Back to School

It's back to school time again! Some of you are probably feeling excited. Some of you may be a little sad that summer is over. You may feel nervous or a little scared about going back to school because of all the new things that you will have to face. You will have new teachers, some new friends, and some of you may even be going to a new school.

On the first day of school, the teacher will probably ask some questions to see how much you already know. When the teacher askes a question to which you know the answer, you might wave your hand excitedly in the air and say, "I know! I know!" It is a great feeling when you know the answer, isn't it? It sure helps to take away those "Back to School Jitters."

In our lesson today, the disciples are going "back to school." Can you guess who their teacher is? Right! Jesus is their teacher. Jesus often took his disciples aside to teach them important lessons about the Kingdom of God. This was one of those days. Jesus began his lesson that day by asking his disciples a question.

"Who do men say that I am?" Jesus asked.

I imagine that one of the disciples raised his hand and said, "I know! I know! Some people say that you are John the Baptist."

Then another of the disciples raised his hand and said, "I know! I know! Some people say you are Elijah."

A third disciple raised his hand and said, "Some people say that you are Jeremiah or one of the other prophets."

"Very good," Jesus said, "that is what other people are saying, but who do you say that I am?"

You know, I think that Peter was so excited that he forgot to raise his hand. I think he just called out to Jesus, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus said, "You are right, Peter. You didn't learn that from listening to other people. It was taught to you by my Father in heaven."

The lesson that the disciples learned that day is just as important today as it was then. Many people in our world today still do not know who Jesus is. You and I need to be ready with the answer, "He is the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Then he asked them, "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Matthew 16:15-16 (NIV)

Don't Miss Christmas

Don't you just love Christmas? I do! I love the Christmas trees with their blinking lights, ornaments, and tensil. And that's not all! I love the beautiful music and the delicious Christmas candy and cookies. I love Christmas dinner of turkey and dressing with all of the trimmings. I love all of the parties -- and visiting with family and friends. And, of course I love the presents -- both the ones I give and the ones I receive. Especially the ones I receive! Hmmm... Can you think of anything I have left out? Oh yes! It's someone's birthday, isn't it? Whose birthday is it? That's right! It is Jesus' birthday. You know, sometimes we get so caught up in all of the decorations, lights, parties, and presents that we miss the real Christmas.

That reminds me of a story I heard about a little boy who had always wanted to go to a circus. One day he was walking down the street when he saw a poster in a store window. The poster said that a circus was coming to town and that a ticket to the circus cost one dollar. The boy ran home and asked his daddy if he would give him a dollar to go to the circus on Saturday. His daddy told him that if he would work hard and get all of his chores done, he would give him a dollar to go to the circus. Saturday morning came and the boy got up early and did all of his chores.

"I have all of my chores done," the boy told his dad.

The boy's father gave him a dollar and the boy headed into town filled with excitement about seeing wild animals, trapeze artists, and all of the things that come with a circus. Since he arrived in town so early, he was on the front row when the circus parade started down the main street of town. The boy was thrilled when the animals and other circus acts paraded by him.

At the end of the parade came the clowns and following the clowns was the ringmaster. When the ringmast

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary Had a Little Lamb

Mary had a little Lamb,
He was born on Christmas day.
She laid him in a manger bed
To Sleep upon the hay.

Angels filled the night-time sky
And they began to sing.
Shepherds heard them all proclaim
The birthday of a King.

Wise men saw a blazing star
Up in the sky that night.
They followed it until they found
The King of love and light.

Mary had a little Lamb,
But He wasn't hers, you know,
He was the very Son of God,
The One who loves us so.

The Father of this little Lamb
Loved the world so much
That He sent his only Son to earth
So we could feel His touch.

He came to give us joy and peace
And take away our sin.
So when He knocks on your heart's door,
Be sure to let Him in.

Why do I love this precious Lamb?
What can the reason be?
The answer is quite plain to see,
It's because He first loved me!