“Locked-In -and- Focused”

“Locked-In  -and-  Focused”

Learning All You Can -- To Be Prepared to Lead, in God’s Kingdom

By  George Nielsen

It can be hard to pay attention in Sunday School when you’re focused on other things.    But remember: this is your learning time.   A primary goal for this year, for the fifth graders, is that you agree to be Young Disciples of Jesus, and then devote yourself to this task.   

In our class, we have lessons taken from the Holy Bible, and Scripture passages assigned as Memory Verses.   We also have the 5th Grade Special Bible Reading Program.   For now, this is “Psalms for the Summer.”    In late fall and in early spring, there will be two additional reading assignments.  

The phrase we use in 5th grade class, to remind students to pay attention, is  “BE Locked-in -- and Focused! "     

Don’t even give yourself a chance to be distracted by other students -- be Locked-in.    And discipline yourself to stay locked-in.    The flow of information, questions, and discussion will keep your attention; and --please note-- you are a 5th grader.  You can have input into the class,too.    If you stay Locked-in, you’ll be able to speak-up when it is called-for, after raising your hand and being acknowledged (to go ahead and speak).   And, WE WANT YOU TO.  We want you to have practice at expressing your thoughts and ideas.

Begin your time in each class by sitting down (even if you have chosen a friend that you want to sit next to) but instead of focusing on your classmate(s), take a moment to stop and think about Jesus.  He is the Person we will follow, as a disciple.     When I do this, I usually say to myself, “Thank you Jesus, for being my Savior.”   

Training yourself to think first about Jesus is a good practice.  It will help you to then be better able to stay focused on the specific topic or idea being presented throughout the class.    It may be true that most of the little kids can’t pay attention -- but, you are 5th graders.  You’re not little kids anymore.

Young Disciples are getting ready for whatever God calls them to do.  Consider this:

Jesus was thirty years old before he started his ministry. Before that, he was learning.

Before Moses led God’s people out of Egypt, he spent forty years in the desert herding sheep—and learning.

Your Sunday School class may seem hard. But don’t be fooled—these are important times of learning.   

God has a plan for you, and you want to be ready. Learn everything you can in Sunday School, be faithful as a Young Disciple of Jesus.  That way, you will be more prepared to work in God’s kingdom.