THE CHILDREN's CHAIN GANG AT CHURCH- LESSONS IN KOINONIA

Dallas is all BOY.He is a little younger than my First graders . He's one of my special friends- a bundle of energy  and a bounce in his step.... always ready with smile. It's easy to tell that he loves being with his friends at Opening Assembly every Sabbath morning. I lead them in singing hymns, praise songs, and  a short lesson- our lesson  ties into our catechism question for the day....after all we ARE good Presbyterians... A Sabbath Day without Catechism is like a day without sunshine... :)

I always encourage the children as they make their way to their Sunday School classes. Dallas had answered all the questions correctly last Sunday... He wisely reminded all of us that God Loves us because of what Jesus Did for us... He reminded us that we ca'nt do anything to "make" God love us any more.. or any Less... Heaven is a free gift... In other words, Dallas reminded us of the Gospel... After assembly, I told  him "Dallas, you are becoming a strong disciple, your  faith is growing, and you are doing a GREATjob reminding us about what the Bible teaches... then I asked Him, " How did ALL that HAPPEN???"..... without hesitation he looked me right in the eyes, showed me that gigantic smile and said...," It's all because I sit in a CHAIN OF FRIENDS!!!"... a little puzzled ( it comes from too many years hanging out with adults), I asked," What do you mean by that??" He said," You saw it... you see it every Sunday... we have a chain of friends.. we all sit together.. side by side... we are close... THATS why we are becoming strong disciples"....

Now If I had asked an adult " " How'd you come to learn that??" or " How is it that you have grown so much in your faith?".... I suspect I would hear something like," WELL, I have been doing an exhaustive study of Calvin, Luther, Knox.... I read all the Puritan commentaries...OR " I have a degree in Theology, did some seminary work..... you know the things adults say.... sometimes they miss the answers because they want you think they are super-theologians.... it's about something THEY DID.... Those adults.... Lets pray for them..

Let's pray that they understand what Dallas understands- The answer is the "chain of friends( i.e. Brothers and Sisters in Christ) who "sit" together,"side by side", "staying close to one another" ! They support one another, they exhort one another, they encourage one another in their faith.... they live in KOINONIA. sharing with /sharing in the preaching of the Word, prayer, and the sacraments... this is the answer that Scripture gives us- you know ... yep there's LOTS OF "ONE ANOTHER" scriptures- love One another, be patient with one another, encourage one another, Thats how STRONG DISCIPLES are MADE...

SO..... The next time you get your feelings hurt , and want to go sit in the corner by yourself  ... DO'NT DO THAT!!!!..... go BACK  to the Chain of Friends.... because thats the place where your faith is made stronger.... Back on the chain gang......