Today is Sunday School Sunday and our lesson will take place during both Services. Everyone is in class today. Our teachers and children will actively participate in both services by being Greeters, Acolytes, Ushers, and Readers. Today’s sermon will be a lesson given by Sunday School Superintendent, Rosemary Molinaro. The name of the lesson is “BE.” The word “Be” is a small word but has a powerful meaning – it describes the qualities of a person. Good qualities are pleasing to God – to be faithful, to be honest, and to be kind, are just a few. Everyone has hopes and dreams of being something when they grow up, but no matter what we choose to be, we can all have the same good qualities. Reading through the Bible we can find many ways God wants us to be. Today we will talk about how blest we are to be loved by a God who created us to be all that we can be.
Following is a summary of the sermon:
Good morning everyone, and on behalf of our Sunday School Teachers and the children, I welcome you to Sunday School Sunday. Today, you are all in class with us and Matthew tells us in Chapter 18:20 “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
Pastor Choi has asked me to speak in his place, and I would like to challenge him as he does each week. Pastor Choi, I would like you to see if you can count how many times I say the word “Be” OR “BEING” in my lesson.
Okay, the challenge starts now!
As I do each Sunday, I have prepared a lesson for everyone. My lesson for today is called “BE.” Tiny little word, only two letters, B-E, but has a powerful meaning. According to the Dictionary, BE is a verb \ˈbē\
—used to indicate the identity of a person or thing
—used to describe the qualities of a person or thing
—used to indicate the condition of a person or thing”
I would like to talk about the meaning of “BE” that refers to the “qualities of a person.” “Qualities” means how good or bad someone is. For example, a person can have good qualities or bad qualities. For this lesson, we will talk about good qualities and how God wants us to BE.
So let’s talk about a very basic question: what do you want to BE when you grow up? Now keep in mind, we are always growing UP, right? No one grows down. So whatever your age, you are always growing up and will always BE something!
Would anyone like to tell us what they would like to BE when they grow up? Remember, you are all in class today!
(Wait for responses)
What do you need to do to become that?
(wait for responses)
What will you do in that job?
(wait for responses)
OK. So BEING a _____________ will tell people what you do. But it won’t tell people what kind of a person you are. You have to show them your qualities by the way you act.
Way, way back in 1986, there was a commercial for the Army that said “BE all that you can BE” and I think God would respond by saying “I have created you, and if you follow Me, you can BE all that you can BE.”
Everyone has hopes and dreams of being something in their lifetime.
We have hopes and dreams when we are very young for what we want to BE when we get older – maybe its whatever our Moms or Dads are, or something completely our own; maybe you love animals and want to BE a Vet; maybe you love flowers and trees and you want to BE a landscaper or own a flower shop.
No matter what we choose to BE, God wants us to all have the same good qualities.
Someone can BE the smartest or richest person in the world, but if their qualities are not good, do you think God is pleased with that person?
Whatever it is that you want to BE is special and important, but what matters most is how you “BE” it. Wow, that sounds like very poor English, doesn’t it?
So let’s see how God wants us to “BE all that we can BE….”
Where do you think you can find that?
Let’s see some of the ways the Bible tells us:
First, BE Faithful – Deuteronomy 6:5:7
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Keep these words that I am commanding you in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.”
Another is BE Kind – no matter what type of job or career you have, remember to BE kind to people. Who remembers the “Golden Rule?” ( “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.”) What does that mean? (Treat people how you want to be treated.)
“In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the Law and the prophets.”
Next BE Honest – there is an old saying “Honesty is the best policy” and that will BE true to the end of time. Lying is hurtful in so many ways. Telling the truth and taking responsibility for something we may have done, is not always easy, but it is always the right thing to do.
In the book of Exodus, Chapter 20:16 The Ninth Commandment given to Moses by God, tells us:
Thou shalt not bear false witness against they neighbor.
If something is false, what does that mean?
(wait for response)
And who is our neighbor? Just the person who lives next door to us?
There is a very old movie called “The Fly” and one of the lines in that movie is “BE afraid, BE very afraid” The movie wanted to scare people. It was a silly science fiction movie, but the line is still used when people want you to think that something scary is going to happen.
But God says in Isiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not BE afraid, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you……”
Did you ever hear the saying “Children should BE seen and not heard?” That saying means that children can BE in a room, but they are not allowed to talk. Who would want that? If that were true, who would tell us funny stories to make us laugh? How would we hear “I love you Mom and Dad” or “I miss you Grandpa.”
Jesus says in Mark 10:14: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Jesus actually got angry when the people tried to stop the children from talking to Him.
And then there is “BE careful what you wish for.” That means you may wish for something that turns out to BE not really what we wanted. But when Jesus taught us to pray, He said, “Give us this day our daily bread” That means we don’t have to wish for anything, God knows what we need.
What other ways to “BE” can you think of?
(wait for responses)
BE fair, BE helpful BE good, BE happy !
BE Thankful – Pastor Choi has dedicated 2014 as the year of Gratitude. Remember everyday to thank God for loving us and for all He has given us.
Psalm 30:12 That my glory may sing your praise and not BE silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
Here is a real challenge for Pastor Choi:
No matter what you decide to BE, remember to always BE how God wants you to BE, and you will definitely BE all that you can BE.
God Bless us all. Thank you all for coming to class!