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But Where Will You Go? (Responsive Reading)

Leader:            God, You said for us to follow you.

Congregation:    But where will You go? Where will you take us?

Leader:             We sometimes hope that you would simply reside in the church.  But your heart always is drawn to the dark places that have never seen your light. 

Congregation:    Where will You go? Surely not into the darkness.

Leader:              Will you go to the forgotten people of our society who live without hope?

Congregation:    Where will You go? Surely not to the people we've chosen to pass by.

Leader:              Will you go to the latch key kids who are raised by the media? The TV generation?

Congregation:    Where will You go? Even to this spoiled and over-indulged generation

Leader:               Will you go to the homes racked by divorce, infidelity, abortion, and spiritual warfare?

Congregation:     Where will You go? Even to people who have made foolish decisions.

Leader:               Will you go to the Buddhists, the Hindu, the Mormons, the Unitarians?

Congregation:     Where will You go? Even to those who worship false gods?

Leader:                Will you go to the prisoners, the homeless, and the diseased? The terrorists?

Congregation:      Where will You go? Must we follow you into jails and homeless shelters?

Leader:                Will you go to our homes?  Will you go to our offices?

Congregation:       Where will You go, God? Where must we follow?

Leader:                 You’ve called us to follow.  “Go into all the world, and teach all nations, baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

                            People of God, Do you see the answer?  He states it clearly and he waits for our response as we ask ourselves. . .

Congregation:        We will face the question, "Where will we go?" And we answer, "Where He leads us we will follow.

Leader:                 Lord, we want to follow you, to carry your light, to keep this great commission.  Give us the courage to follow you as other saints have throughout history.

RESPONSIVE READING :  A SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKER COMMISSIONING SERVICE

Leader: Jesus said, Make disciples.  

All Sunday School Workers:  We will make disciples, as well as be disciples.  

Leader: Whatever your assignment may be—director, teacher, outreach-evangelism leader, care-group leader—it is important to our Sunday School.  

All Sunday School Workers:  If it is to be done, it is my responsibility.  

All Sunday School Workers:  We expect our church members to participate in our Bible teaching-reaching      ministry.  

Directors:  We will be early in our places of responsibility.  Members, join us in being on time.

Teachers: We will prepare to teach interesting and helpful lessons.  Members, join us in reading God’s Word regularly and studying your lesson each week.  

Care Group Leaders: We will keep in contact with and minister to those in our Care Groups.  Members, join us in prayer for and ministry to one another.  

Congregation: We will faithfully and regularly pray for our Sunday School workers.  Lead us!  Equip us!  Help us become more than we are now!  

Adult church members: Create the opportunity to serve, and help us be faithful in serving.  

Children and youth church members:  Instill trust in us for the future. Help us know the choices we make when we are young influence how well we can serve Christ when we are older.  

Leader: Many barriers could keep us from our appointed work.  But we will put our trust in the Lord, because in Christ all things are possible.  

All Sunday School Workers:  In Christ all things are possible.  

Congregation: In Christ all things are possible.  

Everyone: In Christ all things are possible.      

A Sample ...Sunday School Workers' Covenant

      Believing that the privilege of guiding people in the Christian way of life is worthy of my best, I covenant, as a worker in the Sunday School of my church, to . . .  

·         Order my conduct in keeping with the principles of the New Testament, and seek the help of the Holy Spirit that I may be faithful and efficient in my work  (Ephesians 4:1).  

·         Be regular and punctual in attendance; and, in case of unavoidable absence, give notice thereof as far in advance as possible (I Corinthians 4:2).  

·         Make thorough preparation of the lesson and for my other duties each week (II Timothy 2:15).  

·         Use the Bible with my group on Sunday morning, or other meeting times, and help them to understand and love it (Psalm 119:16).  

·         Contribute my tithe to my church’s budget (Malachi 3:10).  

·         Attend the regular planning meetings (Luke 14:28-30).  

·         Visit prospects frequently and make a special effort to contact absentees each week (Acts 2:46).  

·         Study one or more books from the New Church Study Course each year (Proverbs 15:28a).  

·         Cooperate wholeheartedly in the plans and activities of the church and school (I Corinthians 3:9).  

·         Be loyal to the program of the church, striving to attend all worship services (Hebrews 10:25).  

·         Make witnessing a major endeavor (Proverbs 11:30).  

·         Seek to discover and meet the needs of those with whom I come into contact, especially fellow church members and prospects for my church (Galatians 6:2).  

·         Pray regularly for the church, the Sunday School, the officers and teachers, and for the pupils and the homes from which they come (I  Thessalonians 5:17).  

·         Apply the teachings of Christ in moral and social issues of my everyday life (James 1:22).

 With the help of God, I will do my utmost to keep this covenant.

Signed __________________________________  Date _______________