One of the great joys of life is that I get to teach scripture. I've been doing it for 40+ years and I have read the Bible through dozens of times. Yet often I am startled, amazed at the words that appear.
The bible has this ability to come alive and grab me, make me sit up and take notice.
I remember years ago I was teaching a class of 20+ year old young adults. I love teaching young adults because they are often first beginning to think through the implications of what faith means to them. That's not necessarily true of all young adults. Some of them, raised in households of faithful parents, often were dealing with those things at a much earlier age. But in the absence of that, I saw many at those early 20's wrestle with issues of faith and seek understanding that was truly wonderful for me to be a part of.
In one situation, as the class took a break, this beautiful young woman saw me in the hallway - on my way to get a cup of coffee. I said hi and so did she, but then she stopped, and turned to face me and looked me square in the eye, as if to say, I want your attention. She looked up and said, "Mr. Pollasch, I don't know if you realize it, but you are the most important teacher in a lot of our lives, and you need to know that you have a great role in shaping our adult faith lives..." (something to that extent). Well, Rachel, I've never forgotten that. It made me realize something I couldn't ever come to understand myself.
Those who teach and handle the word as truth have a crucial role to play in life. Don't underestimate the importance of that.
NOW...Home sweet Home? What I mean is this. I'm teaching through the book of Romans. Today, I'm immersed in Romans 3...and I read the words all over again, and this is what I wrote to share on Sunday to my friends at New Life:
The bible has this ability to come alive and grab me, make me sit up and take notice.
I remember years ago I was teaching a class of 20+ year old young adults. I love teaching young adults because they are often first beginning to think through the implications of what faith means to them. That's not necessarily true of all young adults. Some of them, raised in households of faithful parents, often were dealing with those things at a much earlier age. But in the absence of that, I saw many at those early 20's wrestle with issues of faith and seek understanding that was truly wonderful for me to be a part of.
In one situation, as the class took a break, this beautiful young woman saw me in the hallway - on my way to get a cup of coffee. I said hi and so did she, but then she stopped, and turned to face me and looked me square in the eye, as if to say, I want your attention. She looked up and said, "Mr. Pollasch, I don't know if you realize it, but you are the most important teacher in a lot of our lives, and you need to know that you have a great role in shaping our adult faith lives..." (something to that extent). Well, Rachel, I've never forgotten that. It made me realize something I couldn't ever come to understand myself.
Those who teach and handle the word as truth have a crucial role to play in life. Don't underestimate the importance of that.
NOW...Home sweet Home? What I mean is this. I'm teaching through the book of Romans. Today, I'm immersed in Romans 3...and I read the words all over again, and this is what I wrote to share on Sunday to my friends at New Life:
Romans 3:21-24
21 But now a righteousness from God, apart
from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
"I AM CONVINCED, AFTER 40 YEARS OF TEACHING, THAT IF YOU PAY
ATTENTION TO ANY PART OF THE BIBLE, NOTHING CAN BE MORE IMPORTANT, MORE
CRUCIAL, AND MORE NECESSARY THAN THESE VERSES."
peace
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