Joni Behrendt, Director of Christian Education

Day One Learner
GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE

Read 2 Peter 3:13-18
As a child I remember going to school as an adventure. Late summer, Mom would take me shopping for that special “first day” outfit and new shoes. New text books, new teacher, new desk, new crayons and pencils, how exciting! I couldn’t wait to get back with my friends and begin learning! And, just when you thought you had learned it all, surprise, something new to explore and take in!

That’s how I look at God’s Word, as an adventure in faith. It seems I can read the same passages over and over again and gain new insight and understanding that is different from what I had taken in the last time I studied that passage. I try to read with fresh eyes and listen with an open heart to each Scripture before me. When I do, it is then that God reveals Himself in a new and exciting way and speaks the truth to my heart that needs to be heard!

In this passage, Peter gives sound advice to believers as they await the second coming of Christ. We are to be “found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.” (NRSV) And, just how do we do that? By taking in God’s Word, by growing in our understanding of God’s purpose for our lives, and by trusting in the grace that is ours in a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

Reflect: What am I doing to “grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?” What have I learned recently by studying the Scriptures?
Pray: God, give me the desire to “crack your Book” and grow in my understanding of who you are and how you want me to live. Amen.

Day Two Learner
FAITHFULLY FIT

Read 2 Timothy 3:14-17
Did you know that the number one New Years’ resolution for the American public is to physically get in shape, whether that means through diet and or exercise? More people in America begin the New Year bound and determined to make a change in habit, lifestyle and fitness. Our society, indeed, does need to pay more attention to the body and the use and abuse it takes day to day, to train ourselves to choose healthier menu items, roll out of that bed a little earlier or hit the gym after work to take charge of keeping ourselves physically fit and therefore honoring God with our bodies. It is true, however, that most resolutions made, if not acted upon for at least 30 days, will go the way of the used wrapping paper and ribbon following Christmas morning!

The Apostle Paul relates physical fitness to our spiritual fitness in a number of different passages. Consider 1 Corinthians 9:24-27; 1 Timothy 4:8 and one of today’s verses, 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” Eugene Peterson in “The Message” puts it this way, “Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped for the tasks God has for us.”

Consider making this your year of “Faith Fitness” as you study God’s Word both corporately and privately, and as you trust God to use Scripture to “show truth, expose rebellion, correct mistakes, and train (you) to live God’s way” in your life!”

Reflect: Becoming faithfully fit takes determination. What are you doing today that will bring you one step closer to your goal of being “faithfully fit?”
Pray: God, give me the ‘umph” I need to get going on a routine of studying your Word so I can become “faithfully fit!”! Amen.

Day Three Learner
LIVE AND LEARN

Read Psalm 119:1-8 I love watching little children when you are teaching them something new. When they finally “get it” excitement exudes from every part of their being; the eyes light up, the body reacts with movement that resembles a “cheer” and the vocal chords emit a sound unlike no other, no matter the age of the child! There are things in most of our lives that come naturally to learn such as crawling or talking, but take practice. Then there are those things that we must consciously “work at” to learn such as reading or addition and subtraction. And, as we grow, learning takes place on a regular basis, almost 24 hours a day 7 days a week! We might not think of it as such because it happens less formally than say spelling or math, but learning is a constant in each person’s life.

The study of God’s Word, and learning to walk in the ways of Christ, is truly a 24/7 job. It happens formally as we study in small groups or individually, it happens as we are out in the world in our reaction to those things happening around us. Learning happens as we submit to the Lord and allow God to teach us how to live the Christian life. The Psalmist writes in Psalm 119:5-8. “Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set; then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel. I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways. I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.” (The Message)

Our learning comes as we open our heart to God’s instruction, keep our eyes fixed on Christ and step out in faith to explore all that God has for us in each new experience.

Reflect: What am I doing to be open to new learning experiences? How is God teaching new things about myself, the faith, and living the Christian life?
Pray: God, guide my steps as I seek to walk in your ways. Open my eyes, ears and heart to discover more about you and your plans for my life. Amen.

Day Four Learner
HOME SCHOOLING

Read Deuteronomy 6:4-9 I have a friend who after many years of sending her children to both public and private schools has decided to home school her 10 year old daughter. It has been an exciting adventure for both of them, and truly a “learning experience” for mother and daughter alike! My friend has taken seriously this new role in her daughter’s life and does her very best to teach those subjects that are required by law to instruct. As she was sharing with me a while back, she has come to the conclusion that her role now as the “official” teacher has always been her role in her daughter’s life and of the awesome responsibility that is hers to convey not only facts through the book-learned lessons, but life lessons as well.

Today’s Scripture passage tells us that we are to constantly keep before us the commandments that God had given His people by impressing them on our own hearts, the hearts of the children, talking about them throughout the day and night, binding them as physical reminders on our foreheads and over the doorposts of our home to remind us constantly under whose authority we live. Moses repeats these same commands in chapter 11 of Deuteronomy. Repetition is one way of impressing the importance on something, so we must believe that Moses thought this important enough to make the point twice in his writing. Just like my friend who has taken on the role of “official” teacher in the life of her daughter and is trying to constantly impress upon her that which she needs to learn, so it is with us and the Word of God. When we take it to heart, have it impressed on our lives in such a way that we “live with it” day in and day out, our lives will reflect that of the person of Christ!

Reflect: On what am I placing more emphasis than studying God’s Word? What am I going to do today to increase the impression of God’s Word on my life?
Pray: God, help me today to impress your Word on my heart and life so that I reflect the image of you. Amen.

Day Five Learner
WHOSE JOB IS IT ANYWAY?

Read Psalm 145:3-7 It seems that people run away from me when I start walking toward them when it comes time to find teachers for Vacation Bible School or Sunday School. In all my years of ministry, I believe I’ve heard every excuse in the book and then some! So, nothing surprises me anymore, but rather challenges me to help people understand “whose job it is” to teach the children. I’ve cajoled, used guilt, made the “if you don’t do it we won’t have a class” statements, and finally have come to the conclusion that it isn’t my job to convince someone to teach, but only put the opportunity before them and allow the Holy Spirit to do the convicting. And, quite honestly, that’s when the best teachers come out of the woodwork! There are practically no better words for a Christian Educator to hear than “I’d like to teach…” That’s when I know the Holy Spirit has been at work in that persons’ life to convict them of just what the Psalmist says in today’s Scripture. “One generation will commend your works to another; they will tell of your mighty acts…”

You see, it isn’t just the job of the church professionals, yes, that is part of our responsibility, but it is every believer’s responsibility to pass on the faith to the next generation. That doesn’t necessarily mean formally in a classroom setting, but in our every day life and experiences. Mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, singles, God wants to use each one of us to impress the life of faith on the next generation The statement “the Christian faith is only one generation from extinction” is true, but doesn’t have to be! It is our generation that must take seriously the job of commending God’s works to the next generation so indeed the faith becomes embodied in those who come after us.

Reflect: To whom am I passing on the faith? What will I do to make sure that the faith continues for another generation?
Pray: God, thank you for the people in my life who passed the faith on to me. Give me the ability to do likewise to the next generation. Amen.