 |
Adult Bible Study March 2, 2008 |
Lesson Text: 1 Chronicles 15:1-3; 14-16; 25-28
By Ken Hawkley
E-mail: louise050@comcast.netWhat is holy?
This week’s Scripture text describes the preparations for and transporting of the ark of the covenant. A proper question the writer, Perry Yoder, raises concerns the holiness of things in our life today. What makes things holy?I remember hearing of a conference on a new method for teaching children Scripture stories. The objects used to tell some of the stories were ceramic tiles with special paintings and symbols on them. Before the playing out of the story by a storyteller, the actual Scripture was read. The wonder was that children were mostly quiet and attentive during the entire teaching.
One “secret” was that the Bible and the tiles were handled by the leaders with reverence. This reverence conveyed specialness to the children, who then treated the Bible and the tiles with respect. Another aspect of this method was to ensure that the children felt engaged. The teacher paid attention to them.
Holiness is learned and experienced. Holiness is conveyed by the way we treat special objects, experiences, and each other. At my mother-in-law’s funeral I experienced holiness in the way the people talked about her and her dedication to God, people, and service. Holiness is largely taking time to notice that which is holy among us and in each of us.
I think Canada and the United States have reaped in the past few years the de-construction of the holiness of God in each of us. Random shootings in schools, universities, town meetings, stores, and dormitories reflect how the sanctity (and holiness) of human life has deteriorated.
Noticing the holy in the everyday does not diminish God and the holiness of our places of worship. If we take note of the holy more and honor that holiness in our words and actions, others will notice. I believe that, as others see our example, they, like the children, will begin to treat one another as special creations of God, redeemable and holy.
Editor’s note
Today begins the spring quarter of the Adult Bible Study, “God the People, and the Covenant.” Perry B. Yoder, Ely, Minnesota, wrote the student lessons. Dale E. Shenk, Goshen, Indiana, prepared the Adult Bible Study Teacher.ABSOnline writer of this weekly online feature is Ken Hawkley. Ken is a former Christian education consultant and writer currently living in the Chicago, Illinois, area. For 15 years Ken was a staff member of the former Commission on Education of the General Conference Mennonite Church and Mennonite Church USA.
Ken has also worked as principal and fund-raiser with the Chicago Mennonite Learning Center. He has written skits for the last three years of the Faith & Life Resources’ Vacation Bible School series. Ken is a member of Community Mennonite Church, Markham, Illinois.
Readers may respond to Ken by using his email address at the beginning of this writing. Readers also may contact the editor at horsch@mpn.net.