I’m Jemima L Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker. Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says. And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.
Mary, Arabella, and I were in our “green room.”
Arabella was playing with Stormie and Joan. Ethan was in the den where we have our class, hopefully asleep.
B.B. (short for Mary being a Bossy Boss) was fixing my hair, “Belle, something is horribly wrong.”
Belle asked, “What’s that, Aunt Mary?”
B.B. sighed, “I am looking for something to fix. There is always something to fix, but I cannot find it.”
Belle asked, “Do you have your eyes open?”
B.B. retorted, “I checked that already! I would not be calling you in to help if I had not checked. My eyes are open, but I cannot find a hair out of place!”
I protested, “Ladies, have you ever heard the one about the blind squirrel finding a nut every once in a while? Besides, we worship a powerful God, could this be a miracle? Or maybe I am just getting better at fixing my own hair.”
Arabella replied, “First one, maybe. Second one, you’re overdue. Third one, not a chance.”
B.B. snickered, “Right there with you, Fireball!”
Arabella asked, “Where is Dr. Ellie?”
I said, “She is out with the B team. There was something brewing south of here. She thought we could get data and be there to help with the cleanup. So, no Wilma, Fred, Mitzi, Dr. Ellie or Dr. Ben.”
Belle asked, “Who is taking care of Joan?”
B.B. snickered, “I hope you are.” Belle had a frightened look on her face. B.B. laughed, “She is staying with us. She and Ethan get along great together.”
I sighed, “They better. They are going to see a lot of each other.”
Belle bowed as she opened the door.
Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.
Emmett and the choir sang Grace Got You. But Menzie and Samuel were in the play area getting all the children to dance.
I said, “What made you think of that song?”
Emmett said, “I was reading Romans through from beginning to end last Sunday afternoon. ‘For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.’ (Romans 1:20-23). Then a couple of chapters later… ‘for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’ (Romans 3:23). Then another verse 23… ‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 6:23). Then a passage that contains yet another verse 23… ‘So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.’ (Romans 7:21-25). But then, but then, I turned the page… ‘Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.’ (Romans 8:1-2). So, why not have a happy song about Grace? Why not sing and dance because of God’s Grace? Why not smile and laugh because God’s Grace got you?”
Joseph laughed, “If the bus doesn’t make it to church, you just got served a sermon, from the music director! Who knew?”
I smiled, “Sophie, the band is on the other side of the table. Can you give Emmett a hug for me?” Sophie had no problem with that request.
Samuel asked, “As if I need to know, where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”
I smiled, “We are looking at the book of Romans. But we are picking up in chapter 9, after the chapter about God’s Grace. Arabella, do you need Mr. Dictionary?”
Arabella nodded, “Aunt Jemima, if I had anything funny to say, my big brother just ruined it. I will give Mr. Dictionary the day off. But Bro, what is verse 23 in Romans 8?”
Emmett said, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8:23)
Baldy (Romans 9:27-28) “Isaiah cries out concerning Israel: ‘Though the number of the Israelites be like the sand by the sea, only the remnant will be saved. For the Lord will carry out his sentence on earth with speed and finality.’”
Baldy said, ”Now I feel like Rev. Joseph right after Rev C.S.L. preaches a great sermon. You know? I have to follow that? But Paul says it right there that he is quoting Isaiah. ‘Though your people be like the sand by the sea, Israel, only a remnant will return. Destruction has been decreed, overwhelming and righteous. The Lord, the Lord Almighty, will carry out the destruction decreed upon the whole land.’’ (Isaiah 10:22-23). You said most of the people in Rome were Gentiles, but there were Jews there. But then, with us all being sons of Abraham, we are all part of that remnant, I suppose.”
I nodded, “You might be right, Baldy. And this was a great test. Mitzi wasn’t here, and you made it to class, prepared.”
Baldy nodded, “Mitzi was at our group study. She said to tell everyone that she is praying for you.”
I nodded, “She is taking my spot on the team. My prayers are already with her and the entire crew. I hope they get into the right position to get good data.”
Josie (Romans 9:29) “It is just as Isaiah said previously: ‘Unless the Lord Almighty had left us descendants, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.’”
Josie said, “Baldy said. Paul is saying where he got this. ‘Unless the Lord Almighty had left us some survivors, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah.’ (Isaiah 1:9). But the Lord spoke through Moses. This should not have been a surprise… ‘The whole land will be a burning waste of salt and sulfur—nothing planted, nothing sprouting, no vegetation growing on it. It will be like the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, which the Lord overthrew in fierce anger.’’ (Deuteronomy 29:23). While God is merciful, God is holy. He only wants people around Him that want to be there.”
Jethro (Romans 10:6-8) “But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim:”
Jethro said, “Again, you have using Moses to prophesy that God will be in us. ‘It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.’ (Deuteronomy 30:12-14). Paul had a good teacher of the law, but those years before he ever went on his first mission trip were probably spent rereading the Bible and figuring out how things fit together.”
I replied, “Are you keeping Baldy straight?”
Josie laughed, “Baldy keeps us straight. His acceptance of Jesus is fresh and he is on fire.”
And now for the two that not everyone knows, yet. Crystal and her brother Colin Lewis.
Crystal Lewis (Romans 10:15) ”And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
Crystal smiled, “This talks about a prophecy from Isaiah. ‘How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”’ (Isaiah 52:7). But then this is what it says in Nahum. ‘Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.’ (Nahum 1:15). Thinking of this passage, Colin and I have not had much good news coming from anywhere, but we are so blessed to be here. We have a farm in the northeast corner of the state, and Mommie Pinkie has gotten some agriculture people from the university to visit the farm. They have a couple of people who will tend the farm through the harvest. We have a couple of farm hands who will now work for the university. But they will milk the cows, gather the eggs, and feed the various animals. So, I guess Isaiah and Nahum are right. Beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
Colin (Romans 11:8) ‘as it is written: ‘God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day.’”
Colin said, “Paul is talking about how not all were led by the spirit, and some were led into a stupor. ‘The Lord has brought over you a deep sleep: He has sealed your eyes (the prophets); he has covered your heads (the seers).’ (Isaiah 29:10). And Moses said this: ‘But to this day the Lord has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear.’ (Deuteronomy 29:4). Jethro and Baldy have told us you had these verses before, when Jesus said that for those who have ears to hear. There are a lot of people that don’t go to church anymore. There are a lot of people in church that don’t have ears to hear.”
I nodded, “And we can pray for all of them. Welcome to our class. You will be welcome here, and you are safe.”
Joseline (Romans 11:26-27) “and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written: ‘The deliverer will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’”
Jos said, “This is God’s promise to Jacob. His sins will be removed. False god worship is gone. Jesus makes all things right. ‘By this, then, will Jacob’s guilt be atoned for, and this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin: When he makes all the altar stones to be like limestone crushed to pieces, no Asherah poles or incense altars will be left standing.’ (Isaiah 27:9). When we get to Heaven, there is no pain, no suffering, sure. But there is no sin and no death. All our sins will be gone.”
Kevin (Romans 11:35) “‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’”
Kevin said, “This question might be easier to understand by asking whether you can give something to God to make Him obligated to give in return. This is what God says, from Job. ‘Who has a claim against me that I must pay? Everything under heaven belongs to me.’ (Job 41:11). It’s that old Christmas question, how can you give a gift to someone who already has everything? But since everything we have is from God, and God just has us tending what we have, we are simply giving back to Him.”
Julia (Romans 15:11) “And again, ‘Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him.’”
Julia said, “This is a quote from Psalms. ‘Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples.’ (Psalm 117:1). We do not do enough of that. Even in hard times, God is still in control. And most of the time, when we face hard times, we are being given a lesson that we can learn from. And to our new members. Mommie Pinkie put me in charge of security here. I take that role seriously. You are safe in God’s hands, but I will do everything that I can to keep you safe while you are here. And I have a hand-picked team behind me.”
Missy added, “I’m Julia’s boss, and I am getting back into shape. But I personally trained Julia, and she is the best.”
Gordon (Romans 15:21) “Rather, as it is written: ‘Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.’”
Gordon said, “Paul is justifying his missionary work by quoting Isaiah, and this should be a call for us to spread the Gospel. ‘so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.’ (Isaiah 52:15). There are those who have not heard and they need to hear.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Gordo. That is a good place to end. We will be in 1 Corinthians next week. Now, for Grannie Fannie’s benediction.”
Grannie Fannie (3 John 1:3) “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”
Then Grannie Fannie added, “And then all God’s children said, ‘Amen.’”
Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her. “Now, it’s bus time!”
Brooke said, “Stormie, church time!”
Stormie said, “Aunt Brooke, we like to go to church!” Joan yelled, “Yeah!” And Ellie Rain and Olympia joined in.
Credits
When I am using quoted verses in the New Testament, I got those verses (different translations) from Seeing Jesus – Bible Encounter Study Guide by Marilyn Hickey. The concept of doing this in a Sunday school setting is based on her book. When the youngster gives the other verse, Aunt Jemima had sent the comparison verse from the Hickey book, but occasionally, a verse is added (easily found in the cross references). The rest is from internet searches, a variety of commentaries and study Bibles, and personal knowledge.
Here is Grace Got You from MercyMe.
Soli Deo Gloria. Only to God be the Glory.
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