OUR CHURCH: Christian Education

So the Next Generation Might Know

It's fascinating that the Bible, in some very mysterious way, has the ability to transcend denominational distinctions.  Somehow, in the midst of debates and quarrels, there exist themes and nuances, which are recognized around the world to be fundamentally imperative to the life of any congregation. Psalms 78 is a brilliant example:

For He established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers, That they should teach them to their children, That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, That they should put their confidence in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments... (Psalms 78:5-7 NASB)

 We at Saint Paul's are embarking on an exciting new journey.  I was hired at the beginning of September to provide structure and to grow the Christian Education program within the parish.  It is Psalms 78 that gives me the purpose of the program.  That is, to invest in the next generation!  The psalmist mentions three generations, teaching the current generation, so that they in turn will teach the next, and then the writer jumps to say, ‘even the children not yet born'!  It is to this imperative task that we have all been called.

Much later the Apostle Paul in his second letter to his young disciple Timothy writes, "The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (2 Timothy 2.2).  I firmly believe this verse is at the heart of what we are trying to accomplish here at St Paul's. We recognize that we as Christians have an obligation to teach the ‘next generation' of the gospel in which we have been entrusted.  Furthermore, Paul says that we should not teach ‘anyone'; rather, we are to teach ‘faithful' (also meaning reliable or trustworthy) men.  Indeed this is the imperative task that we have within our parish. That is, to develop students to be faithful in all walks of life (home, work, church, etc.) It is to this end that St. Paul's Christian Education has begun.

That's our task in the coming years - to invest in the next generation.  Indeed, this is the reason I was hired.  However, I believe if St. Paul's is going to be successful in this new adventure it is going to take help from the entire parish.   Please join with me in praying for the next generation here at St. Paul's.  And if you're interested in getting further involved please feel free to contact me.

In Christ,  Jason Luttrell

luttrell0@gmail.com

(770) 362 - 0282