Back to School
I remember the euphoria I felt on the bus ride home on the last day of school each year. I also vividly remember the most depressing night of each year of my childhood…the Sunday night before school started. The “tick”, “tick”, “tick” sound of the opening segment of the TV show “60 minutes” would sink my soul, knowing I would be back in school the next morning. I was so motivated to be done with school that an important factor in choosing my college was the likeliness I’d be done in 4 years. I tip my hat to our school district because while my kids have mixed emotions about back to school, they don’t have the loathing reaction I did.
How about you? Are you sitting back and enjoying being done with school? Do you sit back in relief that the school season has passed in your life?
The book of Acts is a narrative of the birth and early experiences of the Christian church. In Chapter 2, Peter boldly steps up and preaches a sermon that cuts the Jews listening to their hearts and about 3,000 people are converted that day. What did the early days of the church look like? Verse 42 tells us that “they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Yes, there was sharing meals and group prayer time, but did you catch the fact that there was devoted teaching and learning that happened? Unlike my early childhood, the early church members seemed to enjoy it because we later read “And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people.” Sounds like the early church members enjoyed this whole experience.
The Bible wasn’t designed to be something used for an hour each Sunday morning. Instead, it’s a gift given to feed us daily. When’s the last time you opened up your Bible during the week? Do you devote yourself to the apostle’s teaching regularly? As you provide emotional support for your kids returning to school, why not join them in regular study of God’s word? I know many people struggle with where to start their Bible reading. If that’s you, I’ll suggest something simple. Pick one of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Read a chapter each day and then start a journal where you write down a summary of what you read and answer the question “what did this section teach about Jesus?”
Embrace the fact that school is back in session!