Lone Oak United Methodist Church News

August 2008

Reflections from Ben.......... Lessons we teach

Before this month is over, summer vacation will have come to an abrupt halt. School terms will have begun again. Many of our young adults will be headed for undergraduate or graduate classes…some for the first time. Some of our children will be in formal schooling for the first time. Teachers, school administrators, and staff will be gearing up for the incoming rush of a new school year.

All this invites us as the church, the body of Christ in the world, to consider what WE teach. What are the lessons WE need to communicate and live out in our life together?

As I walked Lee Hayes through the congregation yesterday following his baptism, I encouraged each us to teach Lee to “love God, to come to know he is loved by God, to learn how to live with compassion and how to treat others.”

The sacrament of baptism reminds us that we all, each of us, have a teaching and learning responsibility. No one comes into life fully grown, knowing all there is to know. No one comes into faith knowing all there is to know. We all have something to teach each other and learn from each other as we develop a deeper, more mature understanding of our relationship with God and each other.

What shall we teach? If we take seriously teaching others to love God, to know they are loved by God, how to live with compassion and how to treat others, then we’re doing our part to cooperate with the Kingdom work God is doing in our midst.

Grace and peace,

Scriptures for Reading and Study and Sunday Worship

August 3 Psalm 17; Matthew 14:13-21

August 10 Psalm 105; Matthew 14:22-33

August 17 Psalm 133; Matthew 15:10-28

August 24 Psalm 124; Matthew 16:13-20

August 31 Psalm 23; Matthew 16:21-28