Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Sunday School Nov. 16

We had 2 classes this past week - the same two offered next week. They are:

Thankfulness art project - Shawna is teaching this class and students spent some time brainstorming and discussing what they are thankful for before they started painting murals of those things on ceiling tiles that will be put back into our hallway when they are done. This class is supposed to end next Sunday (Nov. 23) but if the students are not finished we will extend the class by one week.

Influential Christians throughout History - this was week 3 of my class. We have one more week to go. If Shawna's art class is extended to November 30, my class will also be extended one week to make things easier for students who have signed up for the next set of lessons. If that's the case we will finish the series with a review of all the famous people and a big game of Jeopardy! Stay tuned.

Here are the people we learned about - names link to Wikipedia pages:

John Newton - captain of slave ships until long after his conversion - he didn't quit until he was captured as a slave. He also wrote Amazing Grace. We can learn not to ignore sins in our own life from Newton!
  • Discussion question: What effect can we have on others when we ignore sinful behaviour in our lives?


William Wilberforce - English politician and philanthropist who lead the abolitionist movement in England, championed causes and campaigns around the country, used his position in Parliament to change things for the better, and founded the SPCA
  • Discussion question: How is social justice part of your faith? How would you like to grow in this area?


Susan B. Anthony - American social reformer and suffragette who founded and worked with societies that centred around equal rights for African Americans and women, including her work for women's suffrage. She was the first real woman on US currency and her faith motivated her social work.
  • Discussion question: Racism and sexism are still issues we deal with as a society and in our churches. Why do you think Christians have been so slow to start social changes?


Florence Nightingale - English social reformer and founder of modern nursing, served as a nurse during Crimean War tending to wounded soldiers, founded nursing school at St. Thomas Hospital and worked for social reforms including hunger relief and better sanitation standards in hospitals. She felt called to remain single despite her family's anger because she believed she could do more good work that way.
  • Discussion question: What are the pros and cons of being a single Christian for your whole life?


Harriet Tubman - African-American abolitionist born into slavery, who escaped, became a Union spy during the civil war and rescued about 70 enslaved people using the Underground Railroad. A head injury from a slave owner brought about seizures and visions that she viewed as being from God, these visions motivated her to rescue slaves.
  • Discussion question: What is one really bad thing that’s happened in your life? How can you use that experience to glorify God?


Charles Spurgeon - British preacher and author, known as "Prince of Preachers" due to his excellent skill and quality of sermons, became a pastor at aged 19 after preaching for several years and went on to preach to about 10 million people in his lifetime!
  • Discussion question: Have you ever felt (or been made to feel) that you were too young to do God’s work? How do you think Spurgeon would respond to you?


Dwight L. Moody - American evangelist and publisher, founded Moody church, Bible institute and publishers, worked with Spurgeon on the "wordless book," a teaching tool to minister to the illiterate around the world.
  • Discussion question: Who has been the most influential teacher in your life? How have they impacted you?


J.R.R. Tolkien - English writer and professor best known for his Middle Earth writings, including The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings. His Middle Earth universe is an analogy for Christianity and the themes are evident in his writings. Also brought his friend C.S. Lewis to faith!
  • Discussion question: What part of LOTR or the Hobbit do you think best represents our faith?





No comments:

Post a Comment