Summer Sunday School
All of our Sunday School classes are over for the first part of
the year. They will return in August, when students of all ages can participate
in special Bible lessons.
Throughout the summer, you can do your own Sunday School study at
home, in a coffee house, or even in a church classroom. The pastor will write a
short note about the Sunday readings for the sermon, as well as some questions
for further study and personal reflection.
This week’s passages are
from Psalm 96:1-6 and Luke 7:1-10. Click on the passage underlined title to read the verses online
Psalm 96 reminds us that all of the original psalms were set to
music and meant to be sung rather than just read. Singing has been a part of
our faith since its inception. Even Jesus sang on several occasions in the
Gospels - when telling one of His stories about children singing in the streets,
He sang their song; after the Last Supper, He and the disciples sung a hymn;
and even when He was dying on the Cross, He sang the first couple of words from
Psalm 22: “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?” When we gather for
worship on Sundays, singing is still a significant part of how we praise God
and express our faith.
Questions for study and
reflection
What songs do you like
to sing in church? What makes them meaningful to you?
Why do you think the
Bible is full of songs? What does this tell us about what God expects of our
faith?
What is your favorite
Psalm? Do you know a musical version of it?
Why does the psalmist encourage
the whole Earth to sing a new song to God? Which new worship songs do you
enjoy?
The story of Christ’s encounter with
the Roman centurion is remarkable because it reveals Christ’s compassion for
those beyond His own people. It is also fascinating to read about a powerful
foreign soldier seeking Christ’s grace.
Luke wrote this story for the first
readers of his Gospel. It gave a symbolic hope to them, for the centurion
represents the Roman Empire submitting to the presence of the Kingdom of God
through Christ. In many ways, the story became prophetic, taking on a greater
significance as the influence of Christianity increased and the Roman Empire
declined.
Questions for study and
reflection
What did the centurion
require of Jesus? What stories must he have heard about Him?
Why do the Jewish elders
come to Jesus and advocate on the centurion’s behalf? What does this tell us
about the centurion?
Why did the centurion
send a message to Jesus not to come to his house? What made him feel unworthy?
Why is Jesus amazed at
the centurion’s message? What is so great about the centurion’s faith?
Any other thoughts or
questions?
Next Sunday’s readings: Psalm
146:1-6 & Luke 7:11-17
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