What is the "Sunday School Answer"?
There's an old joke that the correct answer to any question asked by a Sunday School teacher is Jesus. Who loves you? Jesus! Why does this story matter? Jesus! Who drove you to church this morning?
Well, maybe not that one.
Among many of us, it's an old trope. When we were young, we learned to eagerly raise our hands when our Sunday School teacher asked a question. We'd strain our arms and bounce up and down a little in eager anticipation of that time we'd be able to give the answer. We learned that, much of the time, if we answered "Jesus" to a question, then we'd at least get recognized. And, hey, sometimes we were even right!
Over time, though, something changed for many of us. We got older, Sunday School maybe even became uncool (shocking, I know). Entering our preteen years we discovered that the world is a much more complex place than we once thought. Our attention turned elsewhere. It no longer seemed like "Jesus" could be the answer to all of life's problems. If you're like me, you probably took some of this attitude into adulthood.
3 Reasons Why the Sunday School Answer Still Matters So Much
Looking back now, I see the value of the Sunday School Answer. With young kids of my own, I see through their eyes. What I learned when I was a youngster in my Sunday School classes holds a new value in my adult life. So, below are three reasons why I believe the Sunday School Answer still matters and why we shouldn't discount its value to our mission.
1. The Bible's All about Jesus
Even though each story we learn in Sunday School doesn't necessarily focus on the person and work of Jesus, mankind's true king and champion, the overall story is about Him. Absolutely. From beginning to end, the whole story revolves around how He came to save us from sin, death, and hell. When we train our young people in Sunday School to assume that Jesus is the answer to most of our questions, we also train them to think of Jesus as the main character in the Bible.
2. Jesus Is the Hero of Your Story
As we get older, we also develop a kind of hero's journey complex. Entering the preteen years and into adulthood, it's easy to lose sight of the object of our faith. As responsibilities pile up and life changes, we tend to only turn to God when we feel we need Him. The Sunday School Answer of our childhood continually reminds us of the truth. You're not the hero of your story. Jesus is. Remember that. Don't lose sight of the Author and Perfecter of our faith.
3. When We Don't Know Something, We Turn to What We Do Know
The world is a very uncertain place. We must constantly deal with trying to find answers to life's tough problems. Though we'd like God to give us an answer to this or that specific evil we face, we usually receive no answer. This often drives us to despair. In these moments when we don't have an answer, we cling to what we do know: Jesus forgives us, loves us, and saves us. One day, He will return to make all things new, and then we will finally have our answers. Until then, we hold on to the good news of Jesus even when life doesn't make sense.
That's why the Sunday School Answer is still the best.
Peace:
Pete
