of the Babylon Empire. Basically there was this Emperor Nebuchadnezzar who ruled everything. But some Israelites worked for him, in his administration, basically civil servants running things. So can someone read Daniel 3:8-18?

8 Accordingly, at this time certain Chaldeans came forward and denounced the Jews. 9 They said to King Nebuchadnezzar, “O king, live forever! 10 You, O king, have made a decree, that everyone who hears the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble, shall fall down and worship the golden statue, 11 and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire. 12 There are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These pay no heed to you, O king. They do not serve your gods and they do not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” 13 Then Nebuchadnezzar in furious rage commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought in; so they brought those men before the king. 14 Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods and you do not worship the golden statue that I have set up? 15 Now if you are ready when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, drum, and entire musical ensemble to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, well and good. But if you do not worship, you shall immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire, and who is the god that will deliver you out of my hands?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to present a defense to you in this matter. 17 If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.”

What is going on here?

Yes the king gave a decree that everyone should worship this god he made. And these three guys, S, M &A were working for this king. They basically obeyed his administrative orders, running his government on a daily basis, but this, this went against God. What's the first commandment of the Ten Commandments? Anyone know?

"You shall have no other gods before Me." Exodus 20:3

This law Nebuchadnezzar gave went directly against that. The first, most important commandment. And so they refused to obey it, even though it meant the king would throw them in a fiery furnace.

Trevor likes to call this the Nazi corollary to the "obey your government thing." If your government comes to you and asks you to do something that goes directly against your beliefs, i.e. kill Jewish people, YOU SHOULD NOT DO IT. And Paul or Peter would not support you doing that.

But this is America, right? And things work a little differently here than they did back then. We don't have a ruler we have no choice in! We get to pick right?

Well sort of. Depending on your political leanings, you may get a President you don't like on Tuesday. And I guarantee sometime in the future you will be disappointed by a presidential election. You will fear for the future of this nation.

And well, that's not very different from how people in the Bible lived. They had no choice over their ruler and they were stuck with whoever. And sometimes they didn't like the ruler they had. And often, their ruler was not a Christian.

So what does the Bible say we should do about our leaders?

Well we're in the Old Testament so let's stay there for a minute. Turn to Jeremiah 29:7. Jeremiah is basically the same time period as Daniel. In this section, Jeremiah is relaying the words God told him to deliver to the people who live in captivity in a pagan government. They are far from home, in a land that worships false gods, under a ruler they don't necessarily like or trust, and what does God say to them?

"Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf; for in its welfare you will have welfare."

God tells them to pray for the very nation that captured them! The nation they’re prisoners of!!!!

Now some of you who are Bible savvy might say "well yeah but that's a very specific occurrence and not necessarily universally applicable. God is talking specifically to those Jewish people in Babylonian exile and not to us."

Okay, well let's see what Paul has to say on the matter. Let's turn to Paul's first letter to Timothy, so 1 Timothy 2:1-8.

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, so that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For

there is one God;
    there is also one mediator between God and humankind,
Christ Jesus, himself human,
6     who gave himself a ransom for all

—this was attested at the right time. 7 For this I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. 8 I desire, then, that in every place the men should pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument;

Pray for our kings and authorities. Without wrath or dissension. Do you guys know what dissension means?

If your political party doesn't win on Tuesday, you're supposed to pray without wrath, without conflict, without anger. Wow.

And there's one last thing I want to mention. There's a lot of talk in this election and every election, about how if the wrong candidate gets chosen, it will basically be the end of the world. Everything will be chaos. It will be the death of America. But I want to remind you guys are hope doesn't lie with America. Where is our hope?

Stay in Timothy and flip back to 1 Timothy 4:10.

"For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savoir of all people, especially of those who believe."

Your hope is in God. Not the president. Not the king. It doesn't matter what comes of America. It's okay to worry about it. It's okay to be active and encourage others to vote for a candidate that you think is best. But whatever happens this week, our hope is secure.

We worship God, not the president. Let's pray.

Additional verses: 1 Peter 2:13-17

November 2016 Memory Verse

“O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever.”

— Psalm 107:1

For the November memory verse I wanted something that was applicable to Thanksgiving, something about thankfulness. And I thought this one was perfect: short, sweet, and well known. 

October 2016 Memory Verse

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life”

— John 3:16

We started doing monthly memory verses in my class for the first time in October 2016. Since it was the first time, I wanted the middle schoolers to memorize what I view to be one of the most foundational verses of our Christian faith. Also it's a fairly short one that I thought would be easy for them to memorize.