​    Hi, Friends! Thanks for joining me today for this month’s third and final lesson about the story, “Ten Ways to Be Perfect,” found on pages 100-107 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. 
    Children: I would like you to begin by reading the story again, this time to yourself or to a friend or family member. 
    Here are the Ten Good Rules (Commandments) given to us by God:
1. Have no other gods but God.2.  Do not worship statues.
3.  Be careful with God’s name
4.  Keep Sundays special.
5. Respect your parents.
6. Do not kill people.
7.  Keep your marriage promises
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not be jealous.
 
    The Commandments are all about showing love and respect. The first four involve love and respect for God, and the last six show love and respect for others.
    The Ten Commandments teach about respecting God,being honest, respecting our parents, keeping Sundayholy, and being good neighbors. These rules are as important today as they were thousands of years ago. No matter how the world changes, these Ten Commandments show us the way to a good life.
    Questions? Comments? Let Pastor Steve know what you are thinking.
    Adults: The Biblical reference to this story is Exodus 16-17, 19-40.
    The Ten Commandments are familiar to most people. Sometimes, people believe they are going to heaven just because they think they have not broken any of the commandments. But the unfortunate truth is, they have.Everyone has failed one time or another. However, what makes us Christians is placing our faith in Jesus. Through Jesus, our sins are forgiven. Because He died on the cross for us, we have everlasting life with God. 
   God’s ten rules sketch out the biblical boundaries for a well-lived life and are important for every child to know. Having kids memorize these ten rules is great, but helping kids understand what it means to love and respect God and each other is even better (and more important). We, as adult Christians, need to lead our dear children by example.  
~This Week’s Prayer: God, guide me to respect you and all others as I live my life. Amen
    I invite you and your family to attend next week’s Sunday School gathering on Sunday, October 29, at 11 a.m. right after the morning service.  After a small treat, there will be a discussion of this month’s story and a fun craft. All are welcome!
Enjoy the fall weather,
Margo Greer

     Hello again! This Learning Together lesson is the second of three this month about Moses and the Ten Commandments. “Ten Ways to Be Perfect” is our current story found on pages 100-107 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones.
     Children: To review, please listen once more to the story bring orally read to you, and this time, follow along in your own book.
     In our first lesson, you were asked to think about rules, whether rules are good or bad, and why we all need rules to follow. Maybe you have figured out that parents and other important adults in your lives care for you a great deal and want to keep you safe from harm. Rules help us to keep order, at home or at school or out in public.
     Why do you think God gave us these rules? Is it because God is mean and He doesn't want us to have fun, so He makes a lot of rules for people to follow? No! God likes us to have fun.
     Is it because God is bored and He doesn't have anything better to do than to make up rules? No! God has lots to do. God never gets bored.
     So, why did God give us all these rules?
     Just like your parents, God made rules to protect you, and everyone else. God's rules help us all to live in a way that will make us happy and won't get us into trouble with negative consequences. God made us, and He loves us. He gives us rules to help us stay safe and at peace with all. His rules bring good results for anyone who follows them. They show love and respect for God and one another. God gave His people these rules as reminders of what was good and right.
     Do you have any questions or comments about this story?  Please use this blog to ask anything of Pastor Steve. Feel free to respond to other people’s opinions, also.
     Adults: The Biblical reference for this story is Exodus 16-17, 19-40.
     The location of Moses’ tomb is unknown. God buried him in a place which is hidden from everybody. The tombs of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are marked, but Moses’ tomb is still unknown. He died in Midian at the age of 120. The Bible tells us he was healthy and unimpaired when he died.
     Before Moses died, he reminded the people of all the Lord had done for them. The whole book of Deuteronomy is a record of what was said. Moses read the Ten Commandments to them again. He then went up into the mountain, looked into the Promised Land, and then died as God said.
     Today, we have someone who is greater than Moses: Jesus Christ who is still leading people out of sin. His shed blood still allows God’s fierce wrath to “pass over” those who have repented and put their trust in Him.
~This Week’s Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for teaching us the way to live. In Jesus’ name, Amen
     Next week’s Learning Together lesson will be this month’s third and final lesson about the Ten Commandments. A reminder: Sunday School will be held on the fourth Sunday of every month, in this case October 22, at 11 am after the church service. We will talk about this story and do a fun craft. Any age is invited to attend.
Have a good week,
Margo Greer

​     Hello once again! I hope you are ready to listen and read and imagine and create around the new story for this month.
     This week we are beginning “Ten Ways to Be Perfect,” and it is found on pages 100-107 of The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones. Remember: If you want a book for yourself, feel free to come to our church (Resurrection Lutheran Church) to take your own copy from the library shelf. Another way for you to get a book would be to order online from home.
     Children: As you already know, if you have done a Learning Together lesson with us before, our very, very first step is always to listen to the story being read aloud to you. So, settle yourself in and get ready to hear how God’s people were given His ten rules for good living.
     What are your thoughts about having rules? Are rules good or bad? Maybe you think there are too many rules? Maybe you think there aren’t enough rules? And who gets to make up these rules?
     For example, consider what would happen if there were no traffic rules? If you wish, Google search “traffic chaos” to find video clips of tangled traffic scenes from other countries. How would that work for all of us?
     Feel free to blog any questions or comments that you may have to Pastor Steve.
     Adults: The Biblical reference for this story are Exodus 16-17, 19-40.
     Moses – He is the man of the hour in this story!
     Moses had an amazing life that was exciting, disappointing, and scary. He was given up as a baby because his mother wanted to save him. He was rescued by Pharaoh’s daughter and raised in Pharaoh’s house with all the privileges. He realized God’s calling on his life and was willing to give up his life of luxury, his position, and his future in order to follow what God wanted for His people. Moses ended up being the leader of God’s people who defied Pharaoh and led them out of Egypt and toward the Promised Land. After God rescued the people of Israel from slavery in Egypt, he visited personally with Moses and gave him the 10 Commandments so that they could know how to live as God’s people, reflecting God’s own light and life into the world.
     Through all of this, Moses learned to trust in God and His plan for his life. He learned that life is better when God is in control. In return, God showed Moses that He is a faithful God even when it doesn’t look like He is present. God is always there.
~This Week’s Prayer: Thank You, dear God, for providing life rules for us in the Ten Commandments. Amen
     Two more online Learning Together lessons will follow in the next two weeks, and you are invited to a meet-in-person Sunday School to be held on October 17, 2023, at Resurrection Lutheran Church. There will be a tasty snack, a discussion of the story, and a fun craft project. Hope to see you then!
Have a good week,
Margo Greer