Our service on Sunday A.M. was more like a meeting in Bible times, where the preacher "talked" with the congregation rather than presenting a prepared study. This is not long; you might find it interesting.
During worship service I had prayer for "T," since he is scheduled to have surgery this week. I explained to the children (reminding the adults) that there are three views people have concerning the response to sickness and healing.
1- Prayer and nothing else.
2- Medical intervention (doctors, medications, procedures) and nothing else.
3- Prayer and the use of medical intervention.
The Bible teaches #3, so we pray and also seek medical intervention. I pointed out that God sometimes heals without medical intervention, He sometimes heals with medical intervention, and sometimes He has another purpose, rather than healing the body at this time.
I told them that sometimes medical intervention goes against God, such as abortion and medications (pills, liquids, shots), and sometimes medications are abused. I explained the nature of medication (the Biblical use and nature of wine, for instance).
"M" asked why people would want to drink or take drugs. I talked about desire and addiction and explained that we don't drink alcohol for recreation or refreshment, but sometimes alcohol is in our medicine.
"H" asked about Jesus making wine. I explained how grape juice becomes wine and pointed out that wine in Bible times was not always strong, either because of age or cutting it with water and that God always condemned strong drink and drunkenness. We all agreed that Jesus would not make anything for the people to drink that would cause them to get drunk or misbehave.
I talked about the dangers of drugs, including alcohol and tobacco and that drugs get hold of people and sometimes the people cannot quit, until it kills them. They had seen pictures or commercials of people with throat cancer.
I told them about the new, Smokeless or Electronic cigarettes and the dangers of thinking that they are safe, as well as the trick the devil plays on people by getting them to do things that "don't seem to bad."
The children had other questions and insights as we covered this subject pretty thoroughly. I praise the Lord for being able to lead and feed the lambs in the way of righteousness.
