The long-term fruit of SRE
20/05/24
Yesterday, as I walked into our evening service a few minutes late, the young lady on welcoming pointed out a man, possibly about 30 years old, who hadn’t been to church before, and asked if I could speak to him after the service, “He told me that he’s on a spiritual journey”, she said.
I was happy to say hi when I could, so I sat across the aisle from him. During the service I noticed that he didn’t join in saying the Apostles’ Creed nor sing but he did listen to the sermon carefully.
After the service, he made a quick exit, but I was able to catch him near the door. He looked at me, smiled, held out his hand, and said, “Mr Jolliffe, you taught me Scripture when I was in year 2. And you haven’t changed much at all.”
He’d made my day – twice! (It was twenty years ago and I’m really sure that I have changed.) I’m still teaching in the school that he went to so long ago. We had a quick catch up on where life had taken us over the past twenty years, and then he said that he’d see me next week. It turns out that he had been doing some Bible studies with a Christian friend who encouraged him to go to church.
I often encourage SRE teachers to look to the eternal value of their weekly ministry. Sometimes it’s hard to see the value of what we do; the accreditation and ongoing training requirements can seem onerous; our class times are not always convenient for us; our classes may not always be a joy to teach, and sometimes are the opposite. It’s normal for us to occasionally ask, “Should I keep teaching SRE?”
The Scriptures offer much encouragement to look ahead to the good things which God has for his servants, just as Jesus did…
“… let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NIV)
I am not from a Christian home. I came to trust in Jesus through the ministry of SRE. There was no class ‘altar call’ – just regular teaching of the truths of God’s Word which God used to ignite my faith in Christ. When I look back, it’s apparent that God used many people at many times to bring me to him. Faithful SRE teachers were a large part of that. As were camp leaders, Christian neighbours, Sunday School teachers, youth group Leaders, rectors and university staff workers.
In God’s wonderful plan, he uses various servants at various times to help lost sheep turn back to him (Luke 15:1-7). We are all jars of clay, weak vessels who carry around with us the beautiful treasure of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:7). Sometimes our SRE lessons don’t go as well as we’d hope. When there are challenges in the classroom, we don’t always respond with needed wisdom or kindness. We may not always prepare our lessons as well as we’d like. If we are jars of clay, ministry to children really can show us where our cracks are. But, by God’s kindness he is pleased to include us, imperfect as we are, in his work of winning souls for eternity.
Last night at church I had a tiny glimpse into the small part which I had played in one boy’s life through SRE. Through SRE, I had sown seeds which now, it appears, God is growing. I received an appreciative smile from someone who recognised me, though I didn’t recognise him.
When Jesus returns and takes us home to all his people, I want to personally thank those saints whom God used to teach and nurture my faith. And likewise, I fully expect that there will be many others who see me, smile, hold out a hand and say, “Remember me?” … “No”… “Well, let me tell you what God did through you …” This is the joy set before us. This is the treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:20).
What a privilege it is to teach SRE! How worthwhile it is to persevere and to keep teaching! Every child, churched or unchurched, is loved by God. How generous God is to include us in his saving plans.
