The last two weeks, I have been blessed to lead our Senior High Sunday School class. I can only hope that my own children grow into such a fine group of young people. I felt truly blessed to get to share the last couple of Sunday mornings with them. One of the things that surprised me was that they were so eager to open their Bibles and read and engage the text. I remember myself as being more difficult to teach. In full disclosure, I am not a particularly gifted teacher, but not the worse - but, I don’t think I was doing anything special, per se…. instead, just reading the text aloud and inviting conversation about where it meets our lives. This approach seemed to allow these young adults to find meaning and power in the text. So, here are three reflections and a crazy thought from the experience…
First, the questions of these young adults were amazing and unencumbered by the complex qualifications or selfish, self-interest I find in many other settings. They were not constrained by limits as they encountered the Scriptures. One of the real challenges to reading the text with older adults is that we tend to insert things into the Scriptures that are not actually there. We tend to approach the Holy Scriptures seeking a pre-determined outcome instead of with an openness to follow where the text leads. I found their freedom refreshing. As we explored scripture together, they were willing to sound the depths of it and explore every rabbit trail. It was wonderful.
Second, each of these young people can probably text faster than I can type and I’m sure that they are fluent in digital things that I can hardly imagine. And yet, they openly sought wisdom from an ancient text. In seeking with an open mind, we found and encouragement and power in the texts that could make a difference in our lives. There was nothing about the digital divide in and of itself that kept us from learning and experiencing the Spirit moving in our midst. In fact, I actually encouraged them to google some of the topics we discussed to get more thoughts and input. It was really fun to watch the various thoughts they explored in the text and see how the Scriptures illumined them with meaning.
Third, each of these young adults explained that the study of scripture had helped the sermon come alive for them. This was the wow moment.
So, my thought is that I am doing this all wrong? Preaching I mean. The Tuesday morning Pastoral Bible study group, on the Scriptures we’ll preach on Sunday, often express the same sentiment that these young adults shared. So, if my eighteen and eighty-ninety year olds are saying the same thing — studying the Scripture increases their experience and participation in the sermon. My approach should be more integrative. What we are teaching should be more closely aligned to what we are preaching.
I began asking myself… Why am I not providing more tools and encouragement for people to actively participate in the sermons? To not be too hard on myself, I do invite everyone to read along during the series and provide them the texts for the sermons in advance. But, this is a passive approach. My crazy thought from reflecting on my time with the Senior High class is what could happen if studying the Scripture for each week became normative instead of exceptional at Williams Memorial? What if I cross the digital divide, and multi-purpose our resources? How could the weekly radio show, the new website, and our new web communications tool provide a means to help increase the level of participation though the engagement of Scripture? How can I leverage social media and all of this audio to create a digital experience that would both help me prepare for Sunday and provide a fuller and richer experience for the sermon.
Hmmm…. I guess I’m Socrates in reverse, the youth have corrupted me and caused me to reflect on what might become. So, I’ll be widening the circle in the days and weeks ahead to play with this idea and see what emerges. Would you be part of that reflection? What are your thoughts? What would help you engage and study scripture weekly? Thanks!
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