牧者心聲
童聲述說神恩．童來顯揚香氣
駱綺雯牧師
2023 年 12 月 2 日 / 3 日
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北宣家2023年的主題是「明辨，述說神恩．傳承，顯揚香氣」，兒崇主日學也起來響應。我設計了三個主題，讓孩子從不同角度，認識感恩和回應神恩的重要性。
第1課：記得vs唔記得
這一課提出，我們是否記得神給我們的恩典？孩子們不容易察覺神恩典，豐衣足食、身體健康好像理所當然，學業、生活有困難時，亦未必會尋求神幫助，即使經歷了神的恩典也會很快就忘記。我們透過講解十個痲瘋病人蒙主耶穌醫治，卻只得一人回來感謝主，讓孩子們明白忘恩的原因，那可能是：只顧著自己開心；不覺得感恩是重要；不習慣祈禱、感恩。如果我們跟主耶穌的關係不親密，有困難才找祂，就只會令我們從神有沒有幫我們解決困難，來衡量神有沒有施恩，這樣，我們就更難明辨神恩了。
第2課：聽到vs聽唔到
這一課提出，神究竟有沒有聽到我們的祈禱？孩子們容易認為，神按著所祈禱的回應才算是聽了禱告。我們透過乃縵的大痲瘋得醫治的故事，讓孩子明白神有自己的計劃，那不是乃縵所想像的，「我以為他必會出來，站著求告耶和華他的神的名，向著患處搖手，潔淨這痲風病」（王下五11，新譯本）。神沒有按著我們所求的回應我們，不等如祂不聽禱告，祂卻是要將最好的給我們。課堂上有一個關於因為下雨無法去學校旅行的故事，指出原來不是神沒有聽祈禱，而是神保護了我們，因為如果出發，就會遇上路上的交通意外，神的恩典就是連我們沒有去祈求的，祂也顧念。
第3課：做到vs做唔做
這是最後一課主題課，孩子們以為神的教導，是用來「聽」，而「做」並不容易。大部分人之所以覺得神的道不易做到，是因為：太忙、太難、太脫節（outdated）。少年官的故事，讓孩子們體會到要遵行主的教導，就須倚靠主的能力，「在人這是不能的，在神卻凡事都能」（太十九26）。神要我們實踐祂的教導是因為愛，祂用愛將我們從罪裡拯救出來，同樣期望我們用愛去回應祂，傳揚主奇妙的作為。
快到年終，孩子們努力學習，述說神恩，顯揚香氣，你又如何？深願大家在學習的過程中，更深經歷神恩，將主的香氣不斷傳揚。
The 2023 theme for the NPAC family is “Discern and Proclaim God’s Grace; Pass on Legacy & Spread the Aroma.” The Children’s Sunday School (Chinese) also acts in response. I have designed three themes to help children know from different perspectives what thanksgiving is as well as the importance of responding to God’s grace.
Lesson 1: Remembering vs Not Remembering: This lesson asks: Do we remember the grace that God gives us? It is not easy for children to notice God’s grace. Financial stability and good health are taken for granted. When difficulties arise in studies and living, they may not seek the help of God. Even the experience of God’s grace is quickly forgotten. Through the story of the ten lepers who were healed by the Lord Jesus but only one of them came back to give thanks, we explore with children the reasons for forgetting grace. These may include: focusing only on the well-being of oneself; not acknowledging the importance of thanksgiving; not accustomed to prayers and thanksgiving, etc. If we do not have a close relationship with the Lord Jesus, if we only come to Him when in trouble, we will only assess if God has given us His grace by whether He has resolved the difficulties for us. This will make it more difficult for us to discern God’s grace.
Lesson 2: Hearing vs Not Hearing: This lesson asks: Has God heard our prayers? Children tend to think that only if God responds the way we pray has He heard our prayers. We use the story of Naaman being healed of leprosy to tell children that God has His own plan which is not what Naaman could have imagined. “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy” (2 Kings 5:11). The fact that God has not responded in the way we asked in our prayers does not mean that God does not answer prayers. God wants to give us the best. In the lesson, there is a story about not being able to go on a school picnic due to rain. It shows that it is not because God does not answer prayers. On the contrary, it is because of His protection. If we set out for the picnic, we would meet with an accident on the way. Even for things we do not pray about, God still cares. Such is the grace of God.
Lesson 3: Can do vs Cannot do: This is the last themed lesson. Children think that God’s teachings are for “listening,” and “doing” is not easy at all. Some reasons why most people think that it is not easy to put God’s teachings into practice are because they are too busy, or the teachings are too difficult or outdated. The story of the young man lets children know that to obey and practice the teachings of the Lord, we need to depend on the Lord’s strength: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). God wants us to practice His teachings because of love. With love, He has saved us from sin. God expects us to respond to Him with love and recount His wondrous works.
The year will soon be over. The children are working hard on their lessons to proclaim God’s grace and spread the aroma. How about you? In the process of learning, may we all experience more deeply the grace of God so we will keep spreading the aroma of the Lord.
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