Being A Sunday School Teacher

Hi everyone! I hope you are in a great and healthy condition!

I would like to share my great experience as a Sunday School Teacher in one of Indonesian churches. I hope this post can enlighten you not only how valuable this ministry but also how important today's generation (Z generation). (All ministries are valuable, don't get me wrong!)

I started this ministry in the middle of 2014 and ended in April 2015 due to my exchange program to Japan. This ministry is very tough and challenging for me because being a Sunday School Teacher is almost the same like being an elementary-student teacher, in which you have to be knowledgeable, patient, loving, fun, and the most important thing is you have to be responsible to God about whatever you have taught.

In addition to those challenges, this verse is a very basic and scary (for me) truth simultaneously as a Sunday School Teacher:

"It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin." 

Luke 17:2 - ESV

Some people mocked me as well, "You are pedophile!" or Be careful! you will be childish like them." And so on...

Despite those mockeries, challenges, and fears, I have two main reasons why I am still so passionate to serve in this ministry:

First, there is a great need in this ministry. There is a need for this young generation. However, you do not have to be a Sunday School Teacher Hopefully, this five-minute video will give you some ideas about today's generation.

Second, this reason may seem silly and exaggerating for you. My second reason to join this ministry is I want to recall and cherish my childhood's memories. Until now, I cannot remember what I had done when I was a kid, therefore this ministry has brought back a glimpse of my childhood. Moreover, God gave me wisdom on how to live as a good child who respect my parent and how to be nurture my child in the future.

These children desperately need YOU!

Last but not least, keep up your ministry! Keep serving God! There are many ministries, but we have one God!

"Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." 

(Romans 12:11 - ESV)

Have a wonderful day!

God bless you!

Brian Bernadi

brian.bernadi@yahoo.com

Forgiving Over Healing

It has been nearly a month I have not written on my blog again. I am so sorry because I needed to do my thesis or final report, which was killing me softly. Lol...

Anyway, a few days ago, the weather was not so friendly in Jakarta. Flood and immobilization were everywhere. That was really scary, it was like the end of the world. Lol... Thanks God, slowly but sure, the weather seems friendly and better lately.

Today, I am going to share with you a truly "strange" story, if I can say. Lol... I take this story from Luke 5:17-26 with a title "Jesus Heals A Paralytic." For further stories about healing, please take a look at some stories such as "Jesus Heals A Centurion's Servant" on Luke 7:1-10 (this is one of my favorite stories of faith) and "Jesus Cleanses A Leper" on Matthew 8:1-13.

Generally, those healing stories are almost the same in terms of plot; but if you look and study attentively on the story of "Jesus Heals A Paralytic", you will find out something noticeable and different with other healing stories.

And when he saw their faith, he said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

That sentence will be the climax and the strange point of this passage simultaneously. The statement came from Jesus when He saw the paralyzed man lying down right before Him. 

Do you think it is odd with Jesus' saying? Why? Just imagine if you put your shoes on the paralyzed man at that time. He probably mumbled to Jesus, "Are you stupid or crazy? I am asking you to heal my sickness, why do you say my sins are forgiven not my sickness are healed?!"

That is Jesus, friends. As I read and contemplated His Words time to time, I did realize that Jesus' sayings are very unique and deep in meaning. That is why some of my pastors ever said that reading Bible is always interesting if you want to dig in deeper and deeper. Whatttt?!?!

If we observe the context of this passage thoroughly, those people believed that sickness is largely caused by sins. Moreover, those people only knew and believed a faith that Jesus can only heal sick people, not forgive people's sins. It was because the one who can forgive people's sins is God alone, not Jesus.

This passage is trying to disclose that God or Jesus can do both healing and forgiving. Even, Don't be people who merely believe that Jesus can heal us, but let us believe that Jesus can also forgive our sins no matter how sinful and how bad we are. 

Jesus is trying to reveal that healthy spiritual life is much more important that healthy physical life. Our physical health is just a bonus from God, yet the most important things is our soul and our life have been redeemed fully by Jesus on the cross.

Do not get me wrong. We can still put our faith on God's healing, miracles, or in any areas, but salvation matters as well. FAITH to be healed is completely fine, but FAITH to be forgiven by God is needed and required.

Let's ask for His forgiveness and live our lives as a VICTOR not a VICTIM. We are paid and ransomed not by silver or gold, but we are paid and ransomed by His precious blood and His own body. It is so priceless and valuable, isn't it?

In addition, the way we live our salvation matters a lot. Don't be so naive! Sometimes we only desire and expect blessings and good things from God, but we never want to sacrifice and take up our own cross. Let's take up our own cross, walk in faith, and persevere our salvation. It is free, but it does not mean we can take it for granted. We have to pay the price! 

God bless you!

Have a very nice day!

Leave comments if you have something in mind. I would really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Brian Bernadi

brian.bernadi@yahoo.com